Methods and systems for charging vehicles
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:
- a charging mount;
a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount;
one or more collector braces coupled to the rigid arm, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces includes;
a pair of spaced apart guiding strips; and
two or more contact pads, wherein different contact pads of the two or more contact pads are configured to contact different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; and
a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the one or more collector braces and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle.
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Abstract
This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:
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a charging mount; a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount; one or more collector braces coupled to the rigid arm, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces includes; a pair of spaced apart guiding strips; and two or more contact pads, wherein different contact pads of the two or more contact pads are configured to contact different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; and a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the one or more collector braces and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 28)
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17. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:
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a charging mount; a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount; one or more collector braces coupled to the rigid arm, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces includes; a pair of spaced apart guiding strips that extend along a direction of travel of the vehicle, and two or more contact pads, wherein different contact pads of the two or more contact pads are configured to contact different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; and a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the one or more collector braces and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 29)
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20. A method for charging a vehicle using a charging station, the charging station including (i) a charging mount, (ii) a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount, (iii) a collector brace coupled to the rigid arm, and (iv) a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the collector brace and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle, wherein the collector brace includes two or more contact pads and a pair of spaced apart guiding strips extending along a direction of travel of the vehicle, comprising:
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moving the vehicle towards the charging mount; rotating the charging brace about the axis to make contact between different contact pads of the two or more contact pads with different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; establishing an electrical connection between the collector brace and the vehicle; and activating charging of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30)
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Specification