Vehicle mounted battery charging system for an electric motor vehicle

• US 3,904,947 A
• Filed: 08/22/1973
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roy E. Crews
• Original Assignee: Roy E. Crews
• Inventors: Crews, Roy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/390,368
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2,5,15,16,40,56,43 307/10,75,80,81 219/202 180/65 318/139,376,377 339/32M
• US Class Current: 320/138
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/10 Nonbattery load controls charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/30 Plural transformers

Abstract

A battery charging system is permanently installed on board an electric motor vehicle for enabling the vehicle batteries to be recharged from conveniently located alternating-current power outlets. Among other things, the vehicle mounted battery charging system includes an anti-driveaway interlock mechanism for preventing the driver from driving off in the vehicle while it is plugged into an alternating-current power outlet, a low charge lockout mechanism for preventing inadvertent use of the electric motor vehicle when the battery charge is below the level required for a journey of minimum distance and a charge rate selector mechanism for enabling the vehicle operator to select the length of charging time to be used.

Claims

1. A battery charging system located on board an electric motor vehicle for enabling the vehicle traction battery to be recharged from conveniently located alternating-current power outlets wherein the battery charging system comprises:

converter means located on the electric motor vehicle for converting alternating-current power into direct-current power;

charge control means located on the electric motor vehicle for supplying direct-current energy from the converter means to the vehicle traction battery at a controlled rate;

plug-in type alternating-current connector means located on the electric motor vehicle for enabling an alternating-current power outlet located off of the vehicle to be easily connected to the converter means, such connector means including a pair of high voltage alternating-current contact members and a pair of low voltage alternating-current contact members;

switch means for selectively connecting one or the other but not both pairs of the alternating-current contact members to the converter means; and

voltage responsive automatic control means for determining which of the two alternating-current voltagEs is present and controlling the switch means to supply same to the converter means.