Rail-Guided EV Charger Cable Locking to Prevent Random Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chargers for electric vehicles often result in random movement of the charging cable, leading to wear and damage due to repeated contact with the ground or floor.
Innovation Solution
A charger design featuring a rail body with a formed rail, a sliding guide for the charging cable, an electromagnet on one of the rail body or guide, and a magnet on the other, allowing for the locking and unlocking of the guide using a control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the charging cable is made long to reach the vehicle, then the charging coverage is improved, but the cable is more prone to wear and damage from contact with the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable is made dynamically movable through the guide module, which can slide along the rail to adjust the cable's position and length distribution. This dynamic adjustment allows the cable to reach vehicles at different positions while reducing the portion in contact with the ground, thereby maintaining charging coverage while improving cable durability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide is allowed to move freely to adjust cable position, then the charging flexibility is improved, but the guide experiences random movement causing wear and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnet replaces the traditional mechanical locking mechanism to control the guide's movement. By using electromagnetic force, the system can precisely control when the guide is locked and unlocked, eliminating random mechanical movements and wear while maintaining the ability to adjust cable position for flexible charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module receives signals about the charging state and automatically controls the electromagnet to lock or unlock the guide accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures the guide is locked during stable charging operations and unlocked only when adjustment is needed, preventing random movement while maintaining charging flexibility.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent guide movement, then the guide stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnet provides a simple yet effective locking mechanism that replaces complex mechanical latch systems. The electromagnet can be controlled by the modular control unit to provide stable locking when needed, achieving guide stability with minimal structural complexity and easy integration into the existing charger design.
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
This solution effectively limits random movement of the guide, minimizes wear and damage to the charging cable, and prevents inconvenience caused by random cable movement, while allowing for simple locking of the guide.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet placed on one of the rail body or the guide, and a magnet placed on the other one of the rail body or the guide
Data Source
AI summary
The charger according to the disclosure includes a rail body on which a rail is formed, a guide disposed to slide on the rail and configured to support a charging cable of the charger, wherein one of the rail body or the guide includes an electromagnet, and a magnet is provided at the other of the rail body or the guide which does not include the electromagnet, wherein movement of the guide along the rail may be restricted by operation of the electromagnet by applying a force to the magnet.