Sensor-Controlled Charging Cable Retraction for Truck Charging Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in the electrification of commercial vehicles, such as trucks, is the risk of damage to charging infrastructure due to limited space and maneuvering, leading to potential damage to charging stations, cables, and vehicles during charging breaks, which existing solutions fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A device with a support structure and cable control system, coupled with sensors to detect occupancy and positioning of vehicles, automatically manages the charging cable's position within the charging zone, ensuring it is safely retracted during vehicle maneuvering and extended only when a vehicle is ready for charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dispenser or charging station is installed at a sufficient distance above the roadway, then the risk of damage to charging infrastructure is reduced, but the cable management becomes more challenging and the charging cable must reach into the truck's maneuvering area
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable is made dynamically movable through a cable control device with cable control elements that can extend and retract the cable. This allows the cable to be positioned safely above the roadway during normal operation and automatically lowered into the maneuvering area only when a vehicle is present and needs charging, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the charging cable is left in the danger zone or loading zone after charging, then the cable management system is not activated correctly, but this exposes the charging plug and cable to damage when trucks maneuver or enter the zone
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor device detects the presence and position of vehicles in the charging zone and provides feedback to the cable control device. This automatic feedback mechanism ensures the cable is retracted when no vehicle is present or when a vehicle leaves, and extended only when needed, eliminating the need for manual activation and preventing damage from improper cable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable control system operates autonomously based on sensor input, automatically extending and retracting the charging cable without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by detecting charging needs and managing cable positioning, thereby preventing damage while ensuring proper operation.
3Device complexity
If manual cable management is used, then the system is simpler, but human error can leave the cable in dangerous positions leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical cable management system is replaced with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect vehicle presence and automatically positions the cable. This substitution of manual operation with an automated sensing and control mechanism eliminates human error while managing the increased device complexity through integrated electronic control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (100) for providing a charging cable (101) for a vehicle (150). The device comprises a support structure (103) arranged at a charging zone (104) for charging a vehicle (150), and a charging cable (101) which can be connected to a power source and has a charging plug (102) for connecting to a vehicle (150) to be charged, the charging cable (101) being attached to the support structure (103). The device (100) further comprises a cable control device (110) with a cable control element (111) which is coupled to the charging cable (101) such that the charging cable (101) is movable relative to the support structure (103) in order to position the charging plug (102) in the charging zone (104).Furthermore, the device (100) has a sensor device (106) for detecting a charging situation in the charging zone (104) for charging a vehicle (150), wherein the sensor device (106) is coupled to the cable control device (110) in such a way that the cable control element (111) can be controlled to position the charging plug (102) in the charging zone (104) based on the detected charging situation in the charging zone (104).