Electric Bus Charging via Pantograph and Rail Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles and charging stations face challenges such as complex and inconvenient charging procedures, particularly in urban areas where single-pole overhead lines are not suitable for buses due to the lack of necessary infrastructure, leading to high costs for charging infrastructure and inefficient energy storage charging.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with an extendable and retractable overhead line pantograph and a lower electrical contact device that can form a return line with a rail or contact plate, allowing for charging via single-pole overhead lines, along with a charging station that utilizes existing rail infrastructure, enabling efficient and cost-effective energy storage charging without requiring extensive structural changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables are used to connect the vehicle's battery system to the charging power source, then the charging connection can be established, but the charging procedure becomes complex and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with an electrical contact system. The vehicle is equipped with a pantograph that extends to contact the overhead line, and a lower contact device that contacts the rail, eliminating the need for manual cable plugging and unplugging. This substitution of mechanical connection with electrical contact through extended arms resolves the contradiction by simplifying the charging procedure while reducing connection complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two-pole overhead lines are used for charging electric buses, then charging can be achieved, but the infrastructure cost increases and compatibility with existing single-pole rail infrastructure is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-contact system where the vehicle can draw power from a single-pole overhead line through the pantograph while using the rail as the return path through the lower contact device. This universal design allows the same single-pole infrastructure to serve both rail vehicles and electric buses, eliminating the need for separate two-pole overhead line infrastructure and reducing overall system costs while maintaining compatibility with existing rail infrastructure.
3Ease of manufacture
If single-pole overhead lines are used for trains with return via rails, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but this system cannot be used for buses with rubber tires
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lower contact device as an intermediary component that enables buses to access the rail-based return path. This intermediate contact device allows the bus to complete the electrical circuit by contacting the rail directly, bridging the gap between the single-pole overhead line system designed for rail vehicles and the needs of rubber-tired buses. This intermediary solution extends the applicability of the cost-effective single-pole infrastructure to bus applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple and cost-effective charging of electric buses using existing overhead line infrastructure, reducing the need for additional charging infrastructure and allowing for safe and efficient energy transfer by adjusting charging power based on contact quality.
Implementation Method 1
an overhead line pantograph (3) for feeding in electrical energy from a live line (9) of an overhead line system
Implementation Method 2
a lower electrical contact device (6) which can be brought into contact with a rail (16) and/or a contact plate (10) to form a return line
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a bus, with an energy storage device for electrical energy, an electric drive connected to the energy storage device, and an electrical connection device via which the energy storage device can be connected to an external energy source for charging. The invention further relates to a charging station for such a vehicle for charging the energy storage device for electrical energy by means of an external energy source.The electrical connection device, via which the energy storage device (2) can be connected to an external energy source for charging the energy storage device (2), comprises an extendable and retractable overhead line pantograph (3) for supplying electrical energy from a current-carrying line (9) of an overhead line system and an extendable and retractable electrical contact device (6), which is located in the lower area of the vehicle and which can be brought into electrically conductive contact with a running rail or a contact plate (10) to form a return conductor.