Vehicle Charging Socket Flap With Cable Hazard Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging socket arrangements for electric vehicles pose a safety risk as the protruding charging cable can endanger road users, particularly when the socket is positioned on one side of the vehicle, and existing solutions do not adequately address this issue.
Innovation Solution
A warning flap is integrated into the charging socket arrangement, which is initially hidden but protrudes as a visible warning sign when the charging cable is plugged in, accompanied by a cable guide to manage the cable's position and prevent excessive protrusion, and can include active lighting for nighttime visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging socket is positioned on one side of the vehicle to facilitate charging access, then charging convenience is improved, but the charging cable protrudes onto the road or bicycle path creating safety hazards for road users
Solution Approach 1:
A warning flap is introduced as an intermediary element between the charging socket and the external environment. The flap visually mediates the presence of the charging cable by displaying warning symbols and text, alerting road users to the hazard zone without requiring physical modification to the cable routing or socket position.
Solution Approach 2:
The warning flap utilizes color changes and optical properties to enhance visibility. The flap incorporates reflective materials and can display different colors or illuminate with LEDs to signal the charging state, making the hazard visible to road users under various lighting conditions while maintaining the convenient side-mounted socket position.
2Productivity
If the charging cable is allowed to protrude freely from the vehicle during charging, then charging functionality is maintained, but the cable is exposed to damage and the plug connection may loosen
Solution Approach 1:
A cable guide is introduced as an intermediary structure that mediates between the charging socket and the external charging cable. The guide provides a protected pathway for the cable, maintaining the necessary protrusion for charging functionality while preventing direct exposure to damage sources and reducing connection loosening through proper cable routing and support.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a warning flap is added to alert road users of the charging cable, then safety for road users is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The warning flap is merged with the existing charging socket assembly structure. The flap integrates with the socket housing, cable guide, and surrounding vehicle body panels, combining multiple functions (warning display, cable guidance, and structural support) into a unified assembly that minimizes additional complexity while maximizing safety benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging socket arrangement for a vehicle, having a charging socket arranged in a charging socket recess and a charging socket flap, which covers the charging socket in a first position and exposes it in a second position, and a warning flap arranged in the area of the charging socket, which in a first position is invisible and can be covered by the charging socket flap and in a second position protrudes from an outer skin of the vehicle visibly in front of and/or behind the charging socket flap as a warning sign and warns other road users of a protruding charging cable, and a vehicle having such a charging socket arrangement.