Concrete-embedded wireless power transfer coil

• US 10,622,142 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Utah State University
• Original Assignee: Utah State University
• Inventors: Bohm, Ryan J., Gardner, Trevor G., Halling, Marvin, Riar, Baljit S., Zane, Regan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lian, Mang Ting Bik
• Application Number:
  US15/716,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20180151293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 336200, 336232, 336223, 320108-109, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/00 Auxiliary devices or arrangements for constructing, repairing, reconditioning, or taking-up road or like surfaces apparatus for reconditioning of salvaged non-hydraulic compositions for- in plant recycling of salvaged bituminous mixtures E01C19/10
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 9/00 Special pavings specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/00, for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00; Pavings for special parts of roads or airfields pavement lights E01C17/00; manholes or like covers or frames E02D29/14
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/32 Insulating of coils, windings, or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 41/04 for manufacturing coils coils for transformer or inductances H01F27/28
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

The present disclosure covers apparatuses and associated methods for embedding a wireless power transfer coil in concrete. In embodiments, a wireless power inductor pad embedded in concrete includes a wireless power inductor pad comprising a first and second layer of continuously strung stranded wire, each layer arranged in a circular pattern. The first layer is positioned above the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset vertically from the stranded wire of the second layer by a vertical wire-to-wire distance. Additionally, the first layer is offset horizontally from the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset horizontally from the stranded wire of the second layer by a horizontal wire-to-wire distance; the horizontal wire-to-wire distance being zero inches. Finally, concrete permeates between the first and second layers and between the stranded wires of each layer.

Claims

1. A wireless power transfer coil assembly embedded in concrete, comprising:

a wireless power coil comprising a single continuously strung stranded wire, wherein each strand is an individually insulated 38-AWG strand and the stranded wire comprises a double nylon jacket wrap, the stranded wire organized in a first layer and a second layer, each layer arranged in a circular pattern, wherein;

the first layer is positioned above the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset vertically from the stranded wire of the second layer by a vertical wire-to-wire distance, wherein the vertical wire-to-wire distance between a bottom of the stranded wire in the first layer and a top of the stranded wire in the second layer is at least zero inches;

the first layer is offset horizontally from the second layer such that the stranded wire of the first layer is offset horizontally from the stranded wire of the second layer by a horizontal wire-to-wire distance, the horizontal wire-to-wire distance being zero inches;

from an outside of the wireless power coil, the stranded wire is in one of the first layer and the second layer, each next inner more instance of stranded wire toward a center of the wireless power coil is in the other of the first layer and the second layer from the outer more stranded wire and horizontally offset from an outer more stranded wire by the horizontal wire-to-wire distance, and each stranded wire in a given layer is offset from each adjacent stranded wire in the given layer by at least a stranded wire diameter; and

concrete permeating between the first and second layers and between the stranded wires of each layer.

2. The wireless power inductor pad of claim 1, wherein the stranded wire is insulated with a water-resistant insulation with a thickness greater than 0.015 inches.

3. The wireless power inductor pad of claim 1, wherein the vertical wire-to-wire distance is greater than one fourth the diameter of the stranded wire.

4. The wireless power inductor pad of claim 1, wherein the concrete permeating between the first and second layers and between the stranded wires of each layer contains glass fibers.

5. The wireless power inductor pad of claim 1, wherein the concrete permeating between the first and second layers and between the stranded wires of each layer contains aggregate greater than ⅜

inches in size.