Charging system for electric vehicles
AssigneeTranstech of South Carolina
InventorsWilliam Golpe, Stacy Neil Smith, Steven Halbert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charging system for an electric vehicle has an elongate enclosure having a plurality of sides and an at least partially open side. The enclosure defines a hollow interior. The charging system further includes a conductor rail disposed in the hollow interior and that is accessible through the at least partially open side of the enclosure. The conductor rail may be placed in electric communication with an electrical power source and thereby may be selectively placed in electrical communication with an electrical connector of an electric vehicle. The charging system may conduct electric current from the electrical power source to an electric power supply of the electric vehicle.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- an elongate enclosure having a plurality of sides and an at least partially open side, the enclosure defining a hollow interior;
- and
- a conductor rail disposed in the hollow interior and accessible through the at least partially open side of the enclosure, the conductor rail being configured to be placed in electric communication with an electrical power source and to be selectively placed in electrical communication with an electrical connector of an electric vehicle and thereby to conduct electric current from the electrical power source to an electric power supply of the electric vehicle that is positioned external to the enclosure, wherein the conductor rail comprises a plate and conductive rods in contact with a depending portion of the plate, the depending portion of the plate disposed between the conductive rods, the conductive rods configured to place the plate in electrical communication with the electrical power source, the plate configured to engage a collector of the electric vehicle and the conductive rods have a greater electrical conductivity than the plate.
A system comprising:
- an in-ground enclosure defining a hollow interior that is at least partially open along at least one side of the enclosure;
- a conductor rail disposed in the enclosure, the conductor rail configured to be placed in electric communication with a power source;
- and
- an insulator disposed in the enclosure, the insulator disposed between the conductor rail and at least one side of the enclosure, wherein the conductor rail is configured to conduct electric current from the electrical power source to an electric power supply of an electric vehicle while the vehicle is above the enclosure;
- and
- the conductor rail comprises a plate and conductive rods in contact with a depending portion of the plate, the depending portion of the plate disposed between the conductive rods, the conductive rods configured to place the plate in electrical communication with the electrical power supply, the plate configured to engage a collector of the electric vehicle, and
- the conductive rods have a greater electrical conductivity than the plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.