Electric coupling apparatus for charging device

• US 20010002789A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 06/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Terazoe, Masahiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,320,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• 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

An electric coupling apparatus for charging a battery. A power supply coupler is adapted to be inserted to a power receiver coupler. The power supply coupler has a primary core and a primary coil located around the primary core. The power receiver coupler has a secondary core and a secondary coil located in the secondary core. The secondary core includes first and second core members. The first core member has a magnetic pole protruding through the secondary coil and yokes extending from the magnetic pole. The second core member has a recess that faces the power supply coupler to conduct air for cooling the power supply coupler.

Claims

1. An electric coupling apparatus for a charging device comprising:

a power supply coupler including a first coil and a first core around which the first coil is located; and

a power receiver coupler including a second core, which is formed with a recess in a region adjacent to the first coil and which forms a magnetic flux path with the first core, and a second coil located around the second core to generate an inductive electromotive force with the magnetic path in response to electric power applied to the first coil.

2. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein the power receiver coupler includes an air passage through which the recess communicates with external air.

3. An electric coupling apparatus for a charging device, comprising:

a power supply coupler including a hollow casing having a paddle shape, a first core accommodated in the hollow casing, and a first coil located around the first core and in the hollow casing; and

a power receiver coupler including a second core including a first core member, which has having a magnetic pole, and yokes extending at opposite ends of the magnetic pole, and a second core member for forming a magnetic flux path with the first core member, the power receiver coupler further including a second coil surrounding the magnetic pole to generate an inductive electromotive force in response to electric power applied to the first coil and a casing enclosing the second core and the second coil, the second core having a recess formed in a region facing the first coil to conduct air to cool the first coil, wherein the casing of the power receiver coupler receives the casing of the power supply coupler to couple the power supply coupler with the power receiver coupler, wherein the first coil is adjacent to the recess when the power supply coupler is coupled to the power receiver coupler.

4. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein the casing of the power receiver coupler has an opening to allow the insertion of the casing of the power supply coupler and additional recesses formed between the opening and the second core to permit the recess of the first core to communicate with outside air.

5. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the power receiver coupler further includes a guide member and an auxiliary member located in the casing of the power receiver coupler in spaced relationship, each member having a plurality of projections protruding inward to form the additional recesses, the plurality of projections serving to position the casing of the power supply coupler in the power receiver coupler.

6. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 4

, wherein the casing of the power receiver coupler has a plurality of apertures to communicate the additional recesses with the outside air.

7. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein the power receiver coupler further includes an electric fan fixed to the casing for generating an air stream through the recesses of the second core, the guide member and the auxiliary member.

8. An electric coupling apparatus as claimed in

claim 6

, wherein the auxiliary member supports a circuit board.

9. A power receiver coupler for use in an electric coupling apparatus including a power supply coupler, the power supply coupler having a first core and a first coil located around the first core, the coupler comprising:

a casing having an opening to allow insertion of the power supply coupler;

a second core located in the casing, the second core including a first part, which has a magnetic pole and yokes, a second part, which is magnetically coupled to the first part, wherein a second coil is wound around the magnetic pole, the second core having a space between the first and second parts to accommodate the power supply coupler to cause the first core to form a closed magnetic flux path with the second core, which produces an inductive electromotive force in the second coil, the second core having a recess that faces the first coil to conduct an air stream to cool the first coil.