Positionally compliant charge connector for robotic drive unit charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10644519-B2
Application number	US-201815992776-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	May 30, 2018
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

An electric charging station for a mobile drive unit includes a frame that defines an interior volume of space. The frame is configured to carry an electrical charging unit positioned above the interior volume of space. The station includes a station charge connector that is configured to be in electrical communication with the electrical charging unit and is also configured for mating with a corresponding charge connector of the mobile drive unit. The station charge connector extends forward within the interior volume of space along a longitudinal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. The station charge connector is connected to the frame by at least one compliant mechanism that is configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance with respect to the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for charging a plurality of mobile drive units, comprising:
a plurality of electric charging stations disposed on a floor, at least some of the plurality of electric charging stations each comprising:
a frame, comprising:
an upper support member carrying an electrical charging unit; and
a pair of side supports extending from a front end of the frame toward a back end of the frame and extending from the upper support member to the floor, wherein the front end of the frame defines a front end of the associated charging station; and

a station charge connector in electrical communication with the electrical charging unit and configured to mate with corresponding charge connectors of the mobile drive units, the station charge connector located below the upper support member and between the pair of side supports, the station charge connector extending along a longitudinal direction, the station charge connector suspended from the associated frame by a plurality of springs, comprising:
a first spring and a second spring each extending from the frame at least partially along a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the first and second springs are configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance along the lateral direction; and
a third spring located rearward of the first and second springs, the third spring extending at least partially along the longitudinal direction, wherein the spring is configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance along the longitudinal direction,

wherein the front ends of the electric charging stations collectively define a boundary of a zone of travel for the mobile drive units.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a front end of each station charge connector is recessed from the front end of the associated frame, wherein the station charge connectors are remote from the zone of travel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second springs each extend at least partially along a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions, and the first and second springs are further configured to provide the respective station charge connector with positional compliance along the vertical direction.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third spring is aligned with the station charge connector along the longitudinal direction, and extends between the station charge connector and a mount extending below the upper support member.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the station charge connector is located underneath the electrical charging unit.

6. An electric charging station for a mobile drive unit, comprising:
a frame defining an interior volume of space, the frame configured to carry an electrical charging unit positioned above the interior volume of space along a vertical direction; and
a station charge connector configured to be in electrical communication with the electrical charging unit, the station charge connector further configured for mating with a corresponding charge connector of the mobile drive unit, the station charge connector extending forward within the interior volume of space along a longitudinal direction that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, wherein the station charge connector is connected to the frame by at least one compliant mechanism that is configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance with respect to the frame,
wherein the station charge connector is carried by a mount that at least partially extends within the interior volume of space, the mount is connected to the frame by the at least one complaint mechanism, and the station charge connector extends forward from the mount, and
wherein the at least one compliant mechanism comprises a plurality of springs that includes a first spring and a second spring extending between the mount and the frame at least partially along a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, and the first and second springs are configured to provide the mount with positional compliance along the lateral direction.

7. The electric charging station of claim 6 , wherein the first spring and the second spring extend between the mount and the frame at least partially along the vertical direction, wherein the first and second springs are configured to provide the mount with positional compliance along the vertical direction.

8. The electric charging station of claim 6 , wherein the at least one compliant mechanism comprises a spring connected to the station charge connector and the frame, wherein the spring is configured to provide the station charge connector with positional compliance along the longitudinal direction.

9. The electric charging station of claim 8 , wherein the spring is located rearward of the station charge connector and extends along the longitudinal direction.

10. The electric charging station of claim 9 , wherein the spring is a compression spring configured to bias the station charge connector forward responsive to engagement with the charge connector of the mobile drive unit.

11. The electric charging station of claim 10 , wherein the spring surrounds at least a portion of a support member connecting the station charge connector to a second mount located rearward of the station charge connector, and the second mount is rigid with the frame.

12. The electric charging station of claim 11 , wherein the at least a portion of the support member is a support tube.

13. The electric charging station of claim 12 , wherein the second mount defines an opening, and the support tube is received in the opening.

14. The electric charging station of claim 13 , further comprising a bushing received in the opening, the support tube extending within the bushing, wherein the support tube defines an outer diameter, the bushing defines an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter, and the support tube can move within the opening along the lateral and vertical directions.

15. The electric charging station of claim 14 , wherein the support tube at least partially extends within the interior volume of space and is aligned with the station charge connector along the longitudinal direction, and the support tube is configured to house one or more electrical cables in communication with the station charge connector.

16. The electric charging station of claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises an upper support member and a pair of side support members extending downward from the upper support member, wherein the pair of side support members are configured to be mounted to a floor such that the interior volume of space is defined 1) along the vertical direction between the floor and the upper support member, and 2) along the lateral direction between the pair of side support members.

17. The electric charging station of claim 16 , wherein the pair of side support members define a front end of the frame, and the station charge connector defines a front end that is located behind the front end of the frame along the longitudinal direction.

18. The electric charging station of claim of claim 17 , wherein the frame defines a back end, and the pair of side support memebers converge toward one another from the front end of the frame to the back end.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Brady Matthew Anthony
• Pajevic Dragan
• Pagani Jennifer
• Jonas Jude Royston
• Ropi Craig

Classifications

• H02J7/02

  for charging batteries from AC mains by converters · CPC title

• B60L53/30

  Constructional details of charging stations · CPC title

• B60L53/16 Primary

  Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60L53/36 Primary

  by positioning the vehicle · CPC title

• B60L2200/44

  Industrial trucks or floor conveyors · CPC title