Power cable and system for delivering electrical power

• US 10,515,742 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2018
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: de Bock, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus
• Primary Examiner(s): Aychillhum, Andargie M
• Assistant Examiner(s): McAllister, Michael F
• Application Number:
  US15/995,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20190371498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 174 24
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/06 Gas-pressure cables; Oil-pressure cables; Cables for use in conduits under fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0616 Joints for connecting tubing to casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power cable is presented. The power cable includes a power link. The power cable further includes an enclosure coupled to the power link, where the enclosure is partially open. Moreover, the power cable includes a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, where the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver. A system including the power cable and a method for controlling a supply of an electrical power are also presented.

Claims

1. A power cable, comprising:

a power link;

an enclosure coupled to the power link, wherein the enclosure is partially open; and

a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, wherein the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver, wherein a fluid pressure inside the cavity is in a range from about 760 torr to about 25 torr during operation.

2. The power cable of claim 1, wherein the fluid-tight coupling between the enclosure and the receiver is configured to facilitate sealing for a fluid contained in the cavity.

3. The power cable of claim 2, wherein the fluid comprises liquid, gas, or both.

4. The power cable of claim 2, wherein the fluid comprises air, helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), hydrogen (H₂), nitrogen (N₂), sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) or combinations thereof.

5. The power cable of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a first suction device to draw a fluid out of the cavity.

6. The power cable of claim 1, further comprising a fluid transfer conduit coupled to the enclosure.

7. The power cable of claim 6, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is coupled to a second suction device disposed at a power transfer station, wherein the second suction device is configured to draw a fluid out of the cavity via the fluid transfer conduit.

8. The power cable of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside the cavity.

9. A power cable, comprising:

a power link;

an enclosure coupled to the power link, wherein the enclosure is partially open; and

a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, wherein the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver, wherein a fluid pressure inside the cavity is in a range from about 25 torr to about 10<sup>−

3</sup> torr during operation.

10. The power cable of claim 9, wherein the fluid-tight coupling between the enclosure and the receiver is configured to facilitate sealing for a fluid contained in the cavity.

11. The power cable of claim 9, wherein the enclosure comprises a first suction device to draw a fluid out of the cavity.

12. The power cable of claim 9, further comprising a fluid transfer conduit coupled to the enclosure.

13. The power cable of claim 12, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is coupled to a second suction device disposed at a power transfer station, wherein the second suction device is configured to draw a fluid out of the cavity via the fluid transfer conduit.

14. The power cable of claim 9, wherein the enclosure comprises a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside the cavity.

15. A power cable, comprising:

a power link;

an enclosure coupled to the power link, wherein the enclosure is partially open; and

a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, wherein the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver, wherein a fluid pressure inside the cavity is lower than about 10<sup>−

3</sup> torr during operation.

16. The power cable of claim 15, wherein the fluid-tight coupling between the enclosure and the receiver is configured to facilitate sealing for a fluid contained in the cavity.

17. The power cable of claim 15, wherein the enclosure comprises a first suction device to draw a fluid out of the cavity.

18. The power cable of claim 15, further comprising a fluid transfer conduit coupled to the enclosure.

19. The power cable of claim 18, wherein the fluid transfer conduit is coupled to a second suction device disposed at a power transfer station, wherein the second suction device is configured to draw a fluid out of the cavity via the fluid transfer conduit.

20. The power cable of claim 15, wherein the enclosure comprises a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a fluid pressure inside the cavity.