ROBOTIC WORK TOOL SYSTEM AND A CHARGING CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT FOR A ROBOTIC WORK TOOL SYSTEM

• US 20160332526A1
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Svensson, Mats, Jgenstedt, Patrik, hrlund, Magnus
• Granted Patent: US 10,518,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/667 Precipitation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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

Abstract

A robotic work tool system, comprising a charging station and a robotic work tool, said robotic work tool comprising two charging connectors arranged on an upper side of the robotic work tool and said charging station comprising two charging connectors and a supporting structure arranged to carry said charging connectors and to extend over and above said robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station for establishing electrical contact between the charging connectors of the robotic work tool and the charging connectors of the charging station from above, wherein said supporting structure is arranged to allow the robotic work tool exit the charging station by driving through the charging station without reversing.

Claims

1-3. -3. (canceled)

4. A robotic work tool system, comprising a charging station and a robotic work tool, said robotic work tool comprising a charging connector arranged on an upper side of the robotic work tool and said charging station comprising a mating charging connector and a supporting structure arranged to carry said mating charging connectors and to extend over said robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station for establishing energy transfer contact between the charging connectors of the robotic work tool and the mating charging connector of the charging station from above, wherein said supporting structure is arranged to allow the robotic work tool to select to exit the charging station by driving through the charging station or reversing.

5. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the mating charging connector of the charging station is arranged on a lever arrangement, said mating charging connector being a collector shoe gear.

6. The robotic work tool system according to claim 5, wherein the collector shoe gear is arranged with an angled portion on a face of the mating charging connector facing the robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station.

7. The robotic work tool system according to claim 6, wherein the collector shoe gear is arranged on an insulating member also being arranged with an angled portion on a face of the insulating member facing the robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station.

8. The robotic work tool system according to claim 5, wherein the collector shoe gear is arranged with a partition to provide at least two contact points.

9. The robotic work tool system according to claim 8, wherein the contact points are pointed.

10. The robotic work tool system according to claim 5, wherein the lever arrangement is of a pantograph design.

11. The robotic work tool system according to claim 5, wherein the lever arrangement is arranged to move forwards and upwards as the robotic work tool enters the charging station to make contact between the mating charging connectors of the charging station and the charging connectors of the robotic work tool.

13. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the robotic work tool comprises multiple charging connectors that are arranged in series with regard to a direction of movement of the robotic work tool.

14. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the charging connectors of the robotic work tool is arranged as a charging rails arranged to mate with a sliding charging connector of the charging station.

15. The robotic work tool system according to claim 14, wherein the charging rail is arranged on a charging support having a slanting portion for guiding the mating charging connectors of the charging station as the robotic work tool enters the charging station.

16. The robotic work tool system according to claim 14, wherein the charging rail is arranged on a charging support having a slanting side portion for allowing a variation of tilt of the robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station.

17. The robotic work tool system according to claim 14, wherein the charging rail is arranged to protrude through an opening in a hull of said robotic work tool.

18. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the charging connectors of the robotic work tool is arranged on one side of the upper side of the robotic work tool with regards to the direction of movement of the robotic work tool.

19. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the charging connectors of the charging station is biased by a spring.

20. The robotic work tool system (200) according to claim 4, wherein the charging station is arranged to supply a charging current exceeding 2 A.

21. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the robotic work tool is a robotic lawnmower.

22. The robotic work tool system according to claim 4, wherein the robotic work tool is of a two-part model.

12. (canceled)

23. A charging connector arrangement for a robotic work tool system comprising a robotic work tool and a charging station, said charging connector arrangement comprising a rail connector arranged on said robotic work tool and a mating charging connector arranged on said charging station, said mating charging connector being movably connected to said charging station through a lever arrangement to enable a reduced friction and reducing an impact when said robotic work tool enters said charging station and said mating charging connector makes contact with said connector rail.

24-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A robotic work tool system, comprising a service station and a robotic work tool, said robotic work tool comprising at least one corresponding connector arranged on an upper side of the robotic work tool and said service station comprising at least one mating connector and a supporting structure arranged to carry said at least one mating connector and to extend over said robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the service station for establishing an energy transfer contact between the at least one corresponding connector of the robotic work tool and the at least one mating connector of the service station from above, wherein said supporting structure is arranged to allow the robotic work tool to exit the service station by driving through the charging station, wherein said energy transfer is a transfer of fuel and said at least one corresponding connector is a fuel inlet.