Linear-motion contactless power supply system

• US 5,737,211 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: Hirai, Junji, Hiraga, Yoshiji
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US08/693,251
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 363/144, 336/117, 336/118, 336/119, 336/129, 336/175, 336/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 363/144
• 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 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A linear-motion contactless power supply device for supplying electrical power from a stationary unit to a movable unit without direct contact; the stationary unit being a cylindrical primary conductor to which a high-frequency alternating current is supplied; the movable unit being provided with a secondary conductor which is isolated from the primary conductor and which is arranged coaxially with the primary conductor so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of and with respect to the primary conductor and also provided with a high-frequency toroidal core which is arranged so as to cover the secondary conductor from the outside.

Claims

1. A linear-motion contactless power supply device including a stationary unit and a movable unit movable along the longitudinal direction of said stationary unit for supplying electrical power from said stationary unit to said movable unit without direct contact;

said stationary unit being a cylindrical primary conductor to which a high-frequency alternating current is supplied;

said movable unit being provided with a secondary conductor which is isolated from said primary conductor and which is arranged coaxially with said primary conductor, said movable unit also having a high-frequency toroidal core which is arranged so as to cover said secondary conductor from the outside, and

slidable support means of a ceramic bearing structure interposed between said primary and secondary conductors for sliding said secondary conductor in the longitudinal direction of and with respect to said primary conductor, electrically insulating between said primary and second conductors and also preventing sagging in the gravitational direction.

2. A linear-motion contactless power supply device according to claim 1 wherein said secondary conductor having said toroidal core on the outside is provided on both wing portions of a movable unit, and a primary conductor is arranged in a oblong loop form that passes through hollow portions of these secondary conductors.

3. A linear-motion contactless power supply device including a stationary unit and a movable unit movable along the longitudinal direction of said stationary unit for supplying electrical power from said stationary unit to said movable unit without direct contact;

said stationary unit comprising a rod of a high-frequency magnetic substance and a primary coil made up of a central portion, left and right portions divided from said central portion, said left and right portions being structured so that through each of the left and right portions an electric current that is one half the current through said central portion flows, said rod of the high-frequency magnetic substance mechanically supporting said central portion of the primary coil over the entire length of linear motion; and

said movable unit comprising a core of a high-frequency magnetic substance constructed so as to form a magnetic path along with said rod of a high-frequency magnetic substance for main magnetic flux generated by said primary coil, and a secondary coil wound around this core.

4. A linear-motion contactless power supply device according to claim 3, wherein said primary coil is made up of litz wire bundles which is a multitude of insulated wires bundled and connected at both ends and the number of bundled wires for each of said left and right portions is set to one half the number of bundled wires of said central portion, wherein said rod of a high-frequency magnetic substance and said left and right portions of said primary coil are connected through a non-magnetic material, and wherein said core comprised in said movable unit is arranged so as to straddle said litz wire bundle of said central portion.

5. A linear-motion contactless power supply device according to claim 4 wherein said non-magnetic material is a ceramic.