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US 8,324,858 B2Granted
Charging stations for electric vehicles
AssigneeProterra Inc.
InventorsDale Hill, Michael Walker, Joshua Goldman, John Horth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
Claims27
A charging station for a vehicle comprising:
- a charging chassis, including a pair of collector braces to charge the vehicle, each collector brace formed with spaced apart guiding strips with an electrically conductive surface, wherein the conductive surfaces of the pair of collector braces are for contact with a pair of electrodes of the vehicle, and mechanically connected to a charging mount and extending downward and away from the charging mount,
- wherein the guiding strips provide the position and orientation of the pair of collector braces;
- a post mechanically connected to the charging mount;
- and
- a stand mechanically connected to the post and supporting the post and charging mount.
2 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a battery;
- and
- a pair of elongated contact plates having a surface area for electrical contact and positioned on a top surface of the vehicle,
- wherein the pair of contact plates are electrically connected to the battery,
- wherein the pair of contact plates are raised extending from the top of the vehicle and are oriented relatively parallel to a direction of movement for the vehicle and are spaced apart along the top surface of the vehicle, and
- wherein one contact plate is a positive electrode and another contact plate is a negative electrode for electrically connecting to a power source to charge the battery.
3 more elements
A charging station comprising:
- a charging overhang with rigid structural components that is mounted to a charging mount and extending downward and away from the charging mount,
- wherein the charging overhang includes a pair of collector braces mounted to a crossbar, each collector brace of said pair formed with spaced apart guiding strips with an electrically conductive surface, and
- wherein the crossbar is configured to expand or compress, thereby permitting the collector braces to be movable with respect to one another;
- and
- a vertical support structure mechanically connected to the charging mount and supporting the charging mount and charging overhang.
2 more elements
A method for charging a vehicle comprising:
- moving the vehicle comprising two or more raised contact plates to a position below a charging mount,
- wherein the charging mount is connected to two or more collector braces, each collector brace with a pair of guiding strips;
- and
- establishing an electrical connection between a first collector brace and a first contact plate, and between a second collector brace and a second contact plate, wherein the electrical connection is established when the first contact plate is between the guiding strips of the first collector brace, and the second contact plate is between the guiding strips of the second collector brace.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.