Apparatus for replenishing a vehicle energy source
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H02J-007/00
B60L-011/18
B67D-007/04
출원번호
US-0437829
(2017-02-21)
등록번호
US-9764652
(2017-09-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Pounds, Paul E. I.
출원인 / 주소
Olaeris, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dodd Law Group, LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, and apparatus for replenishing vehicle resources. Vehicles can be aligned with and docked to replenishment devices. In one aspect, a flying vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) is aligned onto electrical recharging contacts. The
The present invention extends to methods, systems, devices, and apparatus for replenishing vehicle resources. Vehicles can be aligned with and docked to replenishment devices. In one aspect, a flying vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) is aligned onto electrical recharging contacts. The flying vehicles fuel level or battery charge can be replenished with minimal, if any, human intervention. Vehicle docking (e.g., landing), alignment, and replenishment can be performed automatically. A circular ring or shaped surface of a vehicle can engage with a conical sloping surface of a docking apparatus as a vehicle moves towards and/or into the docking apparatus. The conical sloping surface shape aligns the vehicle with recharge contacts or a refueling probe at the base of the docking apparatus.
대표청구항▼
1. A docking apparatus for docking a vehicle, the docking apparatus comprising: a base, the base including first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to a corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on the vehicle, the first base replenishment contact comp
1. A docking apparatus for docking a vehicle, the docking apparatus comprising: a base, the base including first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to a corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on the vehicle, the first base replenishment contact comprising a ring of a first size, the second base replenishment contact comprising a ring of a second size, wherein the first size is larger than the second size; andwherein the docking apparatus is configured to engage a replenishment adaptor of the vehicle, the replenishment adaptor comprising a ring of a third size, the corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts connected to the replenishment adaptor, the docking apparatus further configured to align the second vehicle replenishment contact extending around the first base replenishment contact for contact with the second base replenishment contact, wherein the third size is larger than the first size. 2. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base including first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to a corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on the vehicle comprises the base include first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to a first vehicle replenishment contact of a first length and to a curved second vehicle replenishment contact of a second length, the second length being longer than the first length. 3. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ring of a first size is a ring of a first diameter, wherein the ring of a second size is a ring of a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 4. The docking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ring of the third size comprises a ring of a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is larger than the first diameter. 5. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second base replenishment contacts are connected to a replenishment system for replenishing an energy resource used by the vehicle. 6. The docking apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second base replenishment contacts being connected to a replenishment system comprises the first and second base replenishment contacts being connected to an electrical recharging system. 7. The docking apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second base replenishment contacts being connected to a replenishment system comprises the first and second base replenishment contacts being connected to a liquid fuel source. 8. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the docking apparatus is included as a component of a second vehicle. 9. The docking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on the vehicle comprises the first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on one of: a space based vehicle, a maritime vehicle, or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 10. The docking apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a refueling probe, the refueling probe configured for connection to a corresponding refueling port of the vehicle, the refueling probe for transferring liquid fuel to the vehicle through the refueling port. 11. A vehicle replenishment system comprising: a surface having an opening of a first size for receiving a replenishment adaptor of a vehicle, the surface sloping to a base of a second size, the replenishment adaptor having a third size, wherein the first size is larger than the second size and the second size is larger than the third size;wherein the base includes a first charging contact and includes a second charging contact, the first and second charging contacts configured to engage with first and second vehicle contacts respectively on the replenishment adaptor, the first and second charging contacts connected to an energy resource such that the orientation of the vehicle does not impair the ability of the vehicle to replenish the energy resource, wherein the first charging contact is a fourth size and the second charging contact is a fifth size and wherein the third size is larger than both the fourth size and the fifth size. 12. The vehicle replenishment system of claim 11, further comprising a refueling probe, the refueling probe for transferring liquid fuel to the vehicle. 13. The vehicle replenishment system of claim 11, wherein the opening of a first size for receiving a replenishment adaptor of a vehicle comprises an opening of a first size for receiving a replenishment adaptor of one of: a space based vehicle, a maritime vehicle, or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 14. The vehicle replenishment system of claim 11, wherein vehicle replenishment system is included as a component of a second vehicle. 15. The vehicle replenishment system of claim 11, wherein the first and second charging contacts connected to an energy resource comprises the first and second charging contacts connected to a source of electricity. 16. A docking apparatus for docking an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for electrical recharging, the docking apparatus comprising: a base, the base including first and second base replenishment contacts configured for coupling to a corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the first and second base replenishment contacts connected to a source of electricity, the first base replenishment contact comprising a ring of a first size, the second base replenishment contact comprising a ring of a second size, wherein the first size is larger than the second size; andwherein the docking apparatus is configured to engage a landing adaptor of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the landing adaptor comprising a ring of a third size, the corresponding first and second vehicle replenishment contacts connected to the landing adaptor, the docking apparatus further configured to align the first and second vehicle replenishment contacts for contact with the first and second base replenishment contacts respectively, wherein the third size is larger than the first size. 17. The docking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the ring of the first size comprises a ring of a first diameter, wherein the ring of the second size comprises a ring of a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 18. The docking apparatus of claim 17, wherein a ring of a third size comprises a ring of a third diameter and wherein the third diameter is larger than the first diameter. 19. The docking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the ring of the first size comprises a ring of a first diameter, wherein the ring of the third size comprises a ring of a third diameter, and wherein the third diameter is larger than the first diameter. 20. The docking apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second base replenishment contacts connected to a source of electricity comprises the first and second base replenishment contacts connected to one or more of: a mains supply, a generator, or a battery.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
McGeer, Brian T., Apparatus and method for launch and retrieval of a hovering aircraft.
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