US5049802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charging system for a vehicle
Assignee: FMC Corp
•
Filing: 1990-03-01
•
Granted: 1991-09-17
•
Expires: 2010-03-01
Abstract
Abstract Automated charging systems for vehicles having rechargeable batteries are in common use today. Such systems typically have exposed contacts or the need for additional circuitry to move the contacts. The subject system includes circuitry which allows the charge receiving member to be only connected to the battery during charging. The charging system produces a charging signal in response to a low battery. A microprocessor receives the charging signal and responsively produces a "pulse" signal. A second transistor switch receives the "pulse" signal and responsively energizes a charging contactor coil. In response to the charging contactor coil being energized, contacts controllably block power from the battery to the motor and pass power from the receiving member to the battery.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert T. Mintus
- 👤 John C. Paine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0212; G05D1/0225; B; B60; B60L; B60L3/00; B60L3/0023; B60L3/0069; B60L3/04; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/52; B60L50/60; B60L50/66; B60L53/00; B60L53/10; B60L53/14; B60L53/30; B60L53/305; B60L58/00; B60L58/10; B60L58/12; B60L58/14; G05D1/0231; G05D1/0234; G05D1/0236; G05D1/0276; G05D1/028; H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/70; B60L2200/00; B60L2200/40; B60L2200/44; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/40; B60L2240/42; B60L2240/421; B60L2240/429; B60L2240/60; B60L2240/70; B60L2240/72; B60L2250/00; B60L2250/10; B60L2250/16; B60L2260/00; B60L2260/20; B60L2260/32; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/60; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/12; Y02T90/14; Y02T90/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; means for determining the position of said charging location; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; means for determining the position of said charging location; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said charge receiving member is disconnected from said battery except when said charge control signal is present.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said charge receiving member is connected to said vehicle and is maintained substantially free from movement relative to said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said charging location includes a charge producing member connectable to said charge receiving member and maintained substantially free from movement relative to said charging location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a battery monitor means for sensing the state of charge of said battery and producing a low battery signal in response to the state of charge being less than a predetermined value, and said vehicle control means receives said low battery signal and responsively positions said vehicle at said charging location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a detecting means for sensing a ground fault connection and responsively disconnecting said charge receiving member from said battery.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes switching means for manually connecting said charge receiving member to said battery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
A charging system for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member connected to said vehicle; a battery having positive and negative terminals, said negative terminal being connected to ground; a contactor having at least first and second contacts, said first contact being normally open and being connected between said charge receiving member and said positive terminal of said battery and said second contact being normally closed and being connected between said motor and said positive battery thermal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
A charging system for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member connected to said vehicle; a battery having positive and negative terminals, said negative terminal being connected to ground; a contactor having at least first and second contacts, said first contact being normally open and being connected between said charge receiving member and said positive terminal of said battery and said second contact being normally closed and being connected between said motor and said positive battery thermal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 8, including a charging contactor coil to control said contacts and a normally open charge control switch, said charging contactor coil having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said positive battery terminal through said charge control switch and said second end being connected to ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said contactor also includes third and fourth contacts, said third contact being normally open and being connected between said receiving member and ground and said fourth contact being normally closed and being connected between said motor and ground.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said charge receiving member is maintained substantially free from movement relative to said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 8, including a battery monitor connected between said positive terminal of said battery and at least one of said first and second contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A charging system as set forth in claim 8, including a charging location having a charge producing member, said charge producing member being maintained substantially free from movement relative to said charging location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for charging a vehicle at a charging location, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of: determining the position of said charging location; positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor form said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for charging a vehicle at a charging location, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of: determining the position of said charging location; positioning said vehicle based on said determined position at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; and receiving said charge control signal and automatically disconnecting said vehicle motor form said battery, and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery in response to receiving said charge control signal, and thereafter charging said vehicle battery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method, as set forth in claim 14, including the step of sensing an abnormal ground connection during charging and responsively disconnecting said charge receiving member from said battery.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method, as set forth in claim 14, including the steps of sensing a voltage potential on said charge receiving member and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery when said vehicle is not charging.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
123 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; sensing means for producing a warning signal in response to detecting a voltage potential on said charge receiving member when said vehicle is not charging; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery, and receiving said warning signal and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery in response to receiving said warning signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
123 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving member controllably connectable to said battery; vehicle control means for positioning said vehicle at said charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; sensing means for producing a warning signal in response to detecting a voltage potential on said charge receiving member when said vehicle is not charging; and logic means for receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery, and receiving said warning signal and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery in response to receiving said warning signal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for charging a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of: positioning said vehicle at a charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said battery from said vehicle motor and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery; sensing an abnormal ground connection during charging and responsively disconnecting said charge receiving member from said battery; and sensing a voltage potential on said charge receiving member and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery when said vehicle is not charging.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for charging a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery controllably connected to a vehicle motor and a charge receiving member, comprising the steps of: positioning said vehicle at a charging location and producing a responsive charge control signal; receiving said charge control signal and responsively disconnecting said battery from said vehicle motor and connecting said charge receiving member to said battery; sensing an abnormal ground connection during charging and responsively disconnecting said charge receiving member from said battery; and sensing a voltage potential on said charge receiving member and automatically disconnecting said motor from said battery when said vehicle is not charging.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving ;emmber controllably connectable to said battery; vehicle control means for producing a charge control signal in response to said vehicle being at said charging location; logic means for receiving said charge control signal and for responsively producing a pulse signal and disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery; and charging control means for receiving said pulse signal and responsively connecting said charge receiving member to battery.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
93 words
A charging system having a charging location for a vehicle, said vehicle including a rechargeable battery normally controllably connected to a vehicle motor, comprising: a charge receiving ;emmber controllably connectable to said battery; vehicle control means for producing a charge control signal in response to said vehicle being at said charging location; logic means for receiving said charge control signal and for responsively producing a pulse signal and disconnecting said vehicle motor from said battery; and charging control means for receiving said pulse signal and responsively connecting said charge receiving member to battery.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3169733A
Cited
US3603860A
Cited
US3904947A
Cited
US3898547A
Cited
US4012681A
Cited
US4282475A
Cited
US4347472A
Cited
US4532418A
Cited
US4496896A
Cited
US4672280A
Cited
US4679152A
Cited
US4777416A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |