Inductive Pick-Up Arrangement for Electric Vehicle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicles not designed for inductive pick-up arrangements face significant challenges in mounting and operating such systems due to space requirements and alteration difficulties, making it impractical to retrofit or install these systems.

Innovation Solution

A compact inductive pick-up arrangement featuring a prolongable actuator that adjusts the vertical distance between the pick-up and mounting portions, allowing for efficient positioning and energy transfer using magnetic induction, with a locking mechanism to secure the pick-up in optimal positions, and optionally utilizing multiple actuators and connecting portions for enhanced movement and weight distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a traditional pick-up arrangement with raising and lowering means is mounted on an electric vehicle, then the pick-up can be positioned close to the roadway for efficient energy transfer, but the space required in the vertical direction becomes excessively large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidvertical space
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pick-up is nested within a cavity of the vehicle's underside, allowing the pick-up to be stored compactly when not in use and deployed only when needed, thereby reducing the permanent vertical space requirement while maintaining positioning capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The pick-up is made dynamically adjustable through a mechanical device that can lower it from the cavity or reposition it using a gear shaft and drive mechanism, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on operational needs versus space constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If an inductive pick-up arrangement is mounted on an existing electric vehicle not designed for such operation, then wireless energy transfer capability is added, but extensive alteration effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewireless energy transfer capabilityVSAvoidmounting effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting device is designed to be universally applicable to existing electric vehicles by utilizing the vehicle's existing cavity structure and mounting points, allowing the same pick-up arrangement to be installed on different vehicle models without custom fabrication for each vehicle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pick-up arrangement is segmented into modular components (pick-up, mounting device, actuator, control unit) that can be independently installed and adjusted, reducing the complexity of integration with existing vehicle systems and minimizing alteration effort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the pick-up is positioned close to the roadway for efficient energy transfer, then magnetic induction efficiency is improved, but the risk of damage from road irregularities increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy transfer efficiencyVSAvoidpick-up durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pick-up is equipped with adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of its position relative to the roadway, enabling the system to optimize the gap for efficient energy transfer while maintaining the capability to raise or reposition the pick-up to avoid damage from road irregularities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the position and operational status of the pick-up, and can automatically adjust its position or activate protective measures when road irregularities are detected, thereby maintaining both efficiency and durability through real-time feedback control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables the efficient mounting and operation of inductive pick-up systems on vehicles without extensive alteration, reducing space requirements and facilitating energy transfer through adjustable positioning and secure locking, thus enhancing the adaptability and functionality of electric vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

The inductance is for receiving a magnetic field (23) and for producing the electric energy (31)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2847025B1Inductive pick-up arrangement for an electric vehicle and method of operating an electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 BOMBARDIER PRIMOVE
  • EP2847025B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2847025B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2847025B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an inductive pick-up arrangement to be mounted on an electric vehicle which shall be operated with electric energy produced by the arrangement by magnetic induction, wherein: - the arrangement comprises a pick-up portion (1 ) comprising at least one electric inductance for receiving a magnetic field and for producing the electric energy, - the arrangement comprises a mounting portion (3) to be mounted on the vehicle, - the arrangement comprises an actuator (5) for actuating movement of the pick-up portion (1 ) relative to the mounting portion (3), - the mounting portion (3) and the pick-up portion (1 ) are moveably connected to each other by at least two connecting portions (7), - wherein a distance from the pick-up portion (1 ) to the mounting portion (3) in a vertical direction can be varied by the actuator (5), - the actuator (5) comprises a prolongable section (5) which can be prolonged and shortened by operating the actuator (5) and which extends from a first bearing (4a) attached to the mounting portion (3) to a second bearing (4b) attached to the pick-up portion (1 ), - the prolongable section (5) comprises a first operating state in which the prolongable section (5) is shorter than in a second operating state, so that the distance from the pick-up portion (1 ) to the mounting portion (3) is smaller in one of the first and second operating states than in the other of the first and the second operating states.