EV Charging Locking Bolt with Lever-Actuated Microswitch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging devices for electric vehicles lack reliable protection against unauthorized access and damage, which can prevent secure locking of the charging connection, potentially allowing unauthorized charging or battery drain.
Innovation Solution
A charging device with a bolt locking mechanism that requires a lever to move into an end position to enable locking, incorporating a microswitch or button to ensure proper locking and prevent movement into the locking position if the retaining opening is damaged, thus ensuring secure charging connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple bolt locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of protection against unauthorized access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lever must be moved to the end position before the bolt can be moved into the locking position. This preliminary action ensures that the retaining opening is intact and properly positioned, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining a relatively simple overall mechanism structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever acts as an intermediary component between the bolt and the retaining opening. It translates the position of the locking bar into lever position, which then controls whether the bolt can engage with the retaining opening. This intermediary mechanism provides reliable protection without requiring complex electronic or mechanical systems.
2Reliability
If a microswitch or button is added to detect lever position, then the reliability of locking detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever itself serves the dual function of controlling the locking mechanism and indicating its position. When the lever is in the end position, it naturally allows the bolt to lock and simultaneously actuates the microswitch or button. This self-service approach provides reliable locking detection without adding complex separate detection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical interlocking systems with a simpler mechanism using a lever, bolt, and optional microswitch. The mechanical lever system provides the primary control, while the microswitch offers electrical detection only when needed, reducing overall mechanical complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the bolt can move freely into the locking position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of damage detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lever must be moved to the end position as a preliminary action before the bolt can move into the locking position. This ensures that the retaining opening is properly positioned and intact, allowing easy operation when conditions are correct while reliably preventing locking when damage is present.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever in the initial position creates a preliminary anti-action by blocking the bolt's path to the locking position. This prevents the bolt from moving freely into the locking position unless the lever has been properly moved to the end position, thereby detecting potential damage while maintaining ease of operation under normal conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a charging device for an electric vehicle, which charging device can be protected against unauthorized access in a particularly reliable manner. The charging device for an electric vehicle with which the problem is solved has a bolt for locking a connection between the charging device and a further charging device. If the charging device is mechanically connected to a further charging device for charging purposes, this mechanical connection is then locked by a corresponding end of the bolt being moved into a retaining opening in the further charging device. A retaining opening of this kind can, for example, be damaged by a broken web which serves for locking such that locking is no longer possible. Therefore, a device is provided which can prevent movement of the bolt in the direction of a locking position when the retaining opening is damaged in this way. A locking arrangement which is damaged in the above manner therefore fundamentally does not remain unnoticed. Charging therefore fundamentally requires sufficiently undamaged, correct locking of the two charging devices involved.