EV Charging Nozzle Air Curtain Waterproofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging devices for electric vehicles lack sufficient waterproofing, leading to potential short-circuits when used outdoors in rainy conditions, as the charging connector can become wet and deteriorate, causing interruptions in charging.
Innovation Solution
A charging device with an air nozzle system that blasts air radially to prevent the power feeding plug from getting wet, combined with a controller and operation switch to manage air supply, ensuring the plug remains dry even when attached to a vehicle connector outdoors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging connector is provided without additional waterproofing structures, then the device complexity is reduced, but the waterproofing reliability deteriorates in outdoor rainy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by introducing an air nozzle that blows air to form an air curtain around the charging connector. This air curtain acts as a protective barrier preventing rainwater from contacting the connector, thereby achieving waterproofing without complex sealing structures. The air flow field created by the nozzle provides dynamic protection against water infiltration.
Solution Approach 2:
The air nozzle is activated before the charging operation begins, creating a protective air curtain in advance. This preliminary action ensures that the charging connector is already protected from rainwater before any potential water contact occurs, maintaining reliability without requiring complex post-exposure protection mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the charging connector is exposed outdoors without protection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the object-affected harmful factors increase due to rainwater contact
Solution Approach 1:
The air nozzle generates a controlled air flow that forms a protective barrier around the charging connector. This pneumatic shield effectively repels rainwater while maintaining clear access for operators to connect and disconnect the charging plug, thus preserving ease of operation while eliminating harmful water contact.
3Reliability
If an air nozzle system is added to prevent water contact, then the waterproofing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air nozzle system utilizes pneumatic principles to create a simple yet effective waterproofing mechanism. By generating an air curtain that naturally repels water, the system achieves high waterproofing reliability without requiring complex mechanical seals, gaskets, or multi-layer protective structures, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the protective mechanism from static (traditional seals) to dynamic (moving air flow). The air nozzle adjusts the air flow parameters to maintain an effective protective barrier, achieving waterproofing through parameter control rather than complex structural 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
The solution significantly enhances waterproofing reliability, preventing short-circuits and ensuring reliable charging operations in rainy conditions by forming an air curtain around the power feeding plug, thus improving weather resistance and reducing vandalism risks.
Implementation Method 1
an air nozzle that is provided in the power feeding connector and blasts the air flowing through the air duct
Data Source
AI summary
A charging device includes an air nozzle that prevents power-feeding-side terminals from becoming wet by blasting air, fitting switches operated when a power feeding connector is removed from a connector holding portion, and an ECU that activates an air compressor and a vacuum pump on the basis of operations of the fitting switches. The power-feeding-side terminals can be prevented from becoming wet while the power feeding connector is attached to a power receiving connector of an electric vehicle after being removed from the connector holding portion.