EV Charging Connector Ice-Breaking Rib Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for electric vehicle charging cables face issues with ice formation between shaft attachment plates, which prevents the cover from closing due to interference.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a peaked rib between the shaft attachment plates allows the cover to be rotated and break the ice, enabling easy closure even in snowy conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is provided to cover openings of the housing, then water or dirt prevention is improved, but the cover cannot be closed when ice is induced between the shaft attachment plates
Solution Approach 1:
The peaked rib is pre-formed on the base of the cover before use. When the cover is closed, the peaked rib automatically performs the action of breaking ice that may have formed between the shaft attachment plates during charging, ensuring the cover can be closed even in snowy conditions without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The peaked rib structure changes the physical state of ice by applying concentrated mechanical force at its tip, transforming the ice from a blocking state to a broken state. This allows the cover to be closed despite the presence of ice between the shaft attachment plates.
2Stability of the object's composition
If shaft attachment plates are provided to support the cover, then the cover support structure is improved, but ice accumulation between the plates prevents cover closure
Solution Approach 1:
The peaked rib is located specifically between the shaft attachment plates where ice accumulation occurs. This localized feature provides ice-breaking capability precisely where needed, without affecting the overall stability and support function of the shaft attachment plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The peaked rib converts the potential harmful effect of ice accumulation into a beneficial function by using the ice-breaking action to clear the path for cover closure. The ice that would normally block closure is instead broken by the peaked rib, allowing the cover to be closed successfully.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a connector in which a cover is readily closed when ice is induced between a pair of shaft attachment plates by such snowfall. A connector (1) mounted in an electric vehicle and connected to a connector of a charge cable is provided with a housing (2), a cover (3) rotatablly pivoted by the housing (2) and covering an opening of the housing (2), a latch (4), and shafts (7, 8). The cover (3) is provided with a pair of shaft attachment plates (37) and a rib arranged between the pair of shaft attachment plates (37). The rib (35) extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the pair of shaft attachment plates (37) being opposed to each other, and formed such that its tip is peaked. In the connector (1), even when ice is induced between the pair of shaft attachment plates (37, 38) with the cover (3) open by snowfall, rotation of the cover (3) in closing direction allows the ice to be broken by the rib (35) so as to readily close the cover (3).