Rail vehicle or other path-constrained vehicle equipped for providing solar electric power for off-vehicle use, and systems in support thereof
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- receiving electric power from a vehicle constrained to follow a path defined by a rail or guideway and/or a catenary or other structure for providing electric power to the vehicle, wherein the electric power is received via a coupler including an electrical conductor disposed along the path; and
receiving accounting information and metering information from the vehicle and compensating the vehicle according to the accounting information based on the metering information, said accounting information being tagged in the electric power received from the vehicle.
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Abstract
A method by which a path-constrained vehicle (or series of such vehicles), constrained to travel along a rail or guideway of a magnetic levitation system or to follow a catenary, is equipped to provide electric power derived for off-vehicle use derived from solar collectors formed or provided on the surface of the vehicle. The solar electric power is provided to a coupling system distributed proximate to the rail or guideway or catenary and/or provided as part of same. The coupling system then provides the power for possible use by the public electric power grid or other off-vehicle use, and may compensate the vehicle (or train of vehicles) for the electric power.
8 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving electric power from a vehicle constrained to follow a path defined by a rail or guideway and/or a catenary or other structure for providing electric power to the vehicle, wherein the electric power is received via a coupler including an electrical conductor disposed along the path; and receiving accounting information and metering information from the vehicle and compensating the vehicle according to the accounting information based on the metering information, said accounting information being tagged in the electric power received from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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generating electric power using solar collectors disposed on a surface of a vehicle equipped so as to be constrained to follow a path defined by a rail or guideway or catenary, wherein the solar collectors are formed as a spreadable solar medium painted or printed on a surface of the vehicle; and providing the electric power from the vehicle along with accounting information and metering information of the vehicle, wherein the accounting information is tagged in the electric power provided by the vehicle to a coupler for off-vehicle use, wherein the coupler includes an electrical conductor disposed along the path, and wherein the electrical power is provided via a coupler interface attached to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification