Charging Plug Reinforcing Element for Electric Vehicle Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging plugs for electric vehicles face mechanical stress issues due to high forces during locking, leading to potential deformation or breakage of the insertion area, as existing designs lack sufficient reinforcement to absorb and distribute these forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reinforcing element made of a harder material than the insertion area, such as a metal sheet or casting, which is attached to the charging plug's insertion area to absorb and distribute mechanical forces, ensuring the plug remains stable and secure under high tensile forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insertion area is made of plastic to ensure insulating properties, then electrical insulation is improved, but mechanical strength and resistance to deformation under locking forces deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining plastic (for insulation) and metal reinforcing elements (for mechanical strength). The reinforcing element is integrated into the insertion area, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides electrical insulation from the plastic and mechanical strength from the metal element under locking forces.
2Strength
If the recess is reinforced with a harder material to absorb locking forces, then mechanical strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by reinforcing only the specific area of the insertion area that experiences locking forces (the recess region), rather than making the entire insertion area complex. The reinforcing element is strategically positioned to provide strength exactly where needed, maintaining simplicity in other areas of the charging plug.
3Ease of repair
If the reinforcing element is made replaceable to facilitate repair, then ease of repair is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the insertion area into separable components: the main charging plug body and the replaceable reinforcing element. This allows the reinforcing element to be independently replaced if damaged, facilitating repair without replacing the entire charging plug, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The charging plug (10) has an insertion portion for insertion into a corresponding socket (11). The insertion portion comprises an outer side recess (14). The charging plug is lockable in the socket by the insertion of the locking element (20) in the recess formed at the socket against withdrawal. The insertion portion is provided with a reinforcing element (13) which amplifies the recess at the plug-in direction (19) of the socket facing side.