Mobile charging for electric vehicles
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorKenneth James Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for mobile charging of an electric vehicle are described herein. An example electric vehicle includes a battery and a first charge interface for the battery disposed on an exterior surface of the electric vehicle. The first charge interface is configured to be engaged with a second charge interface on an articulating arm of a mobile charge vehicle to transfer energy from an energy source of the mobile charge vehicle to the battery while the electric vehicle is in motion.
Claims17
An electric vehicle comprising:
- a battery;
- and
- a first charge interface for the battery disposed on an exterior surface of the electric vehicle, the first charge interface configured to be engaged with a second charge interface on an articulating arm of a mobile charge vehicle to transfer energy from an energy source of the mobile charge vehicle to the battery while the electric vehicle is in motion,
- wherein the first charge interface includes an inductive receiver plate to receive the energy from an inductive transmitter plate of the second charge interface, and
- wherein the inductive receiver plate is angled downward.
A mobile charge vehicle for charging an electric vehicle having a battery and a first charge interface, the mobile charge vehicle comprising:
- an energy supply;
- an articulating arm;
- a second charge interface coupled to an end of the articulating arm;
- and
- a controller to move the articulating arm to engage the second charge interface with the first charge interface while the mobile charge vehicle is moving,
- wherein the articulating arm includes:
- a first arm portion rotatably coupled to a front of the mobile charge vehicle;
- and
- a second arm portion rotatably coupled to an end of the first arm portion, the second charge interface rotatably coupled to the second arm portion.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first vehicle having a first charge interface disposed in a recess formed in an exterior surface of the first vehicle;
- and
- a second vehicle having an articulating arm, a second charge interface carried on an end of the articulating arm, the articulating arm to extend the second charge interface to engage the first charge interface while the first and second vehicles are moving,
- wherein the recess is conical, and the second charge interface includes a tapered surface to engage the recess when the second charge interface moves towards the first charge interface.
An apparatus comprising:
- a first vehicle having a first charge interface disposed in a recess formed in an exterior surface of the first vehicle;
- and
- a second vehicle having an articulating arm, a second charge interface carried on an end of the articulating arm, the articulating arm to extend the second charge interface to engage the first charge interface while the first and second vehicles are moving,
- wherein the articulating arm includes a strut having a spring, the second charge interface carried by the strut, the spring to bias the second charge interface toward the first charge interface when the second charge interface is engaged with the first charge interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.