Electric vehicle

• US 6,087,806 A
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shisutemu Sooken Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Shisutemu Sooken Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Fujioka, Ichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/336,458
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/108, 320/109, 320/116, 320/119, 320/120, 180/65.1, 414/281, 414/282
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/32 Control or regulation of multiple-unit electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/42 Adaptation of control equipment on vehicle for actuation from alternative parts of the vehicle or from alternative vehicles of the same vehicle train B60L15/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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 electric vehicle comprising: a power reception section for receiving electric power energy from a power supply section disposed along a road, the electric power supplied by a charger disposed at a predetermined place; a coupling mechanism for interconnecting electric vehicles and permitting transfer of electric power energy; and a control unit for controlling interconnection of said electric vehicles, wherein said power supply section simultaneously charges batteries of a plurality of electric vehicles to be interconnected via said power reception section of the first one of the electric vehicles when the first electric vehicle passes over said power supply section on the road surface, and then similarly performs, in turn, simultaneous charging of batteries of the second or any succeeding electric vehicles for the rest each time the second and any succeeding vehicle passes over said power supply section on the road surface.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising:

a power reception section for receiving electric power energy from a power supply section disposed along a road, the electric power supplied by a charger disposed at a predetermined place;

a coupling mechanism for interconnecting electric vehicles and permitting transfer of electric power energy; and

a control unit for controlling interconnection of said electric vehicles,

wherein said power supply section simultaneously charges batteries of a plurality of electric vehicles to be interconnected via said power reception section of the first one of the electric vehicles when the first electric vehicle passes over said power supply section on the road surface, and then similarly performs, in turn, simultaneous charging of batteries of the second or any succeeding electric vehicles for the rest each time the second and any succeeding vehicle passes over said power supply section on the road surface.

2. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling mechanism permits at least two divided coupling bars extended from a rear portion of a preceding electric vehicle to be coupled with a front portion of a succeeding electric vehicle by means of a spring, respectively.

3. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit permits an automatic driving run of the succeeding electric vehicle based on compressed conditions of said plural springs when at least two divided coupling bars extended from the rear portion of the preceding electric vehicle are coupled with the front portion of the succeeding electric vehicle by means of a spring, respectively.

4. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling mechanism permits at least two divided coupling bars extended from the rear portion of the preceding electric vehicle to be coupled with the front portion of the succeeding electric vehicle by means of a spring coming into contact with a respective lateral side of the coupling bars.

5. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control unit permits an automatic handling run of the succeeding electric vehicle based on compressed conditions of said plural springs when at least two divided coupling bars extended from the rear portion of the preceding electric vehicle are coupled with the front portion of the succeeding electric vehicle by means of the springs contacting the lateral sides of the coupling bars.

6. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charger supplies the electric vehicle with electric power energy from a solar power or a commercially available power source.

7. An electric vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply section and said power reception section utilize an induction coil for transferring electric power energy from said power supply section to said power reception section.