GB2574183A

GB2574183A - Charging electric vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2574183A
Application number: GB1805020.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Martin Timothy
Original assignee: Zapinamo Ltd
Current assignee: Zapinamo Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-27
Filing date: 2018-03-27
Publication date: 2019-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-27
Also published as: GB201805020D0; GB2572469A; GB201900795D0; GB2574183B

Abstract

An apparatus for charging electric vehicles (EVs) in a car park includes a tower housing 101 having a square-shaped cross-section with corners 102, 103 and a top 104, wherein a support 105-107 extends from each corner and a roof shelter 111 is attached to the top. Each of the supports are configured to rest upon dividing grid-lines 112 of a car park and each support may define curved profiles 113 in two dimensions as they extend to connect with the tower housing. The apparatus may include cells of a battery for storing charge, wherein some, or all, of the cells are contained within the supports to enhance the stability of the apparatus. Charge cables 121, connectable to EVs, may hang down from the roof shelter, each cable of a length to support a vehicle-connector above ground level when not connected to a vehicle. In a separate embodiment, an EV charging apparatus has a housing with a right-angled, isosceles triangle shaped cross-section, wherein a roof section extends over a front, presented at the base of the triangle, with the right angle positioned at the back. A cable extends from, and is supported by, the roof section, to hang vertically. The cable is of sufficient length to engage with a vehicle for charging but is held off the floor when not in use.

Description

Fig. 2

Charging Electric Vehicles

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for charging electric vehicles and a method of installing charging apparatus.

As demand for electric vehicles increases, greater provision is required within carparks for allowing vehicles to be charged. Increasingly, this demand 10 will be for charging to occur at relatively rapid rates and as such a significant footprint of electrical equipment is required. As more of this equipment is required within a carparking environment, the equipment will start to encroach upon the available parking spaces and may ultimately reduce the number of spaces that may be provided. In some environments, such as at airports, land 15 prices can be quite significant and a loss of carparking spaces could quickly result in a loss of revenue. A problem therefore exists in terms of establishing rapid charging locations without significantly reducing the availability of carparking space.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for charging electric vehicles, comprising: a tower-housing having a substantially square-shaped cross-section with corners and a top; a firstsupport, a second-support, a third-support and a fourth-support, each extending from a corner of said tower-housing; and a roof-shelter attached to the top the tower-housing, wherein: said first-support, second-support, thirdsupport and fourth-support are configured to rest upon dividing grid-lines of a car park.

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed embodiments 30 show the best mode known to the inventor and provide support for the invention as claimed. However, they are only exemplary and should not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims. Their purpose is to provide a teaching to those skilled in the art.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an apparatus for charging electric vehicles in a carpark; and

Figure 2 shows a subassembly of a type that may be combined with similar subassemblies to produce the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1

An apparatus for charging electric vehicles in a carpark is illustrated in Figure 1. The apparatus includes a tower-housing 101 having a substantially square-shaped cross-section with corners 102,103 etc and a top 104.

The housing includes a first-support 105, a second-support 106, a thirdsupport 107 and a fourth-support (obscured in Figure 1) opposite the firstsupport 105.

A roof-shelter 111 is attached to the top 104 of the tower-housing. This provides a degree of shelter from weather conductions and in particular provides shelter for sensitive electrical terminating equipment. To minimise the impact of the tower-housing upon the carpark, the first-support 105 is configured to rest upon a dividing grid-line 112 of the carpark. Similarly, the second-support, third-support and fourth-support are also configured to rest upon respective dividing grid-lines of the carpark.

In an embodiment, the first-support, second-support, third-support and fourth-support define curved profiles 113 in two-dimensions as they extend to connect with the tower-housing. Thus, the supports curve in a vertical direction and also curve in a horizontal direction, in an attempt to follow the natural curve of most modern motor vehicles. Thus, in this way, it is possible to optimise the available space, such that portions of the curved profiles, presenting a negative curve, mirror the external profile of most motor vehicles that are in themselves defining a positive curve. Optimisation of the available space is therefore achieved by taking account of modern aerodynamic properties of most motor vehicles that tend to present angular corners. In particular, it is unlikely that an electric vehicle would present non-aerodynamic angular corners.

The roof-shelter 111 may be equipped with a solar panel but in a preferred embodiment, the tower-housing receives electrical power from a grid supply. Thus, in an embodiment, the tower-housing receives an alternating current and includes rectifying devices for converting the received alternating current into supplied direct current for the motor vehicles.

In an embodiment, the tower-housing also includes cells of batteries for storing charge. In this way, it is possible for the current received from the gridsupply to be relatively modest, capable of providing a low rate of charge, which rather than being supplied directly, is effectively buffered in the local cells and then made available for rapid charging when required by a vehicle. Such an approach is described in the applicants co-pending British patent application 15 01 886 in a transportable configuration. However, in the present embodiment, the charging station is not transportable and is configured at a location within a carpark that minimises the reduction of carparking space.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is not permanently attached to the carpark such that, upon receiving an impact by a vehicle, minimal damage results. As is known in the art, electrical connections may be provided which automatically disconnect electrical supplies upon receiving an impact of this type.

In addition to batteries being stored in the tower 101, batteries may also be contained within the supports, 105, 106 etc. Furthermore, the weight of batteries of this type may enhance the stability of the apparatus. Again, this allows the total storage capacity to be increased without impacting upon the amount of space taken up by the apparatus.

In an embodiment, charge cables, such as cable 121 illustrated in Figure 1, hang down from the roof-shelter 111. Furthermore, in an embodiment, each charge-cable is of a length such that a vehicle-connector is supported above ground level when not connected to a vehicle. Thus, it is not necessary to provide additional equipment for supporting vehicles connectors given that, when hanging free, they do not impact upon the floor. Consequently, damage is avoided without incurring unnecessary further expense.

It can be appreciated that the apparatus illustrated in Figure 11 facilitates a method of installing charging apparatus within a carpark, wherein parking locations are identified using an orthogonal grid. When implementing this method, a tower-housing of substantially square-shaped cross-section is established with corners and a top at an intersection of the orthogonal grid lines. The tower-housing is supported by supports, wherein one of the supports is located at each respective one of said corners and extends therefrom over the grid-lines of the carpark.

In an embodiment, as previously described, the supports define curved profiles in two-dimensions and extend over portions of the grid lines, thereby minimising any impact with respect to the reduction of parking area.

Figure 2

In an embodiment, the tower-housing is constructed from four individual subassemblies that are each independently operable. In this way, it is possible to provide an apparatus for charging an electric vehicle that has a housing with a cross-section in the shape of an isosceles triangle with a right-angle 201. A roof section 202 extends over a front, presented at the base of the triangle, with the right angle being positioned at the back. A cable 203 extends from and is supported by the roof section, such that the cable hangs substantially vertically and is of sufficient length to engage with a vehicle for charging purposes but is held off the floor when not in use.

In addition to being used in combination with three other similar assemblies, as illustrated in Figure 1, it is also possible for an individual assembly to be engaged at the corner 204 of a structure, such as a garage. A cable is provided for receiving electricity from a grid supply, which may be received from a standard socket 205. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a rechargeable battery 206 for receiving the grid supply and then discharging to an electric vehicle. Thus, in this way, if is possible for the discharging operation to be formed at a relatively rapid rate compared to the rate at which electricity is received from the grid supply.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for charging electric vehicles, comprising:

a tower-housing having a substantially square-shaped cross-section with corners and a top;

a first-support, a second-support, a third-support and a fourth-support, each extending from a corner of said tower-housing; and a roof-shelter attached to the top said tower-housing, wherein:

said first-support, second-support, third-support and fourth-support are configured to rest upon dividing grid-lines of a carpark.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first-support, said secondsupport, said third-support and said fourth-support define curved profiles in two dimensions as they extend to connect with said tower housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tower housing receives electrical power from a grid supply.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tower-housing includes a rectifying device for converting received alternating current into a direct current supply.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, including cells of a battery for storing charge.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein some or all of said cells are contained within said supports to enhance the stability of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein charge cables connectable to electric vehicles hang down from said roof-shelter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each charge-cable is of a length such that a vehicle-connector is supported above ground level when not connected to a vehicle.

9. A method of installing charging apparatus within a carpark, wherein parking locations are identified using an orthogonal grid, comprising the steps of:

establishing a tower-housing of substantially square-shaped crosssection with corners and a top at an intersection of orthogonal grid lines; and supporting said tower housing by supports, wherein one of said supports is located at each respective one of said corners.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said supports define curved profiles in two dimensions and extend over portions of said grid lines, thereby minimising any impact with respect to the reduction of parking area.

11. An apparatus for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a cross-section in the shape of an isosceles triangle with a right-angle;

a roof section extending over a front presented by at the base of said triangle, with said right angle being positional at the back;

and a cable extending from and supported by said roof section, such that said cable hangs substantially vertically and is of sufficient length to engage with a vehicle for charging purposes but is held off the floor when not in use.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said back right-angle is engaged with the corner of a garage.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein four apparatus mutually connect to reveal only their front faces so as to define a substantially square foot-print with cables for charging four vehicles.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 11 to 13, including an input cable for receiving electricity from a grid supply.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, including a rechargeable battery for 5 receiving said grid supply and then discharging to an electric vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the discharging to an electric vehicle takes place at a rate that is more rapid than the charging from the grid supply.