Charge-port capture detection mechanism for battery electric vehicle
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJonathan Matthew Baumann, Dustin C. Selvey, Alexander C. Crosman, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure describes technology that includes a charge-port capture detection mechanism, which has a mounting base and a capture gate. The mounting is connectable to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) at a location adjacent to a high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) charge-port. The capture gate is movably attached to the mounting base, the capture gate being moveable, relative to the mounting base, between a closed position in which the capture gate captures a charge connector of a charging cable engaged in the HVDC charge-port and an open position.
Claims20
A charge-port capture detection mechanism comprising:
- a mounting base, the mounting base being connectable to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) at a location adjacent to a high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) charge-port;
- and
- a capture gate movably attached to the mounting base, the capture gate being moveable, relative to the mounting base, between a closed position in which the capture gate captures a charge connector of a charging cable engaged in the HVDC charge-port and an open position, wherein the charge-port capture detection mechanism is configured such that a minimum time duration required to transition the capture gate from the closed position to the open position is greater than a threshold time required for preventing arc flashing at the HVDC charge-port.
A battery electric vehicle (BEV) comprising:
- an externally rechargeable battery pack;
- a high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) charge-port with a receptacle to engage a charge connector of a charging cable from an external HVDC power source;
- and
- a charge-port capture detection mechanism including:
- a mounting base, the mounting base being connectable to a BEV at a location adjacent to the HVDC charge-port;
- and
- a capture gate movably attached to the mounting base, the capture gate being moveable, relative to the mounting base, between a closed position, in which the capture gate is configured to capture the charge connector engaged in the HVDC charge-port, thereby prohibiting removal of the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port, and an open position, in which the capture gate is configured to remain free from the charge connector engaged in the HVDC charge-port, thereby permitting removal of the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port, wherein the charge-port capture detection mechanism is configured such that a minimum time duration required to transition the capture gate from the closed position to the open position is greater than a threshold time required for preventing arc flashing associated with removing the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port.
A method comprising:
- obtaining a gate-release indication that a capture gate has transitioned from a closed position to an open position, wherein in a closed position, in which the capture gate is configured to capture a charge connector engaged in an HVDC charge-port of a battery electric vehicle (BEV), thereby prohibiting removal of the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port, and an open position, in which the capture gate is configured to remain free from the charge connector engaged in the HVDC charge-port, thereby permitting removal of the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port;
- and
- in response to the gate-release indication, disabling charging of an externally rechargeable battery pack via the HVDC charge-port of the BEV, wherein the capture gate is configured such that a minimum time duration required to transition the capture gate from the closed position to the open position is greater than a threshold time required for preventing arc flashing associated with removing the charge connector from the HVDC charge-port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.