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US 6,307,347 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for recharging a vehicle
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorJeffrey J. Ronning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a vehicle having a plurality of contact members and a plurality of elastic members secured to the inner surface of the plurality of contact members at one end and a plurality of relays at the other end. The relays are suspended behind the inner surface of the plurality of contact members and the elastic members allow the plurality of relays to travel in a range defined by a first position and a second position and the relays are in a facially spaced relationship with the inner surface of the contact members when the relay is in the first position and the relays make contact with the inner surface of the contact members when the relay is the second position and a power conduit connects the plurality of relays to an electrical supply.
Claims33
An apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a structure having a plurality of openings;
- b) a plurality of contact members each having an outer surface and an inner surface, said plurality contact members being inserted into said plurality of openings wherein a portion of said outer surface extends outwardly from said structure;
- c) a plurality of elastic members being secured to said inner surface of said plurality of contact members at one end and a plurality of relays at the other end, said relays being suspended behind said inner surface of said plurality of contact members and said elastic members allowing said plurality of relays to travel in a range defined by a first position and a second position, said relays being in a facially spaced relationship with said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said first position and said relay making contact with said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said second position;
- and
- d) a power conduit connecting said plurality of relays to an electrical supply.
2 more elements
An apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a nonconductive structure having a plurality of openings;
- b) a plurality of contact members each having conductive qualities, an outer surface and an inner surface, said plurality contact members being inserted into said plurality of openings wherein a portion of said outer surface extends outwardly from said structure;
- c) a plurality of nonconductive elastic members being secured to said inner surface of said plurality of contact members at one end and a plurality of relays at the other end, said relays being suspended behind said inner surface of said plurality of contact members and said elastic members allowing said plurality of relays to travel in a range defined by a first position and a second position, said relays being insulated from said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said first position and said relay making contact with said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said second position;
- and
- d) a power conduit connecting said plurality of relays to an electrical supply.
2 more elements
A method for recharging a vehicle, comprising:
- a) positioning said vehicle over a charging device;
- b) lowering an electrical coupling device for making contact with a portion of said charging device;
- c) completing an electrical path through the use of a magnetic field;
- d) instructing said charging device to connect to a source of electrical power;
- and
- e) instructing said charging device to disconnect from said source of electrical power when a recharging cycle is complete.
3 more elements
A method for recharging the batteries of a vehicle, comprising:
- a) positioning said vehicle over a charging device;
- b) sending out a first signal, said first signal being sent out by a communication module of said charging device;
- c) receiving said first signal, said first signal being received by a vehicle interface system on said vehicle;
- d) determining whether the charge of said vehicle's batteries are low;
- e) lowering a pair of contact pads from said vehicle, said contact pads being capable of receiving and supplying a charging current to the batteries of said vehicle;
- f) engaging an electromagnetic force in order to draw at least one relay from a pair of relay fields, said relays being drawn from a first position to a second position, said relays being capable of conducting an electrical current from said relay to one of said pair of contact pads when said relays are in said second position;
- g) sending out a second signal, said second signal being received by said communication module and instructs said communication module to connect said relay fields to an electrical supply;
- h) determining whether the charge of the vehicle's batteries is complete;
- i) sending out a third signal, said third signal being received by said communication module and instructs said communication module to disconnect said relay fields from said electrical supply;
- and
- j) sending out a fourth signal, said fourth signal being received by said vehicle interface system and said vehicle interface system instructs said contact pads to be retracted.
8 more elements
An apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a structure having a pair of relay fields, one of said relay fields supplying AC power and the other providing an electrical ground;
- b) a plurality of contact members each having an outer surface and an inner surface, said plurality contact members being configured, dimensioned and positioned within each of said relay fields;
- c) a plurality of relays being configured, dimensioned and positioned for movement between a first position and a second position, said relays being capable of conducting a current through said relay to said contact members when said relay is in said second position;
- and
- d) a power conduit connecting said plurality of relays to an electrical supply.
2 more elements
A vehicle and apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a battery of said vehicle, comprising:
- a) a structure having a pair of relay fields, one of said relay fields supplying AC power and the other providing an electrical ground;
- b) a pair of contact pads being configured and dimensioned to move in a range defined by a retracted position and an extended position, said contact pads being capable of conducting an electrical current to said battery;
- c) a plurality of relays being positioned in each of said relay fields, said relays being configured, dimensioned and positioned for movement between a first position and a second position, said relays being capable of conducting a current through said relay to said contact pads when said relay is in said second position;
- and
- d) a power conduit connecting said plurality of relays to an electrical supply.
2 more elements
An apparatus for supplying an electrical charge to a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a planar member having a plurality of contact members each having an outer surface and an inner surface, a portion of said outer surface extends outwardly from said planar member;
- and
- b) a plurality of relays being coupled to an electrical supply and being suspended behind said inner surface of said plurality of contact members, said plurality of relays being configured and dimensioned to travel in a range defined by a first position and a second position, said relays being in a facially spaced relationship with said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said first position and said relay making contact with said inner surface of said contact members when said relay is in said second position.
A method for recharging batteries rechargeable batteries of a vehicle, comprising:
- positioning said vehicle over a charging device;
- sending out a first signal, said first signal being sent out by a communication module of said charging device;
- receiving said first signal, said first signal being received by a vehicle interface system on said vehicle, said vehicle interface system determines whether the charge of said vehicle's rechargeable batteries are below a pre-determined level, if so said vehicle interface system instructs a pair of contact pads to be lowered from said vehicle, said contact pads being capable of receiving and supplying a charging current to the rechargeable batteries of said vehicle;
- engaging an electromagnetic force in order to draw at least one relay from a pair of relay fields, said relays being drawn from a first position to a second position, said relays being capable of conducting an electrical current from said relay to one of said pair of contact pads when said relays are in said second position;
- sending out a second signal, said second signal being sent by said vehicle interface system and is received by said communication module, said second signal instructs said communication module to connect said relay fields to an electrical supply;
- determining whether the charge of the rechargeable batteries is complete;
- sending out a third signal, said third signal being sent by said vehicle interface system and is received by said communication module and instructs said communication module to disconnect said relay fields from said electrical supply;
- and
- sending out a fourth signal, said fourth signal being sent by said communication module and is received by said vehicle interface system and said vehicle interface system instructs said contact pads to be retracted.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.