Segmented EV Charging Plug Contact for Wear Replacement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging plugs for electric vehicles face high maintenance costs and time-consuming replacement processes due to the wear and tear of power contacts during frequent charging operations, requiring the entire plug to be dismantled and new contacts to be connected to the charging lines.

Innovation Solution

A power contact designed in two parts, with a detachable contacting component and a base component, allowing only the contacting component to be replaced without disassembling the entire plug, using connection devices like screws or bayonet connections for easy detachment and reconnection, and incorporating an insulating sleeve for reduced corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the entire charging plug is dismantled to replace worn power contacts, then the power contacts can be replaced, but the replacement process becomes time-consuming and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower contact replacementVSAvoidreplacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The power contact is divided into two separate components: a contacting component (first connection area) and a base component (second connection area). The contacting component is designed to be detachable from the base component, allowing only the worn contacting component to be replaced while keeping the base component with the charging line connection intact. This segmentation enables quick replacement without dismantling the entire charging plug.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of repair

If the entire charging plug is dismantled to replace power contacts, then new contacts can be connected to charging lines, but maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower contact replacementVSAvoidmaintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the power contact into a replaceable contacting component and a permanent base component, the invention allows only the worn contacting component to be replaced. This reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the need to replace the entire charging plug assembly and reduces the complexity of the replacement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If the contacting component is made detachable for easy replacement, then replacement time is reduced, but the connection reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement timeVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contacting component is pre-equipped with connection devices (such as screws, bayonet connections, or other fastening mechanisms) that enable quick and reliable attachment to the base component. This preliminary preparation of connection mechanisms ensures that the detachable design does not compromise connection reliability while maintaining easy replaceability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3446369B1Connector with interchangeable contact
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 PHOENIX CONTACT E MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP3446369B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3446369B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B
  • EP3446369B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The invention relates to a power contact (10) for a charging plug (100) and/or for a charging socket, wherein the power contact (10) has a first connection region (21) for galvanically connecting to an electrical energy receiver or energy transmitter, and a second connection region (31) for galvanically connecting to a charging line (120), wherein the power contact (10) is characterised by the following features: the power contact (10) is formed as two parts and has a base component (30) and a contacting component (20) that can be connected to the base component (30), wherein the contacting component (20) is designed such that it can be detached from the base component (30), such that the contacting component (20) of the power contact (10) can be exchanged; the first connection region (21) is arranged in the contacting component (20) and the second connection region (31) is arranged in the base component (30); and, when connecting the contacting component (20) to the base component (30), the first connection region (21) and the second connection region (31) are galvanically connected.