Method and Apparatus for Charging Electric Devices

• US 20090009131A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wfk & Associates, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wfk & Associates, LLC
• Inventors: Kissel, Waldemar JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,906,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/53 in combination with an external power supply, e.g. from overhead contact lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00; in combination with batteries or fuel cells within the vehicle B60L50/53
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage devices. One storage device is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other storage device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge.

Claims

1. A system for charging electric devices comprising in combination:

a passenger vehicle having forward and rearward ends four wheels and an engine compartment, an individual electric motor associated with each of the four wheels, whereby each wheel is independently powered by the associated electric motor;

a retractable contact pole extending downwardly from the rear end of the vehicle, the contact pole having a first stored orientation and a second deployed orientation, the contact pole engaging the ground while in the second deployed orientation;

a battery of high capacity high voltage capacitors capable of quickly receiving large amounts of electrical charge and being positioned within the engine compartment, the retractable contact pole being in electrical communication with the capacitors, a storage battery capable of storing charge for a prolonged period of time positioned within the engine compartment and in electrical communication with the capacitors;

a road surface having a series of discrete and electrically charged conductors, whereby when the vehicle is traveling on the road surface the contact pole can be extended to its deployed orientation whereby the contact pole contacts the electrically charged conductors and wherein electricity from the conductors serves to rapidly charge the capacitors and further wherein when the contact pole is in its first stored orientation the capacitors serve to supply an electric charge to the storage batteries.

2. A system for charging electric devices comprising in combination:

a passenger vehicle having forward and rearward ends four wheels and an engine compartment, an electric motor for powering the four wheels;

a contact pole extending downwardly from the vehicle for engaging the ground;

a first battery capable of quickly receiving large amounts of electrical charge being positioned within the engine compartment, the contact pole being in electrical communication with the first battery, at least one second battery for the prolonged storage of charge positioned within the engine compartment and in electrical communication with the first battery;

a road surface having a series of discrete and electrically charged conductors, whereby when the vehicle is traveling on the road surface the contact pole contacts the electrically charged conductors and wherein electricity from the conductors serves to rapidly charge the first battery and further wherein when the contact pole is no longer in contact with the conductors, the first battery serves to supply an electric charge to the second battery.

3. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the first battery is a bank of high capacity high storage capacitors.

4. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the second battery is an organic polymer battery.

5. The system as described in claim 2 wherein the contact pole is selectively oriented between a first stored orientation and a second deployed orientation.