EV Charging Inlet Cover With Adjustable Port Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging port devices for electric vehicles require separate ports for different charging standards, necessitating additional cover mechanisms that are either unwieldy or require excessive installation space, failing to meet safety and environmental protection standards.
Innovation Solution
A charging port device with a charging inlet cover featuring an adjustable-width cover element that selectively covers one of two charging ports, allowing for easy adaptation to different port widths through sliding, folding, or pivoting, and incorporating a guide device for seamless movement and secure sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a displaceable cover is used to cover the unused charging port, then safety and environmental protection are improved, but the installation space requirement increases and the cover becomes unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The charging inlet cover is divided into two functional parts: a fixed cover element that remains stationary and a displaceable cover element that moves to cover the unused charging port. This segmentation allows the system to provide safety coverage without requiring a single large displaceable cover, thereby reducing installation space requirements while maintaining protective functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed cover element acts as an intermediary between the charging ports and the external environment. It provides a stable structural base that supports the displaceable cover element, enabling the latter to function effectively with reduced space requirements while maintaining safety and environmental protection.
2Reliability
If a cover flap is used to cover the charging port, then safety is improved, but more installation space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The covering function is segmented between a fixed cover element and a displaceable cover element. The fixed element provides structural support and partial coverage, while the displaceable element provides dynamic coverage. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single large cover flap, reducing installation space while maintaining safety.
3Reliability
If stoppers are used to cover the charging port, then safety is improved, but the device becomes unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The covering function is divided between fixed and displaceable elements. The fixed cover element provides stable safety coverage without moving parts, eliminating the unwieldiness associated with stoppers. The displaceable element handles only the necessary movement for port access, improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic moving parts and complex mechanisms of stoppers are extracted and replaced with a simpler displaceable cover element that works in conjunction with the fixed cover element. This extraction removes the sources of unwieldiness while maintaining safety functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate charging ports for different standards are provided, then charging compatibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging inlet cover system is designed to accommodate multiple charging port standards through a universal covering mechanism. The fixed and displaceable cover elements work together to provide safety coverage regardless of which charging port standard is in use, eliminating the need for separate covering mechanisms for each standard and thereby reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging port device for an electrically driven vehicle includes a charging inlet with a first charging port and a second charging port and a charging inlet cover which has an open position and a closed position. In the charging inlet, a cover element is disposed within the charging inlet cover which alternately covers the first charging port and the second charging port. The cover element has an adjustable width which is settable according to a respective width of the first charging port and the second charging port.