Methods and systems for charging vehicles

• US 8,829,853 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Hill, Dale, Walker, Michael, Goldman, Joshua, Horth, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PELTON, NATHANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US13/678,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 191/23.A, 191/33.R, 191/41
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 7/003 for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• 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

This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

Claims

1. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:

a charging mount;

a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount;

one or more collector braces coupled to the rigid arm, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces includes;

a pair of spaced apart guiding strips; and

two or more contact pads, wherein different contact pads of the two or more contact pads are configured to contact different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; and

a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the one or more collector braces and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle.

2. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the pair of spaced apart guiding strips are configured to position the electrodes of the vehicle therebetween during charging.

3. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the pair of guiding strips of a collector brace form at least one pair of converging surfaces.

4. The charging station of claim 3, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces comprises one or more forcing components for providing a force to a guiding strip of the collector brace, wherein the force is directed toward another guiding strip of the collector brace.

5. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the one or more collector braces include a pair of collector braces.

6. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the one or more collector braces includes a pair of collector braces, and the charging station further includes a spacing bar separating the pair of collector braces.

7. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the spacing bar is of variable length and enables the pair of collector braces to be kept at a given distance from each other.

8. The charging station of claim 7, further comprising a hydraulic, mechanical or electro-mechanical length adjustment system adapted to adjust the spacing bar to vary the distance between the pair of collector braces.

9. The charging station of claim 6, wherein the connection mechanism includes one or more spring elements therein.

10. The charging station of claim 9, wherein the connection mechanism is configured to allow the one or more collector braces to move horizontally with respect to the charging mount.

11. The charging station of claim 9, further comprising a mechanical or electro-mechanical height adjustment system adapted to move the one or more collector braces vertically with respect to the charging mount.

12. The charging station of claim 9, wherein the charging station includes a positioning bar connected to the connection mechanism, and at least one arm connected to the positioning bar and connected to a collector brace or the spacing bar.

13. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the one or more collector braces includes a pair of collector braces mounted to a crossbar that permits the collector braces to be movable with respect to one another.

14. The charging station of claim 13, wherein the pair of collector braces are mounted to the crossbar with a flexible connection such that the collector braces are movable with respect to the crossbar.

15. The charging station of claim 14, wherein the flexible connection includes at least one of the following:

a spring, an elastic component, a hinge, a linkage, a pivot point, a pneumatic device, a magnet, a weight, a gear, hydraulics, or gravity.

16. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the one or more collector braces includes a pair of collector braces and the charging station further includes a system to return the pair of collector braces to a center position, the system including one of the following:

a spring, an elastic component, a hinge, a linkage, a pivot point, a pneumatic device, a magnet, a weight, a gear, hydraulics, or gravity.

28. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the different electrodes of the vehicle include an anode and a cathode.

17. A charging station for a vehicle, comprising:

a charging mount;

a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount;

one or more collector braces coupled to the rigid arm, wherein each collector brace of the one or more collector braces includes;

a pair of spaced apart guiding strips that extend along a direction of travel of the vehicle, and

two or more contact pads, wherein different contact pads of the two or more contact pads are configured to contact different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle; and

a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the one or more collector braces and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle.

18. The charging station of claim 17, wherein the pair of guiding strips are coupled to the two or more contact pads.

19. The charging station of claim 17, wherein the two or more contact pads include carbon pads.

29. The charging station of claim 17, wherein the different electrodes of the vehicle include an anode and a cathode.

20. A method for charging a vehicle using a charging station, the charging station including (i) a charging mount, (ii) a rigid arm extending downward and away from the charging mount, (iii) a collector brace coupled to the rigid arm, and (iv) a connection mechanism coupling the rigid arm to the charging mount, wherein the connection mechanism includes a pivot that allows the collector brace and the rigid arm to rotate about a common axis passing through the pivot and extending perpendicular to a plane of travel of the vehicle, wherein the collector brace includes two or more contact pads and a pair of spaced apart guiding strips extending along a direction of travel of the vehicle, comprising:

moving the vehicle towards the charging mount;

rotating the charging brace about the axis to make contact between different contact pads of the two or more contact pads with different electrodes positioned on a roof of the vehicle;

establishing an electrical connection between the collector brace and the vehicle; and

activating charging of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the charging is activated after receiving an activation signal from the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein, prior to the step of establishing an electrical connection, conductive paths of said electrical connection are isolated with the aid of mechanical and/or electrical protective devices.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the charging station allows energy flow after receiving an electronic message or via direct mechanical activation.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicating to the vehicle that the electrical connection to the vehicle has been established.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising monitoring a charge status of the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising communicating a charge status of the vehicle to a central station, a charging station, or another vehicle.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising cleaning the electrodes of the vehicle as the vehicle enters the charging station.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein rotating the charging brace includes making contact between at least one contact pad of the two or more contact pads with an anode and a different contact pad of the two or more contact pads with a cathode, the anode and the cathode being the different electrodes of the vehicle.