EV Battery Receptacle Sliding Cover for Automated Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle recharging systems require manual connection of a recharging connector, which can be inconvenient and inaccessible in automated systems where the vehicle charge receptacle is located beneath the vehicle, making hands-free connection challenging.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-side receptacle unit with a sliding cover and gap arrangement that guides a shuttle carrying the floor unit electrical connector for hands-free mating with the vehicle-side electrical connector, allowing for automated and accessible recharging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the vehicle charge receptacle is located beneath the vehicle for automated recharging systems, then automation capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inaccessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated recharging capabilityVSAvoidaccessibility to charge receptacle

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A sliding cover mechanism acts as an intermediary between the automated shuttle connection system and the protected charge receptacle. The sliding cover automatically moves to expose the receptacle interface when the shuttle approaches and returns to cover it after connection, enabling automated operation while maintaining protection and accessibility during the recharging process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual connection of recharging connector is required, then ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection convenienceVSAvoidrecharging system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding cover mechanism is designed to automatically perform the connection and disconnection actions without user intervention. When the shuttle carrying the floor unit electrical connector approaches the vehicle-side receptacle, the sliding cover automatically slides to allow engagement, and after connection is complete, it automatically returns to cover the interface, making the system self-servicing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding cover is positioned and prepared in advance to automatically slide open before the electrical connector engagement occurs, and to close after engagement is complete. This preliminary positioning and automatic action sequence eliminates the need for manual operation while maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10518658B1Electrical vehicle battery recharging vehicle-side receptacle unit

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 ABB E-MOBILITY BV

AI summary

A vehicle-side receptacle unit is described that is positionable on an underside of an electrical vehicle (EV) and a method for operating such unit. The vehicle-side receptacle facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector of a floor-positioned recharging unit. The vehicle-side receptacle unit includes a unit frame including a ground-facing surface, a sliding cover including a leading edge, and a gap containing an interface of the vehicle-side electrical connector. The sliding cover is arranged to linearly slide on a plane parallel with the ground-facing surface to guide, using the leading edge, a shuttle carrying the floor unit electrical connector toward the gap to facilitate a mating of corresponding electrical contacts of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector.