Service port configurations

• US 20030162448A1
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, John David Trevor, Mufford, William Edward, Routtenberg, David Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,817,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/894
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0053 relating to fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/005 Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

Various service port configurations for the transfer of fluids, gases and electricity between a service terminal and a vehicle are provided. The service port includes a receptacle and a controller. The receptacle includes a clamp and a clamp actuator for actuating the clamp; a service exchange interface in between the clamp; and sensors inside the receptacle and configured to monitor the position of a plug inside the receptacle. The controller is connected to the sensors and the actuator, and monitors the sensors. When a sensor detects that a plug is in position for engagement, the controller instructs the clamp actuator to move the clamp until the plug is clamped with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged. The receptacle and the plug are couplable to either the service port or a vehicle and a service terminal, and both are implementable at a multiplicity of locations on a vehicle.

Claims

1. A service port for automatically engaging a plug, wherein the plug is capable of coupling to one and the service port is capable of coupling to the other of a vehicle and a service terminal;

the service port comprising;

(a) a receptacle comprising

(i) a clamp inside the receptacle and attached to an actuator for moving the clamp between a clamped and unclamped position;

(ii) a service exchange interface in between the clamp; and

(iii) at least one sensor inside the receptacle and configured to monitor the position of a plug inside the receptacle; and

,

(b) a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the actuator, and programmed to

(i) monitor the sensor; and

(ii) when the sensor detects that a plug is in between the clamp and in position for engagement, instruct the actuator to move the clamp until the service engagement interface engages a corresponding service exchange interface on the plug with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged between the interfaces.

2. The service port of claim 1 wherein the receptacle service exchange interface is configured to exchange one or more services selected from the group of hydrogen, water, and electricity.

3. The service port of claim 2 wherein the receptacle service exchange interface is configured to exchange a fluid and includes a fluid valve assembly and a fluid conduit connected to the valve assembly and connectable to one of the vehicle and the service terminal.

4. The service port of claim 3 wherein at least one sensor is further configured to detect the clamping force exerted by the clamp against the plug, and the controller is programmed to stop operation of the actuator when sufficient clamping force is exerted on the plug to establish a fluid seal between the plug and receptacle service exchange interfaces.

5. The service port of claim 2 wherein the receptacle service exchange interface includes an electrical contact and an electrical connector connected to the contact and connectable to one of the vehicle and the service terminal.

6. The service port of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises a stationary surface and a moveable surface attached to the actuator, and the service engagement portion is attached to the moveable surface.

7. The service port of claim 1 wherein the clamp comprises a stationary surface and a moveable surface attached to the actuator, and the service engagement interface is attached to the stationary surface.

8. The service port of claim 1 wherein the receptacle has a pair of service exchange interfaces attached to the clamp such that the interfaces face each other in between the clamp, the interfaces being a fluid exchange interface and an electricity exchange interface.

9. The service port of claim 8 wherein the clamp comprises a stationary surface and a moveable surface attached to the actuator, and each service engagement interface is attached to a respective clamp surface.

10. The service port of claim 1 wherein the receptacle further comprises a cover attached to an actuator that moves the cover between a raised and lowered position, and the controller is electrically communicative with the cover actuator and is programmed to lower the cover before the plug enters the receptacle, and to raise the cover when the plug is withdrawn from the receptacle.

11. The service port of claim 1 further comprising a transceiver electrically connected to the controller, for communicating with a vehicle or service terminal connected to the plug, and wherein the controller is further programmed to communicate via the transceiver to the vehicle or service terminal connected to the plug that an engagement has been established and that the service port is ready to exchange services.

20. The service port as claimed in claim 1 wherein the service port is configured to couple to the service terminal and the plug is configured to couple to the vehicle.

21. The service port as claimed in claim 20 wherein the service port is embeddable in a parking surface of the service terminal facing substantially upwards, and the plug is configured to couple to the vehicle facing substantially downwards and is deployable in a substantially vertical direction.

22. The service port as claimed in claim 20 wherein the service port is mountable to an elevated housing of the service terminal facing substantially horizontally outwards, and the plug is configured to couple to the vehicle facing horizontally outwards and is deployable in a substantially horizontal direction.

23. The service port as claimed in claim 22 wherein the plug is also deployable in a substantially vertical direction.

24. The service port as claimed in claim 23 wherein the plug is also rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

25. The service port as claimed in claim 20 wherein the service port is mountable to an elevated housing of the service terminal facing substantially downwards, and the plug is configured to couple to the vehicle facing substantially upwards and is deployable in a substantially vertical direction.

26. The service port as claimed in claim 1 wherein the service port is configured to couple to the vehicle and the plug is configured to couple to the service terminal.

27. The service port as claimed in claim 26 wherein the plug is configured to couple to a wheel stop of the service terminal and is deployable in a substantially horizontal direction, and the service port is configured to couple to the underside of the vehicle and further comprises a deployment apparatus attached to the receptacle, for deploying the receptacle downwards to a height corresponding to the plug.

28. The service port as claimed in claim 26 wherein the plug is embeddable in a parking surface of the service terminal facing substantially upwards and is deployable in a substantially vertical direction, and the service port is configured to couple to the underside of the vehicle facing substantially downwards.

29. The service port as claimed in claim 26 wherein the plug is configured to couple to the service terminal facing horizontally outwards and is deployable in a substantially horizontal direction and the service port is mountable to the vehicle facing substantially horizontally outwards.

30. The service port as claimed in claim 29 wherein the plug is also deployable in substantially vertical direction to a height corresponding to the height of the service port.

31. The service port as claimed in claim 30 wherein the plug is also rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

32. The service port as claimed in claim 30 wherein the service port is connected to a deployment apparatus, for deploying the service port in a substantially vertical direction to a height corresponding to the height of the connectivity device.

12. A method of automatically engaging a service port and a plug, wherein the plug is capable of coupling to one and the service port is capable of coupling to the other of a vehicle and a service terminal;

the method comprising

(a) inserting a plug into a receptacle of a service port;

(b) detecting that the plug is in position inside the receptacle for engagement;

(c) clamping the plug such that a service engagement interface on the plug engages a service engagement interface in the receptacle with sufficient force to enable a service to be exchanged between the interfaces, then

(d) initiating a service exchange between the plug and service port through their respective service exchange interfaces.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the plug and receptacle service exchange interfaces are configured to exchange one or more services selected from the group of hydrogen, water, and electricity.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising prior to (a), receiving instructions to initiate engagement with the plug, then lowering a protective cover to expose the receptacle to the plug.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the service engagement interfaces of the plug and receptacle are configured to exchange a fluid, and the step of clamping comprises monitoring the clamping force exerted on the plug, and increasing the clamping force on the plug until a clamping force sufficient to establish a fluid seal between the plug and receptacle service exchange interfaces is detected.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of initiating a service exchange comprises opening a fluid valve on the receptacle service exchange interface and advising the vehicle or service terminal that the service port is ready to exchange fluid.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the service engagement interfaces of the plug and receptacle are configured to exchange electricity and the step of clamping comprises monitoring the clamping force on the plug, and increasing a clamping force on the plug until a clamping force sufficient to establish an electrical connection between the plug and receptacle service exchange interfaces is detected.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of initiating a service exchange comprises advising the vehicle and service terminal that the service port is ready to exchange electricity.

19. A method of claim 12 wherein the receptacle and plug each comprise respective fluid and electrical interfaces, and that in clamping the plug, the respective receptacle and plug fluid interfaces engage, and the respective receptacle and plug electrical interfaces engage, with sufficient force that both electricity and a fluid is exchangeable between the plug and service port.