Service plug configuration

• US 6,722,903 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, John David Trevor, Mulvenna, Alan John
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US10/158,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20030129868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 439/191, 439/192, 439/194, 439/305, 439/34
• US Class Current: 439/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0053 relating to fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• 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: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

This invention relates to a fluid and electrical coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that a fluid and electricity is transferable therebetween. The coupling includes a plug having a pair of opposed major surfaces, a fluid exchange interface on one of the major surfaces, and an electricity exchange interface on the other major surface. The coupling also includes a receptacle having an opening for receiving the plug, a fluid exchange interface facing the plug fluid exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle, and an electricity exchange interface facing the plug electricity exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A fluid-and-electricity coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that a fluid and electricity are transferable therebetween, the fluid-and-electricity coupling comprising:

(a) a plug comprising a pair of opposed major surfaces, a fluid exchange interface on one major surface, and an electricity exchange interface on the other major surface; and

,

(b) a receptacle comprising an opening for receiving the plug, a corresponding fluid exchange interface for engaging the plug fluid exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle, and a corresponding electricity exchange interface for engaging the plug electricity exchange interface when the plug is coupled to the receptacle,

the engagement between the plug and receptacle fluid and electricity exchange interfaces being such that fluid and electricity are transferred in physical isolation from one another.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the opposed major surfaces are the top and bottom major surfaces of the plug, and the plug electricity exchange interface is on the plug top major surface and the plug fluid exchange interface is on the plug bottom major surface.

3. The coupling of claim 2 wherein the plug further comprises fluid seals that create a fluid seal between the plug and receptacle fluid interfaces when the plug is coupled with the receptacle.

4. The coupling of claim 2 wherein the receptacle further comprises fluid seals that create a fluid seal between the plug and receptacle fluid interfaces when the plug is coupled with the receptacle.

5. The coupling of claim 2 wherein the receptacle further comprises a clamping assembly for clamping the receptacle fluid and electricity exchange interfaces against the plug fluid and electricity exchange interfaces.

6. The coupling of claim 5 wherein the receptacle fluid interface is movably mounted to the receptacle and magnetically driven by a solenoid assembly, such that the receptacle fluid interface can be magnetically moved by the solenoid assembly in clamping and unclamping directions.

7. The coupling of claim 5 wherein the receptacle fluid interface is movably mounted to the receptacle and coupled to a clamping motor, such that the receptacle fluid interface can be moved by the motor in clamping and unclamping directions.

8. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the receptacle further comprises an interface cover that is movably mounted to the receptacle and coupled to a cover motor, such that the cover can be moved by the motor into a raised position that covers the receptacle fluid and electricity exchange interfaces, and a lowered position that enables the plug to enter the receptacle.

9. The coupling of claim 8 wherein the plug and receptacle electricity exchange interfaces each comprise electrical and ground contacts, and wherein at least one of the plug and receptacle electrical contacts is arcuate, thereby enabling electrical contact to be maintained between the plug and receptacle when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate electrical contact.

10. The coupling of claim 9 wherein the plug comprises three arcuate electrical contacts all centered about a common axis and the ground contact is located on the axis.

11. The coupling of claim 10 wherein the receptacle electricity interface further comprises an elastomer seal surrounding the receptacle electrical contacts and being compressible such that upon being compressed by the coupling action between the plug and the receptacle, that the plug and receptacle electrical contacts engage each other.

12. The coupling of claim 10 wherein the elastomer seal comprises a dimpled surface for collecting liquids for the prevention of electrical shorting between adjacent electrical contacts.

13. The coupling of claim 9 wherein the plug and receptacle fluid exchange interfaces each comprise fluid transfer ports, and at least one of the plug and receptacle fluid exchange interfaces comprise an arcuate open-faced fluid channel fluidly communicative with the fluid transfer port on the same fluid exchange interface, thereby enabling fluid communication to be maintained between the plug and receptacle when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate channel.

14. The coupling of claim 11 wherein the plug comprises an annular fluid channel and wherein the plug fluid transfer port is located on the floor of the fluid channel.

15. The coupling of claim 11 wherein the receptacle comprises an annular land having a fluid transfer port and a shape configured to mate with the plug fluid channel when the plug is coupled to the receptacle.

16. A fluid-and-electricity plug for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that a fluid and electricity are transferable therebetween, the fluid-and-electricity plug including

(a) a pair of opposed major surfaces;

(b) a fluid exchange interface on one of the major surfaces; and

(c) an electricity exchange interface on the other major surface;

wherein the fluid and electricity exchange interfaces are configured to engage corresponding fluid and electricity exchange interfaces on a receptacle such that fluid and electricity are transferable between the plug and receptacle, and the interfaces are in physical isolation from one another.

17. The coupling of claim 16 wherein the opposed major surfaces are the top and bottom major surfaces of the plug, and wherein the plug electricity exchange interface is on the plug top major surface and the plug fluid exchange interface is on the plug bottom major surface.

18. The coupling of claim 17 wherein the plug further comprises fluid seals that create a fluid seal between the plug and receptacle fluid interfaces when the plug is coupled with the receptacle.

19. The coupling of claim 16 wherein the plug electricity exchange interface comprises electrical and ground contacts, and wherein the plug contacts are arcuate, thereby enabling electrical contact to be maintained between the plug and receptacle when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate electrical contact.

20. The coupling of claim 19 wherein the plug comprises three arcuate electrical contacts all centered about a common axis and the ground contact is located on the axis.

21. The coupling of claim 20 wherein the plug fluid exchange interface comprises fluid transfer ports, and the plug fluid exchange interface comprises an arcuate open-faced fluid channel fluidly communicative with the fluid transfer port on the same fluid exchange interface, thereby enabling fluid communication to be maintained between the plug and receptacle when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate channel.

22. The coupling of claim 21 wherein the plug comprises an annular fluid channel and wherein the plug fluid transfer port is located on the floor of the fluid channel.