Inductive power transfer with inductive power transfer pad including cooling device

• US 10,315,524 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPT Group BV
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Primove Gmbh
• Inventors: Wechsler, Simon, Gunt, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shiao, David A
• Application Number:
  US15/121,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20170129345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/124 Detection or removal of foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/302 Cooling of charging equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/91 Electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/91 Battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, including a stationary part and a movable part, wherein the movable part includes a primary winding structure for generating a magnetic or electromagnetic field while an electric current flows through windings of the primary winding structure, wherein the inductive power transfer pad includes at least one actuator for actuating motion of the movable part, wherein the movable part is movable at least into a first direction by the at least one actuator so as to move between a retracted state and an extended state.

Claims

1. An inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, comprising a stationary part and a movable part, wherein the movable part comprises a primary winding structure for generating a magnetic or electromagnetic field while an electric current flows through windings of the primary winding structure, wherein the inductive power transfer pad comprises at least one actuator for actuating motion of the movable part, wherein the movable part is movable at least into a first direction by the at least one actuator so as to move between a retracted state and an extended state,

wherein:

the stationary part comprises operating devices, which are electric and/or electronic devices adapted to operate the primary winding structure so that the primary winding structure generates the magnetic or electromagnetic field, wherein the operating devices are electrically connected to the primary winding structure and produce heat during operation;

the stationary part comprises a cooling device which is thermally coupled to the operating devices and is adapted to transfer heat to an environment of the inductive power transfer pad;

the cooling device is covered by the movable part in the retracted state and the movable part uncovers the cooling device while being moved into the extended state; and

wherein at least one of the operating devices is located in a housing, wherein an outer shell of the housing is made of a first material, wherein the cooling device is located outside of the housing, wherein at least one of the operating devices is thermally coupled with the cooling device via a heat conducting material extending through the outer shell of the housing, and wherein the heat conducting material has a higher heat conductivity than the first material.

2. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a heat sink.

3. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 2, wherein the heat sink comprises ribs and/or fins, thereby having an increased surface compared to a device of the same volume.

4. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is placed sideways to at least one of the operating devices in a direction transverse to the first direction into which the movable part can be moved into the extended state.

5. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 1, wherein the movable part covers the cooling device at least in the first direction.

6. A method of operating an inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, comprising a stationary part and a movable part, wherein the movable part comprises a primary winding structure which is operated to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field by conducting an electric current through windings of the primary winding structure, wherein an actuator of the inductive power transfer pad actuates motion of the movable part, so that the movable part is moved at least into a first direction and so that the movable part is moved between a retracted state and an extended state, the method comprising:

operating, by operating devices of the stationary part, which are electrically connected to the primary winding structure, the primary winding structure;

generating, by the primary winding structure the magnetic or electromagnetic field;

producing, by the primary winding structure, heat during operation;

transferring, by a cooling device of the stationary part, which is thermally coupled to the operating devices, heat to an environment of the inductive power transfer pad;

covering, by the movable part, the cooling device in the retracted state; and

uncovering, by the movable part, the cooling device while being moved into the extended state; and

wherein at least one of the operating devices is located in a housing, wherein an outer shell of the housing is made of a first material, and wherein the cooling device is located outside of the housing, the method further comprising;

conducting, by at least one of the operating devices, heat to the cooling device via a heat conducting material extending through the outer shell of the housing, wherein the heat conducting material has a higher heat conductivity than the first material.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a heat sink is used as the cooling device.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising transferring heat from the heat sink to the environment via a surface of the heat sink comprising ribs and/or fins, and thereby via an increased surface compared to a device of the same volume.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the cooling device is placed sideways to at least one of the operating devices in a direction transverse to the first direction into which the movable part can be moved into the extended state.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the cooling device is covered by the movable part in the retracted state at least in the first direction.