Overhead EV Charging Cable Positioning for Flexible Parking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Charging electric vehicles can be challenging due to the need for precise parking alignment of the vehicle with the charging station, especially when the charging port is not conveniently located, and existing charging stations limit the number of vehicles that can be charged simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An overhead charging apparatus with a control assembly, including a support structure, cable holding unit, and actuation mechanism, allows the electric cable to be remotely extended and retracted from an overhead location to a charging port, enabling flexible positioning and reducing space constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging station is mounted on a wall or floor at a fixed location, then the charging connector can be provided, but the vehicle must be positioned precisely close to the station which limits maneuverability and accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system transitions from ground-level wall/floor mounting to overhead ceiling mounting, utilizing the vertical dimension. The charging connector is suspended from the ceiling and can be lowered vertically to reach the vehicle, freeing up ground space and allowing vehicles to be positioned anywhere within the overhead coverage area rather than requiring precise alignment with a ground-mounted station.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging connector is made dynamically movable through a winch or reel mechanism that can lower and raise the connector. This dynamic positioning capability allows the connector to adapt its position to match different vehicle locations and heights, eliminating the need for fixed precise positioning and enabling flexible charging across multiple vehicle positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length charging cable is used, then the charging station structure is simple, but the reach is limited and multiple vehicles cannot be charged simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The cable system replaces fixed-length cables with dynamically extendable and retractable cables managed through winch or reel mechanisms. These mechanisms allow the cable length to be adjusted based on the distance to the vehicle, enabling charging of vehicles at various positions while providing cable management to prevent tangling and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead charging system with adjustable cable length serves multiple functions: it can charge multiple vehicles simultaneously by extending cables to different lengths and positions, accommodate vehicles of different sizes and types, and provide charging access in various spatial configurations, making the system universally applicable to diverse charging scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the charging port placement varies by vehicle make and size, then vehicle compatibility is achieved, but manual maneuvering of the connector becomes difficult when port and station are misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead charging system incorporates automatic positioning capabilities where sensors detect the vehicle's position and the charging port location, then the winch mechanism automatically lowers the connector to the correct position and aligns it with the vehicle's charging port, eliminating the need for manual maneuvering and making the system easy to use despite varying vehicle configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector positioning system is made dynamic and adjustable to accommodate different vehicle types. The winch mechanism can lower the connector to varying heights and positions, and some implementations include lateral adjustment capabilities, allowing the connector to adapt to different charging port locations on various makes and models of vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead charging apparatus and method for charging electric vehicles using the overhead charging apparatus is provided. The charging apparatus includes a control assembly, a power supply unit, and an electronic device. The control assembly includes a support structure, a cable holding unit, and an actuation mechanism. The power supply unit includes an electric cable having an end coupled to a charging connector. A portion of the electric cable is disposed in a cable passage of the cable holding unit. The end of the electric cable retractably extends from the cable passage to a first location. The electronic device, coupled to the actuation mechanism, transmits an input to the actuation mechanism to displace the portion of the electric cable from the cable passage such that the end of the electric cable moves from the first location to a second location proximal to a charging port of an electric vehicle.