EV Charging Plug Auto-Eject Mechanism for Fire Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicle charging systems face challenges in safely and efficiently removing the charging plug during a fire or upon completion, which hinders rapid firefighting and charging convenience.
Innovation Solution
A charging plug with an auto-eject function that automatically separates from the electric vehicle inlet during a fire or upon completion, equipped with a locking mechanism, release means, and separation means, and optionally a damage-prevention cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking means is provided to prevent separation of the charging connector from the charging inlet, then connection reliability is improved, but the ability to rapidly remove the plug during fire or completion is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is designed to be dynamically controllable, transitioning between locked and unlocked states based on operational conditions. The release means enables the locking means to switch from a fixed locked state to an unlocked state, allowing the connector to be rapidly separated when needed while maintaining reliability during normal charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic detection and response capabilities where the charging completion or fire condition triggers the release means to automatically activate, causing the locking means to release and the connector to eject without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid removal only when necessary while maintaining secure locking during normal operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If manual removal of the charging plug is required upon charging completion, then connection stability is improved, but operational convenience and charging turnover efficiency are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The charging plug system automatically detects charging completion and triggers the release means to activate, causing the locking means to release and the connector to be automatically ejected from the charging inlet. This self-service function eliminates the need for manual plug removal while maintaining connection stability during the charging process, thereby improving operational convenience and charging turnover efficiency.
3Reliability
If the charging plug remains inserted during fire, then connection reliability is maintained, but fire response time and firefighting effectiveness are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates fire detection capability that provides feedback to the control mechanism. When fire is detected, this feedback triggers the release means to activate, causing the locking means to release and the connector to be automatically ejected. This feedback mechanism enables rapid response to fire conditions while maintaining connection reliability under normal operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by pre-positioning the release means and locking means in a state ready for rapid activation. Upon fire detection, the preliminary anti-action mechanism immediately releases the locking means and ejects the connector, preventing the harmful effect of having the plug inserted during fire without compromising connection reliability during normal charging.
Data Source
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Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
When a fire breaks out while charging an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle must be immersed in a water tank to completely extinguish the fire. To immerse the electric vehicle in the water tank, the electric vehicle must be removed from a parking lot and moved to the water tank for immersing, or must be covered with a mobile water tank made in the parking lot. However, this work may not be possible when a charging plug is still plugged into the electric vehicle. In order to remove the electric vehicle which has caught fire, or to cover the electric vehicle with the mobile water tank or a mobile fire-smothering blanket, the charging plug needs to have an auto-eject function. Furthermore, in the case of a mobile charger, this function is also necessary in order to move to another electric vehicle for charging after the end of charging. The present invention provides a charging plug having an auto eject function that automatically ejects the plug in the event of a fire during charging or at the end of charging by using a release means for releasing a locking means provided on the charging plug or on an electric vehicle charging inlet and a separation means for separating a charging gun.