Guide Carriage for Charging Cable Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging cable guidance systems for electric vehicles require significant space due to the need for storing the cable when not in use, limiting the compactness of charging stations.

Innovation Solution

An extendable charging cable system with a guide carriage that moves along a guide track, allowing the cable to be pulled out or retracted within a small installation space, featuring a cable bend and electric drive control to manage extension length and prevent cable loops or tangling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the charging cable is stored in a storage space when not in use, then the cable can be retracted and organized, but the installation space requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable retraction and organizationVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide carriage moves the charging cable in a planar path between the fixed end and mobile end, utilizing two-dimensional space (along the guide track) rather than requiring three-dimensional storage volume. This dimensional transformation allows the cable to be extended and retracted along a linear track while maintaining a compact overall device footprint, effectively resolving the contradiction between cable management capability and installation space requirement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the guide carriage moves towards the stationary end of the charging cable, then the extension length increases, but the cable sections between the carriage and ends shorten

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextension lengthVSAvoidcable section length
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The guide carriage dynamically repositions itself along the guide track to control cable distribution. As the carriage moves towards the stationary end, it dynamically shortens the cable sections between itself and the cable ends while simultaneously increasing the extension length available for use. This dynamic redistribution allows the system to adapt cable configuration based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between extension length and cable section length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3716429A1Device for guiding a charging cable
Publication Date: 2020.09.30 ADS TEC ENERGY GMBH
  • EP3716429A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3716429A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3716429A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for guiding a charging cable (2), in particular a charging cable (2) at a charging station (30) for an electrical consumer such as a motor vehicle, wherein the charging cable (2) is fixedly connected at a first end (7) and has a charging plug (9) at a second, movable end (8). In order to provide a large extension length of the charging cable in a limited installation space, a guide carriage (4) is arranged between the first end (7) and the second end (8) of the charging cable (2). The charging cable (2) is guided and held in its longitudinal direction by the guide carriage (4), wherein the guide carriage (4) is to be moved along a guide track (5) such that the distance (a) of the guide carriage (4) to the fixed end (7) of the charging cable (2) changes.