BATTERY CHARGER HAVING NON-CONTACT ELECTRICAL SWITCH
First Claim
1. An electric vehicle charge coupler for both mechanically and electrically coupling and decoupling a charger to said vehicle, comprising:
- a handle including a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks said handle to said vehicle passively when said handle is manually attached to said vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between said vehicle and said charger, said handle also having an actuator movable by said operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state, said mechanical latch operating independently of the state of said actuator when said handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by said actuator when it is moved to its second activated state,a non-contact electrical switch means associated with said actuator to break said electrical connection when said actuator is moved to said first position activated state before releasing said mechanical latch at said second activated position, andbiasing means to automatically move said actuator back to its deactivated state when released by said operator.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The handle of a charge coupler includes a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks the handle to the vehicle passively when the handle is manually attached to the vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between the vehicle and the charger. The handle also has an actuator movable by the operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state. The mechanical latch operates independently of the state of the actuator when the handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by the actuator when it is moved to its second activated state. A non-contact electrical switch means associated with the actuator breaks the electrical connection when the actuator is moved to the first position activated state before releasing the mechanical latch at said second activated position.
69 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle charge coupler for both mechanically and electrically coupling and decoupling a charger to said vehicle, comprising:
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a handle including a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks said handle to said vehicle passively when said handle is manually attached to said vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between said vehicle and said charger, said handle also having an actuator movable by said operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state, said mechanical latch operating independently of the state of said actuator when said handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by said actuator when it is moved to its second activated state, a non-contact electrical switch means associated with said actuator to break said electrical connection when said actuator is moved to said first position activated state before releasing said mechanical latch at said second activated position, and biasing means to automatically move said actuator back to its deactivated state when released by said operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electric vehicle charging system comprising:
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a charger being releasably coupled to a power source to provide power means for the charger and at least one power electrical signal; and a charge coupler for both mechanically and electrically coupling and decoupling said charger to said vehicle, said charge coupler including, a handle including a mechanical latch that securely mechanically locks said handle to said vehicle passively when said handle is manually attached to said vehicle by a human operator to create an electrical connection between said vehicle and said charger, said handle also having an actuator movable by said operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state, said mechanical latch operating independently of the state of said actuator when said handle is being manually attached but being mechanically released by said actuator when it is moved to its second activated state, a non-contact electrical switch means associated with said actuator to break said electrical connection when said actuator is moved to said first position activated state before releasing said mechanical latch at said second activated position, and biasing means to automatically move said actuator back to its deactivated state when released by said operator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method to mechanically and electrically couple and decouple a charger to a vehicle, comprising:
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passively mechanically connecting a mechanical latch in a handle of a charge coupler that mechanically locks the handle to the vehicle when the handle is manually attached by a human operator to said vehicle to create an electrical connection between said charger and said vehicle, said charge coupler being in electrical communication with said charger and said handle including an actuator movable by said operator from a deactivated state to a first and a second position activated state, said mechanical latch operating independently of the state of said actuator when said handle is being manually attached but configurable to be mechanically released by said actuator when it is moved to its second activated state; partially inducing the activator to the first position activated state to operatively control a non-contact electrical switch means associated with said actuator to break said electrical connection before releasing said mechanical latch at said second activated position; and completely inducing said activator to the second position activated state such that the mechanical switch engages the mechanical latch to mechanically unlock the handle from the vehicle so that the handle is manually removeable by said operator from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification