Underground Charging Stand Buoyancy Design Against Flood Submersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging equipment installed underground is susceptible to submersion during heavy rain, posing a risk to electrical components due to lack of waterproofing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a buoyancy generation portion that floats specific electrical components above ground using buoyancy, preventing submersion by maintaining the power supply port exposed for vehicle use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If power supply equipment is stored underground to save space and avoid interference with walking or vehicle travel, then space utilization is improved, but the electrical components are at risk of submersion during heavy rain
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply equipment is divided into a fixed portion (housing with electrical components) and a movable portion (cover). The movable portion can be raised above ground level when needed, allowing the electrical components to be protected from submersion while maintaining underground storage when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is designed as a movable portion that can change position between being stored underground and being raised above ground. This dynamic configuration allows the equipment to adapt between space-saving storage mode and protection mode during heavy rain, resolving the contradiction between space utilization and submersion protection.
2Ease of operation
If the movable portion is raised to expose the power supply port for vehicle charging, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of submersion increases if water accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy generation portion is pre-installed within the movable portion to provide automatic buoyancy protection. When water accumulates, the buoyancy generation portion automatically generates upward buoyant force before submersion can occur, counteracting the harmful effect of water accumulation and protecting the electrical components even when the movable portion is raised.
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 solution effectively prevents submersion of electrical components, ensuring continuous power supply to vehicles by keeping critical components above ground even in flooded conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a buoyancy generation portion that floats a specific component that is at least a part of the electrical component and for which submersion is avoided above the ground when water is accumulated in the storage portion
Data Source
AI summary
A charging stand is power supply equipment being storable under a ground, and includes: an electrical component for supplying electric power to a vehicle on the ground (e.g., a control device, a power supply circuit, an actuator, a connector, a touch panel display, a communication device, a notification device, and a cable reel device); and a buoyancy generation portion causing a specific component that is at least a part of the electrical component and for which submersion is avoided (e.g., the control device, the power supply circuit, the actuator, the connector, the touch panel display, the communication device, the notification device, and the cable reel device) to float above the ground by buoyancy when water is accumulated in a recess. With the above, when water is accumulated in the recess, the specific component for which submersion is avoided among the electrical component can be floated above the ground by buoyancy.