Method and system for rapid power exchange

Abstract

A system for vehicle power exchange includes at least one power terminal disposable on a ground surface on which a vehicle drives. The power exchange terminal has at least a drop mechanism or a lift mechanism. The drop mechanism is associated with the power exchange terminal for releasing a depleted power cell from a vehicle during its power exchange. The lift mechanism is also associated with a power exchange terminal for inserting a charged power cell into the vehicle during power exchange.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for vehicle power exchange, the system comprising:
 at least one power exchange terminal, the power exchange terminal disposable on a ground surface, the power exchange terminal having a sufficiently low profile such that when disposed on a vehicle driving surface, a vehicle for power exchange can drive over the power exchange terminal during power exchange, the power exchange terminal comprising:   a. a drop mechanism associated with at least one power exchange terminal for releasing a depleted power cell from a vehicle during its power exchange; or   b. a lift mechanism associated with the at least one power exchange terminal for inserting a charged power cell into the vehicle during power exchange.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one power exchange terminal comprises at least two power exchange terminals, a first one of the at least two terminals comprises the drop mechanism and a second one of the at least two terminals comprises the lift mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two power exchange terminals form a power exchange strip. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising two or more of the power exchange strips forming. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the two or more power exchange strips form a power exchange facility for vehicle power exchange. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication device operatively associated with the at least power exchange terminal for communicating between the at least one power exchange terminal and the vehicle requesting power exchange. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first power exchange terminal is a first station, for receiving a depleted power cell from a vehicle requesting power exchange and the second power exchange terminal is a second station, associated with the lift mechanism and a charged replacement power cell for installation in the vehicle after the depleted power pack have been removed. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a processor controls movement of vehicle between the first station and the second station. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the power cell is disposed in a container disposed adjacent the lift mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the container further comprises a cooler. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a boom attached to the at least one charging terminal at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end for receiving a charged power cell for insertion into the vehicle for power exchange. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first end of the boom is pivotally connect to the at least power exchange terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lift mechanism further comprises a hydraulic cylinder for actuating the boom from a first ground position to a second, lift position effectuating lifting the power cell into the vehicle for power exchange. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the drop mechanism comprises a boom attached to the first terminal at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end for receiving a depleted power cell for removal from the vehicle during power exchange; and   the lift mechanism comprises a boom attached to the second terminal at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end for receiving a charged power cell for insertion into the vehicle for power exchange.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop mechanism comprises a boom attached to the at least one terminals at a first end of the boom and a second end to engage locks on the vehicle for power exchange, engaging the locks disengages the power cell from the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a boom attached to the at least one terminal at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end supporting the replacement power cell and for engaging two locks of the vehicle to thereby insert the replacement cell in the vehicle and hold in place via the two locks. 
     
     
         17 . A method for vehicle power exchange, the method comprising:
 receiving a vehicle for power exchange at a first position along a power exchange strip;   removing a depleted power cell from the vehicle by releasing the power cell from the vehicle at the first position;   receiving the vehicle at a second position along the power exchange strip; and   inserting a replacement power cell into the vehicle at the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein removing the depleted power cell comprises removing the depleted power cell using a drop mechanism associated with the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drop mechanism comprises a boom attached to the power exchange strip at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end for receiving a depleted power cell for removal from the vehicle during power exchange. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the drop mechanism has a sufficiently low profile for placement on a ground surface to which the vehicle traverses between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein inserting the replacement power cell comprises lifting the replacement power cell using lift mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a boom attached to the power exchange strip at a first end of the boom and the boom has a second end for receiving a charged power cell for insertion into the vehicle for power exchange. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the lift mechanism has a sufficiently low profile for placement on a ground surface to which the vehicle traverses between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein inserting the replacement power cell comprises lifting the replacement power cell using lift mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the drop mechanism and the lift mechanism both have respective sufficiently low profiles for placement on a ground surface to which the vehicle traverses between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the vehicle is received at the second position from the first station via an on-board vehicle auxiliary power source that powers the vehicle to move from the first position to the second position.