Charging batteries of electric vehicles
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric vehicle having a computer for controlling the charging of its battery includes a probe adapted to connect with a receptacle on a charging station which has a computer for controlling the charging voltage provided over the connection to the vehicle. In response to the vehicle announcing its presence with a broadcast signal, the charge station receptacle may be raised until it senses a laser signal presented by the vehicle to indicate alignment of the receptacle with the vehicle probe. The vehicle and station communicate over a current loop to establish battery type and voltage, method of payment and credit card number, as well as the cost basis for the power. When communications are complete, the system switches over to utilize the same connections for the charging current. The computers include stop modes which they rest in, and to which they return if performance of vehicle and station diagnostics (respectively) indicate inoperability or if other faults occur. The vehicle charges the battery in a short program triggered by a AC voltage zero crossing interrupt, the background program of which determines when charging should cease because the battery is full, a switch has been operated, or because excessive voltage or current has been sensed.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; force means for providing a force signal indicative of a force in excess of a given magnitude being exerted against said vehicle as a consequence of said probe being inserted into said receptacle; said vehicle charging system preventing motion of said vehicle in response to said force signal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; said receptacle being disposed in a head having a closure for closing off the entrance to said receptacle; and a closure control to open said closure when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; said probe having contacts at a distal end thereof for connection with said receptacle; said probe being disposed in a case having a closure including a roller thereon; and means for extending said probe out of said case, said probe pushing said closure out of its way and said roller riding on said probe as said probe is extended out of said case. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact 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 contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; said receptacle having a frustoconoid cavity having a small rim at a proximal end and a large rim at a distal end with said receptacle contact disposed near the proximal rim of said cavity, said probe being inserted through the distal rim of said cavity, said cavity having an axis generally normal to said rims; a slot in said receptacle, opening into said cavity and circumscribing said cavity in planes generally normal to said axis; and a security gate disposed to slide in said slot between a closed position, in which said gate totally occludes the proximal end of said cavity to protect said receptacle contact from external elements, and an open position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; a pneumatic cylinder connected to said probe for extending said probe toward said receptacle; a tube being disposed to slide alongside said cylinder as said probe is moved by said cylinder; and a conductor connected to said probe contact extending through said tube. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; said receptacle having a contact in a proximal end thereof and an opening through which said probe is inserted in a distal end thereof, said receptacle pivoted near said distal end so that contact by said probe of any point on a substantial portion of the interior of said receptacle rotates said receptacle to align said opening toward said probe. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contacts when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein the improvement comprises; said probe being supported at a proximal end thereof and having said contact disposed on a distal end thereof, said distal end being flexibly disposed to said proximal end. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:
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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 electric contact; 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 electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said of electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge; one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle; wherein; said probe is rotatably disposed on the vehicle about a vertical axis, whereby it may be pointed toward said receptacle in various horizontal directions. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method of aligning a probe contact with a receptacle contact, the interconnection of which is utilized to provide electric power from a charging station to an electric vehicle for charging the battery thereof, one of said contacts being disposed on a head at said station, comprising:
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(a) projecting a directional signal from a position on said vehicle having a relationship to the contact on said vehicle; (b) providing a receptor on said head responsive to said signal; (c) beginning from a lowered rest position, raising said head until either said receptor senses said signal or said head reaches an upper limit position; in the event said head reaches an upper limit position, lowering said head until either said receptor senses said signal or said head reaches said lowered rest position; (d) in the event that said head reaches said lowered rest position, raising said head a second time until either said head reaches said upper limit position or said receptor senses said signal; and (e) in the event said receptor senses said signal, stopping the motion of said head and providing an indication to the operator of the vehicle that the vehicle may enter the station to be connected for a charge. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A method of engaging a contact disposed on an electric vehicle, for making connection to a battery thereon so that it may be charged, with a contact disposed on a charging station from which charging power may be obtained, one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed in a receptacle adapted to receive said probe so as to make connection between said contacts, comprising:
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aligning the vehicle with the station so that the probe may engage the receptacle as the vehicle closely approaches the station; placing the vehicle in a creep mode in which it will only travel at a single very low speed; driving the vehicle slowly toward the station in the creep mode; sensing when the probe engages the receptacle and connections are made between said contacts and providing a signal indicative thereof; and automatically turning off the vehicle via circuitry which senses said signal. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification