Charging Station Reset Lever Membrane Sealing for Outdoor Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging stations for electric or hybrid vehicles face challenges in protecting the access window for reset levers of electrical equipment while ensuring easy and economical operation, especially when exposed to outdoor elements.
Innovation Solution
A protective membrane with a contour, central gripping portion, and flexible intermediate portion is secured to the housing, allowing the reset lever to be manipulated through the access window without removal, while sealing the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover or hinged protection is used to protect the access window, then protection against elements is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible protective membrane made of elastomeric material to seal the access window. This thin film provides effective protection against outdoor elements while maintaining simplicity, avoiding the need for complex hinged covers or rigid protective structures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sealing caps are placed in front of electrical devices, then protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective membrane is designed to be dynamically deformable, allowing it to stretch and flex when the reset lever is manipulated. This dynamic property enables the membrane to accommodate lever movement while maintaining the seal, thus protecting electrical devices without compromising ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible elastomeric membrane provides protection while allowing manipulation of the reset lever through its ability to deform elastically, combining protection with operational accessibility.
3Reliability
If the access window is sealed to protect against elements, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elastomeric membrane maintains an effective seal against elements while its elastic properties allow it to stretch and accommodate the movement of the reset lever, ensuring both reliability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical state changes during operation - it stretches and deforms when the lever is manipulated, then returns to its original sealed position, providing both sealing effectiveness and operational accessibility through parameter changes in its physical state.
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
The membrane effectively seals and facilitates safe, direct manipulation of reset levers, maintaining accessibility and durability without damage, even in outdoor conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible intermediate portion extending between the contour and the central gripping portion and which is provided with at least a first section extending from the contour in a first direction generally transverse to the at least one access window, a second section extending from the central gripping portion in the same first generally transverse direction, and a fold connecting the at least a first section and the second section; with the at least one protective membrane which is configured to allow the at least one reset lever to be manipulated by stretching the flexible intermediate portion around the fold
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical system provided with a housing (2) having at least one access window (15), at least one electrical apparatus (20) housed in the housing (2) and comprising at least one reset lever (21) directly accessible from the at least one access window (15), and at least one protective membrane (22) secured to the housing (2) at the at least one access window (15) and comprising a contour (23), a central gripping portion (24) located at a distance from the contour (23) and facing the at least one reset lever (21), a flexible intermediate portion (25) extending between the contour (23) and the central gripping portion (24) and provided with a fold (37), with the at least one protective membrane (22) being configured to allow the at least one reset lever (21) to be manipulated by stretching the portion flexible intermediate (25) around the fold (37).