System for coiling electrical cable for electric vehicle charging
AssigneeControl.Module, Inc.
InventorsJames S. Bianco, John Fahy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for coiling an electrical cable employed for charging an electric vehicle employs a cable management system. The cable management system has a drive assembly which has a drive mode that retracts the cable and release mode which allows for the cable to be extended. The installation employs a drum having a cylindrical sidewall. The drive assembly drives the cable downwardly into a drum so that the cable progressively engages the sidewall to form a vertical coiled configuration. A clutch assembly cooperates with the drive assembly to provide the automatic retracting and extending operations and also locks the vehicle connector at the end of the electrical cable in an extended position as well as a retracted home position.
Claims21
An EVSE installation comprising:
- a drum having a cylindrical side wall with a generally vertical central axis and a top;
- an electrical cable with a vehicle connector at one end and connectable to a power supply at the other end and being retractable and extendable into and from said drum;
- a cable management system comprising a drive assembly for said electrical cable having a drive mode to retract said cable and a release mode to extend said cable, said cable management system comprising a clutch mechanism that remains locked when no power is applied;
- wherein said drive assembly drives said cable into said drum so that said cable progressively engages said side wall to form a vertical coiled configuration and said cable and connector are disposed at a stable home position.
An EVSE installation comprising:
- a drum defining a generally cylindrical container with a centering guide ring;
- an electrical cable with a vehicle connector at one end and connectable to a power supply at the other end and being retractable and extendable through said centering ring into and from said drum;
- a cable management system comprising a drive assembly for said electrical cable having a drive mode to automatically retract said cable and a release mode to allow said cable to extend from said drum and comprising a clutch mechanism, said drive assembly comprising a motor operatively engageable with said clutch mechanism;
- wherein said drive assembly automatically drives said cable into said drum so that said cable progressively engages said container to form a coiled configuration and said clutch mechanism is operatively engageable with said motor to lock said cable and connector at a stable home position.
A method of coiling and storing an electrical cable with a vehicle connector for EVSE comprising:
- providing a drum having a generally cylindrical side wall with a generally vertical central axis and a top;
- automatically retracting said cable by downwardly driving the cable into said drum so that said coil serially engages against said side wall to form a vertical coiled configuration and said connector is at a home position;
- allowing said cable and connector to be extended from said home position;
- and
- automatically locking said cable and connector in an extended position.
A method of coiling and storing an electrical cable with a vehicle connector for EVSE comprising:
- providing a drum having a generally cylindrical side wall with a generally vertical central axis and a top;
- automatically retracting said cable by downwardly driving the cable into said drum so that said coil serially engages against said side wall to form a vertical coiled configuration and said connector is at a home position;
- allowing said cable and connector to be extended from said home position;
- and
- automatically locking said cable and connector in the home position.
An EVSE installation comprising:
- a drum defining a generally cylindrical container;
- an electrical cable with a vehicle connector at one end and connectable to a power supply at the other end and being retractable and extendable into and from said drum;
- a cable management system comprising a drive assembly for said electrical cable having a drive mode to automatically retract said cable and a release mode to allow said cable to extend from said drum and comprising a clutch mechanism that remains locked when no power is applied;
- wherein said drive assembly automatically drives said cable into said drum so that said cable progressively engages said container to form a coiled configuration and said cable and connector are disposed at a stable home position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.