WIRELESS BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 20140253031A1
• Filed: 10/08/2012
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Duge, Robert T.
• Application Number:
  US14/349,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• 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 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

An inductive battery charger is incorporated with a power source that in one embodiment is a genset. A charging surface can be provided that in some forms is hinged, separable, or includes a pocket. In some forms resonant inductive coupling can be used to charge a battery through inductive charging. A battery can be charged within an area such as a perimeter of a military post (e.g. an observation post) using techniques described herein. A battery can also be charged remotely by inductive techniques such as through the use of a passing vehicle, etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a charging base unit configured to include an inductive device useful for providing a magnetic field that can be used to inductively charge a battery and configured to receive power from a power source, the base unit further including an expanding surface structured to withstand the weight of the battery when the battery is placed upon the expanding surface for a charging operation;

wherein the inductive device is structured to generate a magnetic field to charge the battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further includes the power source disposed with the charging base unit, and wherein the power source comprises a genset.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the genset comprises a generator driven by an internal combustion engine.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, which further includes a vehicle carrying the power source and inductive device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding surface includes a hinge structured such that the expanding surface can be selectively folded-down from the base unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the expanding surface includes the inductive device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the expanding surface is a separable surface that can be selectively added and removed from the base unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inductive device is disposed within the expanding surface.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a charging base unit configured to include an inductive device useful for providing a magnetic field that can be used to inductively charge a battery and configured to receive power from a power source, the base unit further including a pocket structured to capture the battery for a charging operation;

wherein the inductive device is structured to generate a magnetic field to charge the battery.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, which further includes the power source disposed with the charging base unit, and wherein the power source comprises a genset.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the genset comprises a generator driven by an internal combustion engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, which further includes a vehicle carrying the power source and inductive device.

13. A method, comprising:

combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine associated with a vehicle;

driving an electrical generator through power developed as a result of operating the internal combustion engine;

generating a magnetic field using an inductor powered by the electrical generator; and

inductively charging a battery with power from the inductor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

carrying the internal combustion engine and the battery with a vehicle, the vehicle is an aircraft.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

moving a vehicle that includes the internal combustion engine; and

receiving the magnetic field by a user that is external to the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

placing the inductor around the perimeter of a predetermined area.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the battery in close proximity to the magnetic field.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of generating a magnetic field includes flowing current through the inductor.

23. The method of claim 13, further comprising locating an inductive battery charger within a transit area.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of inductively charging includes simultaneously charging the batteries that are being carried by a plurality of service men.

17-20. -20. (canceled)