EV Plug Inlet Latch Storage for Wear and Hazard Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical vehicle charging plugs experience wear and tear when not in use, and there is a risk of accidents due to their exposure, as they need to be safely stored to extend their lifespan and prevent hazards.
Innovation Solution
A plug inlet device designed to securely store electrical vehicle charging plugs by locking them in place using mechanisms such as electro-mechanical switches or click-in latch locks, which can be mounted on surfaces like walls and incorporate features for cord wrapping and grounding for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the EV charging plug is left exposed when not in use, then it is easily accessible for charging, but it experiences wear and tear and safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is stored inside a recessed cavity in the plug inlet device, nesting the plug within a protective structure when not in use. This nesting approach protects the plug from physical damage and environmental exposure while maintaining easy access by simply pulling the plug from the cavity.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effects of leaving the plug exposed (wear and tear, safety hazards) are extracted and eliminated by providing a dedicated storage cavity. The plug is taken out from the exposed state and placed into a protected stored state, separating the charging function from the storage function in time and space.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the plug is stored without a locking mechanism, then it is easy to access and remove, but it may be accidentally pulled or accessed by unauthorized persons
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical locking system is replaced with a simple magnetic locking mechanism. The magnet embedded in the plug inlet device magnetically attracts and holds the plug in place, providing secure storage without requiring complex mechanical latches, springs, or multiple moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking force is changed from a mechanical parameter (spring force, latch engagement) to a magnetic field parameter. By adjusting the magnetic field strength, the locking force can be precisely controlled to provide secure holding while allowing easy removal when needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the cord is left loose and unwrapped, then it is easily accessible for connection, but it creates tripping hazards and wear from being stepped on
Solution Approach 1:
The cord storage function is merged with the plug inlet device structure. The recessed cavity serves dual purposes: protecting the plug and providing a path for the cord to wrap around and through. This integration eliminates the need for separate cord management components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cord is directed from a two-dimensional flat layout into a three-dimensional wrapped configuration around the plug inlet device. This dimensional change allows the cord to be neatly organized and protected from ground-level hazards while maintaining accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The plug inlet effectively reduces wear and tear on the charging plugs and prevents accidents by securely storing them when not in use, enhancing safety and extending the plug's lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The solenoid may be housed in the plug inlet and may be configured to insert a plunger into a receptacle area in the plug when a first voltage is applied to the solenoid, and remove the plunger from the receptacle area when a second voltage is applied to the solenoid.
Implementation Method 2
a first magnet may be mounted on the first side of the lever, and a second magnet, mounted on a divider between the lever and the socket, may be designed to reject the first magnet
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes plugging a plug into a socket, wherein the plugging includes pushing the plug into the socket at least up to a point that a latch clicks into the plug and locks the plug in place. Pressing down on a lever that rotates around an axis causes the lever to be pushed down. This results in the latch moving away from the plug and unlocking the plug from the socket, to thereby allow the plug to be separated from the socket.