Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
  • B60L53/10—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
  • B60L53/14—Conductive energy transfer
  • B60L53/16—Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
  • B60L53/10—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
  • B60L53/14—Conductive energy transfer
  • B60L53/18—Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
  • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
  • B60L53/30—Constructional details of charging stations
  • B60L53/31—Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60W—CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT
  • B60W10/00—Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function
  • B60W10/24—Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of energy storage means
  • B60W10/26—Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of energy storage means for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G11/00—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
  • H02G3/02—Details
  • H02G3/04—Protective tubing or conduits, e.g. cable ladders or cable troughs
  • H02G3/0462—Tubings, i.e. having a closed section
  • H02G3/0481—Tubings, i.e. having a closed section with a circular cross-section
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
  • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
  • Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
  • Y02T90/14—Plug-in electric vehicles

Definitions

• the present disclosure generally describes various structures to provide cable handling systems for electric and hybrid vehicle charging cables.
• an electric vehicle charging assembly may include an overhead fixture; a first cable to provide charging power configured to extend from the overhead fixture downward; and a vertical pipe to contain the first cable.
• the vertical pipe may be mechanically affixed to the overhead fixture through a ball joint, configured to be in a stationary position in a storage mode, and configured to be tiltable and rotatable in an in-use mode.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may also include a second cable coupled at a first end to the first cable at a bottom end of the vertical pipe, the second cable configured to hang without touching a floor; and a charging gun coupled to a second end of the second cable and configured to contain a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• a ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may include a fixed bearing integrated into a ceiling; a first cable to provide charging power, the first cable configured to extend from the ceiling downward through the fixed bearing; and a vertical pipe to contain the first cable.
• the vertical pipe may be mechanically affixed to the ceiling through the fixed bearing and a spring-loaded mechanism within the vertical pipe, configured to be in a stationary position in a storage mode, and configured to be tiltable and rotatable in an in-use mode.
• the system may also include a second cable with a first end of the second cable coupled to the first cable at a bottom end of the vertical pipe, and the second cable configured to hang without touching a floor; and a charging gun coupled to a second end of the second cable and configured to contain a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• methods to charge an electric vehicle through a charging assembly may include releasing a vertical pipe from a cap portion of an overhead fixture upon detecting a bottom portion of the vertical pipe being pulled downward by a user, where the vertical pipe is mechanically affixed to the overhead fixture through fixed bearing comprising a ball joint and the cap portion, is in a stationary position when pulled into the cap portion in a storage mode, and is tiltable and rotatable when released from the cap portion in an in-use mode.
• Example methods may also include detecting removal of a charging gun coupled to a second cable from a connector holder at the bottom end of the vertical pipe, where the second cable is electrically coupled to a first cable contained within the vertical pipe and is configured to hang without touching a floor, and the charging gun includes a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• Method may further include providing power to the charging connector; upon detecting removal of the charging connector from the charging port of the vehicle, disconnecting power; and upon detecting release of the bottom portion of the vertical pipe, pulling the top portion of the vertical pipe into the cap portion for storage mode through a spring-loaded mechanism.
• FIG. 1 illustrates example charging stations for different types of vehicles
• FIG. 3 illustrates various positions of the electric vehicle charging assembly of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 4 illustrates cross-sectional views of the spring-loaded fixed bearing of the electric vehicle charging assembly
• FIG. 5 illustrates various assembly views of the electric vehicle charging assembly
• FIG. 6A and 6B illustrate two example connection methods for the charging gun to the electric vehicle charging assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• FIG. 1 illustrates example charging stations for different types of vehicles, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• Diagram 100 shows two example charging stations.
• a truck charging station is shown with an electric truck 102, a ceiling power line 110, charging cable 106, charging gun 108, which includes a charging connector to mate with the truck’s charging port 104.
• a multi- vehicle charging station is shown with a bus 112 and a car 114.
• Charging cables 118, 119 are coupled to the ceiling power line 120 and include charging guns 116, 117 for coupling to respective vehicle charging ports.
• Electric vehicle (EV) chargers may be classified into three categories: Level 1, Level 2, and direct current (DC) fast charging.
• Level 1 chargers may use 110/120 Volts with a current rating of 12-16 Amperes.
• Level 2 chargers may use 208/240 Volts with a current rating of 16-40 Amperes, and DC fast chargers may use between 200 and 600 Volts with current ratings exceeding 100+ Amperes.
• the charging cables especially those for larger vehicles may carry high currents and voltages, and are, therefore, subject to strict regulatory and industrial requirements. To provide safety and reliability such cables may include relatively thick insulators and, as a result, be heavy. The robust construction of such cables presents challenges for flexible connectivity and storage.
• Some conventional approaches include motorized or spring-loaded spools (at the ceiling), but the weight of the cable may negatively impact reliability of the overall system and increase cost. Furthermore, free-hanging cables (considering the weight) may cause accidents when swinging.
• An electric vehicle charging assembly provides a mechanical arrangement that includes a vertical pipe coupled through a fixed bearing to a ceiling and containing power cable.
• a loose and relatively short piece of charging cable may be connected to the power cable at a bottom end of the vertical pipe.
• the fixed bearing at the top may be loaded with a spring to allow the pipe to be released from the fixed bearing and to be tilted around allowing an extended range of movement.
• example assemblies are shown or described as providing charging power from a ceiling throughout this description, embodiments are not limited to ceiling-connected systems. Charging power may be provided from any overhead fixture. Such an overhead fixture may be integrated into a ceiling or be free-standing.
• Technical advantages of example embodiments may include, but are not limited to, protection of the charging connector against water and dust, lack of need for any accessories or contacts on the floor, safe storage of cable without a need for a motorized system or excess cable, lack of need for any remote control to release the charging connector, ease of maintenance and/or replacement of individual parts, and lack of need for additional power to activate any motorized accessories.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an electric vehicle charging assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• a user may pull the handle 208 downwards to release the vertical pipe 202 from the fixed bearing 206 and tilt in any direction.
• the handle 208 is shown as a ring style handle, but embodiments are not limited to the illustrated style or size. Any shape or form of handle may be fitted toward the bottom end of the vertical pipe 202 to control the vertical pipe’s position and movement.
• a single cable may be used instead of two separate, electrically-coupled cables (204 and 214). Thus, no connector may be needed inside the connector holder to couple the main cable 204 and charging cable 214.
• FIG. 3 illustrates various positions of the electric vehicle charging assembly of FIG. 2, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• Diagram 300 shows various example storage and in-use positions of the charging system.
• the vertical pipe In storage positions 302 and 304, the vertical pipe is affixed to the ceiling through the fixed bearing and does not move due to wind or similar. Thus, any accidents due to unintentional swinging of the relatively heavy cable can be prevented.
• As the only needed flexible portion of the cable is the lower portion, which can be relatively short, a spool-based or similar cable storage mechanism is not needed.
• the two storage positions 302 and 304 show the charging gun in opposite directions. By designing the connector at the bottom end of the vertical pipe and/or the fixed bearing at the top end to be rotatable, the charging gun can be rotated in any direction on a horizontal plane at the bottom of the vertical pipe.
• In-use positions 306 and 308 show the vertical pipe tilted at an angle for easier access of the charging gun depending on the vehicle position and type.
• the vertical pipe may be released from the fixed bearing through a downward pull action (e.g., user holding and pulling down the ring-style handle at the bottom of the vertical pipe).
• the released vertical pipe may be tilted within a predefined angle range (based on the design of the fixed bearing) and rotated to any position along a 360-degree movement range.
• In-use position 310 is intended to show the vertical pipe tilted toward or from the plane of the page.
• FIG. 4 illustrates cross-sectional views of the spring-loaded fixed bearing of the electric vehicle charging assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• Diagram 400 shows the pipe-based, ceiling connected charging system in storage and use modes.
• a stiff cable 412 providing charging current from the supply system to the charging gun is secured through a movable portion 402 of a ball joint.
• the nonmovable portion 404 of the ball joint is affixed to the ceiling 406.
• the vertical pipe 414 which contains the stiff cable 412 is partially inside a cap portion 410 stopped the movable portion 402 of the ball joint. This allows the vertical pipe 414 to be stable and vertical in the storage mode and prevents swinging of the cable (and the pipe) due to wind, etc.
• a spring 408 inside the vertical pipe 414 around the stiff cable 412 pushes the vertical pipe upward ensuring the partial placement inside the cap portion 410.
• a handle at a bottom portion of the vertical pipe 414 may be used to pull the pipe down and remove its top portion from the cap portion 410 in a use mode.
• the vertical pipe becomes tiltable (and rotatable) through the ball joint and cam be moved (420) within a predefined angle range.
• the range of the tilt angle may be defined by the size of the ball joint as well as the size of the cap portion 410.
• the spring 408 is compressed, thus ready to pull the vertical pipe upward into the cap portion and into storage mode. This allows the charging assembly to be automatically brought back to storage mode when a user releases the assembly.
• FIG. 5 illustrates various assembly views of the electric vehicle charging assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• Diagram 500 shows an example spring loading approach for the electric vehicle charging assembly.
• the spring loading assembly may include an inside pipe 502, spring 504, inside pipe cap 506, stiff cable 508, and movable portion 510 of the ball joint.
• the spring 504 When assembled, as shown in diagram 500B, the spring 504 is secured between one end (a circular protrusion at the end) of the inside pipe 502 and the inside pipe cap 506.
• the stiff cable 508 is fitted through the inside pipe 502 and the movable portion 510 of the ball joint.
• the inside pipe cap 506 may fit around the inside pipe 502 loosely such that it can be moved along the inside pipe 502 and result in compression and release of the spring 504.
• the vertical pipe 512 may be fitted loosely around the inside pipe 502 and the spring 504.
• the inside pipe cap 506 may be secured to the top end of the vertical pipe 512 through a threaded mechanism, a click-on mechanism, or similar approaches.
• the inside pipe cap 506 is also pulled down compressing the spring 504 and moving the pipe away from the ball joint. This, in turn, moves the top portion of the vertical pipe out of a cap portion as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 4 and allows the vertical pipe (and the cable inside) to be tilted in any direction.
• the compressed spring in the use mode provides for automatic return to storage mode by pushing the inside pipe cap and the vertical pipe upward toward the ball joint (and into the cap portion) when the user releases the charging system.
• FIG. 6A and 6B illustrate two example connection methods for the charging gun to the electric vehicle charging assembly, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.
• Diagram 600A shows bottom portion of the vertical pipe 602 with ring-style handle 604 and connector 606 (only outer edge shown).
• Connector 606 is arranged to mate with connector 608, which is coupled to the flexible portion of the charging cable 616 with the charging gun 614 at the end.
• the charging gun includes the charging connector to couple to a charging port of an electric vehicle and is coupled to a connector holder 610 in storage mode. The coupling of the charging gun to the connector holder 610 prevents damage due to water or dust when the charging gun is not being used. Pin numbers, configuration, and other parameters of the connectors and the charging gun may be designed according to regulatory and/or industrial standard requirements.
• the connector holder 610 (along with the connector 608) may be secured to the connector 606 (and thereby to the vertical pipe 602) through a number of vertical screws 612.
• the connector 606 may be integrated with the handle 604.
• the handle 604 may loosely fit over the connector 606 allowing the vertical pipe to be pulled down, but also connector 606 (and along with that the charging gun and cable) to be rotated 306 degrees.
• Diagram 600B shows similar components numbered the same way as in diagram 600A with the difference of the connector holder 610 / connector 606 coupling.
• connector holder 610 and connector 606 may be mechanically coupled through a pair of matching threads 622.
• the connectors (thus, the charging gun / cable) may be mechanically coupled through other means such as a click-on mechanism, horizontal screws, etc.
• the main cable and the charging cable may be designed as a single cable, thus allowing connector 608 to be removed from the structure (the single cable may pass through the connector holder 610 into the vertical pipe.
• an additional ball joint may be provided at the bottom end of the vertical pipe to afford additional freedom of movement.
• the bottom portion of the charging cable 616 may be connected to the charging gun 614 and connector holder 610 through standardized connections for ease of replacement of the cable.
• an additional connector (beside connector 608) may be provided inside connector holder 610 for easy replacement by screws.
• lights / LEDs or similar indicators may be provided at the bottom portion of the vertical pipe to display information associated with charging status, traffic guidance, etc.
• the vertical pipe may be arranged with free movement but without a bearing (not locked in stored condition).
• An additional damping system may be employed to prevent unsafe movement or swinging.
• Vertical pipe may also be configured to be always fixed without ability to release for tilting or turning.
• the range of the charging cable (214) can be used to provide access for different vehicle port locations.
• a defined breaking point in the bearing or a kinking area in the pipe may be used in case of collision with cars or trucks providing advantage over conventional floor installed charging points.
• Vertical locking movement may also be controlled by an electrical or pneumatic system with an additional control unit.
• Various components of the electric vehicle charging assembly may be made from various synthetic materials such as PVC, polypropylene, ceramic, or metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and other materials. Various surfaces may be treated. Different color and/or surface texture schemes may be used.
• an electric vehicle charging assembly may include an overhead fixture; a first cable to provide charging power configured to extend from the overhead fixture downward; and a vertical pipe to contain the first cable.
• the vertical pipe may be mechanically affixed to the overhead fixture through a ball joint, configured to be in a stationary position in a storage mode, and configured to be tiltable and rotatable in an in-use mode.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may also include a second cable coupled at a first end to the first cable at a bottom end of the vertical pipe, the second cable configured to hang without touching a floor; and a charging gun coupled to a second end of the second cable and configured to contain a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may further include a connector holder mechanically coupled to the bottom end of the vertical pipe, where the connector holder contains an electrical coupling between the first cable and the second cable, is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the vertical pipe, and includes a mating connector for the charging gun to be affixed to in a storage mode.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may also include a spring loading mechanism at a top portion of the vertical pipe, where the spring loading mechanism includes a spring that is compressed when the vertical pipe is pulled downward and releases the vertical pipe from the stationary position. The stationary position may be achieved by the vertical pipe being pushed into a cap portion affixed to the overhead fixture by the spring in the storage mode.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may further include a handle at a bottom portion of the vertical pipe, the handle configured to be pulled by a user to release the vertical pipe from the cap portion and transition to the in-use mode.
• a range of tilt angle for the vertical pipe may be determined based on one or more of a size of the ball joint or a size of the cap portion.
• the spring loading mechanism may be configured to pull back the vertical pipe into the stationary position when the vertical pipe is released by a user.
• the electric vehicle charging assembly may also include a first connector to couple the second cable to the charging connector inside the charging gun; and a second connector to couple the second cable to the first cable inside the connector holder.
• the overhead fixture may be integrated into a ceiling.
• a ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may include a fixed bearing integrated into a ceiling; a first cable to provide charging power, the first cable configured to extend from the ceiling downward through the fixed bearing; and a vertical pipe to contain the first cable.
• the vertical pipe may be mechanically affixed to the ceiling through the fixed bearing and a spring-loaded mechanism within the vertical pipe, configured to be in a stationary position in a storage mode, and configured to be tiltable and rotatable in an in-use mode.
• the system may also include a second cable with a first end of the second cable coupled to the first cable at a bottom end of the vertical pipe, and the second cable configured to hang without touching a floor; and a charging gun coupled to a second end of the second cable and configured to contain a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• the ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may further include a connector holder mechanically coupled to the bottom end of the vertical pipe, wherein the connector holder contains an electrical coupling between the first cable and the second cable, is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the vertical pipe, and includes a mating connector for the charging gun to be affixed to in a storage mode.
• the connector holder may be mechanically coupled to the vertical pipe through one or more of a plurality of screws, a pair of threads, or a click-on mechanism.
• the ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may also include a ball joint fitted between the vertical pipe and the connector holder to afford additional freedom of movement.
• the ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may further include an indicator affixed to one of a bottom portion of the vertical pipe or the connector holder.
• the indicator may include one or more light or light emitting diode (LED) based indicators or a display to provide information to the user.
• the spring-loaded mechanism may include an inside pipe positioned inside a top portion of the vertical pipe and having a circular protrusion at a bottom end, a spring fitted between the inside pipe and the vertical pipe, and an inside pipe cap configured to fit on a top end of the inside pipe and affixed to the top end of the vertical pipe.
• the ceiling-connected electric vehicle charging assembly may further include a handle at a bottom portion of the vertical pipe, where when the handle is pulled by a user, the vertical pipe is released from a cap portion of the fixed bearing and the spring is compressed by the inside pipe cap.
• the vertical pipe may be configured to be pushed back into the cap portion of the fixed bearing upon the handle being released by the user through decompression of the spring and transition into the storage mode.
• the fixed bearing may include a ball joint and a cap portion, and a range of tilt angle for the vertical pipe may be determined based on one or more of a size of the ball joint or a size of the cap portion.
• the charging gun may be configured to mate with the charging port of an electric truck, an electric bus, or an electric van.
• methods to charge an electric vehicle through a charging assembly may include releasing a vertical pipe from a cap portion of an overhead fixture upon detecting a bottom portion of the vertical pipe being pulled downward by a user, where the vertical pipe is mechanically affixed to the overhead fixture through fixed bearing comprising a ball joint and the cap portion, is in a stationary position when pulled into the cap portion in a storage mode, and is tiltable and rotatable when released from the cap portion in an in-use mode.
• Example methods may also include detecting removal of a charging gun coupled to a second cable from a connector holder at the bottom end of the vertical pipe, where the second cable is electrically coupled to a first cable contained within the vertical pipe and is configured to hang without touching a floor, and the charging gun includes a charging connector to mate with a charging port of a vehicle.
• Method may further include providing power to the charging connector; upon detecting removal of the charging connector from the charging port of the vehicle, disconnecting power; and upon detecting release of the bottom portion of the vertical pipe, pulling the top portion of the vertical pipe into the cap portion for storage mode through a spring-loaded mechanism.
• detecting a bottom portion of the vertical pipe being pulled downward may include detecting a handle affixed to the bottom portion of the vertical pipe being pulled down.
• Pulling the top portion of the vertical pipe into the cap portion for storage mode through a spring-loaded mechanism may include decompressing a spring fitted inside the top portion of the vertical pipe by letting the top portion of the vertical pipe to be reinserted into the cap portion, where the spring is compressed when the vertical pipe is pulled downward.
• a range of tilt angle for the vertical pipe may be determined based on one or more of a size of the ball joint or a size of the cap portion.
• any two components so associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality.
• operably couplable include but are not limited to physically connectable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
• ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)
• Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

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• 2021
  • 2021-08-11 WO PCT/US2021/045543 patent/WO2023018411A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2021-08-11 EP EP21953592.9A patent/EP4384411A4/de active Pending

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