Quick-recharging energy feeding system for means of transport with electric traction

• US 7,984,774 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sequoia Automation S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Sequoia Automation S.r.l.
• Inventors: Ippolito, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/376,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20090272587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 180/2.1, 180/2.2, 320/101, 320/104, 320/108, 320/109, 320/DIG.36
• US Class Current: 180/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• 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

A quick-recharging energy feeding system is described, for a transport vehicle with electric traction, performed in every foreseen stop of the vehicle by means of a connection that can be directly and automatically performed next to such stop, through a road bed, comprising at least one recharging subsystem arranged on the vehicle and at least one stationary system cooperating with the recharging subsystem for transmitting electric energy.

Claims

1. A quick-recharging energy feeding system for a transport vehicle with electric traction, performed in every foreseen stop of the vehicle by means of a connection that can be directly and automatically performed next to the stop, through a road bed, the system comprising at least one recharging subsystem arranged on the vehicle and at least one stationary system cooperating with the recharging subsystem for transmitting electric energy;

where the recharging subsystem comprises at least one tap counter-array, the tap counter-array being equipped with electric conduction contacts and with at least one positioning system;

switching devices of at least one conversion and control electronics; and

at least one battery of super-capacitors connected in order to reach voltages and amperages that are compatible with the switching devices;

where the stationary system comprises at least one insulating mat equipped with plane metal contacts; and

where the tap counter-array comprises spring contacts arranged so that a crown of spring ferrules performs a contact with a ground potential, the spring ferrules being spaced to avoid short-circuit phenomena through spring ferrules arranged at a center of the tap counter-array, at least one diameter of cells of the plane metal contacts of the insulating mat comprising insulation.

2. The feeding system of claim 1, where the plane metal contacts are placed on the road bed;

and where the stationary system comprises switching devices of at least one managing and control electronics, and at least one battery of super-capacitors arranged next to the insulating mat, connected in order to reach voltages and amperages compatible with the switching devices of at least one managing and control electronics.

3. The feeding system of claim 1, where the electric conduction contacts are spring contacts.

4. The feeding system of claim 1, where the plane metal contacts are arranged according to an array-type arrangement on the insulating mat.

5. The feeding system of claim 1, where the stops are provided with cantilever roofs comprising the insulating mat and the battery of super-capacitors with electro-chemical accumulation capacities.

6. The feeding system of claim 5, where the cantilever roofs are connected to an electric mains.

7. The feeding system of claim 5, where the cantilever roofs comprise at least one photovoltaic solar panel adapted to produce energy to be accumulated and transferred to the vehicle.

8. The feeding system of claim 1, where a connection between the insulating mat and the tap counter-array occurs automatically during foreseen stops of the vehicle through a casual overlapping.

9. The feeding system of claim 1, where the plane metal contacts are arranged as a honeycomb.

10. The feeding system of claim 1, where the plane metal contacts comprise a surface and where the plane metal contacts are exposed on the surface and connected to a single lead embedded into the insulating mat, the lead converging to a side of the mat in order to reach a connection of the managing and control electronics.

11. The feeding system of claim 1, where the tap counter-array is actuated by at least three linear actuators to descend towards the insulating mat until a contact is stably established with the plane metal contacts of the insulating mat.

12. The feeding system of claim 1, where the plane metal contacts and the mat comprise at least two real-time diagnostics systems operating in parallel.