Apparatus for recharging a self-running vehicle for loading and/or unloading a working machine, employing as a power source a storage battery

• US 3,986,095 A
• Filed: 09/02/1975
• Issued: 10/12/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Corporation (Japan Tobacco Inc.)
• Inventors: Koyama, Nobuyuki, Nakai, Saburo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/609,681
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2, 180/65, 200/51.09, 320/2, 320/56, 320/61, 320/47, 318/139, 339/1, 339/9, 339/10, 339/42, 307/80, 307/85
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for 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: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/629 Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances separate tools or apparatus H01R43/26
• 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 320/34 Robot, hybrid, recreational or emergency vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for recharging a storage battery employed in a self-running vehicle, for example, a cart, a carrier or the like for transporting loads. The recharging is carried out without interrupting the loading, unloading or transporting work. A plug means and a socket means are securely connected by some specific means and never disconnected from each other during the recharging process. According to the present invention, there can be obtained a high recharging effect and elimination of loss of time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recharging a self-running vehicle for loading and/or unloading a working machine, employing as a power source a storage battery, comprising a socket means attached to the self-running vehicle;

a plug means adapted to be connected with said socket means;

a rail adapted to move up and down to connect and disconnect said socket means with said plug means, respectively, said plug means being adapted to reciprocatingly travel on said rail;

an actuating means for actuating said rail to move up and down;

a detecting means for detecting arrival of the self-running vehicle at a predetermined position to start recharging and for transmitting a signal;

a signal receiving means for receiving said signal to operate said actuating means to move said rail up to connect said socket means with said plug means;

a recharging means connected to said plug means for recharging said storage battery;

said signal receiving means being adapted to receive a signal from another detecting means for detecting the completion of the loading and/or unloading after recharging and to operate said actuating means to move said rail down to disconnect said plug means from said socket means; and

a means for returning said plug means to a starting position;

said plug means, said rail, said actuating means, said detecting means and said means for returning the plug means being attached to a frame connected to said working machine.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating means is a fluid pressure-operated means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recharging means is adapted to operate through a timer means for recharging the storage battery for a predetermined time.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said self-running vehicle is slidably connected with said frame through a roller fixed to said vehicle and a guide rail fixed to said frame.