Electric Vehicle Current Collector Protection Arrangement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current protection arrangements for current collectors in electric vehicles with rechargeable batteries are not adequately adapted to automatically disconnect and reconnect safely during charging, leading to safety concerns and the need for expensive disconnecting switches.
Innovation Solution
A protection arrangement that automatically opens to allow contact between the current collector and the charging supply when the vehicle reaches a predefined charging position, encasing the current collector when not in use to prevent accidental contact and eliminating the need for a disconnecting switch, using pivotable or slidable covers operated by actuators or spring-loaded mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a power switch is used to disconnect the battery from the current collector, then safety is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dangerous high-voltage battery connection from the current collector by introducing a disconnection arrangement that physically separates the battery from the current collector when not in use. This removes the hazard source rather than relying on complex switching mechanisms to control it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary disconnection arrangement consisting of insulating supports and mechanical linkages that mediate between the battery and current collector. This intermediary structure provides automatic disconnection without requiring expensive power switches capable of breaking high-current circuits.
2Ease of operation
If the current collector is permanently connected to the battery, then charging convenience is improved, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic disconnection arrangement that automatically transitions between connected and disconnected states based on operational conditions. The mechanical linkage system responds to vehicle movement and charging status to dynamically adjust the connection state, providing both safety and convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The disconnection arrangement is designed to automatically disconnect the battery from the current collector without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates based on vehicle operation status, providing safety automation that eliminates the need for complex control systems or human action.
3Ease of operation
If the current collector is exposed during non-charging periods, then accessibility is improved, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the current collector from the hazardous electrical environment by physically disconnecting it from the battery during non-charging periods. This separation removes the electrical hazard while maintaining the current collector's structural presence and accessibility for future charging operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A protection arrangement for a current collector arranged on a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage includes a first protective state in which the current collector is covered by the protection arrangement and a second open state in which the protection arrangement allows contact between the current collector and a corresponding current supply during charging of the energy storage and where the protection arrangement is automatically opened from the protective state to the open state when the vehicle has reached a predefined charging position. The current collector can be enclosed when the vehicle is not charged and the protection arrangement can open automatically when a charging position is reached. This can improve the safety of the vehicle and obviate the need of a specific circuit breaker that can disconnect the current collector from the electric energy storage. The charging of the vehicle can also be simplified.