Contact Charging System for Vehicle-Mounted Batteries

• US 20130335023A1
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Media Cart Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Media Cart Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Radin, Lon B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,800,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/42 Fork lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1404 Means for facilitating stowing or transporting of the trolleys; Antitheft arrangements B62B5/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/00 Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts B62B3/1404 , B62B9/00 take precedence; wheels, axles, or axle bearings for vehicles B60B; castors for vehicles, castors in general B60B33/00
• 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

A system for charging a vehicle-mounted battery comprising a vehicle, a battery, a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is coupled to the vehicle and at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts is electrically connected to the battery, a plurality of electric power transfer components, wherein at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components rotates about an axis, and wherein each of the plurality of electric power transfer components is configured to prevent undesired connections between the plurality of electric power transfer components and the vehicle, and a power source.

Claims

1. A system for charging a vehicle-mounted battery comprising:

a vehicle;

a battery;

a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is coupled to the vehicle and at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts is electrically connected to the battery;

a plurality of electric power transfer components, wherein at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components rotates about an axis, and wherein each of the plurality of electric power transfer components is configured to prevent undesired connections between the plurality of electric power transfer components and the vehicle, and

a power source.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a current profile generating module, wherein the current profile generating module is operably connected to no more than one electrical contact.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a current flow monitoring module, wherein the current flow monitoring, module is operably connected to no more than one electric power transfer component.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the current profile generating module and the current flow monitoring module each determine whether valid electrical contact is made between system components.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the electrical contact comprises:

a frame; and

a wire.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the wire comprises:

a first capped end comprising a restriction element to prevent the end from passing through the frame;

a tensioning component, wherein the tensioning component is positioned between the restriction element and the frame; and

a second capped end.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electric power transfer components comprise:

a contact arm, wherein the contact arm is connected to a tensioning component.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electric power transfer components are arranged in plurality of layers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a first layer transfers electric power while contacting a first electrical contact and wherein a second layer functions as a ground while contacting a second electrical contact.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a third layer which transfers electric power while contacting a third electrical contact and a fourth layer which functions as a ground while contacting the second electrical contact, wherein the first layer contacts the .

15. The system of claim 14, wherein no more than one of the plurality of electric power transfer components transfers electric power to each electric contact, wherein at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components transfers electric power to at least one electrical contact, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components functions as a ground.

3. The system of claim I, further comprising a current flow monitoring module, wherein the current flow monitoring module is operably connected to no more than one electric power transfer component.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the current profile generating module and the current flow monitoring module each determine whether valid electrical contact is made between system components.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the electrical contact comprises:

a frame; and

a wire.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the wire comprises:

a first capped end comprising a restriction element to prevent the end from passing through the frame;

a tensioning component, wherein the tensioning component is positioned between the res element and the frame; and

a second capped end.

16. A system for charging a vehicle-mounted battery comprising:

a vehicle;

a battery;

a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is coupled to the vehicle and at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts is electrically connected to the battery;

a plurality of electric power transfer components, wherein at least one of the plurality of electric is tensioned so that at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components maintains contact with at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts without utilizing as guide mechanism for the vehicle; and

a power source.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a current profile generating module, wherein the current profile generating module is operably connected to no more than one electrical contact.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a current flow monitoring module, wherein the current flow monitoring module is operably connected to no more than one electric power transfer component.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the current profile generating module and the current flow monitoring module each determine whether valid electrical contact is made between system components.

20. A system for charging a vehicle-mounted battery comprising:

a vehicle;

a battery;

a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts is coupled to the vehicle and at least one of the plurality of electrical contacts is electrically connected to the battery;

a plurality of electric power transfer components, wherein at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components is mounted to a plurality of mechanical constraints, wherein at least one of the plurality of mechanical constraints is associated with a tensioning component, wherein the tensioning component is configured to exert force on the least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components to facilitate maintaining contact between the at least one of the plurality of electric power transfer components and the vehicle, and wherein each of the plurality of electric power transfer components is configured to prevent undesired connections between the plurality of electric power transfer components and the vehicle; and

a power source.

21-83. -83. (canceled)