Device for automatically connecting a vehicle to an electric power supply
First Claim
1. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
- a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable;
a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station;
two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station, and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis;
a lifting device for vertically lowering said turn-over anchor into said docking station and for vertically lifting it out of said docking station,wherein;
said turn-over-anchor is supported by said lifting device via two horizontally spaced hook elements engaging two funnel shaped slots;
said hook elements supported by said lifting device; and
said two funnel shaped slots are arranged on the rear side of said turn-over-anchor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for automatically connecting a vehicle to an electric power supply, comprises: a turn-over-anchor (48, 210), including a first connector part (42, 216) connected to the cable (28, 208); and a docking station (50, 212), including a second connector part (44, 230) configured for mating with the first connector part (42, 216) according to a vertical coupling axis (47, 236), when the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is vertically deposited into the docking station (50, 212). The device further includes two horizontally spaced vertical rods (58′, 58″, 246′, 246″), each of which is arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or hole (62′, 62″, 248′, 248″) of an opposite element (50′, 50″), when the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is deposited into the docking station (50, 212), and is dimensioned so as to be self-locking in the hole (62′, 62″, 248′, 248″), if the turn-over-anchor (48, 210) is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with the vertical coupling axis (47, 236).
17 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station; two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station, and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; a lifting device for vertically lowering said turn-over anchor into said docking station and for vertically lifting it out of said docking station, wherein; said turn-over-anchor is supported by said lifting device via two horizontally spaced hook elements engaging two funnel shaped slots; said hook elements supported by said lifting device; and said two funnel shaped slots are arranged on the rear side of said turn-over-anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station; and two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; wherein said docking station includes a vertical push-plate; said turn-over-anchor includes adjustable guide elements protruding from its front face, so that when said turn-over-anchor is pushed with said adjustable guide elements against said vertical push-plate, the axes of the first connector part and the second connector part are both located in a plane parallel to the vertical push-plate; said device further comprises a transfer arm for transferring said turn-over-anchor into and out of said docking station, said transfer arm including; a first arm section for horizontally pushing said turn-over-anchor against said vertical push-plate; a vertical lifting mechanism supported by said first arm section for vertically lowering said turn-over-anchor into in said docking station and vertically lifting it out of said docking station; a coupling device supported by said vertical lifting mechanism for coupling the latter to said turn-over-anchor, wherein said coupling device has with regard to said vertical lifting mechanism a horizontal degree of freedom for floating perpendicularly to a vertical plan containing the central axis of said first arm section; and said device further including a guide capable of laterally aligning said turn-over-anchor within said docking station by using said horizontal degree of freedom of said coupling device, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station; two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station, and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; wherein said first and/or said second connector part includes a normally closed protection cover capable of covering said first, respectively second connector part, wherein its opening is triggered by said turn-over-anchor being deposited into said docking station, said protection cover formed by two opposing half-covers, pivotable about two parallel, substantially horizontal axes located on two opposite sides of said second connector part, wherein in a closed position, one half-cover partially overlaps the other half-cover. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into said docking station; two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station, and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; a cantilevered turn-over-arm with a front cable guide; and a lifting device for vertically lowering said turn-over-anchor into said docking station and for vertically lifting it out of said docking station, wherein the front cable guide and/or the turn-over-arm are movable relative to the docking station, so as to be capable of vertically aligning the turn-over-anchor with the docking station. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 22)
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14. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into in said docking station; and two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods; being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station; and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; said turn-over-anchor further includes a cable drum, said free end of said cable connected to said first connector part being guided at least partly around said cable drum; and said turn-over-anchor is designed so that said cable may leave said cable drum at two locations spaced by about 180°
around said cable drum and eccentric relative to said vertical coupling axis, so that the force said cable exerts onto said turn-over-anchor is never aligned with said vertical coupling axis.
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15. A device for automatically connecting a vehicle via a cable to an electric power supply, said device comprising:
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a turn-over-anchor including a first connector part connected to a free end of said cable; a docking station including a second connector part configured for mating with said first connector part according to a vertical coupling axis, when said turn-over-anchor is vertically deposited into in said docking station; and two horizontally spaced vertical guide rods, each of said guide rods; being arranged so as to vertically penetrate into a guide opening or guide hole of an opposite element, when said turn-over-anchor is deposited into said docking station; and being dimensioned so as to be self-locking in said guide hole, if said turn-over-anchor is subjected to a significant force that is not aligned with said vertical coupling axis; said turn-over-anchor including said first connector part further comprises a guiding block; an upper part of said guiding block forms at least one curved guide surface for guiding said power cable when a horizontal force component is exerted on said power cable; and said second connector part is mounted in a casing which forms at its outlet a fixed curved guide surface in extension of the curved guide surface formed by said upper part of said guide block. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification