Vehicle Charging Socket Integration in Rear Lighting Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid and electric motor vehicles face challenges in easily installing charging socket units due to package constraints and require sealing on two planes to prevent moisture penetration, leading to increased installation effort.
Innovation Solution
Integrate the charging socket unit into or adjacent to a lighting assembly, with a charging line extending within the vehicle interior area, using a flat band line to enhance installation ease and allow for larger cross-sections, while maintaining a dry interior and sealing the passage opening to separate wet and dry areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the charging socket unit is arranged in a feedthrough of the body in the side frame together with or instead of the tank filling pipe, then the charging socket unit can be installed in a conventional location, but the installation effort increases due to package problems and the need to seal on two planes
Solution Approach 1:
The charging socket unit is extracted from the conventional side frame feedthrough location and relocated to the rear lighting assembly area. This extraction removes the charging socket from the constrained side frame environment, eliminating the need for complex dual-plane sealing in tight package spaces while maintaining weather protection through the lighting assembly's integrated sealing design
Solution Approach 2:
The charging socket unit is merged with the rear lighting assembly, combining two previously separate functions (lighting and charging) into a single integrated structure. This merging allows the charging socket to benefit from the lighting assembly's existing sealing and mounting infrastructure, reducing overall installation complexity
2Reliability
If the charging socket unit is sealed both at the passage opening to the body outer skin and at the passage opening to the body inner skin, then moisture and liquids are prevented from penetrating, but the installation effort increases due to sealing on two planes
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing functions for both the outer skin passage opening and inner skin passage opening are merged into a single integrated sealing arrangement within the lighting assembly. The lighting assembly's housing and mounting structure provide a unified seal that simultaneously addresses both sealing planes, maintaining weather protection while eliminating the need for separate sealing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly housing acts as an intermediary structure between the body outer skin and inner skin. This intermediary provides a pre-sealed environment that protects the charging socket unit from moisture and liquids, transferring the sealing function from the body structure to the lighting assembly's own sealed housing design
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid or electric vehicle, includes: a body which surrounds a vehicle interior region designed as a dry region; a lighting assembly which is attached to the body; a charging socket unit which can be at least partly integrated into the lighting assembly and/or is adjacent to this assembly, for connecting an external energy source; and an electrical energy store for providing energy for driving the hybrid or electric vehicle. The energy store is electrically connected to the charging socket unit via a charging line. The charging line extends completely or at least in portions in the vehicle interior region.