Vehicle Charging Coupling Alignment via Deflecting Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems face challenges in reliably and efficiently aligning power inlet and outlet coupling means for charging, requiring complex maneuvers and guiding systems to ensure proper contact alignment.
Innovation Solution
The system employs deflectingly movable coupling means arranged in multiple planes to align inlet-side and outlet-side coupling members, allowing for correction of misalignment without needing the vehicle to adjust its course, and includes telescopic and resilient members for enhanced alignment and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle and charging station use fixed coupling means, then the structure is simple, but the alignment reliability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means are made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The inlet-side coupling means can deflect in a first plane and the outlet-side coupling means can deflect in a second plane, allowing real-time adaptation to misalignment conditions during docking, thereby improving alignment reliability without requiring complex active control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the coupling means from rigid to flexible by allowing deflection in specific planes. This parameter change enables the coupling means to adapt their orientation and position dynamically during the docking process, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If the vehicle performs complex maneuvers to align coupling means, then the alignment precision is improved, but the charging time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complex vehicle maneuvers, the coupling means themselves are made dynamic with deflection capabilities in multiple planes. This allows alignment to be achieved through passive mechanical adaptation during a simple approach maneuver, eliminating time-consuming active alignment procedures while maintaining high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling means perform self-alignment through their inherent deflection capabilities in the first and second planes. The system serves itself by automatically adapting to alignment requirements without requiring complex external control or prolonged maneuvering, thus reducing charging time while maintaining precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling means are made deflectingly movable in multiple planes, then the alignment adaptability is improved, but the mechanical complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means are equipped with deflection capabilities in a first plane and a second plane that are substantially perpendicular to each other. This orthogonal arrangement provides maximum adaptability for alignment in three-dimensional space while using simple, independent deflection mechanisms in each plane, avoiding the need for complex multi-axis actuators
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection capability is segmented into two independent planes (first plane and second plane) rather than requiring a single complex multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism. Each plane's deflection mechanism can be implemented separately and simply, and their combined effect provides comprehensive alignment adaptability
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3B
AI summary
A vehicle system with a charging station (30) and a autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle(2) dockable therewith, the vehicle system including mutually engageable inlet-side coupling means (5, 6) on the vehicle and an outlet-side coupling means (31, 32) on the charging station (30) arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged and further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member (6), an outlet-side guiding member (32), respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side coupling means from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of said inlet-side and outlet-side coupling means when docking the vehicle to the charging station.