Battery electric vehicle operator to charge technician interlock
AssigneeCaterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC
InventorCameron T. Lane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric vehicle includes a battery and an external charging port on the vehicle. A charging interlock system on the vehicle includes a charging interlock module configured to: when engaged by an operator of the vehicle, prevent movement of the vehicle during a battery charging procedure executable by a battery charging technician outside the vehicle and, when disengaged by the battery charging technician following the battery charging procedure, allow movement of the vehicle.
Claims19
An electric vehicle comprising a battery and an external charging port on the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising:
- a charging interlock system comprising a charging interlock module configured to:
- when engaged, prevent movement of the vehicle by disabling a propulsion system powering the vehicle during a battery charging procedure executable by a battery charging technician outside the vehicle, and
- when disengaged by the battery charging technician following the battery charging procedure, allow movement of the vehicle by enabling the propulsion system.
A method for charging an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
- engaging, from within a cab of the electric vehicle by an operator of the vehicle, a charging interlock system configured to disable a propulsion system of the vehicle prior to a battery charging procedure executable by a battery charging technician stationed outside the vehicle, and
- indicating, with a first interlock status indicator on the vehicle and observable by the battery charging technician, a status of the charging interlock system.
A battery charging system for an electric vehicle, the system comprising:
- a battery charging port on an exterior of the vehicle;
- an electric charging station external to the vehicle, wherein the battery charging station comprises a charging cable with a charging cable connector configured to engage a power port connector in the battery charging port during a battery charging procedure executable by a battery charging technician outside the vehicle;
- and
- a charging interlock system configured to be engaged at a location remote from the battery charging port and the electric charging station to disable movement of the vehicle, and when disengaged by the battery charging technician, enable movement of the vehicle upon completion of the battery charging procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.