METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINKING ELECTRIC DRIVE VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A control system for linking a plurality of electrically driven road vehicles together, comprising:
- a coupling input and a coupling output disposed on each of the plurality of vehicles, each coupling input of each vehicle being configured to releasably engage each coupling output of another vehicle to provide a mechanical and electrical coupling of the plurality of vehicles together;
a control system located on each of the plurality of vehicles, the control system communicating with the coupling input and the coupling output to detect when the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle via a respective coupling input or coupling output, the control system being further configured to operate in a lead vehicle mode or a trailing vehicle mode when the control system detects that the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle, wherein the lead vehicle mode causes the control system of the lead vehicle to control another vehicle coupled to the lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle mode causes the control system to be controlled by the lead vehicle coupled to the vehicle.
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Abstract
In one embodiment a control system for linking a plurality of electrically driven road vehicles together is disclosed, the control system having: a coupling input and a coupling output disposed on each of the plurality of vehicles, each coupling input of each vehicle being configured to releasably engage each coupling output of another vehicle to provide a mechanical and electrical coupling of the plurality of vehicles together; and a control system located on each of the plurality of vehicles, the control system communicating with the coupling input and the coupling output to detect when the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle via a respective coupling input or coupling output, the control system being further configured to operate in a lead vehicle mode or a trailing vehicle mode when the control system detects that the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle, wherein the lead vehicle mode causes the control system of the lead vehicle to control another vehicle coupled to the lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle mode causes the control system to be controlled by the lead vehicle coupled to the vehicle.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control system for linking a plurality of electrically driven road vehicles together, comprising:
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a coupling input and a coupling output disposed on each of the plurality of vehicles, each coupling input of each vehicle being configured to releasably engage each coupling output of another vehicle to provide a mechanical and electrical coupling of the plurality of vehicles together; a control system located on each of the plurality of vehicles, the control system communicating with the coupling input and the coupling output to detect when the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle via a respective coupling input or coupling output, the control system being further configured to operate in a lead vehicle mode or a trailing vehicle mode when the control system detects that the coupling input or the coupling output is engaged with another vehicle, wherein the lead vehicle mode causes the control system of the lead vehicle to control another vehicle coupled to the lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle mode causes the control system to be controlled by the lead vehicle coupled to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of linking a plurality of electrically driven road vehicles together wherein each of the plurality of electrically driven road vehicles comprises a coupling input and a coupling output, each coupling input of each vehicle being configured to releasably engage each coupling output of another vehicle to provide a mechanical and electrical coupling of the plurality of vehicles together, the method comprising:
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coupling a first lead vehicle to at least one other vehicle by a vehicle coupling comprising;
a coupling input of the first lead vehicle and a coupling output of a trailing vehicle, the coupling output of the trailing vehicle being secured to the coupling input of the first lead vehicle; and
a communications link between the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle;controlling the trailing vehicle by exchanging control signals between a control system located on each of the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the control signals being exchanged are electrically transferred through the communications link between the first lead vehicle and the trailing vehicle; and controlling at least one of a braking, acceleration, a deceleration, a recharging and a steering of the trailing vehicle by inputting a command into the control system of the trailing vehicle, wherein the command originates from the control system of the first lead vehicle and the command is transferred through the communications link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification