Overhead EV Charger Mounting for Sloped Solar Canopies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric vehicle charging infrastructure faces challenges such as standard length charging cords causing access and safety issues, and the need for improved systems and methods for charging electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system for an electric vehicle charging apparatus that includes a first and second vertical brace, with the second vertical brace having a longer length than the first, and a sloped support structure to suspend the charging apparatus from a canopy structure, allowing for efficient and safe charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard length charging cord (about 20 ft.) is used, then the charging apparatus can reach vehicles positioned 2-4 feet off the floor, but the cord may hinder access to the vehicle, become a trip hazard, or be driven over multiple times and thereby become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The charging apparatus is mounted overhead instead of at ground level, changing the spatial dimension from which the charging cord is deployed. This vertical repositioning allows the cord to hang downward from above, eliminating the need for long horizontal cords that create trip hazards and access obstacles while maintaining reach to vehicles parked underneath.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the charging apparatus at ground level and extending a cord upward to the vehicle, the system inverts this arrangement by mounting the apparatus overhead and extending the cord downward to the vehicle. This inversion resolves the cord management issues associated with ground-level mounting while improving safety and accessibility.
2Reliability
If the charging apparatus is mounted overhead from a canopy structure, then access to the vehicle is improved and cord damage is reduced, but a complex mounting system with multiple vertical braces of different lengths is required
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into modular components including multiple vertical braces, horizontal support members, and connection elements. Each vertical brace can be independently sized and installed, allowing for flexible adaptation to different canopy structures while maintaining overall system integrity. This segmentation simplifies installation and facilitates future maintenance or modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is designed with universal connection points and standardized interface elements that can accommodate various canopy types and vehicle positions. The vertical braces and support members serve multiple functions including structural support, positioning adjustment, and load distribution, reducing the need for specialized components for each specific application.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle charger charging apparatus is configured to suspend from a canopy and connect to an electric vehicle from above the vehicle. The canopy has a purlin frame and supports a photovoltaic module for generating electricity. The electric vehicle charging apparatus suspends from the purlin frame of the canopy by a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a first vertical brace and a second vertical brace having bottom connection points connectable to mounting points on a vehicle charger and top connection points connectable to a block brace coupled to the purlin frame. The mounting points on the vehicle charger are level to horizontal ground surface and the canopy is sloped with respect to the horizontal ground surface such that the second vertical brace has a greater length between the top and bottom connection points than the first vertical brace.