Charging Plug Sealing Element for Environmental Protection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional charging plugs for electric vehicles are either excessively large due to fully enclosed locking elements or lack protection against environmental influences like dirt and water, leading to impaired functionality.

Innovation Solution

A plug design featuring a pivotally mounted locking element with a sealing element between the locking element and the housing, comprising a first fixing region for the locking element, a second fixing region for the housing, and an elastically deformable connecting region, ensuring protection against dirt and water while allowing flexible movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the locking element is fully enclosed by the housing, then protection against environmental influences is improved, but the plug size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against environmental influencesVSAvoidplug size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking element is extracted from the housing interior and arranged on the outer side of the housing, allowing it to be exposed rather than enclosed. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for a large enclosing structure while still providing protection through the sealing element applied directly to the locking element's side faces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A sealing element in the form of a flexible membrane is applied to the side faces of the locking element. This thin film provides protection against environmental influences (dirt, water) without requiring a bulky enclosing housing, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Volume of moving object

If the locking element is arranged exposed on the housing, then plug size is reduced, but protection against environmental influences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplug sizeVSAvoidprotection against environmental influences

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing element in the form of a flexible membrane is applied to the side faces of the locking element. This thin film provides protection against environmental influences (dirt, water) without requiring a bulky enclosing housing, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element acts as an intermediary between the locking element and the environmental influences. It provides a protective barrier that prevents dirt and water from penetrating to the locking element while allowing the locking element to remain exposed on the housing for operational access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If dirt and water penetrate into the joining gap, then functionality is impaired, but sealing adds complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality protectionVSAvoidsealing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sealing element in the form of a flexible membrane is applied to the side faces of the locking element. This thin film provides protection against environmental influences (dirt, water) without requiring a bulky enclosing housing, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 design provides enhanced protection against environmental influences, ensuring reliable functionality by preventing water freezing and maintaining the plug's ability to lock and release securely.

Implementation Method 1

an elastically deformable connecting region, by means of which the first fixing region is movable relative to the second fixing region during a pivot movement of the locking element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10644436B2Charging plug with sealing element

Publication Date: 2020.05.05 PHOENIX CONTACT E MOBILITY GMBH

AI summary

A plug includes: a housing; a locking element that is pivotally mounted on the housing and by which the plug can be fixed to a mating plug; and a sealing element arranged between the locking element and the housing, the sealing element comprising a first fixing region for fixing the sealing element to the locking element, a second fixing region for fixing the sealing element to the housing, and, between the first fixing region and the second fixing region, an elastically deformable connecting region, by which the first fixing region is movable relative to the second fixing region during a pivot movement of the locking element.