Overhead EV Charging Cable Guide for Ground Contact Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging cables for electric vehicles are prone to damage and safety hazards due to contact with the ground when fully extended, necessitating excessive care and posing electrical risks.
Innovation Solution
A charging apparatus with an enclosure, rail, roller unit, spool unit, and guide system that maintains cable balance and prevents ground contact, using sensors and motors to manage cable extension and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging cable is extended to reach multiple vehicles with different charging plug positions, then the adaptability is improved, but the cable comes into contact with the ground causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable is extended vertically upward from the top of the enclosure rather than horizontally along the ground. This dimensional change allows the cable to reach vehicles at different positions without contacting the ground, thus maintaining both adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A guide structure protruding from the enclosure serves as an intermediary that directs and supports the charging cable during its extension. This guide ensures the cable follows a safe path away from the ground while maintaining connection capability to multiple vehicles
2Power
If the charging cable is made thicker and heavier to handle higher charging power, then the power transmission capability is improved, but the cable becomes more prone to ground contact damage
Solution Approach 1:
By extending the heavy, high-power cable vertically upward from the enclosure top rather than along the ground, the invention eliminates ground contact hazards while maintaining the cable's high power transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure provides mechanical support and counterbalancing for the heavy cable during extension, preventing it from sagging or contacting the ground despite its increased weight from higher power capacity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the charging cable is extended to maximum length to reach all vehicle positions, then the versatility is improved, but the cable requires excessive care in handling
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure automatically guides and supports the charging cable during extension and retraction, eliminating the need for users to manually manage the cable's path and reducing handling complexity despite the cable's extended length
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
Prevents cable damage and reduces user effort by maintaining balance and extending the cable to various vehicle positions safely and conveniently.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member located between and connected to the fixed shaft and the spool body. When external force is released, the spool body of the spool unit may rotate in a winding direction due to elastic support force of the elastic member
Implementation Method 2
a motor provided in the enclosure, and a spool body connected to the motor to be rotatable by the motor
Implementation Method 3
a first roller mounted on one side of the rotation shaft, the first roller inserted into the guide groove
Data Source
AI summary
A charging apparatus includes an enclosure including an outlet hole at an upper portion of the enclosure, a rail provided in the enclosure, a roller unit provided to be movable along the rail, a wire including a first end portion connected to the roller unit, a spool unit to which a second end portion of the wire is connected, the spool unit rotatably driven to wind the wire, and a charging cable including a first end portion fixed to the inside of the enclosure and a second end portion including a charging gun, the charging cable extending to the outside of the enclosure through the outlet hole via the roller unit.