Charging method and assembly utilizing a mule vehicle with a storage battery

• US 10,333,338 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zenner, Thomas, Hammoud, Mazen, Layden, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clemmons, Steve
• Application Number:
  US15/790,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20190123578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An exemplary charging method includes charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging assembly includes a mule vehicle. A storage battery of the mule vehicle charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery is configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of the electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery.

Claims

1. A charging method, comprising:

charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery; and

after the tow vehicle and the mule vehicle reach the stranded vehicle, mechanically coupling the stranded vehicle to the tow vehicle, and then towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle as the mule vehicle autonomously follows the stranded vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to the tow vehicle when the tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to the stranded vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising regeneratively charging the storage battery of the mule vehicle when towing the mule vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the charging based on a distance that the tow vehicle must travel to reach the stranded vehicle.

5. A charging method, comprising:

charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery; and

after the tow vehicle and the mule vehicle reach the stranded vehicle, mechanically coupling both the stranded vehicle and the mule vehicle to the tow vehicle, and then towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle while using the mule vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising pushing the stranded vehicle with the mule vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising braking the mule vehicle to slow the stranded vehicle being towed and thereby assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle as the mule vehicle is driven by an operator located on the mule vehicle.

9. A charging assembly, comprising

a mule vehicle;

and

a storage battery of the mule vehicle that charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery, wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to a tow vehicle when the mule vehicle is towed to the stranded vehicle, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to mechanically couple to the stranded vehicle and to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

10. The charging assembly of claim 9, wherein the storage battery is regeneratively charged when the mule is towed to the stranded vehicle.

11. The charging assembly of claim 9, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to push the stranded vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

12. The charging assembly of claim 9, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to brake to slow the stranded vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

13. The charging assembly of claim 9, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to be driven by an operator located on the mule vehicle.

14. The charging assembly of claim 9, wherein the stranded vehicle is the electrified vehicle, and further comprising Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment of the mule vehicle that electrically couples the storage battery to the traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

15. The charging assembly of claim 14, wherein the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment comprises a charge cord.

16. A charging assembly, comprising

a mule vehicle;

and

a storage battery of the mule vehicle that charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery, wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to a tow vehicle when the mule vehicle is towed to the stranded vehicle, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to autonomously follow the stranded vehicle when the stranded vehicle is towed by the tow vehicle.