US 12,403,782 B2
Power charging system and control system for towing vehicle and towed vehicle connectable to towing vehicle
William A. Thomason, Friday Harbor, WA (US)
Assigned to Dragonfly Energy Corp., Reno, NV (US)
Filed by Dragonfly Energy Corp., Reno, NV (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/489,003.
Prior Publication US 2023/0096878 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. H02J 7/00 (2006.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); B60L 53/18 (2019.01); B60L 53/53 (2019.01); B60L 53/62 (2019.01); B60P 3/12 (2006.01); H02J 7/34 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/16 (2019.02) [B60L 53/18 (2019.02); B60L 53/53 (2019.02); B60L 53/62 (2019.02); B60P 3/12 (2013.01); H02J 7/342 (2020.01)] 65 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power charging system for a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle connectable to the towing vehicle, the power charging system comprising:
a charging device disposed on the towing vehicle, wherein the charging device includes an alternator;
a towing vehicle interface disposed on the towing vehicle and in selectable electrical connection with the charging device;
an energy storage device disposed on the towed vehicle;
a towed vehicle interface disposed on the towed vehicle and in selectable electrical connection with the energy storage device, the towed vehicle interface configured to be electrically connected and disconnected with the towed vehicle interface; and
a communication system configured to communicate operational data representative of operational conditions of the charging device and the energy storage device to a controller;
wherein the controller is operably coupled to the charging device and configured to control operation of the alternator based upon the operational data;
wherein the alternator of the charging device is configured to transfer charging power from the alternator to the energy storage device, and
wherein the controller is configured to selectably de-power the towing vehicle interface based upon an operational characteristic of the towing vehicle, wherein the operational characteristic is one or more selected from the group of: the towing vehicle being in park; the towing vehicle being in neutral; the towing vehicle being at idle; a towing vehicle parking brake being enabled; a towing vehicle engine being turned off; and the towing vehicle being below a maximum speed.