Charging system for fleet golf

• US 9,225,183 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Club Car Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Russell W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siek, Vuthe
• Application Number:
  US13/731,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/109, 320/112
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• 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 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A charging system is disclosed for charging a battery system of an electric vehicle. In one form, the charging system includes a first connector including a power control unit that is operable to selectively supply charging power from a power source. A second connector is connected with the first connector and includes a fault detection circuit. A controller is connected with the fault detection circuit and the power control unit. The controller is operable to control the power control unit to selectively supply charging power to a battery system if a fault is not detected from fault detection circuit. A cordset for use with the charging system is also disclosed that allows the cordset to perform certain electrical functions and connect the cordset to a connector of the vehicle in a breakaway manner.

Claims

1. A charging system, comprising:

a first connector including a power control unit that is operable to selectively supply power from a power source;

a second connector connected with said first connector, wherein said second connector includes a fault detection circuit with a thermal device disposed therein;

a controller connected with said fault detection circuit and said power control unit, wherein said controller is operable to control said power control unit to selectively supply charging power to a battery system if a fault is not detected from said fault detection circuit; and

a sensor connected between said fault detection circuit and said controller, wherein said sensor is operable to generate a signal that is sent to said controller if said fault is detected because of a change in an electrical parameter generated by said thermal device.

2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said first connector is connected with said second connector via a breakaway connection.

3. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said power control unit comprises a relay connected with said power source, wherein a first actuator is connected with said relay and said control unit, wherein said control unit is operable to activate said actuator such that said relay provides power from said power source if said fault is not detected.

4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said second connector comprises a connector external of a vehicle and an internal connector located within said vehicle, wherein said connector external of said vehicle is operable to connect with said internal connector located within said vehicle.

5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein said fault detection circuit comprises a predetermined load, wherein upon detection of a change in an electrical parameter of said predetermined load a fault signal is sent to said controller.

6. The charging system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator connected between said controller and said power control unit for controlling operation of said power control unit.

7. The charging system of claim 6, wherein said actuator comprises a switching device having an input coupled to said controller, wherein said controller is configured to generate a signal that is sent to said power control unit to selectively supply charging power to said battery system if said fault is not detected from said fault detection circuit.

8. The charging system of claim 7, wherein said switching device comprises a transistor.

9. A charging system, comprising:

a switching device including an actuator positioned within a first connector;

a second connector configured to be coupled to said first connector; and

a controller configured to be coupled to said actuator when said first connector and second connector are mated;

wherein;

said controller is configured to actuate said actuator through said first connector and second connector thereby providing a charging voltage to a battery system;

a fault detection circuit connected between said switching device and said controller, wherein said fault detection circuit is operable to cause said controller to deactivate said switching device if a fault is detected;

wherein said fault detection circuit comprises a thermal device; and

a sensor connected between said fault detection device and said controller, wherein said sensor is operable to generate a signal that is sent to said controller if said fault is detected because of a change in an electrical parameter generated by said thermal device.

10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein said switching device includes a relay connected with said actuator, wherein said actuator is operable to activate said relay when said first connector is coupled to said second connector.

11. A charging system, comprising:

a switching device including an actuator positioned within a first connector;

a second connector configured to be coupled to said first connector; and

a controller configured to be coupled to said actuator when said first connector and second connector are mated;

wherein;

said controller is configured to actuate said actuator through said first connector and second connector thereby providing a charging voltage to a battery system;

a fault detection circuit connected between said switching device and said controller, wherein said fault detection circuit is operable to cause said controller to deactivate said switching device if a fault is detected;

wherein said fault detection circuit comprises a predetermined load; and

a sensor connected between said fault detection device and said controller, wherein said sensor is operable to generate a signal that is sent to said controller if said fault is detected because of a change in an electrical parameter generated by said load.

12. A cordset, comprising:

a power control unit operably connectable to a power source, wherein said power control unit includes a switching device operable for selectively providing power to an output of said power control unit;

a cord electrically connecting said output of said power control unit to a connector, wherein said connector includes a load coupled to said switching device of said power control unit by said cord;

a thermal device in electrical communication with said connector operable to generate an electrical parameter;

a sensor operable to generate a signal fault upon a change in the electrical parameter generated by said thermal device; and

wherein;

an actuator of said switching device is coupled to said load through the cord; and

said switching device is configured to switch power from a power source to said connector in response to activation of said actuator and shut off power to said connector when the sensor generates a signal fault.

13. The cordset of claim 12, wherein said load is in parallel with said actuator.

14. The cordset of claim 12, wherein said power control unit is connected with said cord via a breakaway connection.