Underbody EV Charging Connector Actuation Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power equipment for electric vehicles is inconvenient and inflexible due to the need for manual alignment of vehicle outlets with charging columns, leading to cluttered parking areas and limited accessibility for automatic charging systems.
Innovation Solution
A power equipment system featuring a first electrical connector connected to an electric power supply grid and a second connector associated with the vehicle's under-body surface, allowing for automatic coupling and decoupling without the need for precise alignment, using actuating means and floating support devices to ensure electrical contact regardless of vehicle position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If charging columns are provided in public parking areas to support automatic charging systems, then automatic charging operations can be performed, but the parking areas become cluttered with numerous columns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the charging function from the traditional column-based stationary infrastructure and relocates it to a mobile robot that can move freely through parking areas. This eliminates the need for fixed charging columns at every parking spot, thereby reducing clutter while maintaining automatic charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system transitions from static columns to a dynamic mobile robot that can autonomously navigate to vehicles requiring charging. This dynamic approach allows a single charging unit to serve multiple vehicles sequentially, reducing the total number of charging stations needed in the parking area.
2Extent of automation
If robot arms with visualisation systems are used for automatic connector actuation, then automatic electrical coupling can be achieved, but the system becomes complex and requires precise vehicle positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot integrates multiple functions including navigation, vehicle detection, connector actuation, and charging operations into a single universal platform. This consolidates what would otherwise require separate complex systems (robot arms, visualisation systems, positioning mechanisms) into one multi-functional device, reducing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If manual alignment of vehicle outlets with charging columns is required, then simpler charging equipment can be used, but the operation becomes inconvenient and inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile robot autonomously performs all charging operations including navigating to the vehicle, detecting the outlet position, actuating the connector, and establishing electrical contact. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual alignment operations while maintaining equipment simplicity, as the robot handles all complex tasks automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
Power equipment for electric vehicles (2), comprising: a first electrical connector (3) connected to an electric power supply grid; a second electrical connector (4) connected to a battery of the vehicle (2) and configured to mechanically couple to the first electrical connector (3); actuating means (9) of said first connector (3) for actuating the first connector (3) between a first condition in which it is removed from the second connector (4) to a second condition in which it is coupled to the second connector (4) to determine a passage of current from the electric grid to said battery; and a support body (10) of said actuating means (9), said first connector (3) and said actuating means (9) in the first condition being contained in the volume defined by said support body (10), said support body (10) has a support base (11) configured to be fastened to a parking surface of the vehicle (2) and underneath the vehicle (2) itself.