Charging batteries of electric vehicles

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• force means for providing a force signal indicative of a force in excess of a given magnitude being exerted against said vehicle as a consequence of said probe being inserted into said receptacle;
• said vehicle charging system preventing motion of said vehicle in response to said force signal.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said receptacle being disposed in a head having a closure for closing off the entrance to said receptacle;
• and
• a closure control to open said closure when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said probe having contacts at a distal end thereof for connection with said receptacle;
• said probe being disposed in a case having a closure including a roller thereon;
• and
• means for extending said probe out of said case, said probe pushing said closure out of its way and said roller riding on said probe as said probe is extended out of said case.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said pairs of contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said pairs of contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said receptacle having a frustoconoid cavity having a small rim at a proximal end and a large rim at a distal end with said receptacle contact disposed near the proximal rim of said cavity, said probe being inserted through the distal rim of said cavity, said cavity having an axis generally normal to said rims;
• a slot in said receptacle, opening into said cavity and circumscribing said cavity in planes generally normal to said axis;
• and
• a security gate disposed to slide in said slot between a closed position, in which said gate totally occludes the proximal end of said cavity to protect said receptacle contact from external elements, and an open position.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• a pneumatic cylinder connected to said probe for extending said probe toward said receptacle;
• a tube being disposed to slide alongside said cylinder as said probe is moved by said cylinder;
• and
• a conductor connected to said probe contact extending through said tube.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said receptacle having a contact in a proximal end thereof and an opening through which said probe is inserted in a distal end thereof, said receptacle pivoted near said distal end so that contact by said probe of any point on a substantial portion of the interior of said receptacle rotates said receptacle to align said opening toward said probe.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said first electric contacts when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said probe being supported at a proximal end thereof and having said contact disposed on a distal end thereof, said distal end being flexibly disposed to said proximal end.

A system for charging the batteries of electric vehicles, comprising:

• a charge station to which a vehicle may be presented to receive an electric charge, said charge station including a source of charging voltage and a first electric contact;
• and
• a vehicle charging system disposed on an electric vehicle that has a battery for supplying motive energy to the vehicle, said vehicle charging system including charge control circuits and a second electric contact disposed to connect respectively with said of electric contact when said vehicle is presented to said station for a charge;
• one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed within a receptacle in a manner to connect with the contact of said probe when said probe is inserted in said receptacle;
• wherein:
• said probe is rotatably disposed on the vehicle about a vertical axis, whereby it may be pointed toward said receptacle in various horizontal directions.

A method of aligning a probe contact with a receptacle contact, the interconnection of which is utilized to provide electric power from a charging station to an electric vehicle for charging the battery thereof, one of said contacts being disposed on a head at said station, comprising:

• (a) projecting a directional signal from a position on said vehicle having a relationship to the contact on said vehicle;
• (b) providing a receptor on said head responsive to said signal;
• (c) beginning from a lowered rest position, raising said head until either said receptor senses said signal or said head reaches an upper limit position;
• in the event said head reaches an upper limit position, lowering said head until either said receptor senses said signal or said head reaches said lowered rest position;
• (d) in the event that said head reaches said lowered rest position, raising said head a second time until either said head reaches said upper limit position or said receptor senses said signal;
• and
• (e) in the event said receptor senses said signal, stopping the motion of said head and providing an indication to the operator of the vehicle that the vehicle may enter the station to be connected for a charge.

A method of engaging a contact disposed on an electric vehicle, for making connection to a battery thereon so that it may be charged, with a contact disposed on a charging station from which charging power may be obtained, one of said contacts being disposed on a probe and the other of said contacts being disposed in a receptacle adapted to receive said probe so as to make connection between said contacts, comprising:

• aligning the vehicle with the station so that the probe may engage the receptacle as the vehicle closely approaches the station;
• placing the vehicle in a creep mode in which it will only travel at a single very low speed;
• driving the vehicle slowly toward the station in the creep mode;
• sensing when the probe engages the receptacle and connections are made between said contacts and providing a signal indicative thereof;
• and
• automatically turning off the vehicle via circuitry which senses said signal.