Linear positioning system for automatic charging device

US11001133B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ABB Schweiz AG · CH

Inventors

• Sangeun Choi · Simsbury, US
• Martin Krucinski · Webster, US
• Harshang Shah · Bloomfield, US
• William J. Eakins · Bloomfield, US
• Stefan Rakuff · Clifton Park, US
• Gregory A. Cole · Town of West Hartford, US
• Sree Shankar Satheesh Babu · Manchester, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 2019
• Grant date: May 11, 2021
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/14
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatic charging device and method is described that is positionable to access an underside of an electrical vehicle that facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector. The automatic charging device includes a floor unit, a first slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a second slidable carriage disposed in the floor unit, a pivotal link coupled to the floor unit electrical connector, and a lift mechanism connected to the second slidable carriage and the pivotal link. The floor unit electrical connector is arranged to rise away from the floor unit in a direction of the vehicle-side electrical connector to facilitate a mating of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector. The first and the second slidable carriages are configured to move in a linear xy-direction, respectively, and the lift mechanism is configured to move in a linear z-direction.