Overhead Electric Vehicle Charging System
First Claim
1. A system for charging an electric vehicle comprising:
- a rail disposed at a height generally above a vehicle to be charged;
a trolley movable along said rail and mounting a movable pulley;
a fixed pulley mounted at a fixed position relative to said rail;
a power cable communicating at one end with a power source and at an opposed second end with a vehicle terminal connector, said cable looped around said movable and fixed pulleys so that said connector is suspended below said rail; and
a spring return device connected with said movable pulley to urge said pulley to a retracted position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric charging system for charging electric vehicles is particularly adapted for use in a parking garage. Parking spaces in the garage are fixed with a charging station so that the vehicles may be charged while they park at the garage. The power cable which connects to charge the vehicle battery is suspended at a height generally above the vehicle and is automatically retractable. Information concerning the power charge is automatically transmitted to the payment station at the exit gate. A point of sale (POS) module is mounted for communication with the power cable. The point of sale (POS) module and the connector are easily accessible and the connector is positionable for ease of connection with the vehicle terminal. A retractor for extending and retracting an overhead power cable employs a drive wheel and a clutch which are electronically controlled.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for charging an electric vehicle comprising:
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a rail disposed at a height generally above a vehicle to be charged; a trolley movable along said rail and mounting a movable pulley; a fixed pulley mounted at a fixed position relative to said rail; a power cable communicating at one end with a power source and at an opposed second end with a vehicle terminal connector, said cable looped around said movable and fixed pulleys so that said connector is suspended below said rail; and a spring return device connected with said movable pulley to urge said pulley to a retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A parking garage comprising:
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a multiplicity of parking spaces disposed on a deck, with a plurality of spaces having an electric vehicle charging station; an entrance gate controlled by a ticket dispenser or a reader; an exit gate controlled by a payment station; said electric charging station having a retractable power cord and control module positioned above said deck, said power cord communicating with a power source and a POS module and a connector which connects with a charging terminal of an electric vehicle so that said connector may be connected to the terminal, power may be accessed via said POS module, and the electric vehicle charged with electric power wherein information concerning said charging is transmitted from said control module to said payment station. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A facility for charging an electric vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of stanchion units each comprising an upright support and a projecting member extending from said support at an elevated position; a retractable power cable having a terminal for connecting with the power charge terminal of a battery system of an electric vehicle, said cable terminal suspended from said projecting member; and a control module mounted to provide an input interface for controlling access to power supplied to said cable. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A facility for charging an electric vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of transversely spaced uprights; a plurality of projecting members, each said member extending from a said upright at an elevated position; a plurality of retractable power cables, each cable having a terminal for connecting with the power charge terminal of a battery system of an electric vehicle, each said cable terminal suspended from a said projecting member; and a plurality of modules each mounted to a said upright for controlling access to power supplied to a said cable. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A station for charging an electric vehicle comprising:
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a parking space for an electric vehicle to be charged, said space defining a first elevation; a power cable installation disposed at an elevated position above said first elevation and comprising a power cable which is extendable to connect with an electric charging terminal of a vehicle parked in said space and is retractable to a position at a second elevation above the first elevation; and a module for controlling the supply of electric power to said charging terminal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An overhead retractable power cable system comprising:
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a power cable with an electrical connector for an electric vehicle; a retraction mechanism for said power cable disposed in overhead relationship comprising a motor, a drive wheel and a clutch interposed between said motor and drive wheel to provide an engaged first position wherein said motor drives said drive wheel and an unengaged second position wherein said drive wheel is in a free rotation state; wherein when said motor is activated and said clutch is in said first position, said cable is extendably lowered when said drive wheel is driven in a first direction and said cable is retracted when said drive wheel is driven in a second direction and said cable may be manually extended when said clutch is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification