Vehicle Charging Cable Guide Prevents Curvature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charging cable systems for vehicles are prone to degradation due to curvature caused by their own weight when pulled out from winding reels or drums, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A charging cable-housing device featuring a rotatable bobbin to wind the charging cable, a casing with an extraction opening, and a guide member that directs the cable from above the extraction opening downward, preventing curvature and thus reducing degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the charging cable is wound on a winding reel and extracted from a lower portion, then the cable can be stored compactly, but the cable will curve near the drum due to its own weight causing degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage compactnessVSAvoidcable durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional extraction location from the lower portion to the upper portion of the winding reel. The cable is extracted from above the reel rather than below, which reverses the curvature direction and prevents the cable from bending under its own weight during extraction, thereby solving the degradation problem while maintaining compact storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If the charging cable is extracted from below the winding reel, then the structure is simple, but the cable curves and degrades due to gravity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcable durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains structural simplicity by extracting the cable from above the winding reel instead of below. This inversion changes the extraction path so the cable does not curve under gravity, preventing degradation without adding complex mechanical structures or support systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the cable is led out from below the bobbin, then the housing structure is simplified, but the cable curves near the extraction opening causing degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing structure simplicityVSAvoidcable durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the extraction opening location from below to above the bobbin. The cable is led out from above the bobbin through an upper extraction opening, which prevents the cable from curving under its own weight during extraction. This maintains housing structure simplicity while eliminating the degradation issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8561737B2Charging cable-housing device and vehicle

Publication Date: 2013.10.22 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A charging cable-housing device includes: a charging cable that supplies electric power from an external electric power source to a vehicle; a bobbin which is rotatable, and on which the charging cable is wound, and which is disposed in a rear portion of the vehicle; a casing that houses the bobbin, and that has an extraction opening through which the charging cable is extracted out; and a guide member that guides the charging cable led out from the bobbin from above the extraction opening toward the extraction opening.