System for providing wireless operation of powered device(s) on a vehicle

• US 10,414,359 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyri International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tyri International Inc.
• Inventors: Wadell, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dominique, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US15/042,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

Charging for one or more powered devices on a vehicle may be implemented on support components of a vehicle which may be movable with respect to one another to accomplish a function. When the support components are in a first position, a power unit in communication with a power source of the vehicle may be used to charge a rechargeable power storage unit proximal to the power unit. The power storage unit, in turn, may provide power to one or more powered devices which may be separately housed. When the support components are in a second position, such as to accomplish a work function, the charged power storage unit may continue to provide power to the powered device(s) despite the power storage unit and the powered device(s) being distal to the power unit and the power source. In addition, or in the alternative, contact based charging may be implemented to charge the rechargeable power storage unit in the first position.

Claims

1. A system for providing operation of a powered device on a vehicle, comprising:

first and second support components of the vehicle that are movable with respect to one another;

a power storage unit attached to the first support component;

a power unit attached to the second support component, the power unit being operable to charge the power storage unit when the power unit is proximal to the power storage unit in a first position;

a powered device configured to receive power from the power storage unit, wherein, the powered device is configured to operate when the power unit is spaced apart from the power storage unit in a second position; and

a lock between the power storage unit and the power unit, wherein the lock is configured to be selectively enabled and disabled, and wherein the power storage unit and the power unit are each movable together in the first position when the lock is enabled.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a spring, wherein at least one of the power storage unit and the power unit is attached to the respective support component via the spring.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the lock is magnetically operated.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the lock is disabled by a tension of the spring.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered device includes a light emitting diode (LED), a camera and/or a wireless communication interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power unit is operable to charge the power storage unit in the first position by wireless induction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first support component includes forks of a forklift.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the powered device is physically integrated with the power storage unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power unit is operable to charge the power storage unit in the first position by inductive charging and direct contact charging.

10. A method for operating a powered device on a vehicle, comprising:

attaching a power storage unit to a first support component;

attaching a power unit to a second support component;

charging the power storage unit when the power storage unit is proximal to the power unit in a first position;

moving the first and second support components with respect to one another so that the power storage unit is spaced apart from the power unit in a second position;

operating a powered device receiving power from the power storage unit while the powered device and the power storage unit are spaced apart from the power unit in the second position; and

locking the first support component to the second support component and moving each of the power storage unit with the power unit together when in the first position.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching at least one of the power storage unit and the power unit to the respective support component via a spring.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising magnetically operating the lock.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disabling the lock upon reaching a tension of the spring.

14. A system for providing operation of a powered device on a forklift, comprising:

a first support component including forks;

a second support component including a mast in communication with the forks, wherein the first and second support components are movable with respect to one another;

a power storage unit attached to the first support component;

a power unit attached to the second support component, the power unit being operable to charge the power storage unit when the power unit is proximal to the power storage unit in a first position;

a powered device attached to the first support component, the powered device including a light emitting diode (LED), the powered device being configured to receive power from the power storage unit, wherein the powered device is configured to operate when the power storage unit is spaced apart from the power unit in a second position; and

a lock between the power storage unit and the power unit, wherein the lock is configured to be selectively enabled and displayed, and wherein the power storage unit and the power unit are each movable together in the first position when the lock is enabled.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a spring, wherein at least one of the power storage unit and the power unit is attached to the respective support component via the spring.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the lock is magnetically operated.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the lock is disabled by a tension of the spring.

18. A system for providing operation of a powered device on a vehicle comprising:

first and second support components of the vehicle that are movable with respect to one another;

a power storage unit attached to the first support component;

a power unit attached to the second support component, the power unit being operable to charge the power storage unit when the power unit is proximal to the power storage unit in a first position;

a powered device configured to receive power from the power storage unit, wherein the powered device is configured to operate when the power unit is spaced apart from the power storage unit in a second position;

a lock between the power storage unit and the power unit, wherein the power storage unit and the power unit are movable together in the first position when the lock is enabled; and

a spring, wherein at least one of the power storage unit and the power unit is attached to the respective support component via the spring.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the lock is magnetically operated.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the lock is disabled by a tension of the spring.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the powered device includes a light emitting diode (LED), a camera and/or a wireless communication interface.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the power unit is operable to charge the power storage unit in the first position by a direct power contact.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the power unit is operable to charge the power storage unit in the first position by wireless induction.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the first support component includes forks of a forklift.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the powered device is physically integrated with the power storage unit.