ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT

• US 20110169447A1
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Kenneth, Swift, Amy, Ramirez, Carlos, Hani, Erwin F., Karwa, Manoj
• Application Number:
  US12/685,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169447A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging system includes a portable housing having an integral holder to hold a connector for an electric vehicle supply circuit. An electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure includes an integral chamber to store all or part of a cord. A mounting bracket for an electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure covers an open portion of the enclosure. A method for facilitating use of an electric vehicle includes providing a prewiring kit for the electric vehicle. An electric vehicle supply equipment enclosure includes an integral disconnect switch. An electric vehicle supply circuit includes a grounding monitor circuit having automatic test functionality. Another electric vehicle supply circuit includes a contact monitor circuit to monitor the state of one or more of the contacts.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a portable housing;

an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the portable housing and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a power source;

an electric vehicle charging connector;

a charging cord having a first end coupled to the electric vehicle charging connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit; and

a holder integral with the portable housing to hold the electric vehicle charging connector.

2. The system of claim 1 where the holder comprises a recess in the housing.

3. The system of claim 2 where the recess has a contour that matches a contour of the electric vehicle charging connector.

4. The system of claim 1 where the holder comprises a frame attached to the housing.

5. The system of claim 4 where the frame is movable relative to the housing.

6. The system of claim 5 where the fame may slide relative to the housing.

7. The system of claim 4 where the frame may be configured to function as a hanger for the charging cord.

8. The system of claim 1 where the housing comprises a mechanism to attach the housing to a structure.

9. The system of claim 8 where the mechanism comprises a slot.

10. The system of claim 8 where the mechanism comprises a handle.

11. The system of claim 10 where the handle is movable relative to the housing.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power connector; and

a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a storage connector configured to engage a charging connector when the charging connector is not in use.

14. The system of claim 13 where the storage connector is configured to engage a latch on the charging connector.

15. The system of claim 13 where the storage connector is rotatably attached to the housing.

16. A system comprising:

an electrical enclosure;

an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the electrical enclosure and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a power source;

a power connector; and

a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit;

where the electrical enclosure includes an integral chamber to store all or part of the power cord.

17. The system of claim 16 where the chamber is contained entirely within the enclosure.

18. The system of claim 16 where the chamber is at least partially open to allow access to a structure on which the enclosure is mounted.

19. The system of claim 16 where the chamber includes an opening to allow the cord to pass outside of the enclosure.

20. The system of claim 19 where the opening comprises a knockout.

21. The system of claim 16 where the chamber is separated from an inner portion of the enclosure.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising an opening between the chamber and the inner portion of the enclosure.

23. The system of claim 22 where the opening comprises a knockout.

24. The system of claim 22 where:

the electric vehicle supply circuit is located in the inner portion of the chamber; and

the power cord is coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit through the opening between the chamber and the inner portion of the enclosure.

25. The system of claim 16 where the chamber is at least partially open to allow the power connector to be plugged into a receptacle on a structure to which the enclosure is mounted.

26. The system of claim 16 further comprising a mounting bracket to cover at least a portion of the chamber.

27. The system of claim 26 where the mounting bracket may function as a panel for the enclosure.

28. The system of claim 26 where the mounting bracket is arranged to be attached to building members having standardized spacing.

29. The system of claim 26 where the mounting bracket includes a portion that is exposed when attached to the enclosure.

30. The system of claim 29 further comprising a holder for an electric vehicle charging connector arranged to cover at least a portion of the exposed portion of the mounting bracket.

31. The system of claim 16 where the enclosure comprises a sloped top.

32. The system of claim 16 where the system further comprises a channel arranged at the top of the enclosure to receive a cord.

33. The system of claim 32 where:

the system further comprises a cap arranged at the top of the enclosure; and

the channel is formed in the cap.

34. A method comprising:

providing an electric vehicle to an electric vehicle user;

providing a prewiring kit to the electric vehicle user, where the prewiring kit includes one or more components adapted to facilitate connection of electric vehicle supply equipment to premises wiring at the electric vehicle user'"'"'s premises; and

providing the electric vehicle supply equipment to the electric vehicle user.

35. The method of claim 34 where the prewiring kit comprises a receptacle.

36. The method of claim 35 where the prewiring kit comprises a receptacle cover.

37. The method of claim 34 where the prewiring kit comprises a mounting bracket for electric vehicle supply equipment.

38. The method of claim 34 where the prewiring kit comprises electric vehicle supply equipment.

39. The method of claim 38 where the electric vehicle supply equipment comprises a wiring device.

40. The method of claim 38 where the electric vehicle supply equipment comprises a plug-in device.

41. An electric vehicle supply circuit comprising:

a charge circuit interrupting device arranged to interrupt power to an electric vehicle;

a grounding monitor circuit; and

a controller coupled to the grounding monitor circuit and the charge circuit interrupting device, where the controller is constructed and arranged to control the charge circuit interrupting device in response to the grounding monitor circuit;

where the grounding monitor circuit includes automatic test functionality to enable the controller to test the operation of the grounding monitor circuit.

42. The circuit of claim 41 where the grounding monitor circuit comprises a resistor and a switch coupled in series between a hot conductor and a grounding conductor, where the switch is constructed and arranged to be operated by the controller.

43. The circuit of claim 42 where the switch comprises an optically isolated coupling.

44. The circuit of claim 42 where the grounding monitor circuit further comprising a monitor device coupled in series with the resistor and switch and arranged to enable the controller to monitor the operation of the grounding monitor circuit.

45. The circuit of claim 44 where the monitor device comprises an optically isolated coupling.

46. An electric vehicle supply circuit comprising:

a charge circuit interrupting device arranged to interrupt the flow of power from a power source to an electric vehicle;

a fault monitor circuit; and

a controller coupled to the fault monitor circuit and the charge circuit interrupting device, where the controller is constructed and arranged to control the charge circuit interrupting device in response to the fault monitor circuit;

where the fault monitor circuit includes automatic test functionality to enable the controller to test the operation of the fault monitor circuit.

47. The circuit of claim 46 further comprising a zero crossing detection circuit coupled to the controller and is constructed and arranged to detect a zero crossing of the power source.

48. The circuit of claim 46 where the fault monitor circuit comprises a GFCI integrated circuit.

49. The circuit of claim 46 further comprising a sense connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to determine that the fault monitor circuit has detected a fault during a self-test process.

50. The circuit of claim 46 further comprising a trigger connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to prevent the fault monitor circuit from triggering the charge circuit interrupting device during a self-test process.

51. The circuit of claim 46 further comprising a trigger connection between the fault monitor circuit and the controller to enable the controller to prevent the fault monitor circuit from triggering the charge circuit interrupting device during a self-test process.

52. The circuit of claim 46 further comprising a timing control circuit constructed and arranged to enable the controller to change a timing parameter of the fault monitor circuit.

53. A system comprising:

an electrical enclosure;

an electric vehicle supply circuit disposed within the electrical enclosure and constructed and arranged to provide power to an electric vehicle from a dedicated power source;

a power connector adapted to connect to a receptacle to receive power from the dedicated power source; and

a power cord having a first end coupled to the power connector and a second end coupled to the electric vehicle supply circuit.

54. The system of claim 53 where the power connector is a NEMA 6-50 plug.

55. The system of claim 53 where the electric vehicle supply circuit and the power connector are adapted for AC Level 2 vehicle charging.