Solar recharge station for electric vehicles

• US 5,315,227 A
• Filed: 01/29/1993
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: How T. Lin, Mark V. Pierson
• Original Assignee: How T. Lin, Mark V. Pierson
• Inventors: Lin, How T., Pierson, Mark V.
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/010,888
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/61
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• 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 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A solar recharge station is described having a contact area, a battery bank charge area and a solar panel array for maintaining the battery bank charged. The contact area includes electric contacts formed for engagement automatically by contacts on an electric powered vehicle as the vehicle enters the contact area. The battery bank is connected so that its energy is available for either recharging the vehicle or other use, and in case the vehicle needs a recharge but the battery banks lacks sufficient charge, ordinary house voltage is used.

Claims

1. A solar recharge station for electric powered vehicles having electric contact means, comprising:

housing means including at least an inside, an outside, at least two areas including a contact room and a separate charge room, and roof means;

said contact room having space for enclosing at least one electric powered vehicle having vehicle electric contact means;

electric contact means affixed within said contact room including foxed position guide means for guiding said electric powered vehicle for said vehicle electric contact means to engage said fixed position guide means automatically;

means for wiping said vehicle electric contact means and said electric contact means within said contact room as said solar powered vehicle is guided by said fixed position guide means;

said separate charge room having space to retain battery means including connections with said electric contact means affixed within said contact room; and

solar panel array means supported by said roof means including connections for charging said battery means.

2. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 1 wherein said electric contact means on said electric powered vehicle are formed to engage said fixed position contact means in a sliding action.

3. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 2 including rail means affixed within said contact room for guiding said electric powered vehicle so that said electric contact means meet in said sliding action.

4. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 3 wherein said rail means include two raised, elongated guides for engaging said vehicle in a guiding action, said two raised elongated guides terminating in ends, one end of each guide being positioned adjacent a back wall of said contact room and the other end of each guide being curved toward each other.

5. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 4 wherein each of said two raised, elongated guides supports said fixed position electric contact means.

6. A solar recharge station including a plurality of solar cells for generating electric energy for recharging an electric powered vehicle having battery means that require recharge periodically, comprising:

said electric powered vehicle having two contact means in spaced apart location, each of said two contact means being connected to a different terminal on said battery means;

said solar recharge station having a contact room, a charge room and roof means to support said plurality of solar cells;

said contact room including two fixed location contact means, and guide means for guiding a vehicle so that the two contact means on said vehicle engage said two fixed location contact means in said contact room;

means to wipe said two contact means on said vehicle and said fixed location contact means as said vehicle is guided by said guide means; and

battery bank means in said charge room connected electrically to said plurality of solar cells for recharging by said solar cells.

7. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 6 wherein each of said two contact means on said electric powered vehicle being formed to engage each respective fixed location contact means in said contact room in a sliding action.

8. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 6 wherein said means to wipe includes abrasive means located in a position to be engaged by said two contact means on said electric powered vehicle before engaging said two fixed location contact means in said contact room.

9. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 8 wherein said means to wipe includes abrasive means located on said electric powered vehicle for engaging each of said two fixed location contact means in said contact room.

10. A solar recharge station as defined by claim 9 including spring means to urge each of said abrasive means for engaging respective contact means, and spring means for urging said contact means into engagement.