Heating Foil Contact Rail Layout for Ice-Free Vehicle Charging
Solution Overview
Problem
Charging electric vehicles becomes difficult or impossible in freezing weather conditions due to ice formation on contact rails of charging stations.
Innovation Solution
A contact rail arrangement with a detachable contact rail and an integrated heating element, preferably a heating foil, is used to maintain ice-free conditions by direct heat transfer, ensuring reliable electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a contact rail arrangement is used for charging electric vehicles, then charging can be performed while the vehicle is stationary, but the contact rail freezes over in cold weather making charging difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is activated before the charging process begins to prevent ice formation on the contact rail. This preliminary heating action ensures the contact rail remains ice-free and ready for reliable electrical contact before the vehicle arrives or charging starts
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element converts electrical energy into thermal energy to counteract the harmful freezing temperatures. By introducing heat to the contact rail, the system transforms the cold environment's harmful effect into a controlled thermal condition that prevents ice accumulation and ensures reliable operation
2Reliability
If a heating element is added to prevent ice formation, then the contact rail remains ice-free, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the contact rail arrangement, merging the heating function with the existing structural components. This integration approach adds the necessary heating capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by utilizing the available space and structural elements of the contact rail assembly
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 ensures uninterrupted charging by preventing ice accumulation on contact rails, maintaining effective electrical contact even in freezing temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
The heating element is in contact with the contact rail and is used to keep the contact rail ice-free by direct heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a contact rail arrangement 1 of a charging device for transmitting electrical energy to a current-carrying conductor of a vehicle, having a contact rail carrier 2 on which a contact rail 3 is arranged, wherein at least one electrical heating element 14 of a contact rail heater is arranged between the contact rail carrier 2 and the contact rail 3, wherein the heating clement 14 is a heating foil.