Charging Bow Compensation Stroke for Multi-Height Vehicle Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging bow systems struggle to adapt to the varying heights of different vehicles, including large and small to medium-sized vehicles, due to a fixed maximum descending stroke, leading to inefficiencies in charging multiple types of vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A compensation mechanism is integrated into the charging bow system, which adjusts its stroke by descending at a controlled speed and is accompanied by the charging bow to ensure precise alignment and contact with the current collector, utilizing sensors and image capturing devices for accurate positioning and resistance measurement to ensure safety and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single charging bow system with fixed maximum descending stroke is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to charge multiple types of vehicles with varying heights deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to charge multiple types of vehiclesVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The charging system is divided into two independent stroke control stages: the charging bow stroke and the compensation mechanism stroke. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the charging bow providing the primary descent and the compensation mechanism adjusting for vehicle height variations, thereby achieving multi-vehicle adaptability without requiring a complete system redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a fixed stroke configuration to a dynamic, two-stage stroke control system. The compensation mechanism dynamically adjusts the additional descent distance based on real-time vehicle height detection, enabling the system to adapt to different vehicle types while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the charging bow descends at maximum speed to reduce connection time, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of impact damage to the current collector increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging connection speedVSAvoidimpact damage to current collector
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation mechanism performs a preliminary descent at a controlled speed to position the charging bow near the current collector before the charging bow executes its rapid descent. This preliminary positioning action reduces the remaining distance, allowing the charging bow to travel at maximum speed for most of the journey while minimizing the risk of impact damage during the final contact phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compensation mechanism acts as a cushioning element that absorbs part of the descent distance at a controlled speed, thereby reducing the impact velocity of the charging bow when it contacts the current collector. This beforehand cushioning protects the current collector from damage while still allowing high-speed charging connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If the compensation mechanism descends at a slow controlled speed to ensure precision, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the total charging connection time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precision with current collectorVSAvoidcharging connection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The descent process is segmented into two phases: a fast phase (charging bow descent) for covering the majority of the distance, and a slow precision phase (compensation mechanism descent) for final alignment. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high precision without sacrificing overall connection speed, as the time-consuming precision adjustment occupies only a small portion of the total descent time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4613541A1Method and system for controlling the charging bow with automatic compensation stroke
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 HICI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4613541A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613541A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4613541A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to the field of vehicle charging bow technology, more specifically, this invention relates to a method and system for controlling the charging bow with automatic compensation stroke, including: obtaining the actual distance L1 between the charging bow and the current collector; in response to the actual distance L1 being greater than the maximum expansion distance X1 of the charging bow, calculating the distance S2 that the compensation mechanism descends, where S2 = L1 - X1; controlling the compensation mechanism to descend. This invention can charge vehicles of different heights, adapting to actual application scenarios, capable of charging both large vehicles and small to medium-sized vehicles; moreover, the charging bow moves at maximum speed, and the stroke of the charging bow is generally greater than that of the compensation mechanism, therefore, from an overall perspective, even if the compensation mechanism moves relatively slowly, the entire action process can be completed quickly, thus saving time in the connection process and improving work efficiency.