Electrification system for use in a vehicle

• US 7,186,118 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanfeng Czechia Automotive Interior Systems s.r.o.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Spencer, John D., Hansen, Scott A., Gauthier, Jeremy J., Castro, Elindo G., Kovach, Miklos A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen; Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US11/387,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20060276065A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439110-122, 174/72.A, 180/311, 180/312, 307/10.1, 307/10.8, 296/37.8, 296/37.14, 296/24.1, 296/37.7, 296/24.34, 224/540, 224/281
• US Class Current: 439/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 41/00 Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit end pieces terminating in a hook or the like H01R11/12; current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00

Abstract

An electrification system for use with an article slidably supported on a track within a vehicle is provided. The electrification system comprises a conductor assembly including a positive conductive interface supported parallel and adjacent to a negative conductive interface. The conductor assembly is configured to extend substantially the length of the track. The electrification system further comprises a contact assembly including a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive conductive interface and a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative conductive interface. The contact assembly is configured to be fixed relative to the article. The contact assembly remains in electrical communication with the conductor assembly as the article is selectively moved along the track to provide continuous electrical power to the article as the article is moved.

Claims

1. An electrification system for use with an article slidably supported on a track within a vehicle, the electrification system comprising:

a conductor assembly including a positive conductive interface supported parallel and adjacent to a negative conductive interface, the conductor assembly configured to extend substantially the length of the track; and

a contact assembly including a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive conductive interface and a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative conductive interface, the contact assembly configured to be fixed relative to the article,

wherein the contact assembly remains in electrical communication with the conductor assembly as the article is selectively moved along the track to provide continuous electrical power to the article as the article is moved.

2. The electrification system of claim 1, wherein the conductor assembly further includes an insulator electrically separating the positive conductive interface from the negative conductive interface.

3. The electrification system of claim 2, wherein the insulator supports the positive conductive interface at the position that is parallel and adjacent to the negative conductive interface.

4. The electrification system of claim 3, wherein the insulator includes a first channel configured to receive the positive conductive interface and a second channel configured to receive the negative conductive interface.

5. The electrification system of claim 3, wherein the insulator is configured to be coupled directly to the track.

6. The electrification system of claim 1, wherein the contact assembly further includes a positive brush supported at end of the positive contact and the negative brush supported at the end of the negative contact, the positive brush slidably engages the positive conductive interface, the negative brush slidably engages the negative conductive interface.

7. The electrification system of claim 6, wherein a first spring biases the positive brush for sliding engagement with the positive conductive interface and a second spring biases the negative brush for sliding engagement with the negative conductive interface.

8. The electrification system of claim 7, wherein the first spring is integrally formed with the positive contact and provided as a one-piece unitary member, and the second spring is integrally formed with the negative contact and provided as a one-piece unitary member.

9. The electrification system of claim 1, wherein the contact assembly further includes a carrier which supports and electrically separates the positive contact and the negative contact.

10. The electrification system of claim 9, wherein the carrier includes a first portion for supporting the positive and negative contacts in a substantially vertical orientation and a second portion for supporting the positive and negative contacts in a substantially horizontal orientation.

11. A sliding console system for a vehicle, the console system comprising:

a track having a length;

a console supported on the track and configured for sliding movement relative to the track;

a conductor assembly at least partially extending along the length of the track, the conductor assembly including a positive conductive interface supported parallel and adjacent to a negative conductive interface;

a contact assembly fixed relative to the console, the contact assembly including a positive contact in electrical communication with the positive conductive interface and a negative contact in electrical communication with the negative conductive interface,

wherein the contact assembly remains in electrical communication with the conductor assembly as the console slides relative to the track to provide continuous electrical power to the console.

12. The sliding console system of claim 11, wherein the track is located on the floor of the vehicle and orientated generally perpendicularly with respect to an instrument panel of the vehicle.

13. The sliding console system of claim 12, wherein the console includes at least one of an electrical port, an electrical control, and an electronic device.

14. The sliding console system of claim 13, wherein the console further includes at least one of a cup holder, a tray, a storage compartment, and an armrest.

15. The sliding console of claim 11, wherein the conductor assembly is supported within a channel defined by the track and substantially shielded by the track from contaminants.

16. The sliding console of claim 11, wherein the console is coupled to a carriage which slidably engages the track.

17. The sliding console of claim 16, wherein the carriage supports the contact assembly.

18. A method of providing electrical power to at least one article slidably supported within a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a conductor assembly and a contact assembly;

fixedly coupling the conductor assembly relative to the vehicle, the conductor assembly including a positive conductive surface positioned parallel to a negative conductive surface and an insulator electrically separating the positive conductive surface from the negative conductive surface;

fixedly coupling the contact assembly relative to the article, the contact assembly including a resilient positive contact and a resilient negative contact;

slidably engaging the positive contact with the positive conductive surface and the negative contact with the negative conductive surface; and

providing electrical power to the conductor assembly to provide power at the article.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of biasing the positive contact toward the positive conductive surface and the negative contact toward the negative conductive surface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a positive brush at the end of the positive contact and a negative brush at the end of the negative contact.