Disconnect for a charging unit for an electric vehicle

• US 7,859,219 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Moffat Harris
• Original Assignee: David Moffat Harris
• Inventors: Harris, David M
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): OMAR, AHMED H
• Application Number:
  US11/672,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/180
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/2441 with built-in overvoltage protection
• 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 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

Abstract

A device for a plug in vehicle includes a cord with a ball-like covering that allows it to be dropped. The cord bounces when dropped, and no damage is caused. There is also an electrical actuator that is based on when the vehicle is in a mode that allows it to be charged. When the vehicle is in the charge mode, the actuator either magnetically attracts the cord, or tightens against the cord to hold it more tightly If the vehicle is put in reverse, for example, the actuator is deenergized, and the cord is less tightly held, facilitating its disconnection.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a vehicle detection part, that detects whether said vehicle is in a first stationary mode in which the vehicle is stationary and produces a charging indication indicative of said vehicle being stationary, said vehicle detection part also detecting if said vehicle is in a second mode where it is in a movable state;

a connection socket, coupled to said vehicle, accepting electrical power for charging of the vehicle when connected to a source of power, one of said connection socket or said source of power having a first electrical contact which is an elongated contact, and the other of said connection socket and said source of power includes second and third electrical contacts which are spaced from

one another; and

a cord controlling part, having an actuator control causing a change in an amount of space between said second and third electrical contacts, such that said first electrical contact is held between said second and third contacts more securely when said indication represents said first stationary mode that indicates that the vehicle is stationary, and such that said first electrical contact is less securely held when said indication represents that said vehicle is in said second mode where said vehicle is movable;

wherein said connection socket includes a pivot that moves said electrical contacts in directions to face in a direction parallel to a direction of force.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said second and third electrical contacts are in said connection socket.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein said second and third electrical contacts are on a cord that connects to said first electrical contact in said connection socket.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said stationary mode represents said car being in park.

5. A device as in claim 1, Where said elongated element is a blade.

6. A device, comprising:

a vehicle detection part, that detects whether said vehicle is in a first stationary mode in which the vehicle is stationary and produces a first indication indicative of said vehicle being stationary, said vehicle detection part also detecting if said vehicle is in a second mode where it is in a movable state;

a connection socket, coupled to said vehicle, accepting electrical power for charging of the vehicle when a source of power is connected, where one of said connection socket and said source of power includes a first electrical contact in the shape of an elongated element and the other of said connection socket and said source of power includes second and third electrical contacts which are spaced from one another; and

a cord controlling part, having an actuator causing a movement that changes an amount of a space between said second and third electrical contacts, to automatically move said second and third electrical contacts closer together to hold said first electrical contact tight between said second and third electrical contacts when said indication represents said first stationary mode that indicates that the vehicle is stationary, and to automatically move said second and third electrical contacts further apart relative to one another to hold said second electrical contact less tight between said second and third electrical contacts, when said indication represents that said vehicle is in said second mode where said vehicle is movable;

wherein said connection socket includes a pivot that pivots a direction of said connection socket to move a direction of said contacts in said connection socket to face in a direction parallel to a direction of force.

7. A device as in claim 6, further comprising an electromagnet on said connection socket, and said electrical cord includes a part that is attracted to said electromagnet.

8. A device as in claim 6, wherein said electrical cord includes a protection portion formed from a section of an elastomeric sphere, where said elastomeric sphere is hollow and where an electrical contact in said electrical cord is spaced from but attached to an inside portion of said elastomeric sphere and spaced from at least a portion of said elastomeric sphere, and further comprising first and second connection structures, connected to first and second portions of said electrical cord that has said electrical contact, and first and second portions of an inside of said elastomeric sphere, with no connections connected between said first and second portions thereby leaving an area of empty space between said at least one portion of said sphere and said portion of said electrical cord that has said electrical contact, and wherein the area of said empty space is configured to allow the deformation of said elastomeric sphere in said area of empty space.

9. A device as in claim 6, wherein said elongated element is a blade.

10. A method, comprising:

detecting a mode of a vehicle, a first mode being a mode in which the vehicle is in a stationary mode;

connecting an electrical cord to a vehicle to charge the vehicle, where one of a connection socket on the vehicle, and said electrical cord includes a first electrical contact in the shape of an elongated element and the other of said connection socket and said electrical cord includes second and third electrical contacts which are spaced from one another;

based on said detecting said mode where said vehicle is in said stationary mode, automatically moving said second and third electrical contacts closer to one another to hold said first electrical contact tight between said second and third electrical contacts to hold said electrical cord more securely to said vehicle;

based on said detecting said mode where said vehicle is not in said stationary mode, automatically moving said second and third electrical contacts further apart relative to one another to hold said second electrical contact less tight between said second and third electrical contacts to hold said electrical cord less securely; and

further comprising pivoting a connection socket to move a direction of contacts in said connection socket to face parallel to a direction of force.

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising actuating an electromagnet on said connection socket to hold said electrical cord attracted to said electromagnet.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said actuating comprises moving an electrical contact in or out relative to said vehicle.

13. A method as in claim 10, further comprising using an electrical cord to connect to said vehicle, and using a hollow, ball shaped elastomeric part on an end of the electrical cord, with a hollow part defining a space between an outside of the part and an electrical connection in said part, and further comprising first and second connection structures, connected to first and second portions of said electrical cord that has said electrical contact, and first and second portions of an inside of said elastomeric sphere, with no connections connected between said first and second portions thereby leaving an area of empty space between said at least one portion of said part and said electrical portion of said electrical cord that has said electrical contact, and wherein the area of said empty space is configured to allow the deformation of said elastomeric sphere in said area of empty space, and configuring said ball shaped part to deform in said area of said empty space and to bounce if it hits the ground.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein said first mode is said car being in park.

15. A method as in claim 10, further comprising said vehicle being in a movable mode, operating said electrical part to hold said electric cord less securely to said vehicle.