NO20200115A1

NO20200115A1 - A charging and transportation system

Info

Publication number: NO20200115A1
Application number: NO20200115A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Svend Otto Svendsen
Original assignee: Scandinavian Micromobility As
Priority date: 2020-01-29
Filing date: 2020-01-29
Publication date: 2021-07-30
Also published as: WO2021154090A1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging and transportation system, it also relates to a movable charging rack, and the method for operation of the charging and transportation system.

Background Art

[0002] Some years ago, chargeable batteries were expensive, heavy and not very competitive with non-rechargeable batteries. This has all changed now as chargeable batteries are ubiquitous.

[0003] The trend is that more and more devices are being battery operated.

Within the infrastructure, everything from large vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries to small electric vehicles such as skateboards, scooters, standing wheels, unicycles and more are battery driven.

Operators are offering rental of electric bikes and small electric vehicles, with today's development of IoT and app management from smartphones as catalysts the trend really speeds up.

[0004] A consequence of this development is that one has huge amounts of rechargeable batteries spread throughout the community along roads, walkways and other places.

[0005] Operators provides rental of small electric vehicles; these small electric vehicles are driven by chargeable electric batteries. Moreover, the small electric vehicles are provided with position indicating means such as a GPS. The positioning means makes it possible to find the small electric vehicles for example with the use of a dedicated application on a smart phone. The operator may use the position information to collect small electric vehicles to charge them.

[0006] An operator will have a fleet of collecting vehicles, i.e. lorries or vans, which collects small electric vehicles such as electric scooters and delivers them at a central charging station. The small electric vehicles are manually loaded into the collecting vehicles and they are manually unloaded from the collecting vehicles one by one. Each single small electric vehicle is connected to a charging point at the central charging station.

[0007] Loading and unloading the small electric vehicles are time consuming and unproductive and it carries a risk of personal injury.

[0008] It is an object according to the present invention to solve the problems above.

Disclosure of Invention

[0009] It is one object of the invention to provide a technical solution to handle the ever-increasing amount of batteries spread throughout the community. Batteries are connected to almost any type of devices, such as bikes and small electric vehicles.

[0010] More particularly the present invention discloses:

[0011] A charging rack comprising:

a) a number n of electric charging contacts for releasably fastening chargeable batteries to the electric charging contacts; b) means for lifting the charging rack;

c) at least one connection point to the mains;

where each charging contact is connected to a top side of the charging rack. The charging rack may further include means for releasably connection to a cargo carrier. In one aspect of the invention the at least one connection point to the mains is electrically connected to the n charging contacts. The n charging contacts may be configured for inductive charging of the chargeable batteries.

[0012] According to the present invention it is also disclosed a charging and transportation system for chargeable batteries comprising:

a) a means of transport with a cargo carrier;

b) a charging rack with a number n of electric charging contacts for releasably fastening chargeable batteries to the electric charging contacts; and where the charging rack includes at least one connection point to the mains;

c) a lifting device for lifting the charging rack on and of the cargo carrier;

d) a charging hub connected to the mains, where the charging hub further includes at least one mains supply connection for connection and supply of charging power to the charging rack.

[0013] In yet another aspect of the invention it is disclosed a method for collecting and charging chargeable batteries comprising the steps of:

a) collecting chargeable batteries spread over an area; b) arranging the chargeable batteries on a charging rack, the charging rack being arranged on a means for transport with a cargo carrier where the charging rack is provided with at least one mains connection;

c) releasably connecting the chargeable batteries one by one to a dedicated charging slot;

d) transporting the means for transport to a charging hub; e) lifting the charging rack off the cargo carrier; and f) electrically connecting the charging rack using the at least one mains connection to a charging hub connected to the mains, where the charging hub further includes at least one mains supply connection for connection and supply of charging power to the charging rack.

[0014] Other advantageous features will be apparent from the accompanying claims.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0015] Following is a brief description of the drawings in order to make the invention more readily understandable, the discussion that follows will refer to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0016] Fig. 1a show a charging rack and chargeable batteries,

[0017] Fig 1b shows a charging rack for inductive charging of chargeable batteries 11a which includes circuitry for inductive charging,

[0001] Fig. 2a shows several charging racks 10 being loaded on to cargo carriers (A), being transported to a charging hub (B) and being unloaded from the cargo carrier (C) and being connected to a charging hub 22,

[0002] Fig. 2b shows several charging racks 10 on cargo carriers (A, B), being transported to a charging hub (B) and being unloaded from the cargo carrier (C) and being connected to a charging hub 22,

[0003] Fig 3 shows a flow chart for collecting and charging chargeable batteries,

[0004] Fig 4 shows a charging rack 10b,

[0005] Fig 5 shows a charging rack 10a embodied as platform loaded with chargeable batteries 11, lifting openings/apertures for a fork lift is shown on the front at the lower end with alternative openings at the long end, and lifting eyes are also shown.

Detailed description of the Invention

[0006] In the following it is firstly disclosed general embodiments in accordance with the present invention, thereafter particular exemplary embodiments will be described. Where possible reference will be made to the accompanying drawings and where possible using reference numerals from the drawings. It shall be noted that the drawings are exemplary embodiments only and other features and embodiments may well be within the scope of the invention as described.

[0007] Chargeable batteries are used on small electric vehicles and on bikes etc. The trend is that more and more chargeable batteries are used throughout the society.

[0008] Operators offers to rent small electric vehicles and bikes. Today these bikes and small electric vehicles are collected and brought to a charging hub where they can be charged. This is time consuming and the ratio of payload (batteries) vs deadweight is poor, as the batteries being only a small part of the total weight of the objects to be brought to the charging hub.

[0009] It is also conceivable that a lot of public infrastructure is powered by rechargeable batteries, such as lights, parking meters and more.

[0010] Instead of collection of objects that are driven by chargeable batteries, it is an object of the present invention to only collect the chargeable batteries. Hence the batteries must be detachable from its host (small electric vehicle bike etc) for an operator.

[0011] In general terms it is provided a charging rack which can be equipped with easily accessible attachment system for simple loading and unloading of the charging rack to a cargo carrier. This system makes it easy to attach the charging rack to a vehicle or any type of chassis with a loading capacity such as lorries – in the following the generic term cargo carrier is used for a carrier adapted to carry one or more charging racks.

The charging rack can be equipped with one or more devices for charging and controlling any chargeable products or units with built in batteries, or detachable batteries for external use.

[0012] One Purpose of the charging rack is to distribute and collect its load – which as described can be chargeable batteries. The charging rack can be provided with a locking mechanism to hold and secure the chargeable batteries. The charging rack itself can also be designed with any measurements required for the specific object. The charging rack can be loaded and unloaded with any type of warehouse inventory, such as fork lifts, cranes etc. The charging rack can have connections to charge all chargeable batteries that it carries. The charging rack can also include one or more batteries that recharges when the charging <rack is connected to mains.>

A first embodiment of the present invention

[0013] Charging rack is used as a generic term for a device that can carry a number of chargeable batteries and which includes contacts for connection to chargeable batteries, it includes at least one connection to the mains and it may include a main chargeable battery which is connected to the mains and to the contacts for all the chargeable batteries that can be carried by the charging rack. The charging rack 10b can be a platform (ref figure 5) that is adapted to carry several chargeable batteries 11 or it can be designed as a cabinet with numerous charging slots 41 as shown in figure 4. The design of the charging rack is a matter of design only and it boils down to which design is best suited to carry the type of chargeable batteries it is intended for. A platform design is better suited for heavy batteries than the cabinet 10b with numerous charging slots 41 as shown in figure 4. Each chargeable battery 11 will have a separate charging slot 41 or it can have a separate charging contact 12 on a platform, ref. fig 5. When an operator is collecting chargeable batteries 11 he will connect them in free slots 41 in the charging cabinet 10a or free spaces on a charging platform (cf. figure 5).

[0014] Small electric vehicles can be provided with chargeable batteries 11 that can be disconnected from their bodies. In one aspect an operator can bring with him recharged batteries and collect discharged batteries for recharging. According to the present invention any device whatever size and shape can be serviced if it is driven be a rechargeable battery that fits a charging rack according to the present invention.

[0015] Chargeable batteries which is connected to devices such as small electric vehicles, bikes, fixed installation and the likes can be provided with theft prevention such as for example a lock that secures the battery to its associated device. An operator which collects batteries can be provided with an unlocking tool which facilitates unlocking and removal of batteries and connecting new charged batteries.

[0016] In one variant of the first embodiment it is provided a charging rack10b as shown in figure 4. The charging rack10b is a rack that is adapted to carry several chargeable batteries 11. Each battery 11 will have a separate slot 41, see figure 4 which shows a generalised example of a charging rack. Each slot 41 is provided with means which secures the battery to its place and with charging contacts 12 inside the slot 41. In one aspect a battery can simply be pushed into a slot 41 and as soon as the charging rack is connected to the mains it will start charging batteries connected to contacts 12 in the charging slots 41. The charging rack can also be provided with its own rechargeable battery making it possible to charge batteries in the slots 41 during transportation or during black outs. When the operator is collecting chargeable batteries 11 he will collect one at a time and place them in free slots 41 on the charging rack10a. The batteries 11 will be secured to its slot 41 and connected to the charging contacts 12.

[0017] The charging rack10 can be provided with means to lift it on an off a cargo carrier 25. The lifting means can be handles, hook fasteners, suspension means, or openings adapted to a forklift as shown in Figure 5, which discloses a charging rack in the form of a platform.

[0018] The cargo carrier 25 can be a lorry, a van, an estate wagon, in principle any carrier that has capacity to carry a charging rack. The charging rack can be locked to the cargo carrier 25 for transportation to avoid that the charging racks sliding around on the cargo carrier.

[0019] With reference to Figure 6, several charging racks can be loaded on to a cargo carrier 25. The charging rack can as indicated above be provided with lifting means of different kinds to lift it such as cranes, jacks, tail lifts or forklifts. In one embodiment the charging rack is provided with lockable wheels 43, this facilitates moving the charging rack on the cargo carrier 25 for instance on a platform body. The platform body can be provided with a tail lift which can lift and lower goods from the platform body. The charging rack can then be rolled onto the tail lift and be lowered to the ground where it can be rolled to a desired location such as a charging hub.

[0020] In another variant the unloading and loading of charging racks to and from cargo carriers 25 is carried out using a crane 21 with one or more hooks which is fastened to the charging rack for lifting it on and off the cargo carrier 25.

[0021] Each charging point 12 is electrically connected to an electric junction box 13. The electric junction box 13 is a distribution box where each of the connected charging points 12 is connected to a low voltage supply. The electric junction box is connected to the mains with a socket 14. The electric junction box 13 can be provided with several transformers with a primary side connected to the mains. Also, the electric junction box 13 can be provided with surge protection, overheating fuses and a surveillance system which is configured to monitor charging of all the chargeable batteries 11 on the charging rack10a. In figure 2 it is shown one electric junction box 13, however the charging rack can be provided with several electric junction boxes 13.

[0022] Figure 1 shows principle of a charging rack, several chargeable batteries 11 is shown, each battery can be connected to a charging contact 12. The charging contacts 12 is electrically connected with a junction box 13. The junction box 13 may include control circuits as is mentioned above.

[0023] Figure 2a shows a charging and transportation system for chargeable batteries according to one variant of the present invention. In A i.e. the left part of the figure, several charging racks are shown separated from a cargo carrier 25. When charging racks are filled up or when the cargo carrier shall move on to collect more chargeable batteries the charging rack or charging racks are moved onto the cargo carrier.

[0024] A lifting device 21 can be used to lift one or more charging racks to the cargo carrier 25. The lifting device can be a crane, or it can be a forklift. The charging racks can have wheels and hence be rolled on to the cargo carrier or onto a tail lift which lifts the charging rack up to the same horizontal plane as the cargo carrier. Having finished the collecting step A in figure 2a, the cargo carrier moves on in a transition step B to a new location to repeat step A or it continues to a charging hub C in figure 2a.

[0025] At the charging hub the charging racks are unloaded from the cargo carrier 25. Each cargo carrier is then connected to the charging hub 22 with sockets 14 for the mains. With reference to figure 1 the socket 14 is electrically connected with the junction box 13. The junction box 13 must include a power transformer and an AC/DC rectifies to adapt to the chargeable batteries 11 for charging.

[0026] In an alternative the sockets 14 can be adapted for connection to lower voltage contacts which are adapted for charging batteries without need for further transformation or AC/DC-rectifying.

[0027] Figure 2b shows a scenario which differs from that shown in figure 2a in that the loading of charging rack during collection of chargeable batteries are omitted. The operator collects chargeable batteries from devices and simply add them directly to the charging rack which is arranged on the cargo carrier.

[0028] Having finished the collecting step and the transition step AB in figure 2b, the cargo carrier moves on to repeat step AB or it continues to a charging hub C in figure 2a. The charging action in figure 2b equals that for figure 2a.

An alternative variant of the first embodiment

[0029] In the description above the chargeable batteries 11 are provided with contacts which is configured to be connected to a charging rack in one alternative the chargeable batteries are provided with means for inductive charging.

[0030] In this alternative variant the charging rack must be provided with primary coils instead of contacts or in addition to contacts. In addition to primary coils the primary side – charging side – must be provided with connections to mains and/or a rechargeable main battery.

[0031] The chargeable batteries 11a will then be provided with a secondary coil and controller circuits, hence the chargeable battery will represent the secondary side of a transformer and the battery-cells as such will be the load connected to the secondary side.

[0032] Figure 1b shows a principle of an inductive charging system. Several chargeable batteries 11a represent the secondary side of a transformer circuitry. The primary side, to the right, includes a primary coil 19 and control circuits 26 adapted to adjust impedance and f0 resonance frequency thereby providing for an optimised transfer efficiency between the primary side and the secondary side, this includes impedance and frequency compensation for distance differences between the primary coil and the secondary coil.

[0033] The figure also indicates the output of the control circuit can either be connected to mains via an AC/AC converter 28 or to a main battery 31 via an AC/DC-converter (a rectifier bridge). The use of a main battery may be an alternative for charging of chargeable batteries (inductive or not inductive) during transportation.

[0034] The secondary side also includes control circuitry and voltage regulators for providing correct voltage to the battery cells connected for charging.

[0035] In the simplified diagram in figure 1b each battery cell is connected to its own secondary side and each secondary side is associated with a single primary side with a single primary coil. In one alternative of the induction variant several primary sides can electromagnetically connected to one primary coil or a number of primary coils, where the number of primary coils are less than the maximum number of connectable inductive chargeable batteries 11a.

[0036] In the event the charging rack is a cabinet as is shown in figure 4 each slot 41 can be provided with primary side means for inductive charging, alternatively the primary side may cover several slots 41.

[0037] The alternative inductive charging will simplify connection of chargeable batteries to its charging racks.

[0038] Reference numbers, mapping list

Claims

1. A charging rack comprising:

c) at least one connection point to the mains;

each charging contact is connected to a top side of the charging rack.

2. A charging rack according to claim 1, where the charging rack includes means for releasably connection to a cargo carrier.

3. A charging rack according to claim 1 or 2, where the at least one connection point to the mains is electrically connected to the n charging contacts.

4. A charging rack according to any of the previous claims, where the n charging contacts are configured for inductive charging of the chargeable batteries.

5. Charging and transportation system for chargeable batteries comprising:

a) a means of transport with a cargo carrier;

c) a lifting device for lifting the charging rack on and of the cargo carrier;

6. A method for collecting and charging chargeable batteries comprising the steps of:

a) collecting chargeable batteries spread over an area;

b) arranging the chargeable batteries on a charging rack, the charging rack being arranged on a means for transport with a cargo carrier where the charging rack is provided with at least one mains connection;

d) transporting the means for transport to a charging hub;

e) lifting the charging rack off the cargo carrier; and

f) electrically connecting the charging rack using the at least one mains connection to a charging hub connected to the mains, where the charging hub further includes at least one mains supply connection for connection and supply of charging power to the charging rack.