Charging method and assembly utilizing a mule vehicle with a storage battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10333338-B2
Application number	US-201715790190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2017
Priority date	Oct 23, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

An exemplary charging method includes charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery. An exemplary charging assembly includes a mule vehicle. A storage battery of the mule vehicle charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle. The storage battery is configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of the electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging method, comprising:
charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery; and
after the tow vehicle and the mule vehicle reach the stranded vehicle, mechanically coupling the stranded vehicle to the tow vehicle, and then towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle as the mule vehicle autonomously follows the stranded vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to the tow vehicle when the tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to the stranded vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising regeneratively charging the storage battery of the mule vehicle when towing the mule vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the charging based on a distance that the tow vehicle must travel to reach the stranded vehicle.

5. A charging method, comprising:
charging a storage battery of a mule vehicle as a tow vehicle tows the mule vehicle to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery; and
after the tow vehicle and the mule vehicle reach the stranded vehicle, mechanically coupling both the stranded vehicle and the mule vehicle to the tow vehicle, and then towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle while using the mule vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising pushing the stranded vehicle with the mule vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising braking the mule vehicle to slow the stranded vehicle being towed and thereby assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising towing the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle as the mule vehicle is driven by an operator located on the mule vehicle.

9. A charging assembly, comprising
a mule vehicle; and
a storage battery of the mule vehicle that charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery, wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to a tow vehicle when the mule vehicle is towed to the stranded vehicle, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to mechanically couple to the stranded vehicle and to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

10. The charging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the storage battery is regeneratively charged when the mule is towed to the stranded vehicle.

11. The charging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mule vehicle is configured to push the stranded vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

12. The charging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mule vehicle is configured to brake to slow the stranded vehicle to assist the towing of the stranded vehicle with the tow vehicle.

13. The charging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the mule vehicle is configured to be driven by an operator located on the mule vehicle.

14. The charging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the stranded vehicle is the electrified vehicle, and further comprising Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment of the mule vehicle that electrically couples the storage battery to the traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

15. The charging assembly of claim 14 , wherein the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment comprises a charge cord.

16. A charging assembly, comprising
a mule vehicle; and
a storage battery of the mule vehicle that charges as the mule vehicle is towed to a stranded vehicle, the storage battery configured to be electrically coupled to a traction battery of an electrified vehicle to charge the traction battery, wherein the mule vehicle is mechanically coupled to a tow vehicle when the mule vehicle is towed to the stranded vehicle, wherein the mule vehicle is configured to autonomously follow the stranded vehicle when the stranded vehicle is towed by the tow vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zenner Thomas
• Hammoud Mazen
• Layden Kevin

Classifications

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/70 Primary

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J7/342

  The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68) · CPC title

• B60L53/62

  in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge · CPC title

• B60L53/66

  Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles · CPC title