Apparatus for securing a wheel and charging an electric vehicle

Abstract

Modular apparatus for securing a wheel and for charging of an electric vehicle including at least one wheel, comprises two parts: a first part 1 which is attachable to a structure; and a second part w

Description

Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus for securing a wheel and for charging an electric wheel including at least one wheel; in particular an apparatus for securing the front or rear wheel of an electric motorcycle or scooter, for example when a motorcycle or scooter is parked. Background of the invention Electric vehicles, including electric motorcycles and scooters, are becoming more and more popular. Battery capacity limits the distances that such vehicles can travel on a single charge and therefore vehicles must be frequently recharged away from the home. Motorcycles, scooters and bicycles are also often targets for thieves. Wheel locks, chains and similar security devices often prove ineffective. Thieves sometimes remove one or more of the wheels or lift the entire motorcycle or bicycle into a van. Motorcycles need to be stabilised in an upright position whilst parked or being recharged in order to protect them from damage. GB2454901, also to the applicant, describes an apparatus for securing and holding a wheel in an upright position. Mechanical parts of such apparatus require frequent servicing. It would be desirable to provide an improved apparatus for both securing a wheel and recharging an electric vehicle. In particular, it would be desirable to improve the ease of maintenance of such apparatus. Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention provides a modular apparatus for securing a wheel and for charging of an electric vehicle including at least one wheel, the apparatus comprising: a first part which is attachable to a structure, the first part including a plurality of wall sections, a controller, and electrical conduction means connectable to a source of electric power; and a second part comprising at least one wheel-receiving module, the or each wheel-receiving module comprising a substantially arc-shaped hollow section for receiving a wheel; at least one locking member for restricting the wheel from movement; and means for transferring electric power to a battery of an electric vehicle; wherein the apparatus comprises means for an electrical connection between the or each wheelreceiving module and the electrical conduction means of the first part of the apparatus; and wherein the second part of the apparatus is releasably securable to the first part of the apparatus. The electrical conduction means may be a wiring loom. The means for an electrical connection between the wheel-receiving module and the electrical conduction means of the first part of the apparatus may be a physical electrical connection, or may be an inductive connection. The first part of the apparatus may include at least one elongate rail, and the or each wall section may be secured to the or each rail. The or each wheel-receiving module may be located between a pair of wall sections. The or each wheel-receiving module may further comprise at least one sensor for sensing the presence of a wheel within the arc-shaped hollow section. The or each wheel-receiving module may further comprise a plurality of wheel-enggging members for supporting a wheel in a substantially upright orientation. Each wheel-engaging member may be associated with a piston and cylinder. The pistons may be moved using an electromechanical lead-screw mechanism. Alternatively, the pistons may be moved using a hydraulic mechanism. The at least one locking member may comprise a pair of locking jaws which are configured to 5 move in a direction towards a wheel located within a wheel-receiving module, to restrict movement of said wheel; and in a direction away from said wheel to release said wheel. The or each wheel-receiving module may further comprise at least one clamping member and an actuator, wherein the actuator is activated by a wheel and movement of the at least one clamping member causes at least one wheel to be restricted from movement. 10 Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiments byway of example: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; 15 Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 4a shows a front view of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4b shows a cross-sectional view along the line B-B of Figure 4a; Figure 5a shows a schematic representation of a wheel-engaging component of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 5b shows a front view of the wheel-engaging component of Figure 5a; Figure 5c shows a cross-sectional view along the line A A of Figure 5b with the piston 5 extended; Figure 5d shows a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 5b, with the piston retracted; Figure 6a shows a schematic representation of two wheel-engaging components, and a locking component of the apparatus of Figure 2; 10 Figure 6b shows a front view of the components of Figure 6a; Figure 6c shows a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of Figure 6b; Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention comprising six wheel-receiving modules; Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of a parking and EV 15 charging system including the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a wheel-receiving module; Figure 10 shows a schematic representation of the locking and wheel-engaging components of the apparatus of Figure 9; Figure Ila shows a schematic representation of the locking component of the apparatus of Figure 9; and Figure lib shows a front view of the locking component illustrated in Figure Ila. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figure 1, the modular apparatus of the invention comprises a first part 1 which is permanently secured to a structure, such as the ground. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the first part 1 of the apparatus includes a series of wall sections 2 which are connected to a pair of rails 3 which are secured to the ground, for example via a number of anchor bolts 4. The first part 1 of the apparatus includes a wiring loom 5 and a controller 6 with the wiring loom preferably located within one of the rails 3 and the controller 6 located within one of the wall sections 2. The second part of the apparatus 12 comprises at least one wheel-locking module 8 which is releasably connectable to the first part 10 of the apparatus. The example illustrated in Figure 1 includes four wheel-locking modules 8. The wheel-locking module(s) 8 may be connectable to either the rails 3 and / or to the wall sections 2 of the first part of the apparatus. As illustrated in Figure 1, the wheel-locking modules may be inserted into gaps in-between the wall sections 2. Figure 2 illustrates one wheel-locking module 8 located between two wall sections 2 and a rear wall section 2’. The wheel-locking module 8 includes an arc shaped hollow section 7 for receiving part of a wheel of a motorcycle, moped or scooter, an angled ramp 11, and a locking assembly for locking the wheel in place. The wheel-locking module 8 also includes means for electrical connection to the wiring loom 5 of the first part of the apparatus, this could be achieved either by a physical electrical connection, or via electrical induction. In this embodiment, the locking assembly comprises a pair of locking jaws 13. The wheellocking module 8 also includes a photo-electric sensor 14, and a clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising pairs of wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c which are located on opposing sides of the arc-shaped hollow section 7. Preferably the wheel-locking module 8 is made from reinforced concrete with a stainless-steel skeleton. Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the apparatus of Figure 2. Figure 4a illustrates a front view of the apparatus of Figure 2 and Figure 4b illustrates a cross section through the line B-B of Figure 4a. The wheel-locking module 8 and the mounting rails 3 form part of the first part 1 of the apparatus. The mounting rails 3 are preferably u-shaped and are secured to the ground using bolts 4 with the ‘arms’ of the ‘U’ directed upwards, forming a long channel 15. The wiring loom 5 can be located within the channel 15. The underside of the wheel-locking module preferably includes recesses 16 shaped to fit over the mounting rails 3 so that the wheel-locking module can be dropped into place, shown more clearly in the cross section of Figure 4b. In order to secure the wheel-locking module in position, locking pins then either extend from the wheel-locking module 8 into apertures located in the wall sections 2, or from the wall sections 2 into apertures in the wheellocking module 8. Solenoid locking pins are preferred since they can be completely hidden and are less susceptible to tampering. The wheel-locking module 8 includes apertures 18a, 18b, 18c for receiving the wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c; apertures 19 for receiving the locking jaws 13; and apertures 20 for receiving a sensor 21. The wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c are mounted on pistons 22a, 22b, 22c which sit within cylinders 25a, 25b, 25c which are attached to the wheel-locking module such that the wheel-engaging pads align with their respective apertures 18a, 18b, 18c. The locking jaws 13 and sensors 21 locate within respective housings 26, 27 adjacent to the piston 6 cylinders. These components are illustrated in greater detail in Figures 5a, 5b, 5c; and 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d. In this first illustrated example, LEDs 23 are located within the casing, underneath locked / unlocked decals or icons 24, 24’ to indicate to a user whether the apparatus is in a locked 24 or unlocked 24’ configuration. Figures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d illustrate the wheel-engaging components in more detail. The pistons 22a, 22b, 22c are arranged to move axially within the cylinders 25a, 25b, 25c either towards or away from the tyre of a wheel located in the arc-shaped hollow section 7. The cylinders are attached to a mounting plate 47 which enables the cylinders to be mounted within the housing, for example using bolts. The wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c are designed to rest upon the tyre in order to help keep the motorcycle or scooter in an upright position. As shown in the cross-sections of Figures 5c and 5d, the pistons 22a are moved using an electro-mechanical lead-screw mechanism. The cylinder 25a includes a DC motor 48 which turns a threaded screw shaft 49 which is connected to the piston 22a via a lead screw nut 50. A ball-screw nut may also be used. Rotation of the shaft in one direction causes the nut 50 to move along the threaded shaft, away from the motor 48, and hence causes the piston 22a to move out of the cylinder 25a such that the wheel-engaging pad 9a moves towards a tyre, as shown in figure 5c. Preferably, the piston 22a is able to move such that the wheel-engaging pad extends up to at least 35mm clear of the cylinder 25a. Rotation of the shaft in the other direction causes the nut 50 to move along the threaded shaft towards the motor 48, and hence causes the piston 22a to move into the cylinder 25a and away from the tyre, as shown in Figure 5d. All six wheel-engaging components work in the same way. The DC-Stepper motors may include a torque sensing function to ensure no excessive force is delivered to the tyre wall by the wheel-engaging pads. Tyre widths of motorcycles vary from about 90mm to 120mm. Different sizes of wheel can be accommodated due to the adjustable positioning of the pistons 22a, 22b, 22c and the wheelengaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c. Figures 6a, 6b, and 6c illustrate the locking components in more detail. The locking jaws 13 likewise move axially within their respective housing 26 in a similar manner to the wheel-engaging components, using an electro-mechanical lead-screw mechanism. The locking jaw 13 has a threaded section 51 which acts as the lead screw, this part is mounted on a complementary threaded shaft 52. The shaft is connected to a DC motor 53. Rotation of the shaft in one direction causes the locking jaws 13 to move along the threaded shaft 52, towards the wheel. Preferably the locking jaws 13 can move at least a distance of 35mm clear of the locking jaw housing 26. Rotation in the other direction causes the locking jaws 13 to retract, away from the wheel. Preferably, the locking jaws are moved into a position above the wheel-rim and below the brake-disc, preventing the wheel from being removed from the wheel-locking module. The DC-Stepper motors may include a torque sensing function to ensure no excessive force is delivered to the wheel by the locking jaws. Preferably, the lead screw mechanism also includes a wrap spring brake mechanism 54 to prevent unwanted rotation of the shaft 52 nut via external forces, thus preventing any unauthorised manual prising apart of the locking jaws 13. Likewise, the lead-screw mechanism of the wheel-engaging components preferably also includes a similar wrap spring brake mechanism to prevent against any manual forcing apart of the wheel engaging components. When a wheel enters the apparatus the photo-electric sensor 13 detects the presence of a tyre and sends a signal to the controller. The user then activates the apparatus via an app, or via an associated display screen, for example by initiating a payment within the app. When signals are received from both the photo-electric sensor, and the app or display screen, the controller causes the six wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c to advance towards the tyre. The wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c are designed to stop upon contact with the tyre. The wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c hold the motorcycle in an upright position by way of tyre contact alone. Once the wheel-engaging pads 9a, 9b, 9c are in position, signals are then sent from the controller to move both of the locking jaws 13 into position. In the locked position, the pair of locking jaws 13 may meet between spokes of the wheel, or they may come to rest on either side of the wheel rim. When in the locked position the wheel is prevented from being removed from the apparatus. Once these functions have been completed, another signal is sent from the controller to turn on a light 23’ on the unit, for example a red light, clearly indicating that the unit is in a locked configuration. In order to unlock the apparatus and remove the wheel the user must indicate their intention to unlock the wheel, preferably whilst sitting on the motorcycle. The controller receives an ‘unlock’ signal from the app or display screen and proceeds to release the locking jaws 13, followed by the wheel-engaging pads 9a. 9b, 9c. Another signal is sent from the controller to turn on a light 23 on the unit, for example a green light, clearly indicating that the apparatus is in an unlocked configuration. The wheel may then be removed from the apparatus. Figure 7 illustrates an apparatus comprising a bank of six wheel-locking modules. An aperture 29 in the rear wall 2’ allows for electrical connection of an EV charger to the wiring loom 5. Figure 8 illustrates the apparatus of Figure 7 as part of a parking system. In this example EV chargers 30 are connected to the wiring loom adjacent to each wheel-locking module 8. The parking system also includes a display screen 31, a canopy 32, and may include solar panels 33 on the roof of the canopy. As described previously, guide rails 3 (not visible) are anchored to the ground 34 and sit underneath the walls 2. A wiring loom is located within one of the guide rails and a controller is located within one of the wall sections 2. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a mobile phone app, which may also allow for payment by a user for either parking or EV charging, or both. Figure 9 illustrates another example of a wheel-locking module 8’, also described in GB2454901, shown in an unlocked configuration. The arc-shaped hollow section 7’ for receiving part of a wheel is formed by guide walls 35. The module includes a ramp 11, wheel-engaging pads 9’a, 9’b, 9’c, and an actuator in the form of a T-piece 36. The wheel-locking module 8’ also includes wheel-locking means in the form of a pair of locking arms 38. The unlocked apparatus is activated to secure a wheel when a predetermined pressure applied to the T-piece 36, for example when the wheel or motorcycle or scooter / moped is rolled or driven onto the pad. The locking mechanism is illustrated in more detail in Figures 10 and 11. Each of the wheelengaging pads 9’a, 9’b, 9’c, are mounted on a spring-loaded shaft 37a, 37b, 37c. The wheel-engaging pads 9’a, 9’b, 9’c, are arranged in pairs on either side of the ramp 11. The wheel-engaging pads 9’a, 9’b, 9’c, may be shaped to optimise the path of a wheel into the apparatus. Referring to Figures 10, Ila and 11b, as a wheel rolls onto the T-piece 36, the T-piece 36 is pushed down, which in turn pushes down on the lower portions 39 of the locking arms 38 causing the locking arms 38 to pivot about pivot points 40 towards each other. Each locking arm 38 includes a cable mount 41, on which cables 42 are mounted. When the locking arms 38 pivot towards each other, the cable mounts 41 pull opposing cables 42 through cable plates 43, towards each other. As shown in Figures Ila and 11b, the locking arm 38 include a locking mechanism, which comprises a solenoid 44 and a locking pin 45. When a wheel is introduced to the wheel-locking module and pushes down on the T-piece 36, locking arms 38 pivot towards each other. Upon actuation of the lock mechanism, pins 45 are inserted into bores 46 in the locking arms 38. This prevents further movement of the locking arms 38, locking them in a position such that there is a gap between them greater than or equal to the width of the widest spoke of the motorcycle. In a preferred embodiment, the locking arms 38 lock in a position between the wheel rim and underneath the brake disc apparatus of the motorcycle. This prevents the motorcycle from being removed from the apparatus and also prevents the pairs of wheel-engaging pads 9’a, 9’b, 9’c from being prised apart. One end of each cable 42 is attached to the cable mount 41. The other end of each cable is associated with one of the spring-loaded shafts 37a, 37b, 37c.

Claims

1. Modular apparatus for securing a wheel and for charging of an electric vehicle including at least one wheel, the apparatus comprising:a first part which is attachable to a structure, the first part including a plurality of wall5 sections, a controller, and electrical conduction means connectable to a source of electricpower;and a second part comprising at least one wheel-receiving module, the or each wheelreceiving module comprising a substantially arc-shaped hollow section for receiving a wheel;at least one locking member for restricting the wheel from movement; and means for10 transferring electric power to a battery of an electric vehicle;wherein the apparatus comprises means for an electrical connection between the or each wheel-receiving module and the electrical conduction means of the first part of the apparatus;and wherein the second part of the apparatus is releasably securable to the first part of the15 apparatus.

2. Modular apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the electrical conduction means is a wiring loom.

3. Modular apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first part of the apparatus includes at least one elongate rail, and the or each wall section is secured to the or each rail.

4. Modular apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each wheel-receiving module is located between a pair of wall sections.

5. Modular apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each wheel-receiving module further comprises at least one sensor for sensing the presence of a wheel within the arc-shaped hollow section.

6. Modular apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each wheel-receiving module further comprises a plurality of wheel-engaging members for supporting a wheel in a substantially upright orientation.

7. Modular apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein each wheel-engaging member is associated with a piston and cylinder.

8. Modular apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the at least one locking member comprises a pair of locking jaws which are configured to move in a direction towards a wheel located within a wheel-receiving module, to restrict movement of said wheel; and in a direction away from said wheel to release said wheel.

9. Modular apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each wheel-receiving module further comprises at least one clamping member and an actuator, wherein the actuator is activated by a wheel and movement of the at least one clamping member causes at least one wheel to be restricted from movement.

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