Methods and Systems for Charging Vehicles

• US 20130193919A1
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Hill, Dale, Goldman, Joshua, Horth, John, Walker, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,829,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• 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

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

Claims

1. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:

a charging chassis including a pair of collector braces to charge the vehicle, wherein each collector brace of said pair of collector braces is formed with spaced apart guiding strips with an electrically conductive surface, wherein electrically conductive surfaces of said pair of collector braces are for contact with a pair of electrodes of the vehicle, and wherein said collector braces are each mechanically connected to a charging mount and extending downward and away from the charging mount.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the guiding strips provide the position and orientation of the pair of collector braces.

3. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the guiding strips of a collector brace form at least one pair of converging surfaces.

4. The charging station of claim 3, wherein each collector brace comprises one or more forcing components for providing a force to a guiding strip of the collector brace, wherein the force is directed toward another guiding strip of the collector brace.

5. The charging station of claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive surface of a first collector brace is for contacting a positive electrode of the vehicle and an electrically conductive surface of a second collector brace is for contacting a negative electrode of the vehicle when the vehicle is engaged with the charging station.

6. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising a spacing bar separating the pair of collector braces.

7. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the spacing bar is of variable length and enables the pair of collector braces to be kept at a given distance from each other.

8. The charging station of claim 7, further comprising a sensor, hydraulic, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical length adjustment system.

9. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the charging chassis is mounted to the charging mount via a coupling.

10. The charging station of claim 9, wherein the coupling comprises a flexible member configured to move the charging chassis vertically with respect to the charging mount.

11. The charging station of claim 9, further comprising a sensor, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical height adjustment system.

12. The charging station of claim 9, wherein the charging chassis includes a positioning bar connected to the coupling, and at least one arm connected to the positioning bar and connected to a collector brace or the spacing bar.

13. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising a component selected from the group consisting of an energy storage device, a power converter, and a communication device.

14. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the collector braces are mounted to a crossbar that permits the collector braces to be movable with respect to one another.

15. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the collector braces are mounted to the crossbar with a flexible connection such that the collector braces are movable with respect to the crossbar.

16. The charging station of claim 15, wherein the flexible connection includes at least one of the following:

a spring, an elastic component, a hinge, a linkage, a pivot point, a pneumatic device, a magnet, a weight, a gear, hydraulics, or gravity.

17. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising a system to return the pair of collector braces to a center position, which system includes one of the following:

a spring, an elastic component, a hinge, a linkage, a pivot point, a pneumatic device, a magnet, a weight, a gear, hydraulics, or gravity.

18. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:

a charging chassis including one or more collector braces to charge the vehicle, wherein each collector brace of said one or more collector braces is formed with spaced apart guiding strips with electrically conductive surfaces, wherein the guiding strips provide the position and orientation of the one or more collector braces, wherein the electrically conductive surfaces of each collector brace are for electrical contact with at least two electrodes of the vehicle, and wherein each collector brace is mechanically connected to, and extending downward and away from, a charging mount;

a post mechanically connected to the charging mount; and

a stand mechanically connected to the post and supporting the post and charging mount.

19. The charging station of claim 18, wherein the electrically conductive surfaces of the guiding strips are replaceable.

20. The charging station of claim 18, wherein the electrically conductive surfaces have a surface area of at least about 8 cm².

21. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more batteries; and

one or more elongated contact plates having a surface for electrical contact and positioned on a top surface of the vehicle,

wherein each contact plate is electrically connected to at least one positive electrode or at least one negative electrode of the one or more batteries to charge or discharge the one or more batteries,

wherein the number of contact plates electrically connected to positive electrodes equals the number of contact plates electrically connected to negative electrodes, and

wherein the contact plates are raised extending from the top of the vehicle and are oriented substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the vehicle and are spaced apart along the top surface of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the one or more elongated contact plates are each formed of vertical plates with a rounded top.

23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the one or more elongated contact plates are each formed with a conductive material on both sides of the plates.

24. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle comprises a communication device.

25. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein one or more of the contact plates are positioned at a prescribed gap height above the top surface of the vehicle.

26. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein said one or more batteries are electrically interconnected to form one or more battery packs.

27. A method for charging or discharging an energy storage device of a vehicle, comprising:

(a) moving the vehicle to a position in proximity to a charging mount, wherein said vehicle comprises at least a first raised contact plate and a second raised contact plate, and wherein the charging mount is connected to at least a first collector brace and a second collector brace, each collector brace containing a pair of guiding strips;

(b) establishing an electrical connection between (i) said first collector brace and said first contact plate, and (ii) said second collector brace and said second contact plate; and

(c) charging or discharging the energy storage device of the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising activating the electrical connection established in (b) for charging.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the electrical connection is activated after receiving an activation signal from the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein, prior to (b), conductive paths of said electrical connection are isolated with the aid of mechanical and/or electrical protective devices.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said devices allow energy flow after receiving an electronic message or via direct mechanical activation.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein establishing the electrical connection in (b) further comprises contacting an electrically conductive surface of a guiding strip among said guiding strips of said first or second collector brace to an electrically conductive surface of said first contact plate or second contact plate.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the contact plate is disposed between the pair of guiding strips of said first or second collector brace such that (i) an electrically conductive surface of a first guiding strip of the pair of guiding strips contacts a first side of the contact plate and (ii) an electrically conductive surface of a second guiding strip of the pair of guiding strips contacts a second side of the contact plate.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein, after (b), further comprising communicating to the vehicle that the electrical connection to the vehicle has been established.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising monitoring a charge status of the vehicle.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising communicating a charge status of the vehicle to a central station, a charging station, or another vehicle.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising cleaning the two or more contact plates as the vehicle enters and/or leaves the position in proximity to the charging mount.