VEHICLE REPLENISHMENT

• US 20150069968A1
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: El-Sight Limited
• Original Assignee: Olaeris, Inc.
• Inventors: Pounds, Paul E. I.
• Granted Patent: US 9,577,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0455 recognising the position
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00304 Overcurrent protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• 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

The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, and apparatus for replenishing vehicle resources. Vehicles can be aligned with and docked to replenishment devices. In one aspect, a flying vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) is aligned onto electrical recharging contacts. The flying vehicles fuel level or battery charge can be replenished with minimal, if any, human intervention. Vehicle docking (e.g., landing), alignment, and replenishment can be performed automatically. A circular ring or shaped surface of a vehicle can engage with a conical sloping surface of a docking apparatus as a vehicle moves towards and/or into the docking apparatus. The conical sloping surface shape aligns the vehicle with recharge contacts or a refueling probe at the base of the docking apparatus.

Claims

1. A docking apparatus for replenishing resources of a vehicle, the docking apparatus comprising:

a shaped sloping surface; and

a base, the base including one or more replenishment devices configured for coupling with the vehicle, the one or more replenishment devices in connection with an replenishment system for replenishing an energy resource used by the vehicle; and

wherein the shape of the shaped sloping surface is configured engage a structure on the fuselage of the vehicle, the shaped sloping surface further configured to align one or more replenishment contacts on the vehicle with the one or more replenishment devices such that the vehicle can be replenished with the energy resource.

2. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape of the shaped sloping surface being configured to engage a structure on the fuselage of the vehicle comprises the shape of the shaped sloping surface being configured engage a structure of an unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV).

3. The docking apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shape of the shaped sloping surface being configured engage a structure of landing unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV) comprises the shape of the shaped sloping surface being configured engage a ringed landing adaptor of the unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV).

4. The docking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the replenishment system comprises a charging system and wherein the one or more replenishment devices include one or more ring-shaped charging contacts of the charging system, the one or more ring-shaped charging contacts configured to engage with electrical contacts attached to the ringed landing adaptor of the unnamed aerial vehicle (UAV);

wherein the energy resource is electrical power; and

wherein the one or more ring-shaped charging contacts are connected to a power supply that provides electrical power.

5. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the replenishment system comprises a charging system, the chagrin system including a receptacle for resource replenishment.

6. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape of the shaped sloping surface being configured to engage a structure on the fuselage of the vehicle comprises the shape of the shaped sloping surface being selected from the group of conical, convex, concave, and a combination of convex and concave.

7. The docking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an environmental enclosure for protecting the one or more replenishment devices.

8. The docking apparatus of claim 7, wherein the environmental enclosure comprises a shelter operable to protect a docked vehicle from weather conditions selected from the group including rain, humidity, snow, frost, precipitation and sand.

9. The docking apparatus of claim 8, wherein the shelter comprises one or more of:

a shutter, an aperture and a housing, the shelter being operable to permit vehicle to disengage when open and restrict the ingress of weather or contaminants when closed.

10. The docking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a drainage system for draining liquid away from the one or more replenishment devices.

11. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaped sloping surface being configured to align one or more replenishment contacts on the vehicle with the one or more replenishment devices comprises:

guiding an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in descent toward the docking apparatus, and

wherein the guiding is provided using the sloped surface that engages with a structure on the landing UAV such that the UAV moves toward a center of the receptacle as it descends.

12. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) charging system comprising:

two ring-shaped charging contacts that engage with electrical contacts on the base of an aircraft, the charging contacts connected to a power supply, such that the orientation of the UAV does not impair the ability of the aircraft to charge when seated on the charging receptacle.