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Charging batteries of electric vehicles

  • US 5,462,439 A
  • Filed: 04/19/1993
  • Issued: 10/31/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

  • a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first pair of electric contacts; and

    a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second pair of electric contacts disposed to connect respectively with said first pair of electric contacts when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;

    one of said pairs of contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said pairs of contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contacts of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;

    wherein the improvement comprises;

    said probe having an elongated central conductor, the distal end of which comprises one of said probe contacts;

    a non-conducting shroud slidable along said central conductor between a proximal position in which the distal end of said central conductor is exposed and a distal position in which said shroud surrounds said central conductor; and

    means for resiliently urging said shroud toward said distal position;

    one of said probe contacts being disposed on said shroud in a position to press against and connect with a related contact on said receptacle, force exerted by said related contact on said shroud contact urging said shroud toward said proximal position to thereby expose said central conductor so that it may connect with the other contact of said receptacle.

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