Contactless coaxial winding transformer power transfer system
First Claim
1. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
- a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load;
a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load, with the core-mounted conductor having an outer peripheral surface; and
a magnetic core supporting the core-mounted conductor and substantially surrounding the outer peripheral surface, with both the core-mounted conductor and the magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contactless power transfer system, especially for powering electric loads, hazardous loads or underwater loads and the like. A converter supplies high frequency power to a conductor loop. A coupling sheath or link has a core-mounted conductor at least partially surrounded by a magnetic core which slidably receives a portion of the conductor loop within the link. An optional secondary converter converts power from the core-mounted conductor to meet the load requirements. A contactless power distribution system delivers power to a variety of loads through clamped-on or captive links attached at any location along the conductor loop. Methods are also provided of powering a movable electric load, or a stationary load from a movable source, and of distributing power to a plurality of portable electric loads.
158 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
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a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load; a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load, with the core-mounted conductor having an outer peripheral surface; and a magnetic core supporting the core-mounted conductor and substantially surrounding the outer peripheral surface, with both the core-mounted conductor and the magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 82, 83)
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6. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
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a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load; a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load; and a magnetic core supporting and surrounding a portion of the core-mounted conductor, with the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load; and a first converter coupling the first conductor to the power source. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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13. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
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a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load; a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load; a magnetic core supporting and surrounding a portion of the core-mounted conductor, with the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load, with a portion of the first conductor being movably received within the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core for relative motion therebetween during the power transfer; a position sensor for sensing the position of the core-mounted conductor relative to the position of the first conductor; and a positioning actuator responsive to the position sensor for positioning the core-mounted conductor in a selected position relative to the position of the first conductor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
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a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load; a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load; a magnetic core supporting and surrounding a portion of the core-mounted conductor, with the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load, with a portion of the first conductor being movably received within the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core for relative motion therebetween during the power transfer; wherein the core has two flux transferring faces separated by a gap, and the first conductor is mounted from a fixed insulative support member extending through the core gap; and the contactless power transfer system further includes a fixed magnetic core member attached to the fixed insulative support to magnetically link the two flux transferring faces together. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to an electric load, comprising:
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a first conductor coupled to one of the power source or the electric load; a core-mounted conductor coupled to the other of the power source or the electric load; a magnetic core supporting and surrounding a portion of the core-mounted conductor, with the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core surrounding a portion of the first conductor so as to transfer power from the power source to the electric load, with a portion of the first conductor being movably received within the core-mounted conductor and magnetic core for relative motion therebetween during the power transfer; a fixed magnetic core member cooperating with the core to form a flux path through the core and the fixed core member; and an insulative support extending from the fixed core member and supporting the first conductor. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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36. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a primary conductor coupled to an AC power source; and a secondary conductor and magnetic core supported by and coupled to the movable electric load, the secondary conductor having an outer peripheral surface substantially surrounded by the magnetic core, with both the secondary conductor and the magnetic core substantially surrounding a portion of the primary conductor for receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path.
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37. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a primary conductor coupled to an AC power source; and a secondary conductor and magnetic core supported by and coupled to the movable electric load, the secondary conductor and magnetic core substantially surrounding a portion of the primary conductor for receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path; and a primary converter coupling the primary conductor to the AC power source. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a primary conductor coupled to an AC power source; a secondary conductor and magnetic core supported by and coupled to the movable electric load, the secondary conductor and magnetic core substantially surrounding a portion of the primary conductor for receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path; and a secondary converter coupling the secondary conductor to the electric load. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a substantially fixed longitudinal first conductor coupled to an AC power source; and a secondary coupling sheath supported by the movable electric load, the sheath having a second conductor with an outer peripheral surface and a magnetic core substantially surrounding outer peripheral surface of the second conductor, with the second conductor coupled to the electric load, the sheath substantially surrounding a portion of the first conductor and receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 84, 85)
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46. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a substantially fixed longitudinal first conductor coupled to an AC power source, with the first conductor being supported by plural supports along the length thereof; and a secondary coupling sheath supported by the movable electric load, the sheath having a second conductor and a magnetic core surrounding the second conductor, with the second conductor coupled to the electric load, the sheath substantially surrounding a portion of the first conductor and receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path, with the magnetic core comprising a substantially C-shaped core having an air gap to partially surround the first conductor, the air gap slidably receiving the first conductor plural supports therein as the electric load moves along the path.
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50. A contactless power delivery system for delivering power to an electric load moving along a path, comprising:
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a substantially fixed longitudinal first conductor coupled to an AC power source, with the first conductor being supported by plural supports along the length thereof; and a secondary coupling sheath supported by the movable electric load, the sheath having a second conductor and a magnetic core surroundng the second conductor, with the second conductor coupled to the electric load, the sheath substantially surrounding a portion of the first conductor and receiving power therefrom as the electric load moves along the path, with the magnetic core including two longitudinally separated portions openably joined together for momentarily opening to allow the plural supports to pass through a longitudinal gap defined between the two longitudinally separated core portions when open.
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51. A contactless power distribution system for distributing power from an AC source to a portable electric load, comprising:
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an elongate primary conductor coupled to an AC power source; and a secondary coupling sheath having a secondary conductor coupled to the portable electric load, with the secondary conductor having an outer peripheral surface, the sheath also having a magnetic core substantially surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the secondary conductor and being openable to couple and decouple the sheath to the primary conductor at any selected location along the length of the primary conductor, with both the secondary conductor and the core substantially surrounding a portion of the primary conductor when the sheath is coupled therewith to power the portable electric load. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 86)
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52. A contactless power distribution system for distributing power from an AC source to a portable electric load, comprising:
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an elongate primary conductor coupled to an AC power source; and a secondary coupling sheath having a secondary conductor coupled to the portable electric load, and a magnetic core surrounding the secondary conductor and being openable to couple and decouple the sheath to the primary conductor at any selected location along the length of the primary conductor, with the core substantially surrounding a portion of the primary conductor when the sheath is coupled therewith to power the portable electric load; wherein the primary conductor is substantially fixed to power plural portable electric loads each having a secondary coupling sheath coupled at selected locations along the length of the primary conductor.
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56. A contactless power transfer system for transferring power from a power source to a moveable electric load, comprising:
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a primary conductor system having a feeder conductor coupled to the power source, the primary conductor system also having plural fixed primary loops each coupled to the feeder conductor, each primary loop aligned with at least one other primary loop to extend along adjacent portions of a path of travel of the load; and a coupling sheath having a secondary conductor coupled to the load, the coupling sheath also having a magnetic core surrounding the secondary conductor, with the core for surrounding a portion of the one of the primary loops to receive power therefrom when moving along the path of travel adjacent said one of the primary loops. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A coupling sheath, comprising:
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a sheath conductor for surrounding a portion of an elongate power conductor, the sheath conductor for coupling to an electric load; and a magnetic core surrounding the sheath conductor to provide a flux path for a magnetic flux induced therein when the sheath conductor and core surround the power conductor, said magnetic flux inducing a current flow within the sheath conductor to deliver power from the power conductor to a load when coupled therewith. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering an elongate conductor with the AC power source; providing the electric load with a coupling sheath having a sheath conductor with an outer peripheral surface substantially surrounded by a magnetic core, the sheath conductor electrically coupled to the load; and circumferentially substantially surrounding a portion of the elongate conductor with both the sheath conductor and the core to receive power therefrom by magnetic induction to power the load. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 71)
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69. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering an elongate conductor supported adjacent a fixed magnetic member with the AC power source; providing the electric load with a coupling sheath having a sheath conductor surrounded by a magnetic core having two flux transferring surfaces, with the sheath conductor electrically coupled to the load; surrounding a portion of the elongate conductor with the sheath conductor and core to receive power therefrom by magnetic induction to power the load; and aligning the two flux transferring surfaces of the core with the fixed magnetic member. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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72. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering an elongate conductor with the AC power source; providing plural portable electric loads each electrically coupled to a coupling sheath, with each coupling sheath having a sheath conductor surrounded by a magnetic cored; and surrounding different portions of the elongate conductor with each of the coupling sheaths to simultaneously power each portable electric load by magnetic induction.
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73. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering an elongate conductor with the AC power source; providing the electric load with a coupling sheath having a sheath conductor surrounded by a magnetic core, the sheath conductor electrically coupled to the load; surrounding a portion of the elongate conductor with the sheath conductor and core to receive power therefrom by magnetic induction to power the load; generating power with the electric load when moving along a portion of the elongate conductor; delivering the generated power to the AC power source with the coupling sheath; and charging the AC power source with the generated power.
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74. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering a sheath conductor coupled to the AC power source, with the sheath conductor having an outer peripheral surface substantially surrounded by a magnetic core; providing an elongate conductor coupled to the load; and circumferentially substantially surrounding a portion of the elongate conductor with both the sheath conductor and the core to deliver power thereto by magnetic induction to power the load. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76)
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77. A method of coupling an electric load to an AC power source, comprising the steps of:
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powering one of an elongate conductor or a coupling sheath with the AC power source; providing the electric load with the other of the elongate conductor or the coupling sheath; with the coupling sheath having a sheath conductor surrounded by a magnetic core, the sheath conductor electrically coupled to one of the AC power source or the load, and with the coupling sheath being separable into at least two sheath segments; and separating the at least two sheath segments; receiving a portion of the elongate conductor between at least two sheath segments; and joining together the at least two sheath segments to surround the portion of the elongate conductor with the coupling sheath to transfer power by magnetic induction from the AC power source to the load. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification