Vehicle Charging Socket Actuator with Manual Emergency Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuators for motor vehicles, particularly those used in locking devices for charging sockets, face challenges in maintaining operation during electrical or electronic system malfunctions and require significant construction space while providing protection against moisture and dust.
Innovation Solution
An actuator with an electrically displaceable locking bar and a manual emergency release mechanism, featuring a lever that can be actuated from within the vehicle, combined with a sealing collar for dust-tight and moisture-tight sealing, reduces construction space and ensures reliable operation even in case of system failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an electric motor is used to move the locking bar, then the locking operation is automated and convenient, but the device becomes unreliable in case of electrical system malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is segmented into two independent subsystems: an electrical subsystem (motor-driven locking bar) and a mechanical subsystem (spring-loaded lever with cam mechanism). This segmentation allows the mechanical emergency release to function independently when the electrical system fails, resolving the reliability issue while preserving automation during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes its operational parameter from purely electrical to a hybrid electro-mechanical state during malfunctions. The spring-loaded lever stores mechanical energy that can be released to manually disengage the locking bar when electrical power is unavailable, thus adapting to different operational conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a bellows is used to seal the actuator against moisture and dirt, then protection is provided, but the construction space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The bellows is designed as a compact, thin-walled flexible component that provides effective sealing against moisture and dirt while occupying minimal space. The accordion-style structure allows the bellows to flex with the locking bar's movement without requiring excessive volume, thus resolving the space-protection contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The bellows is nested within the actuator housing in a space-efficient manner, allowing it to extend and retract with the locking bar while remaining contained within the overall actuator volume. This nesting arrangement provides protection without significantly increasing the external dimensions of the actuator.
3Device complexity
If the locking bar is electrically displaceable only, then the construction is simple, but the device cannot be unlocked during system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is designed with multi-functionality: the electrical motor provides automated locking under normal conditions, while the mechanical lever system provides emergency manual release capability. This universal design ensures the device can perform both automated and manual unlocking functions, resolving the reliability issue without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded lever system is self-contained and does not require external power or control systems to function. During electrical failures, the mechanism uses stored mechanical energy in the spring to enable manual disengagement of the locking bar, providing self-service emergency release capability.
Data Source
AI summary
With the present invention, actuators known from the prior art are supposed to be developed further.For this purpose, an actuator comprises, in particular, an electric motor and a locking bar that can be moved by means of the electric motor. Moreover, the actuator comprises a lever with which the locking bar can be moved back mechanically out of its locking position.The invention moreover relates to a charging socket for an electrically driven motor vehicle. As is already known from a motor vehicle driven by an electric motor and an outlet provided in a private household, the electrical contacts of the charging socket are located protected in one or more recess(es). Into these recess(es), contacts of a charging plug which correspond therewith and are, for example, pin or rod-shaped, can be pushed for contacting. An adjacent, in particular peripherally extending, housing is provided around the one or more recess(es). A gap-shaped space, which in particular extends peripherally around the recess(es) and into which a housing of a charging plug corresponding therewith can be pushed, thus remains between the recess(es) and the adjacent housing. An actuating element with a locking bar is attached on the outside of the adjacent housing. For locking a charging plug, the locking bar can be moved by the actuating element into the adjacent housing through a corresponding opening.