公开(公告)号：US20200139830A1

公开(公告)日：2020-05-07

申请号：US16182033

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： William J. Eakins ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  Sangeun Choi ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge

IPC: B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/35 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H01R13/62

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for charging an electric vehicle are disclosed. The system includes a floor unit and a vehicle unit, each having an electrical connector. The method includes positioning the floor unit electrical connector with reference to the mating vehicle unit electrical connector. The method includes inserting the floor unit electrical connector into the mating vehicle unit electrical connector. The method includes initiating an electric vehicle charging process by selectively enabling a flow of electric current from an electric power supply through the matingly coupled vehicle unit and floor unit electrical connectors.

公开(公告)号：US10518658B1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-31

申请号：US16182003

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： William J. Eakins ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  Sangeun Choi ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge

IPC: H01R13/447 ,  B60L53/16 ,  H01R43/26 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H01R13/629 ,  B60L53/30 ,  B60L55/00 ,  B60L53/31 ,  B60L53/14 ,  B60L53/00

Abstract: A vehicle-side receptacle unit is described that is positionable on an underside of an electrical vehicle (EV) and a method for operating such unit. The vehicle-side receptacle facilitates hands-free connection of a vehicle-side electrical connector with a floor unit electrical connector of a floor-positioned recharging unit. The vehicle-side receptacle unit includes a unit frame including a ground-facing surface, a sliding cover including a leading edge, and a gap containing an interface of the vehicle-side electrical connector. The sliding cover is arranged to linearly slide on a plane parallel with the ground-facing surface to guide, using the leading edge, a shuttle carrying the floor unit electrical connector toward the gap to facilitate a mating of corresponding electrical contacts of the vehicle-side electrical connector and the floor unit electrical connector.

公开(公告)号：US20190389548A1

公开(公告)日：2019-12-26

申请号：US16434643

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: ABB Schweiz Ag

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Daniel I. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Luiz V. Cheim ,  Poorvi Patel ,  Biao Zhang ,  Saumya Sharma ,  Andrew Salm

IPC: B63G8/00 ,  G01N21/954 ,  G21C17/013 ,  G21C17/017 ,  B63G8/16 ,  G05D1/00

Abstract: An inspection vehicle operable for performing one or more maintenance and repair operations in a housing filled at least partially with a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The inspection vehicle includes a propulsion device operable in the liquid medium and includes at least one sensor operable for sensing and transmitting data associated therewith. A control system including an electronic controller is in electronic communication with the inspection vehicle to transmit and receive communication signals to/from the inspection vehicle. One or more maintenance tools operable with the inspection vehicle are configured to perform maintenance and/or repair operations within the liquid filled housing.

公开(公告)号：US20190286146A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16434619

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Daniel T. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Carlos F. Morato ,  Biao Zhang ,  Luiz Chelm ,  Poorvi Patel ,  Gregory F. Rossano ,  Andrew Salm

IPC: G05D1/02 ,  G05D1/00 ,  B63G8/00 ,  B63G8/08 ,  H04N5/247 ,  H04N5/272 ,  H04N7/08 ,  H04N5/38 ,  H04N5/268

Abstract: A submersible inspection drone used for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers can include a number of separate cameras for imaging the internal structure of the transformer. The submersible can be configured to communicate to a base station using a wireless transmitter and receiver. The cameras on the submersible can be fixed in place and can be either static or motion picture cameras. The submersible can include an input/output selector capable of switching between the camera images, either through commanded action of a user or through computer based switching. In one form the input/output selector is a multiplexer. The base station can be configured to display images from the cameras one at a time, or can include a number of separate viewing portals in which real time images are displayed. The base station can include a demultiplexer synchronized to the multiplexer of the submersible.

公开(公告)号：US20190286119A1

公开(公告)日：2019-09-19

申请号：US16434639

申请日：2019-06-07

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Daniel T. Lasko ,  Harshang Shah ,  Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Carlos Morato ,  Luiz V. Cheim ,  Poorvi Patel ,  Biao Zhang ,  Saumya Sharma ,  Gregory F. Rossano

IPC: G05D1/00 ,  G05D1/02 ,  G07C5/00 ,  G07C5/08 ,  H04W4/44

Abstract: A submersible remotely operable vehicle used for inspection of liquid cooled electrical transformers can include a number of separate cameras and sensors for mapping and navigating the internal structure of the transformer with liquid coolant remaining in the transformer. The remotely operable vehicle can be wirelessly controlled to perform various inspection functions while the number of cameras provide video streams for processing to produce a three dimensional field of view based on an observation position of the remotely operable vehicle.

公开(公告)号：US20210178922A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-17

申请号：US16710451

申请日：2019-12-11

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Alexander P. Riley ,  William J. Eakins

IPC: B60L53/37 ,  H02J7/00 ,  B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/31

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for electric vehicle (EV) charging are disclosed. Devices include a base and at least one vertical rail coupled to the base and extending upward therefrom, and at least one slide engaged with the rail(s). Single rail devices include at least two slides engaged with the rail. Devices having at least two rails include at least one slide engaged with each of the rails. A connector unit having a first end and a second end is pivotably coupled to a plurality of elongate support arms at portions of the second end. An opposite end of each support arm is pivotably coupled to individual slide(s). The disclosed devices, systems and methods enable precise positioning of charger electrical connectors for mating engagement with vehicle electrical connectors for EV charging. Automation features are integratable for hands-free operation in a variety of residential and commercial EV charging environments.

公开(公告)号：US20210086641A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US16579342

申请日：2019-09-23

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Stefan Rakuff ,  Harshang Shah ,  Sangeun Choi ,  Martin Krucinski

IPC: B60L53/36 ,  G05B15/02 ,  B60L53/16 ,  B60L53/66 ,  G05D1/02 ,  H02J7/00

Abstract: Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

公开(公告)号：US20210086638A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US16579531

申请日：2019-09-23

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Gregory A. Cole ,  Stefan Rakuff ,  William J. Eakins

IPC: B60L53/35 ,  B60L53/16

Abstract: A vehicle-side receptacle unit is described that is positionable on an underside of an electrical vehicle (EV) and a method for operating such unit. The vehicle-side receptacle facilitates hands-free connection of an automatic charging device including a charger electrical connector of a floor-positioned recharging unit. The automatic charging device includes a plurality of movable links including a distal link and a proximal link and a pivotal lift arm connected to the distal link coupled to the plurality of movable links and to the charger electrical connector. The plurality of movable links include rounded edges and the rounded edges are configured to minimize rotational interference between links during motion. The plurality of movable links include spring loaded casters. The plurality of movable links are coplanar when in a non-operational position and when in an operational position.

公开(公告)号：US20210053455A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-25

申请号：US16547218

申请日：2019-08-21

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge ,  Gregory A. Cole ,  William J. Eakins ,  Sangeun Choi ,  Martin Krucinski

IPC: B60L53/31 ,  B60L53/36 ,  B60L53/30 ,  B60L53/66 ,  B60L53/16

Abstract: Systems and method for underside charging of electric vehicles (EVs) are provided. With the EV positioned in a charging environment having a ground surface, a floor unit device actuates an electrical connector toward a charge receptacle of an EV vehicle unit, and the vehicle unit actuates the charge receptacle toward the electrical connector. The actuation facilitates coupling between the connector and the charge receptacle. A flow of electrical current is initiated through the coupled connector and charge receptacle to charge the EV power storage device. Upon completion of the EV charging process, the electrical connector and the charge receptacle are actuated away from one another to facilitate decoupling therebetween.

公开(公告)号：US10899246B1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16695076

申请日：2019-11-25

Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG

Inventor： Sree Shankar Satheesh Babu ,  William J. Eakins ,  Gregory A. Cole

IPC: B60L53/37 ,  B60L53/16 ,  G02B27/00 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G06T7/73

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a location and/or orientation of at least a portion of an electric vehicle relative to at least a portion of a charging station. A camera system can include a camera housing having outer, intermediate, and inner layers that are concentric to each other. The outer, protective layer and the intermediate layer can each have wiper assemblies that wipe debris from a surface of the intermediate layer or inner layer, respectively, as the associated outer or intermediate layer is rotated. The intermediate layer also include one or more lenses that are selectively to capture an image(s) of the vehicle by a camera. The camera housing can be lifted from a recessed position in an assembly housing while the outer layer is simultaneously rotatably retracted so that the camera can capture an image through the inner layer and a selected lens of the intermediate layer.