SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FILLING AN AIR GAP BETWEEN A PAIR OF CORE SECTIONS OF A TRANSFORMER

• US 20120293116A1
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Holmes, Alan G., Tate,, Edward D. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,854,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/38 specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/442 the magnetic component being a metal or alloy, e.g. Fe H01F1/447 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/447 characterised by magnetoviscosity, e.g. magnetorheological, magnetothixotropic, magnetodilatant liquids electrorheological fluids C10M171/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2003/106 Magnetic circuits using combinations of different magnetic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2027/404 Protective devices specially adapted for fluid filled transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/38 Auxiliary core members; Auxiliary coils or windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An energy conversion system includes a first core section, a tank, a flexible structure, and an output coil. The tank contains a volume of fluid having a high magnetic permeability. The flexible structure is fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted to an extended position in response to the injection of the fluid from the tank. The output coil is in electrical communication with the first core section. A charging station includes a second core section and an input coil. The first and second core sections are in alignment to define an air gap therebetween. The air gap is reduced when the flexible structure is in the extended position within the air gap such that the flexible structure transmits magnetic flux between the second core section and the first core section. The magnetic flux in the first core section induces electrical current in the output coil.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising an energy conversion system, wherein the energy conversion system includes:

a first core section configured for alignment with a second core section to define an air gap therebetween and to form a transformer;

a tank configured for containing a volume of fluid having a magnetic permeability;

a flexible structure fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted position to an extended position in response to the injection of fluid from the tank into the expandable structure such that the air gap is reduced, wherein the flexible structure is configured to transmit magnetic flux between the second core section and the first core section, through the fluid within the expandable structure; and

an output coil in electrical communication with the first core section, wherein the magnetic flux in the first core section induces electrical current in the output coil.

2. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first core section extends between a pair of ends configured for alignment with the second core section extending between a pair of ends, opposing the pair of ends of the first core section, to define an air gap between each of the corresponding pair of ends.

3. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flexible structure is a pair of flexible structures fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted position to an extended position in response to the injection of fluid from the tank into the pair of flexible structures such that the air gaps are reduced.

4. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the tank is a pair of tanks and each tank is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the pair of flexible structures.

5. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible structure is separated into a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber defines a respective volume such that each chamber inflates to the extended position independently from one another as a result of the injection of the fluid from the tank.

6. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible structure is selectively curved when in the extended position.

7. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flexible structure includes a plurality of cells that are each selectively curved, by the application of a differential volume of fluid to each of the cells, when the flexible structure is in the extended position.

8. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the flexible structure includes a plurality of valves in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of cells;

wherein each of the plurality of valves is configured to regulate the flow of fluid into the respective one of the plurality of cells.

9. An electric vehicle, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flexible structure is movable from the extended position to the retracted position in response to expelling the fluid from the expandable structure and into the tank such that the air gap is increased.

10. A charging system comprising:

an energy conversion system including;

a first core section;

a tank containing a volume of fluid having a high magnetic permeability;

a flexible structure fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted position to an extended position in response to the injection of fluid from the tank into the expandable structure;

an output coil in electrical communication with the first core section; and

a charging station including;

a second core section in alignment with the first core section to define an air gap therebetween and to form a transformer;

an input coil in electrical communication with the second core section;

wherein the air gap is reduced when the flexible structure is in the extended position within the air gap such that the flexible structure transmits magnetic flux between the second core section and the first core section, through the fluid within the expandable structure; and

wherein the magnetic flux in the first core section induces electrical current in the output coil.

11. A charging system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first core section and the second core section each extend between a pair of ends such that the pair of ends of the first core section oppose the pair of ends of the second core section to define an air gap between each of the corresponding pair of ends.

12. An charging system, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the flexible structure is a pair of flexible structures disposed in a respective one of the pair of air gaps and fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted position to an extended;

and

wherein the pair of flexible structures are fluidly coupled to the tank and movable from a retracted position to the extended position in response to the injection of fluid from the tank to the pair of flexible structures such that the air gaps are reduced.

13. A charging system, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the tank is a pair of tanks and each of the pair of tanks is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the pair of flexible structures.

14. A charging system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the flexible structure is separated into a plurality of chambers, wherein each chamber defines a respective volume such that each chamber inflates to the extended position independently from one another as a result of the injection of the fluid from the tank.

15. A charging system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the flexible structure is curved when in the extended position.

16. A charging system, as set forth in claim 15, wherein the flexible structure includes a plurality of cells that are each curved when the flexible structure is in the extended position.

17. A method of filling an air gap defined between a pair of core sections of a transformer, the method comprising:

disposing a flexible structure between the pair of core sections;

injecting a fluid having a magnetic permeability into the flexible structure to move the flexible structure from a retracted position to an extended position such that the air gap is reduced.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising expelling the fluid from the flexible structure to move the flexible structure from the extended position to the retracted position such that the air gap is increased.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising detecting a pressure in the flexible structure;

and

wherein the extended position is achieved when the detected pressure inside of the flexible structure is at a first pressure limit.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising detecting a volume of the fluid injected into the flexible structure;

wherein the extended position is achieved when the detected volume of the fluid inside of the flexible structure is at a first volume limit.

21. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising detecting an impedance value across the pair of core sections and the flexible structure;

wherein the extended position is achieved when the detected impedance is at or below a first impedance limit.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 17, further comprising applying a biasing field to the fluid such that the fluid solidifies.