Retractable Conductor Bars for Fast EV Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current infrastructure for charging electric vehicles is costly, unsafe, and not adaptable to different vehicles, with permanent connections being unsightly and requiring significant downtime for maintenance, and existing charging systems are slow and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The development of vehicle-side and charge station-side systems featuring retractable conductor bars and receivers with electrical brushes, allowing for fast charging or discharging of electric vehicles by extending and retracting conductor bars to make contact with charging stations, enabling rapid energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent electrical connections (railing or overhead lines) are used to transfer power to electric vehicles, then power transfer is reliable, but the system becomes costly to install and maintain, unsightly, and requires significant downtime for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical connection system from a permanent fixed infrastructure (railing or overhead lines) and relocates it to the vehicle itself through retractable conductor bars. This removes the complex overhead infrastructure while maintaining power transfer capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic retractable conductor bars that can extend and retract as needed, transforming the static permanent connection system into a dynamic on-demand connection system. This allows the vehicle to have reliable power transfer when needed without the complexity of permanent infrastructure
2Device complexity
If traditional plugging charging is used, then infrastructure is simpler, but charging time is significant and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical plugging action with an automated electrical contact system using spring-loaded conductor bars that automatically engage with the rail. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual plugging process while maintaining infrastructure simplicity, directly addressing the charging time issue
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor bars are pre-positioned and spring-loaded to automatically engage with the rail contact points as the vehicle approaches or enters the charging zone. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual intervention and reduces charging time while keeping the infrastructure simple
3Productivity
If retractable conductor bars are used for fast charging, then charging speed increases, but the system becomes more complex and requires high current connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical connection system into separate retractable conductor bars for different electrical connections (positive, negative, ground). This segmentation allows each bar to be independently controlled and designed for high current capability, achieving fast charging while managing system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable conductor bar system serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for electrical connection, enables rapid engagement/disengagement for fast charging, and can be designed to handle high currents. This multi-functionality achieves productivity improvement without proportionally increasing device complexity
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 fast charging of electric vehicles to a state of at least 50% in under 15 minutes and delivery of 50 kWh of energy in less than 15 minutes, with systems capable of handling high currents and being adaptable to various vehicle types and environments.
Implementation Method 1
The receiver comprises a plurality of electrical brushes in electrical communication with a power source. The receiver is configured to bring individual conductor bars of the plurality in contact with the electrical brushes for providing charge to the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle charging system comprises a plurality of retractable conductor bars in a housing of a vehicle. The plurality of conductor bars includes a positive conductor bar and a negative conductor bar. Individual conductor bars of the plurality are electrically isolated from one another. The vehicle charging system further comprises a charging system having a receiver mounted on a support structure. The receiver comprises a plurality of electrical contact members in electrical communication with a power source. The receiver is configured to bring individual conductor bars of the plurality in contact with the electrical contact members for charging an energy storage device of the vehicle.