Method and apparatus for automatic charging of electric vehicles

US11014465B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ABB Schweiz AG · CH

Inventors

• Gregory A. Cole · Town of West Hartford, US
• Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge · Ellington, US
• Martin Krucinski · Webster, US
• Alex Riley · Manchester, US
• William J. Eakins · Bloomfield, US
• Sang Choi · Simsbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 24, 2019
• Grant date: May 25, 2021
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2040

Classification

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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic charging of electric vehicles in which a plug head of a charging unit is automatically received in a receiving compartment of a vehicle charger actuation device. A push wall of the vehicle charger actuation device is displaced into contact the plug head in a manner that facilitates rotation of the plug head into angular alignment with the plug head receptacle. The charging unit can align a position of the plug head with the plug head receptacle such that continued displacement of the push wall displaces the plug head to a position at which the plug head is electrically coupled to the plug head receptacle. After a charging event, the push wall moves away from the plug head receptacle and engages a pull rod that is coupled to a pin skirt such that the pin skirt is displaced in a direction that ejects the plug head from the plug head receptacle.