TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM USING ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE

• US 20110153184A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Suh, Nam Pyo
• Application Number:
  US13/061,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/40 for collecting current from lines in slotted conduits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/34 in slotted conduits
• 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 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

The present invention relates to a transportation system using an electric automobile. The transportation system using the electric automobile comprises the electric automobile and an electricity-supply unit which supplies electricity to the electric automobile. The electric automobile charges a battery included when the electricity is supplied from an external source in motion, using some or all of the electricity and is driven by the electricity of the battery when the electricity supply to the automobile in motion is stopped.

Claims

1. A transportation system using an electrical vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply device installed below a surface of a road along the road; and

an electrical vehicle including a steering aid device for guiding the movement direction of the electrical vehicle, a battery for providing charged power if required for driving, a power acquisition device for receiving power by electrical connection to the power supply device, and a connector to be mechanically detachably connected to another electrical vehicle to travel, with being connected to the another electrical vehicle moving along the same path,

wherein, if the electrical vehicle travels on the road where the power supply device is installed, the battery is charged using at least part of the electric power supplied from the power supply device, and, if the electrical vehicle travels on a road where the power supply device is not installed, the electrical vehicle is driven using on the electric power charged in the battery, and

wherein the connector of the electrical vehicle maintains a connected state with a connector of another electrical vehicle using air pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power acquisition device of the electrical vehicle is supplied with power from the power supply device in a contact type.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical vehicle is guided to move along a path where the power supply device is installed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electrical vehicle is guided such that at least one of the wheels moves along a groove provided on the surface of the road.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power acquisition device of the electrical vehicle is supplied with the power from the power supply device in a non-contact type.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power acquisition device of the electrical vehicle receives the power from the power supply device by an electromagnetic induction method.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical vehicle drives the wheels using part of the power supplied from the power supply device and charges the battery using another part of the power.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical vehicle charges the battery with the power supplied from the power supply device and is supplied with all the power for driving the wheels from the battery.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a central control server for monitoring the driving status of the electrical vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the electrical vehicle and the central control server communicate with each other by a power line communication method.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electrical vehicle and the central control server send and receive information including the location and speed of the electrical vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the destinations and predicted movement paths of electrical vehicles are checked to determine whether the electrical vehicles are connected.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein whether to drive each of the connected electrical vehicles is determined in consideration of the total load of the connected electrical vehicles.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the car body of the electrical vehicle is made of a composite material and is thus lightweight compared to a car body entirely made of metal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the composite material is selected from a group consisting of glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber.

21. A method for driving plural electrical vehicles by connecting the electrical vehicles in a transportation system using an electrical vehicle of claim 1, the method comprising:

checking the destinations and predicted movement paths of electrical vehicles moving in the front or back of a first electrical vehicle;

as a result of checking the destinations and predicted movement paths of the electrical vehicles, if there is an electrical vehicle identified as moving more than a predetermined distance along the same movement path as the first electrical vehicle, connecting the identified electrical vehicle and the first electrical vehicle by connection members of the electrical vehicles; and

determining whether to drive each of the connected electrical vehicles in consideration of the total load of the connected electrical vehicles.

3. A transportation system using an electrical vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply device installed below a surface of a road along the road; and

an electrical vehicle including a steering aid device for guiding the movement direction of the electrical vehicle, a battery for providing charged power if required for driving, a power acquisition device for receiving power by electrical connection to the power supply device, and a connector to be mechanically detachably connected to another electrical vehicle to travel, with being connected to the another electrical vehicle moving along the same path,

wherein, if the electrical vehicle travels on the road where the power supply device is installed, the battery is charged using at least part of the electric power supplied from the power supply device, and, if the electrical vehicle travels on a road where the power supply device is not installed, the electrical vehicle is driven using the electric power charged in the battery,

wherein the acquisition device is provided with the power from the power supply device in a contact type,

wherein the power supply device includes at least one power supply line which extends along the road underneath the road surface and is flat on at least a portion of a transverse cross-section, and

wherein the power acquisition device includes;

a connector which is flat on at least a portion of a transverse cross-section, the flat portion of the power supply line and the flat portion of the connector being electrically connected by contacting each other; and

a connection maintenance unit for pressing the connector against the power supply line by elasticity to enable the connector and the power supply line to maintain a good electrical connection state.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cross section of the power supply line and the cross section of the connector have a polygonal shape.

5. A transportation system using an electrical vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply device installed below a surface of a road along the road; and

an electrical vehicle including a steering aid device for guiding the movement direction of the electrical vehicle, a battery for providing charged power if required for driving, a power acquisition device for receiving power by electrical connection to the power supply device, and a connector to be mechanically detachably connected to another electrical vehicle to travel, with being connected to the another electrical vehicle moving along the same path,

wherein, if the electrical vehicle travels on the road where the power supply device is installed, the battery is charged using at least part of the electric power supplied from the power supply device, and, if the electrical vehicle travels on a road where the power supply device is not installed, the electrical vehicle is driven using the electric power charged in the battery,

wherein the acquisition device is provided with the power from the power supply device in a contact type,

wherein the power supply device is formed in a substantially L-shape which extends along the road underneath the road surface and has an upper member and a side member, and

wherein the power supply device includes;

a power supply line for supplying electricity to the bottom surface of the upper member;

a duct for compressed air, which extends along the side member of the power supply line; and

a plurality of air exhaust ports, provided on the side member of the power supply line, for communicating the duct for compressed air with a lower space of the upper member of the power supply line, and

wherein the power acquisition device of the electrical vehicle includes;

a connector for maintaining a contact state in a manner of rolling friction with the bottom surface of the upper member of the power supply line of the power supply device during driving; and

a connection maintenance unit for pressing the connector against the bottom surface of the upper member of the power supply line by elasticity to maintain a good electrical connection state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the connector is a conductive roller.

18. (canceled)

22. A transportation system using an electrical vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply device installed below the surface of a road along the road; and

an electrical vehicle including a battery for providing charged electric power if required for driving, and a power acquisition device for receiving electric power by electrical connection to the power supply device and charging the battery,

wherein the power supply device includes at least one power supply line which extends along the road underneath the road surface and is flat on at least a portion of a transverse cross-section, and

wherein the power acquisition device includes;

a connector which is flat on at least a portion of a transverse cross-section, the flat portion of the power supply line and the flat portion of the connector being electrically connected by contacting each other; and

a connection maintenance unit for pressing the connector against the power supply line by elasticity so as to enable the connector and the power supply line to maintain a good electrical connection state.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the cross section of the power supply line and the cross section of the connector have a polygonal shape.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the polygonal shape is a triangular shape.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein a plurality of grooves for reducing friction and abrasion are provided on the surfaces of the power lines being in contact with the connector.

26. A transportation system using an electrical vehicle, the system comprising:

a power supply device installed below the surface of a road along the road; and

an electrical vehicle including a battery for providing charged electric power if required for driving, and a power acquisition device for receiving electric power by electrical connection to the power supply device and charging the battery,

wherein the power supply device is formed in a substantially L-shape which extends along the road underneath the road surface and has an upper member and a side member, and the power supply device includes;

a power supply line for supplying electricity to the bottom surface of the upper member;

a duct for compressed air extending along the side member of the power supply line; and

a plurality of air exhaust ports, provided on the side member of the power supply line, for communicating the duct for compressed air with a lower space of the upper member of the power supply line, and

wherein the power acquisition device of the electrical vehicle includes;

a connector for maintaining a contact state in a manner of rolling friction with the bottom surface of the upper member of the power supply line of the power supply device during driving; and

a connection maintenance unit for pressing the connector against the bottom surface of the upper member of the power supply line by elasticity so as to maintain a good electrical connection state.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the connector is a conductive roller.