Service coupling

• US 6,691,749 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Hydrogen Corporation (Plug Power Inc.)
• Inventors: Graham, John David Trevor, Mulvenna, Alan John
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US10/158,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20030127153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 191/4
• US Class Current: 141/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0053 relating to fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

This invention relates to a service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween. The coupling comprises a plug comprising at least one service engagement portion; and a receptacle comprising an opening to receive the plug, and at least one service engagement portion positioned to engage the plug service engagement portion when the plug is inserted into the receptacle. The engagement is such that a service is transferable between the plug and receptacle. At least one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is arcuate thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is rotated about the axis and within the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion.

Claims

1. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the service coupling comprising:

(a) a plug comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a pair of opposed major surfaces extending between the distal and proximal ends, and a service engagement portion on at least one of the major surfaces; and

(b) a receptacle comprising an opening shaped to receive the plug inserted distal-end first, and a service engagement portion inside the receptacle and corresponding with each plug service engagement portion;

wherein one of the plug and receptacle service engagement portions is substantially arcuate and the other engagement portion is configured to engage at least some portion of the arcuate engagement portion along the arc-length of the arcuate engagement portion, thereby enabling engagement to be maintained between the plug and receptacle engagement portions when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.

2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plug service engagement portion and at least one of the receptacle service engagement portion are electricity exchange interfaces comprising electrical and ground contacts.

3. The coupling of claim 2 wherein the plug electrical contact is substantially arcuate.

4. The coupling of claim 3 wherein the plug comprises a plurality of arcuate electrical contacts all having a common arc-axis.

5. The coupling of claim 4 wherein the ground contact is located on the arc-axis.

6. The coupling of claim 5 wherein a receptacle electrical contact is provided for each plug contact, and the receptacle electrical contacts are butt-face contacts positioned to engage a corresponding plug contact when the plug and receptacle are coupled.

7. The coupling of claim 1 wherein the plug and receptacle service engagement portions are fluid exchange interfaces and one of the fluid exchange interfaces comprises an open-faced arcuate fluid channel and a fluid valve in the channel.

8. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the plug fluid exchange interface is an arcuate fluid channel with a fluid valve set in the floor of the channel.

9. The coupling of claim 8 wherein the receptacle fluid exchange interface is an arcuate land corresponding to the plug fluid channel, with a fluid valve set in the raised surface portion of the land.

10. The coupling of claim 8 wherein the plug fluid channel is annular.

11. The coupling of claim 10 wherein the receptacle fluid exchange interface is an annular land corresponding to the plug fluid channel, with a fluid valve set in the raised surface portion of the land.

12. The coupling of claim 11 wherein the plug further includes an electricity exchange interface on the major surface opposite the fluid exchange interface and comprising electrical and ground contacts.

13. The coupling of claim 12 wherein the plug electricity exchange interface is on the plug top major surface and the plug fluid exchange interface is on the plug bottom major surface.

14. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the exchange fluid is water.

15. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the exchange fluid is hydrogen gas.

16. The coupling of claim 7 wherein the plug has a pair of opposed top and bottom major surfaces extending between distal and proximal ends of the plug, and the fluid exchange interface is on one major surface.

17. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the service coupling comprising:

a receptacle comprising an opening shaped to receive a plug inserted distal-end first, and at least one service engagement portion inside the receptacle for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion on the plug; and

wherein at least one of the receptacle service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the plug service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate receptacle service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate receptacle service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle; and

wherein at least one of the plug service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the receptacle service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate plug service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate plug service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.

18. The coupling of claim 17 wherein the receptacle service engagement portion is a fluid exchange interface.

19. The coupling of claim 18 wherein the receptacle fluid exchange interface is an arcuate land corresponding to an arcuate channel on the plug, with a fluid valve set in the raised surface portion of the land.

20. The coupling of claim 19 wherein the receptacle fluid exchange interface is an annular land corresponding to an annular channel on the plug, with a fluid valve set in the raised surface portion of the land.

21. The coupling of claim 18 wherein the exchange fluid is water.

22. The coupling of claim 18 wherein the exchange fluid is hydrogen gas.

23. A service coupling for coupling a vehicle to a service port such that one or more services are transferable therebetween, the coupling comprising:

(a) a plug comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a pair of opposed major surfaces extending between the distal and proximal ends, and a service engagement portion on at least one of the major surfaces, for engaging a corresponding service engagement portion in a receptacle; and

wherein at least one of the plug service engagement portions is substantially arcuate such that the receptacle service engagement portion can engage at least some portion along the arc-length of the arcuate plug service engagement portion when the plug is in a rotational position about the arc-axis of the arcuate plug service engagement portion and that is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle.

24. The coupling of claim 23 wherein the plug service engagement portion is an electricity exchange interface comprising electrical and ground contacts.

25. The coupling of claim 24 wherein the plug electrical contact is substantially arcuate.

26. The coupling of claim 25 wherein the plug comprises a plurality of arcuate electrical contacts all having a common arc-axis.

27. The coupling of claim 26 wherein the ground contact is located on the arc-axis.

28. The coupling of claim 23 wherein the plug service,engagement portion is a fluid exchange interface comprising an open-faced arcuate fluid channel and a fluid valve set in the floor of the channel.

29. The coupling of claim 28 wherein the plug fluid channel is annular.

30. The coupling of claim 29 wherein the exchange fluid is water.

31. The coupling of claim 29 wherein the exchange fluid is hydrogen gas.