Electric vehicles and charging stations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A charging system for an electric bus, comprising:
- a charging station including;
a support structure configured to overhang a roof of the electric bus;
one or more connector arms having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to the support structure at a pivot such that the one or more connector arms is configured to rotate at the pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the roof of the electric bus to move the second end towards and away from the roof; and
at least a pair of charging electrodes coupled to the second end of the one or more connector arms and configured to establish an electrical connection with a pair of charge-receiving electrodes of the bus; and
a positioning system having an actuation mechanism configured to rotate the one or more connector arms at the pivot to move the pair of charging electrodes towards the pair of charge-receiving electrodes to establish electrical connection therebetween.
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Abstract
The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A charging system for an electric bus, comprising:
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a charging station including; a support structure configured to overhang a roof of the electric bus; one or more connector arms having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to the support structure at a pivot such that the one or more connector arms is configured to rotate at the pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the roof of the electric bus to move the second end towards and away from the roof; and at least a pair of charging electrodes coupled to the second end of the one or more connector arms and configured to establish an electrical connection with a pair of charge-receiving electrodes of the bus; and a positioning system having an actuation mechanism configured to rotate the one or more connector arms at the pivot to move the pair of charging electrodes towards the pair of charge-receiving electrodes to establish electrical connection therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A charging system for an electric bus having roof mounted charge-receiving electrodes, comprising:
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a charging station including; a support structure; one or more connector arms having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to the support structure at a first pivot having a first pivot axis and the second end is pivotably coupled to a charging brace at a second pivot having a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis; at least a pair of charging electrodes coupled to the charging brace; and a positioning system having an actuation mechanism configured to rotate the one or more connector arms at the first pivot such that the pair of charging electrodes moves towards the charge-receiving electrodes of the electric bus to establish electrical connection therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of charging an electric bus at a charging station, the charging station including one or more connector arms having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to an overhanging support structure at a pivot having a pivot axis extending substantially parallel to a roof of the electric bus such that the one or more connector arms is configured to rotate at the pivot about the pivot axis to move the second end towards and away from the roof of the electric bus, and wherein the second end of the one or more connector arms is coupled to a plurality of charging electrodes, and the roof of the electric bus includes a plurality of charge-receiving electrodes, the method comprising:
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rotating the one or more connector arms at the pivot about the pivot axis to move the plurality of charging electrodes of the charging station towards the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes on the roof of the electric bus; activating charging of the electric bus by directing current from the charging station to the electric bus; and rotating the one or more connector arms at the pivot about the pivot axis to move the plurality of charging electrodes away from the roof of the electric bus after the charging. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification