Retractable Piston Recharging Device for Urban Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical energy recharging solutions for transport and industrial vehicles, such as fixed stations and overhead wires, are costly, cumbersome, and aesthetically undesirable, particularly harming urban environments.
Innovation Solution
An electrical energy recharging device with a retractable piston mechanism that connects to a fixed energy supply station, featuring a caisson design with a central mast and mobile piston, ensuring safe and efficient energy transfer without overhead wires, utilizing a conductive ring and insulating components to manage electrical contact and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed station with plug-in connector is used to recharge the energy reserve, then the vehicle can be recharged during prolonged stops, but the fixed station becomes costly, heavy and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed station is divided into multiple distributed recharging points installed at regular intervals along the vehicle route. Each recharging point is a lightweight unit that provides charging during short stops, eliminating the need for a single heavy stationary station while maintaining reliable recharging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The recharging system transitions from a vertical overhead wire configuration to a horizontal ground-level distributed point system. This dimensional change allows the vehicle to recharge laterally during stops rather than requiring overhead infrastructure, reducing both visual impact and structural weight.
2Use of energy by moving object
If overhead wires are used to harness electrical energy continuously, then the vehicle can be recharged along its route, but the wires harm the urban environment visually
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful overhead wires are completely removed from the system. Instead, energy is transferred through a retractable arm that makes brief contact with ground-level recharging points, extracting only the necessary electrical energy while leaving the urban environment visually clean.
Solution Approach 2:
A retractable arm with conductive elements serves as an intermediary between the vehicle and ground-level recharging points. This mediator enables energy transfer during short stops without requiring permanent overhead wiring, thus eliminating visual pollution while maintaining energy supply capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the energy reserve is recharged during short stops at regular intervals, then overhead wires are eliminated, but the recharging frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs periodic recharging actions at distributed ground-level points during its regular route stops. These periodic brief contacts accumulate sufficient energy over the vehicle's operational cycle, eliminating the need for continuous overhead wiring while managing recharging frequency through strategic positioning of multiple points along the route.
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
This solution reduces the need for overhead wires, minimizes onboard energy storage, enhances safety by preventing electrical contact when retracted, and allows periodic recharging, offering a visually appealing and cost-effective alternative for urban environments.
Implementation Method 1
The device also comprises a contact ring, made from conductive material, which is suitable to rest on several seats
Implementation Method 2
The lower surface S" of the body 104 is equipped with a conducting plate 108... Between plate 108 and body 104, there is an insulating element 114
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
Figure 4
AI summary
This device comprises a caisson (4) suitable to be buried in a route (6) or in a speed limitation obstacle, a mobile mechanism (18) made at least partly out of conductive material, said mobile mechanism being suitable to assume a first retracted position, in which it is housed entirely inside the caisson, as well as a second extended position in which it protrudes at least partially outside said caisson (4), and means (22) allowing said mobile mechanism to be electrically connected to a fixed electricity supply station (36). Said mobile mechanism being equipped with an electrical connection element (32) suitable to come into contact with a complementary electrical connection element (108) of the vehicle (102) so as to convey electrical energy from the fixed station (36) in the direction of said vehicle.