Overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces

Abstract

An overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The system includes a rail, a pair of trolleys, a single EV battery charger, and apparatus for electrically connecting the EV battery charger to a power source without impinging upon movement of the pair of trolleys along the rail. The rail mounts overhead of, and traverses, the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The pair of trolleys are movably mounted along the rail and reach the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces. The single EV battery charger is mounted to, and moves with, the pair of trolleys to charge the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.

1 . An overhead mobile charger system for reaching and charging electric vehicles parked in a pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces, comprising:
 a) a rail;   b) a pair of trolleys;   c) a single EV battery charger; and   d) means for electrically connecting said single EV battery charger to a power source without impinging upon movement of said pair of trolleys along said rail;   wherein said rail is for mounting overhead of the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces;   wherein said rail is for traversing the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces;   wherein said pair of trolleys are movably mounted along said rail for reaching the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces; and   wherein said single EV battery charger is mounted to, and moves with, said pair of trolleys for charging the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising ceiling mounts; and
 wherein said ceiling mounts are for mounting said rail to a ceiling, overhead the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising trolley stops;
 wherein said trolley stops are mounted to said rail; and   wherein said trolley stops are for limiting traversing of said pair of trolleys on said rail to the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said rail is an I-beam, and as such, has:
 a) a web; and   b) a pair of flanges.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each trolley comprises a generally U-shaped body; and
 wherein said generally U-shaped body of each trolley depends from around a lowermost flange of said rail.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each trolley comprises two sets of wheels;
 wherein said two sets of wheels of each trolley are rotatably mounted to said generally U-shaped body of an associated trolley by axles and bearings; and   wherein said two sets of wheels of each trolley ride on said lowermost flange of said rail so as to allow said pair of trolleys to ride along said rail.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said pair of trolleys comprise a mounting plate;
 wherein said mounting plate of said pair of trolleys fixedly attaches said generally U-shaped body of each trolley to each other in a spaced relationship and in identical orientation to each other so as to allow said pair of trolleys to operate as a single unit.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said single EV battery charger comprises a housing; and
 wherein said housing of said single EV battery charger is dependingly attached to said mounting plate of, so as to move with, said pair of trolleys.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said single EV battery charger comprises a retractable charger cable;
 wherein said retractable charger cable of said single EV battery charger selectively extends from, and retracts into, said housing of said single EV battery charger;   wherein said retractable charger cable of said single EV battery charger terminates in an EV charger handle; and   wherein said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger is for electrically connecting to the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said means includes a plurality of conductors;
 wherein said plurality of conductors of said means are rigid;   wherein said plurality of conductors of said means are uninsulated and thereby exposed;   wherein said plurality of conductors of said means are parallel to each other;   wherein said plurality of conductors of said means extend horizontally at one side of said web of said rail by insulated suspenders; and   wherein said plurality of conductors of said means are for electrically connecting to the power source so as to allow said plurality of conductors of said means to be electrically hot and carry power from the power source.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said means includes a plurality of collector shoes;
 wherein said plurality of collector shoes of said means are electrically connected to said single EV battery charger by a cable;   wherein said plurality of collector shoes of said means slide freely along said plurality of conductors of said means making electrical contact therewith as they move therealong so as to allow said single EV battery charger to slide along said rail, via said pair of trolleys, and remain electrically supported without impinging upon movement of said pair of trolleys along said rail.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said means includes a unistrut; and
 wherein said unistrut of said means extends horizontally at one side of said web of said rail, outboard of said lowermost flange of said rail, by rigid suspenders.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said means includes a plurality of rolling reels; and
 wherein said plurality of rolling reels of said means are rollingly mounted to, and move along, said unistrut of said means, at one side of said single EV battery charger.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said means includes a power cable; and
 wherein said power cable of said means is electrically connected at one end thereof to said single EV battery charger, reeves drapingly through said plurality of rolling reels of said means so as to form slack, and is for electrically connecting at the other end thereof to the power source so as to allow said single EV battery charger to slide along said rail, via said pair of trolleys, and remain electrically supported without impinging upon movement of said pair of trolleys along said rail.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said power cable of said means is insulated; and
 wherein said power cable of said means is flat so as to reeve more easily through said plurality of rolling reels of said means.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein one trolley has an electric motor; and
 wherein said electric motor of said one trolley is for electrically connecting to the power source so as to cause said two sets of wheels of said one trolley to rotate and thereby allow said pair of trolleys to traverse said rail in either direction so as to be able to reach the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger comprises a hand-fitting enclosure;
 wherein said hand-fitting enclosure of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger is rigid;   wherein said hand-fitting enclosure of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger is ergonomic;   wherein said hand-fitting enclosure of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger has a free distal end for releasably engaging in the electric vehicles parked in the pair of adjacent rows of side-by-side parking spaces; and   wherein said hand-fitting enclosure of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger has a proximal end electrically communicating with said retractable charger cable of said single EV battery charger.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger comprises a pair of pushbuttons;
 wherein said pair of pushbuttons of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger are accessible via said hand-fitting enclosure of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger;   wherein said pair of pushbuttons of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger are in electrical communication with said electric motor of said one trolley, via said retractable charger cable of said single EV battery charger, and when one pushbutton of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger is pressed, said pair of trolleys traverse said rail in one direction, and when the other pushbutton of said EV charger handle of said single EV battery charger is pressed, said pair of trolleys traverse said rail in an opposite direction to, to thereby conveniently control movement of said single EV battery charger.