Wireless vehicle lift charging using light
AssigneeGray Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorLarry M. Jaipaul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle lift system configured for wireless charging is disclosed. The vehicle lift system includes a vehicle lift and a light transmitter. The vehicle lift includes a base, a carriage, a lift actuator, a battery, and a photovoltaic receiver. The carriage is configured for receiving a wheel of a vehicle. The lift actuator is configured to vertically raise and lower the carriage relative to the base. The battery is configured to provide electrical energy to the vehicle lift. The photovoltaic receiver is electrically coupled with the battery. The light transmitter is configured for transmitting electrical energy to said photovoltaic receiver. Thus, the battery of the vehicle lift can be recharged wirelessly, such that the vehicle lift need not have a wired power connection.
Claims20
A vehicle lift system configured for wireless charging, the vehicle lift system comprising:
- a vehicle lift including—
- a base;
- a carriage configured for receiving a wheel of a vehicle;
- a lift actuator configured to vertically raise and lower the carriage relative to the base;
- a battery configured to provide electrical energy to the vehicle lift;
- a photovoltaic receiver electrically coupled with the battery;
- and
- a light transmitter for transmitting electrical energy to said photovoltaic receiver.
A wireless charging vehicle lift system configured to be utilized with a first mobile vehicle lift having a first battery and a second mobile vehicle lift having a second battery, said wireless charging vehicle lift system comprising:
- at least one light transmitter for transmitting light;
- a first photovoltaic receiver for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted by said at least one light transmitter, wherein said first photovoltaic receiver is electrically coupled with said first battery of the first mobile vehicle lift;
- a second photovoltaic receiver for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted by said at least one light transmitter, wherein said second photovoltaic receiver is electrically coupled with said second battery of the second mobile lift;
- and
- a control system for controlling at least one of said light transmitter, said first photovoltaic receiver, and said second photovoltaic receiver.
A method for wirelessly providing power to a portable vehicle lift, wherein said method includes the following steps:
- positioning a mobile vehicle lift within a charging area;
- transmitting light energy from a light transmitter to a photovoltaic receiver positioned on the vehicle lift;
- converting, via the photovoltaic receiver, the light energy from the light transmitter to electrical energy;
- and
- charging a battery associated with the vehicle lift with the electrical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.