INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER APPARATUS AND ELECTRIC AUTOCYCLE CHARGER INCLUDING THE INDUCTIVE POWER TRANSFER APPARATUS

• US 20120119697A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Original Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited (Auckland University)
• Inventors: Boys, John Talbot, Covic, Grant Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,276,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• 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 53/126 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: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/40 Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/80 Accessories, e.g. power sources; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• 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 provides an electric autocycle support apparatus comprising an autocycle engagement device adapted to support an autocycle, the engagement device having a coil adapted to provide a magnetic field for inductively charging an autocycle supported by the apparatus. The invention also provides an electric autocycle stand and a charging system.

Claims

1. Electric autocycle support apparatus comprising:

an autocycle engagement device adapted to support an autocycle, the engagement device having a coil adapted to provide a magnetic field for inductively charging an autocycle supported by the support apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support apparatus comprises a support portion and an engagement portion attached to the support portion, the engagement device being provided on the engagement portion.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the engagement portion is removably attached to the support portion.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support apparatus is moveable between a first position in which the engagement device is not oriented to support an autocycle and a second position in which the engagement device is oriented to support an autocycle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein when the support apparatus is in the first position the coil does not provide a magnetic field for inductive charging.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coil does not provide a magnetic field for inductive charging when an autocycle is not supported by the support apparatus.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coil comprises part of a resonant circuit which is adapted to receive power inductively from a power supply.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the resonant circuit includes a switch to selectively decouple the resonant circuit from the power supply.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support apparatus is moveable between a first position in which the engagement device is not oriented to support an autocycle and a second position in which the engagement device is oriented to support an autocycle.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support apparatus is moveable between a first position in which the engagement device is not oriented to support an autocycle and a second position in which the engagement device is oriented to support an autocycle.

9. An electric autocycle stand comprising:

a plurality of inductive charging coils, each charging coil being adapted to provide a magnetic field to inductively charge an electric autocycle, each charging coil being connected to a resonant circuit that receives power inductively whereby each resonant circuit may be selectively decoupled such that the charging coil to which the resonant circuit is connected does not provide a magnetic field for inductive charging.

10. An electric autocycle stand as claimed in claim 9 wherein the charging coil does not provide a magnetic field for inductive charging when an autocycle is not in proximity for charging by the charging coil.

11. An electric autocycle stand as claimed in claim 9 wherein the resonant circuit includes a switch to selectively decouple the resonant circuit from a power supply.

12. An electric autocycle stand as claimed claim 9 wherein each charging coil is provided in association with an autocycle engagement device adapted to support an autocycle.

13. An electric autocycle charging system comprising:

a resonant circuit having a coil adapted to provide a magnetic field to inductively charge an electric autocycle, and

a primary conductor adapted to provide power inductively to the resonant circuit.

14. A charging system as claimed in claim 13 wherein a plurality of resonant circuits are provided, each resonant circuit being supplied with power inductively from the primary conductor.

15. A charging system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the coil does not provide a magnetic field for inductive charging when an autocycle is not in proximity for charging by the charging system.

16. A charging system as claimed in claims 13 wherein the resonant circuit includes a switch to selectively decouple the resonant circuit from a power supply.

17. A charging system as claimed in claims 13 wherein each coil is provided in association with an autocycle engagement device adapted to support an autocycle.

18. (canceled)