Shielded power coupling device
First Claim
1. A shielded power coupling device transferring electric power between a stationary subsystem and a rotatable subsystem that is inductively coupled to and arranged in close proximity to the stationary subsystem and that, during operation of the shielded power coupling device, is capable of rotating about an axis of rotation which is also substantially an axis of symmetry for both the stationary subsystem and the rotating subsystem, the shielded power coupling device comprising:
- a) an inductive field generating element capable of converting electric power to an inductive coupling field;
b) an inductive coupling field receiving element capable of converting the inductive coupling field to electric power;
c) an inductive coupling efficiency increasing element capable of increasing inductive coupling between the inductive field generating element and the inductive coupling field receiving element; and
d) shielding peripheral to the inductive coupling efficiency increasing element that is capable of substantially eliminating leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the shielded power coupling device when the shielded power coupling device is operated at power levels exceeding 2.5 kW.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Axisymmetric solid of revolution derivable from section at FIG. 5 is generally toroidal with electric current(s) in windings 110, 160 preferably flowing circumferentially along major circle(s) during power coupling device operation. Current(s) in windings 110, 160; current(s) in half-shields 120, 170; and the volume of space swept out by shield airgap(s) 101 emerge from plane of paper perpendicularly at FIG. 5 but as these emerge therefrom they curve to follow toroidal major circle(s). Cores 115, 165 preferably shunt and align magnetic flux such that magnetic field lines escape therefrom primarily only in region(s) of core airgap(s) and such that magnetic flux loops lie in planes of toroidal minor circle(s). Half-shield(s) 120, 170 preferably have electrically conductive material(s) distributed therein as is sufficient to substantially cancel magnetic flux lines impinging thereon before effects of such impinging magnetic flux lines would reach shield airgap(s) 101 and/or outer surface(s) of half-shields 120, 170.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A shielded power coupling device transferring electric power between a stationary subsystem and a rotatable subsystem that is inductively coupled to and arranged in close proximity to the stationary subsystem and that, during operation of the shielded power coupling device, is capable of rotating about an axis of rotation which is also substantially an axis of symmetry for both the stationary subsystem and the rotating subsystem, the shielded power coupling device comprising:
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a) an inductive field generating element capable of converting electric power to an inductive coupling field;
b) an inductive coupling field receiving element capable of converting the inductive coupling field to electric power;
c) an inductive coupling efficiency increasing element capable of increasing inductive coupling between the inductive field generating element and the inductive coupling field receiving element; and
d) shielding peripheral to the inductive coupling efficiency increasing element that is capable of substantially eliminating leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the shielded power coupling device when the shielded power coupling device is operated at power levels exceeding 2.5 kW.
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2. A shielded power coupling device transferring electric power between a stationary member and a rotating member, the shielded power coupling device comprising:
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a) a reluctance-decreasing primary core defining a first primary core recess;
b) a reluctance-decreasing secondary core disposed adjacent the primary core and defining a first secondary core recess, the primary core and the secondary core being arranged so as to form a core airgap therebetween permitting relative rotation of the primary core and the secondary core about an axis of rotation;
c) a first electrically conductive primary winding disposed substantially within the first primary core recess;
d) a first electrically conductive secondary winding disposed substantially within the first secondary core recess; and
e) a shield;
f) wherein a first primary electric current flowing through the first primary winding produces a first secondary electric current flowing through the first secondary winding, creating a fringing field at the periphery of the core airgap; and
g) the shield substantially cancels the fringing field. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A shielded power coupling device comprising:
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a) a primary winding i) having substantially axisymmetric configuration, and ii) defining a circumferential direction;
b) a secondary winding i) having substantially axisymmetric configuration, ii) substantially concentric with or lying in a plane substantially parallel to a plane containing the circumferential direction, iii) capable of rotating relative to the primary winding, and iv) inductively coupled to the primary winding; and
c) a shield having at least one airgap permitting relative rotation between the primary winding and the secondary winding;
d) wherein the shield supports flow of electric current in the circumferential direction.
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53. A shielded power coupling device comprising:
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a) at least two substantially arcuate windings arranged in mutually radially and/or axially displaced fashion relative to an approximate major circle of an imaginary toroid; and
b) at least one electrically conductive shield encircling and/or encircled by the windings;
c) wherein, upon application of an alternating electric current to at least one of the windings, flux lines linking at least a portion of the windings lie substantially in planes of minor circles of the imaginary toroid; and
,d) the shield supports flow of electric current along a direction of a circle coaxial with the major circle of the imaginary toroid sufficient to induce a magnetic field capable of substantially canceling a magnetic field due to a net electric current flowing in the windings upon application of the alternating electric current to at least one of the windings.
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54. A shielded power coupling device transferring electric power between a stationary subsystem and a rotatable subsystem that is inductively coupled to and arranged in close proximity to the stationary subsystem and that, during operation of the shielded power coupling device, is capable of rotating about an axis of rotation which is also substantially an axis of symmetry for both the stationary subsystem and the rotating subsystem, the shielded power coupling device comprising:
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a) inductive field generating means for converting electric power to an inductive coupling field;
b) inductive coupling field receiving means for converting the inductive coupling field to electric power;
c) inductive coupling efficiency increasing means for increasing inductive coupling between the inductive field generating means and the inductive coupling field receiving means; and
d) shielding means peripheral to the inductive coupling efficiency increasing means for substantially eliminating leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the shielded power coupling device when the shielded power coupling device is operated at power levels exceeding 2.5 kW.
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55. A method for transferring electric power between a stationary subsystem and a rotatable subsystem that is inductively coupled to and arranged in close proximity to the stationary subsystem and that, during operation of the shielded power coupling device, is capable of rotating about an axis of rotation which is also substantially an axis of symmetry for both the stationary subsystem and the rotating subsystem, the method comprising:
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a) using an inductive field generating element to convert electric power to an inductive coupling field;
b) using an inductive coupling field receiving element to convert the inductive coupling field to electric power;
c) using an inductive coupling efficiency increasing element to increase inductive coupling between the inductive field generating element and the inductive coupling field receiving element; and
d) using shielding peripheral to the inductive coupling efficiency increasing element to substantially eliminate leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the shielded power coupling device when the shielded power coupling device is operated at power levels exceeding 2.5 kW.
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56. A flux-aligning core set for use with one or more windings and one or more shields, the core set comprising:
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a) a plurality of flux-aligning core segments, each of which i) is composed of one or more substances having reluctance lower than that of air and ii) has at least two arm-like members;
b) wherein the plurality of flux-aligning core segments are arranged in substantially axisymmetric fashion such that i) at least one of the winding or windings can be routed along one or more circumferentially oriented cradle-like recesses formed by cooperation of at least two of the two or more arm-like members of each of at least a portion of the plurality of flux-aligning core segments; and
ii) when at least two of the two or more arm-like members of each of at least a portion of the plurality of flux-aligning core segments are arranged in mutual opposition across an airgap with at least two arm-like members of each of at least a portion of a counterpart plurality of core segments of a counterpart core set that is substantially a reflection of the flux-aligning core set across the airgap, at least a portion of the flux-aligning core segments and at least a portion of the counterpart core segments cooperate to complete or lower reluctance of a multiplicity of magnetic paths 1) passing through the flux-aligning core set and the counterpart core set to bridge the airgap, and 2) substantially lying in meridional planes relative to the axis of axisymmetry.
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57. A passage-containing core segment composed of one or more substances having reluctance lower than that of air and comprising:
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a) one or more passages permitting passage of one or more windings therethrough; and
b) two or more arm-like members creating one or more cradle-like recesses therebetween along which at least one of the winding or windings can be routed;
c) wherein at least one of the passage or passages is disposed on the passage-containing core segment in at least one location such that, when at least two of the two or more arm-like members of the passage-containing core segment are arranged in mutual opposition across an airgap with at least two arm-like members of a first counterpart core segment that is substantially a reflection of the passage-containing core segment across the airgap, reluctance of a magnetic path passing through the passage-containing core segment and the first counterpart core segment to bridge the airgap is not substantially different than what the reluctance of the magnetic path would be were there no passage in the passage-containing core segment.
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58. A system including a shielded inductive power coupling device, the system comprising:
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a) a stationary member;
b) a rotatable member inductively coupled to the stationary member;
c) a power source; and
d) a shielded inductive power coupling device responsive to the power source and capable of transmitting power from the power source to at least one of the stationary member and the rotatable member, the inductive power coupling device comprising;
i) a primary reluctance-decreasing core defining a primary core recess;
ii) a secondary reluctance-decreasing core defining a secondary core recess and disposed adjacent the primary core;
iii) a primary electrically conductive winding disposed within the primary core recess;
iv) a secondary electrically conductive winding disposed within the secondary core recess; and
v) an electrically conductive shield;
vi) wherein the primary and secondary cores are arranged so as to form a core airgap therebetween permitting relative rotation of the cores about an axis of rotation;
vii) a primary electric current flowing through the primary winding produces a secondary electric current flowing through the secondary winding, creating a fringing field at the periphery of the core airgap; and
viii) the shield is capable of substantially canceling the fringing field. - View Dependent Claims (59)
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Specification