VEHICLE SYSTEM

• US 20140217977A1
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lely Patent N.V. (Lely)
• Original Assignee: Lely Patent N.V. (Lely)
• Inventors: PASTOOR, Jan Lambertus, SIE, Howard, VAN DEN BERG, Karel
• Granted Patent: US 9,421,879 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• 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 vehicle system with a charging station and an autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle dockable therewith, the vehicle system being mutually engageable at an inlet-side on the vehicle and an outlet-side on the charging station arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged and further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member, an outlet-side guiding member, respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side engagements from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of the inlet- and outlet-sides when docking the vehicle to the charging station.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising

at least one charging station and at least one autonomously movable, electrically powered vehicle dockable therewith,

the vehicle including an inlet-side coupling device and the charging station including an outlet-side coupling device,

said inlet-side coupling device and said outlet-side coupling device being mutually engageable and arranged to transport energy between the charging station and vehicle when engaged,

said inlet-side coupling device and said outlet-side coupling device further being provided with an inlet-side guiding member, an outlet-side guiding member, respectively, arranged to guide the inlet-side and outlet-side coupling device from a non-charging position into a charging position upon engaging of said inlet-side and outlet-side coupling device when docking the vehicle to the charging station,

wherein said inlet-side coupling device is arranged to be deflectingly movable relative to the vehicle in a first plane, and said outlet-side coupling device is arranged to be deflectingly movable relative to the charging station in a second plane,

wherein said first plane and said second plane are arranged substantially horizontally, to enable alignment of the inlet-side and outlet-side coupling device upon their engaging.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inlet-side coupling device comprises one of an electric socket or a complementary plug, and said outlet-side coupling device comprises an other of said electric socket and said complementary plug.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inlet-side coupling device and said outlet-side coupling device are arranged to be deflectingly movable in a third plane relative to the vehicle, and a fourth plane relative to the charging station, respectively, wherein said third plane and said fourth plane are arranged substantially parallel, to enable alignment of the inlet-side and outlet-side coupling device upon their engaging, and wherein the third plane makes a non-zero angle with the first plane.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the coupling device or the guiding members is arranged to be linearly telescopically movable in a direction within the first plane and relative to one of the vehicle and the charging station, to which it is provided.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein both the coupling device and the guiding members are arranged to be linearly telescopically movable in a direction within the first plane and relative to one of the vehicle and the charging station, to which it is provided.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the direction of linear telescopic movement substantially coincides with the direction of travel of the vehicle when docking to the charging station.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a deflecting member is provided between said vehicle and said inlet-side coupling device, and between said charging station and said outlet-side coupling device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the deflecting member comprises a hinge with at least a first hinge axis perpendicular to the first plane.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the deflecting member further comprises a second hinge with a second axis perpendicular to the second plane.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the deflecting member comprises a ball joint.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the deflecting member comprises at least one resilient member.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the deflecting member comprises at least two resilient members positioned one behind the other in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein the linearly movable guiding member is provided with a biasing device between the guiding member and the vehicle or charging station to which it is provided, the biasing device being arranged to force the guiding member or arm into a first, extended position via a biasing force, and in which first position the guiding member is at a maximum distance from the vehicle or charging station on which it is provided.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the biasing device comprises a biasing force reduction device arranged to exert a smaller biasing force when the guiding member is in the second position than when in the first position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the biasing force reduction device comprises a non-linear force spring.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the biasing force reduction device comprises a leaf spring or a torsion leaf spring.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the biasing force reduction device comprise a linkage system with a tension spring having a force moment arm and arranged to shorten the force moment arm as the guiding member moves from the first to the second position.