Automatically Winding Energy-Transfer Cable Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy-transfer cables for vehicles are inflexible and prone to damage, limiting their positioning and requiring separate storage, which can lead to loss and inefficiencies in engine pre-warming and charging processes.
Innovation Solution
An automatically winding energy-transfer cable arrangement with a protective tube made of elastic material, an electric plug cap, and optional heating and timing features, allowing for flexible placement and protection of the cable, enabling efficient use and protection against damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate cable is used for engine pre-warming or charging, then the cable can be easily connected to power sources, but the cable is prone to damage and loss, and requires separate storage in the footwell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the energy-transfer cable with the vehicle body by incorporating a winding mechanism and housing directly into the vehicle structure. The cable is permanently mounted within the vehicle, eliminating the need for separate storage and reducing the risk of loss or damage while maintaining ease of connection to power sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The winding mechanism automatically winds and unwinds the cable as needed, reducing manual handling and the associated risk of damage. The system serves itself by managing the cable's deployment and retraction without requiring user intervention for storage or protection.
2Reliability
If the windable cable housing is located behind the license plate, then the cable can be protected, but this imposes unnecessary restrictions on where the energy-transfer cable can be located in the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the protective tube and housing system to be adaptable to multiple mounting locations on the vehicle. The housing can be positioned at the front bumper, rear bumper, or other suitable locations depending on the specific vehicle model and application requirements, making the system universally applicable across different vehicle types and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for dynamic positioning of the housing based on vehicle-specific requirements. The protective tube can be installed at various locations along the vehicle body, and the cable length and routing can be adjusted to optimize performance for different mounting positions, enabling flexibility in system deployment.
3Length of moving object
If the energy-transfer cable is positioned close to the bumper, then the cable length is reduced, but this limits the distance from power sources and requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cable system into modular segments with the housing and winding mechanism as a separate unit from the cable itself. This segmentation allows the housing to be positioned at optimal locations while the cable extends to reach power sources at varying distances, providing flexibility in positioning without being constrained by fixed cable lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for adjustment of cable length and housing position parameters to optimize performance for different applications. The cable can be configured in various lengths and the housing positioned at different locations on the vehicle, enabling adaptation to different power source distances and vehicle configurations.
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 provides a freer positioning of the energy-transfer cable, protects it from damage, and ensures reliable operation at low temperatures, enhancing vehicle engine pre-warming and battery charging efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the protective tube is made of an elastic material, which may further facilitate the positioning of the energy-transfer cable arrangement in a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the energy-transfer cable arrangement comprises means for heating the energy-transfer cable. This embodiment facilitates the use of the energy-transfer cable, also at very low temperatures, and reduces the risk of the energy-transfer cable becoming damaged
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an automatically winding energy-transfer cable arrangement for a vehicle. A separate vehicle heating or charging cable may be lost or damaged as it is kept in the footwell of the vehicle, for example. The present invention aims at solving how to allow a freer fixed positioning of a winding energy-transfer cable at a vehicle. The winding energy-transfer cable arrangement at least comprises a housing having winder means for an energy-transfer cable and a protective tube connected to the housing to protect the energy-transfer cable outside the housing, possibly allowing a freer positioning of the housing, together with the energy-transfer cable and the winder means, in a vehicle, and, at a distance from the bumper, for example.