Supplying power to vehicles

• US 3,914,562 A
• Filed: 09/10/1974
• Issued: 10/21/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John G. Bolger
• Original Assignee: John G. Bolger
• Inventors: Bolger, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Keen, D. W.
• Application Number:
  US05/504,843
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 104/148LM 191/4,10 310/12-14
• US Class Current: 191/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• 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

There is disclosed an electrically driven vehicle having suitable batteries to drive the vehicle on conventional roads. The vehicle has means thereon for receiving power from a conductor embedded in a prepared roadway for driving the vehicle and for charging the batteries. An important feature of the invention resides in means for lowering the power receiving means to establish a small air gap with the conductor for operation on a specially prepared roadway and for raising the power receiving means to provide sufficient clearance to accommodate normal obstacles, such as driveway gutters, when the vehicle is driven on conventional roads. When driving on the prepared roadway, means are provided for automatically maintaining a desired air gap between the roadway conductor and the power receiving means.

Claims

1. A vehicle for use on a prepared road having associated therewith a power source creating a magnetic field, the vehicle comprising a framework having a plurality of road engaging elements thereon;

an electric motor for driving at least one of the elements;

means on the vehicle for receiving power from the magnetic field in quantities proportional to the distance between the power source and the power receiving means to supply received power during travel along the road;

means for moving the power receiving means toward and away from the power source;

a source of current for supplying power to the electric motor when the vehicle is off of roads equipped with the power source;

means electrically connecting the received power supplying means, the current source and the electric motor; and

means operative when the vehicle is traveling along the road having the power source thereat for manipulating the moving means in response to the difference between energy delivered by the received power supply means and energy consumed by the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power receiving means comprises a secondary coil for developing alternating current from the magnetic field;

the interconnecting means includes a rectifier in circuit with the received power supplying means and the current source for delivering electrical energy to the electric motor; and

the manipulating means includes means responsive to the existance of predetermined current flow between the received power supplying means and the currEnt source for actuating the moving means.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the electric motor is a direct current motor;

the current source is a rechargable source of direct current; and

the rectifier is in series relation with the power receiving means and in parallel relation with the rechargable source.

4. the vehicle of claim 3 wherein the actuating means includes means for determining the existence of the predetermined current including a transducer between the rectifier and the source.

5. the vehicle of claim 4 wherein the actuating means comprises a second motor and means operatively connecting the second motor to the moving means;

a switch in circuit with the second motor; and

means responsive to current flow from the rectifier to the rechargable source for actuating the switch and driving the second motor in a direction moving the power receiving means toward the power source.

6. the vehicle of claim 5 wherein the actuating means comprises a second switch in circuit with the second motor for driving the second motor in a direction moving the power receiving means away from the source;

and means responsive to current flow from the rechargable source for actuating the second switch.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the transducer is a resistor and the current flow responsive means includes means responsive to a voltage drop across the resistor.

8. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the transducer is a resistor.

9. A vehicle for use on a prepared road having associated therewith a power source creating a magnetic field, the vehicle comprising a framework having a plurality of road-engaging elements thereon;

an electric motor for driving at least one of the elements;

means on the vehicle for receiving power from the magnetic field in quantities proportional to the distance between the power source and the power receiving means to supply received power during travel along the road;

means for moving the power receiving means toward and away from the power source;

a source of current for supplying power to the electric motor when the vehicle is off roads equipped with the power source;

means electrically connecting the received power supplying means, the current source and the electric motor;

means operative when the vehicle is traveling along the road having the power source thereat for sensing and indicating the difference between energy delivered by the received power supplying means and energy consumed by the vehicle; and

manual control means for energizing the moving means.