Vehicle Charging Hatch Sealing Structure for Water Ingress Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles face issues with water ingress through charging ports, leading to potential corrosion and damage to the vehicle's internal components due to inadequate sealing around the charging socket and electronic modules.
Innovation Solution
A loading hatch with enhanced sealing means, including ribs and gaskets, is designed to guide water away from openings and prevent ingress into the vehicle, ensuring improved water tightness and protection for electronic modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging port opening is provided on the bowl base to allow charging cable connection, then the charging functionality is enabled, but water can flow into the bowl through this opening causing corrosion risk
Solution Approach 1:
The bowl base is segmented into multiple functional zones: a charging port opening for cable access, electronic module openings for controls and indicators, and a drainage opening positioned at the lowest point. This segmentation allows each opening to serve its specific function while the drainage opening specifically addresses water accumulation by providing a dedicated escape path for water that enters through other openings.
Solution Approach 2:
A drainage system acts as an intermediary element between the charging port openings and the vehicle body interior. The drainage opening and associated drainage path provide a controlled intermediate route that allows water to pass through the bowl base without reaching the vehicle's internal components, thus mediating between the external charging interface and the protected interior space.
2Ease of operation
If electronic modules with pushbuttons and indicator lights are installed on the bowl base, then user control and feedback functionality is improved, but additional openings are created that increase water ingress risk
Solution Approach 1:
The bowl base incorporates dedicated openings for electronic modules, pushbuttons, and indicator lights as distinct segmented features. This segmentation allows each component to be positioned and sealed independently, with the drainage opening providing a separate controlled path that prevents water from these module openings from reaching the vehicle interior.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bowl base are given different local qualities: the charging port area allows larger openings for cable access, the electronic module area provides openings for controls and indicators, and the drainage area is positioned at the lowest point with optimized geometry to collect and channel water away from sensitive components while maintaining appropriate sealing characteristics for each functional zone.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bowl is mounted on the vehicle bodywork with multiple openings for charging and electronics, then the charging system functionality is enhanced, but the sealing complexity increases to prevent water flow towards the vehicle interior
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system merges multiple sealing functions into an integrated bowl base structure. The bowl base itself acts as a sealing barrier between the external openings (charging port, electronic modules) and the vehicle interior, while the drainage opening provides a controlled water escape path. This merging consolidates what could be multiple separate sealing components into a single integrated structural element, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bowl base structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mounting for the charging port and electronic modules, acts as a sealing barrier against water ingress, and incorporates a drainage system to manage water that does enter. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sealing components and drainage systems, simplifying the overall design while maintaining comprehensive protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The enhanced sealing system effectively prevents water from entering the vehicle, reducing corrosion risks and maintaining the integrity of internal components.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing means, in particular against water, disposed near at least one opening provided on the hatch
Implementation Method 2
said sealing means comprises at least one rib, in particular secondary ribs surrounding in whole or in part at least one opening in order to form a projecting wall for guiding water out of the opening
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a loading hatch (4) comprising a bowl (5) and a lid (6) hinged around the bowl, particularly with rotation about a substantially vertical axis, the bowl (5) comprising at least one opening (50-55), characterized in that it includes a sealing means (2), particularly for water sealing, disposed near at least one opening provided in the hatch. The invention also relates to an arrangement of a vehicle body part (10) and a loading hatch (4), the sealing means (2) being disposed in the upper part of the hatch (4) such that the flow of water along the body part (10), particularly along a substantially vertical axis, bypasses at least one opening (50-55) of the hatch (4). The invention also relates to a vehicle having the hatch and/or the arrangement.