Vehicle Supply Cable With Animal Detection and Deterrence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing supply cables for electric vehicles are vulnerable to damage from animals like martens and rodents, which can bite and gnaw on the cables, leading to potential short circuits and safety risks, especially when used outdoors or in wet conditions, and existing solutions like metal coils or electric shocks are either cumbersome or pose additional safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A supply cable with integrated detection and output units that use optical, acoustic, and movement-based sensors to detect animals and emit scaring signals, such as flashing lights or ultrasound, to deter them without exposing live wires, combined with a bite-inhibiting sheath that prevents further damage, and communication units to alert users of potential threats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal coils are arranged around the cable to prevent animal damage, then animal protection is improved, but the cable becomes cumbersome and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical protection system (metal coils) with an acoustic detection and deterrence system. The detection unit uses acoustic sensors to identify animals, and the output unit emits ultrasonic or audible sounds to scare them away, eliminating the need for physical barriers that impede cable flexibility and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protection approach from static physical barriers to dynamic acoustic signals. By using detection units to identify animal presence and output units to emit targeted acoustic deterrents, the system maintains protection while preserving cable flexibility and ease of handling.
2Reliability
If electric shock plates are used to scare off animals, then animal deterrence is improved, but user safety is compromised due to electric shock risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electric shock-based deterrence with acoustic signal-based deterrence. The output unit emits ultrasonic or audible sounds that effectively scare away animals without posing any electric shock risk to users, maintaining animal deterrence while eliminating harmful electrical effects.
3Reliability
If additional conductors are permanently energized in the cable sheath, then animal biting is prevented, but the cable becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex electrical protection system (additional energized conductors in sheath) with an acoustic detection and deterrence system. This simplifies the cable structure while maintaining animal bite prevention through non-contact acoustic deterrents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary between the cable and animals. Instead of direct electrical contact through energized conductors, the acoustic signals mediate the interaction, scaring away animals before they can bite the cable, thereby reducing structural complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the cable is left unattended for charging, then charging convenience is improved, but animal damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where detection units continuously monitor for animal presence, and when detected, the output unit immediately emits acoustic deterrents. This real-time monitoring and response system allows the cable to be left unattended during charging while maintaining protection against animal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the cable to protect itself autonomously during unattended charging. The integrated detection and output units form a self-service protection system that automatically identifies and deters animals without requiring user intervention, maintaining both charging convenience and animal damage prevention.
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 solution effectively prevents animal damage to the supply cables by scaring off animals before they bite, maintains cable integrity, reduces the risk of electric shocks, and enhances user safety by interrupting current flow when animals are detected, while being compact, flexible, and easy to handle.
Implementation Method 1
the detection unit is designed to detect animals in the surroundings of the supply cable, in particular in a detection range of the detection unit
Implementation Method 2
The supply cable has a detection unit which is designed to detect animals
Implementation Method 3
emit scaring signals, such as flashing lights or ultrasound
Implementation Method 4
emit scaring signals, such as flashing lights or ultrasound
Implementation Method 5
interrupting current flow when animals are detected
Data Source
AI summary
A supply cable for electrically connecting a vehicle to an energy supply apparatus that supplies electrical energy and/or to a load that requires electrical energy. The supply cable includes: a connecting line; a primary connector which is electrically couplable or coupled to the connecting line and has a vehicle terminal for detachable electrical connection to the vehicle, in particular to the energy storage device; a secondary connector which is electrically couplable or coupled to the connecting line and has a secondary terminal which is provided for detachable electrical connection to the energy supply apparatus or to the electrical load; a detection unit for detecting animals in the surroundings of the supply cable; and an output unit for outputting scaring signals for scaring off the detected animal.