Movable EV Charging Cable Terminal for Flexible Parking Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle chargers are inflexible and costly, requiring specific installation and maintenance, leading to inefficient use of space and components, especially in parking lots where multiple charging points are needed.
Innovation Solution
A modular electric vehicle charger design with a movable charging cable terminal that can be easily repositioned and detached from a support unit, allowing for flexible installation and maintenance without the need for specialized electricians, reducing manufacturing and storage costs by eliminating the need for multiple variants with fixed terminal orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If electric vehicle chargers are installed with fixed charging cable terminal positions, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but space utilization efficiency deteriorates and multiple variants are required
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable terminal is made movable between different positions (first position and second position) on the charging unit, allowing dynamic adaptation to different parking configurations. This resolves the contradiction by enabling a single charger design to serve multiple spatial arrangements without requiring fixed terminal positions during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging unit is designed with universal functionality to operate with the charging cable terminal at either the first position or the second position. This multi-position capability allows a single charger variant to replace multiple fixed-position variants, improving space utilization while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple variants of chargers with different terminal positions are manufactured, then adaptability to different parking spots is improved, but manufacturing costs and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing multiple static variants with fixed terminal positions, the invention implements a single dynamic design where the charging cable terminal can be moved between positions. This reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple variants while maintaining the ability to adapt to different charging spots.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fixed-position charger variants are merged into a single charging unit with a movable terminal. This consolidation reduces the number of different charger models that need to be manufactured, stored, and maintained, while preserving the capability to serve multiple parking configurations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If charging cable terminals are fixed in position, then installation stability is improved, but flexibility for repositioning and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging cable terminal is designed with movable connection mechanisms (such as sliding connections or detachable connectors) that allow it to be repositioned between the first and second positions while maintaining stable electrical connections. This dynamic design provides both installation stability during operation and flexibility for repositioning when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging unit is segmented into modular components, with the charging cable terminal being a separate movable element that can be independently repositioned or maintained. This segmentation allows the terminal to be moved without affecting the overall stability of the installed charger system.
4Reliability
If specialized electricians are required for installation and maintenance, then installation reliability is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging unit is designed with user-friendly features such as movable charging cable terminals and modular components that can be easily repositioned or replaced without requiring specialized electrician skills. This self-service design reduces installation and maintenance costs while maintaining reliability through simplified operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system is segmented into independent modular units that can be easily installed, maintained, or replaced by non-specialized personnel. This modularity improves ease of operation by allowing simple maintenance tasks without requiring electrician intervention, while reliability is maintained through standardized connection interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an electric vehicle charger (1) which comprises a support unit (3) configured to receive power supplied to the electric vehicle charger and a charging unit (2) configured to receive power via the support unit. The charging unit comprises a charging cable terminal (4). The position of the charging cable terminal on the charging unit can be changed by a user.