Tethered charging/re-charging drone (TCR) assembly system

• US 10,399,458 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memes Associates, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Memes Associates, Ltd.
• Inventors: Prunty, Lee C., Hoeg, William M., Zerillo, Peter, Faivre, Stephen M., Desai, Pinakin
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/621,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/38 with automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/38 for collecting current from conductor rails B60L5/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging 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: 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

A tethered charging and recharging (TCR) drone assembly system is provided. The TCR drone assembly system may be a nurse vehicle-based, a master/slave vehicle-based, a stationary structure and/or free standing TCR drone assembly system. The TCR drone assembly system is especially suitable for use on moving vehicles, for example, a self-propelled conventional type vehicle operated by an operator and/or autonomous or slave autonomous vehicle with no operator on board. The TRC drone assembly system may quickly couple and may deliver energy charges, recharges or other types of power propellants to vehicles while the vehicles are stationary or in motion. The assemblies are especially suitable for providing power to vehicles when only limited downtime of the vehicles is desired. The assemblies are suitable for use in, for example, the agricultural, construction, defense or other industries.

Claims

1. A tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system comprising:

a first drone having a first tether which is tethered to a first movable charging apparatus wherein the first tether delivers an electrical charge from the first movable charging apparatus to the first drone;

a second tether having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is electrically connected to the first drone and wherein the second end of the second tether is capable of supplying electrical power to a second vehicle;

wherein the second tether is a flexible hose;

a first magnet attached at the second end of the second tether;

a second magnet attached to the second vehicle; and

wherein the first magnet of the second end of the second tether is attracted to the second magnet of the second vehicle and wherein the first magnet of the second end of the second tether is capable of aligning the second tether to the second vehicle for supplying power to the second vehicle.

2. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second drone tethered to the first movable charging apparatus wherein the second drone has a second tether having a first and a second end and wherein the second end of the second tether of the second drone is capable of providing an electrical charge a third vehicle.

3. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 wherein the second end of the second tether is capable of delivering an electrical charge to the second vehicle by utilizing an electro-magnetic field induction.

4. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 3 wherein the second end of the second tether does not physically touch the second vehicle while electrically charging the second vehicle.

5. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second movable charging apparatus having tethered drones capable of delivering an electrical charge wherein the second movable charging apparatus replaces the first movable charging apparatus.

6. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 further comprising:

a frame of the second vehicle wherein the frame of the second vehicle has an interchangeable top capable of carrying a load wherein the interchangeable top may be a holding bin, a flat surface or unit capable of delivering an electrical charge.

7. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 6 further comprising:

at least one protrusion on a top of the frame of the second vehicle wherein the protrusion is temporarily inserted into a corresponding indentation on an underside of the interchangeable top and wherein the protrusion prevents the interchangeable top from moving or falling off the frame of the second vehicle.

8. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tank track on the second vehicle capable of moving the second vehicle.

9. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of wheels on the second vehicle capable of moving the second vehicle.

10. The tethered charging and recharging drone assembly system of claim 1 wherein once the second vehicle receives a full or desired charge the polarity charge of the first magnet or the second magnet is reversed so that the magnets are automatically repelled and the second tether is released from the second vehicle.

11. A charging and recharging vehicle assembly system comprising:

a first movable vehicle wherein the first movable vehicle is capable of carrying a load;

a rail system wherein the rail system electrically charges the first movable vehicle when the first movable vehicle comes in close proximity with the rail system;

wherein the electrical charging of the first vehicle by the rail system is through electro-magnetic induction with the first moving vehicle;

wherein the rail system prevents movement of the first movable vehicle outside of a predesignated area by creating a physical barrier for preventing the movement of the first vehicle;

a frame of the first movable vehicle wherein the frame of the first movable vehicle has an interchangeable top capable of carrying a load; and

at least one protrusion on a top of the frame of the first movable vehicle wherein the protrusion is temporarily inserted into a corresponding indentation on an underside of the interchangeable top and wherein the protrusion prevents the interchangeable top from moving or falling off the frame of the first movable vehicle.

12. The charging and recharging vehicle assembly system of claim 11 wherein the first movable vehicle has a battery capable of storing electrical power after being charged.