Overhead charging systems for electric vehicles

• US 10,112,498 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Hill, Dale, Walker, Michael, Goldman, Joshua, Horth, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelton, Nathaniel
• Application Number:
  US15/244,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A charging station for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a charging mount configured to be positioned above a roof of the vehicle;

an positioning bar attached to the charging mount;

a pair of rigid arms rotatably coupled to opposite ends of the positioning bar, wherein each arm of the pair of rigid arms includes a first end coupled to the positioning bar at a pivot and a second end extending downward and away from the positioning bar;

a pair of collector braces to charge the vehicle, wherein each collector brace of the pair of collector braces (a) includes an electrically conductive surface for contact with a different electrode of a pair of electrodes on the roof of the vehicle, and (b) is mechanically connected to the second end of a different rigid arm of the pair of rigid arms.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive surface of one collector brace of the pair of collector braces is for contacting a positive electrode of the vehicle and an electrically conductive surface of another collector brace of the pair of collector braces is for contacting a negative electrode of the vehicle when the vehicle is engaged with the charging station.

3. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising a spacing bar separating the pair of collector braces.

4. The charging station of claim 3, wherein the spacing bar is configured to vary a distance between the pair of collector braces.

5. The charging station of claim 4, further comprising a sensor, hydraulic, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical length adjustment system.

6. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the pair of collector braces is mounted to the charging mount via a coupling.

7. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the coupling is configured to move the pair of charging braces vertically with respect to the charging mount.

8. The charging station of claim 7, further comprising a sensor, mechanical and/or electro-mechanical height adjustment system.

9. The charging station of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device.

10. A charging station for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a charging mount configured to be positioned above a roof of the vehicle during charging;

an elongate positioning bar attached to the charging mount and extending a plane parallel to the roof;

a pair of rigid arms, wherein each rigid arm of the pair of rigid arms includes a first end coupled to a different end of the positioning bar at a pivot and a second end extending downward and away from the positioning bar;

a pair of collector braces, wherein each collector brace of the pair of collector braces (a) includes an electrically conductive surface for contact with a different electrode of a pair of electrodes on the roof of the vehicle, and (b) is mechanically connected to the second end of a different rigid arm of the pair of rigid arms; and

a positioning device configured to move the pair of collector braces towards and away from the roof of the vehicle.

11. The charging station of claim 10, wherein the positioning device is an electro-mechanical height adjustment system.

12. The charging station of claim 10, wherein the positioning device is configured to be activated in response to a signal from an approaching vehicle.

13. The charging station of claim 10, further including an energy storage device configured to store energy.

14. The charging station of claim 10, further comprising a spacing bar separating the pair of collector braces, wherein the spacing bar enables the pair of collector braces to move towards and away from each other.

15. The charging station of claim 10 wherein the pair of collector braces are spaced apart by between about 5 to 80 cm.

16. The charging station of claim 10, wherein each collector brace of the pair of collector braces is connected to the second end of a rigid arm at a pivot.