Retractable EV Charging Socket Door With Compact Guided Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicles with retractable charging doors for electric powertrains have bulky mechanisms that increase the depth of the charging compartment, making the charging socket less accessible and compromising the aesthetic and functional efficiency of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design featuring a compact actuator assembly with a guiding device that allows the retractable charging door to move along a specific path, keeping the door hidden from view when open, thereby reducing the depth of the charging compartment and improving accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a retractable door mechanism is used to cover the charging compartment, then the aesthetic value of the motor vehicle is improved, but the mechanism becomes bulky and increases the depth of the charging compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The door is designed to be movable between a closed position (covering the charging compartment) and an open position (concealed within the body). This dynamic configuration allows the door to provide aesthetic coverage when closed while being hidden when open, without requiring excessive depth in the charging compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the door linearly in and out along the depth axis, the invention guides the door along a specific path that includes both translational and rotational components. This multi-dimensional movement allows the door to clear the charging socket area and be concealed within the body without increasing the depth of the charging compartment.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the charging compartment is made deeper to accommodate bulky door mechanisms, then the door can be retractable, but the charging socket becomes less accessible and user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The door follows a dynamically optimized path that ensures it clears the charging socket area completely when open, providing unobstructed access to the socket. The guiding device ensures the door moves along a predetermined trajectory that balances concealment with accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A guiding device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door and the charging compartment. This guiding device constrains the door's movement along a specific path, ensuring proper clearance and positioning without requiring excessive depth in the charging compartment.
3Shape
If a large mechanism is used for the retractable door, then the door can be concealed when open, but more free space inside the body is required which is a significant problem for some vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The door's dynamic movement along a guided path allows it to be concealed within the body's existing contours without requiring a large dedicated space. The guiding device enables efficient use of available space by directing the door along an optimized trajectory that clears the charging area and positions the door within the body's structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is guided to move in multiple dimensions (combining translation and rotation) rather than simple linear movement. This allows the door to clear the charging socket area and be concealed within the body without requiring excessive depth or lateral space, efficiently utilizing the vehicle's available volume.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A motor vehicle (1) includes a rechargeable electric power source (3), a body portion (2), a charging compartment (5) located on the body portion (2), an electric charging socket (4) located inside the charging compartment (5) and connected to the rechargeable electric power source (3), and a door (6) coupled to the body portion (2) in a movable manner between a closed position, in which the door (6) closes the charging compartment (5), and an open position, in which the door (6) is internally concealed by the body portion (2), thereby making the charging compartment (5) accessible from the outside, such that an external charging source can be connected to the electric charging socket (4) to enable a charging process of the rechargeable electric power source (3), a motorized mechanism (9) configured to drive the door (6) from the closed position to the open position along a path (P), characterized in that the path (P) comprises a first section (P1) starting from the closed position having at least one component directed toward the electric charging socket (4) and a second section (P2) terminating at the open position and directed transversely with respect to said component.