Power supply coupler for battery charger

• US 6,356,049 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Oguri, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/730,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/107, 320/108, 429/99, 429/100
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• 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

A power supply coupler for a battery charging device that includes a core, a coil surrounding the core, and a plastic case enclosing the core and the coil. The coil is electrically connected to a power supply device of the battery charging device with a cable. The power supply coupler has an interconnection member located between the coil and the case for transferring impact forces acting on the case to the coil.

Claims

1. A power supply coupler for a battery charging device, wherein the coupler is connected to a power supply device by a cable and is selectively connected to and disconnected from the battery charging device, the coupler comprising:

a hollow case;

a core accommodated in the case;

a coil located around the core in the case; and

an interconnection member located between the coil and the case to transfer forces acting on the case to the coil.

2. A power supply coupler according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection member occupies only part of the space.

3. A power supply coupler according to claim 1, wherein the interconnection member occupies all of the space.

4. The power supply coupler according to claim 1, further comprising:

a bobbin body accommodated in the case, wherein the coil is wound around the bobbin body; and

a cover accommodated in the case and coupled to the bobbin body, wherein the interconnection member is located on the bobbin body.

5. The power supply coupler according to claim 4, the bobbin body further comprising:

a pair of parallel walls; and

a cylindrical wall formed between the parallel walls at one end of the parallel walls thereof, thereby forming a channel shaped body.

6. The power supply coupler according to claim 5, wherein the hollow case contains an upper and a lower coupler half each half having a side wall that is parallel to the parallel walls of the bobbin body.

7. The power supply coupler according to claim 6, wherein the interconnection member is located between the side wall of the upper and lower coupler halves and the parallel walls of the bobbin body.

8. The power supply coupler according to claim 7, wherein the interconnection member is located on an end of the bobbin body parallel walls that is opposite the cylindrical wall.

9. The power supply coupler according to claim 7, wherein the interconnection member is semi-circular.

10. A power supply coupler for a battery charging device, wherein the coupler is connected to a power supply device by a cable and is selectively connected to and disconnected from the battery charging device, the coupler comprising:

a plastic case, one end of which is an inserter portion that has a hollow paddle shape;

a core accommodated in the inserter portion;

a coil located around the core; and

an interconnection member located between the inserter portion and the coil for transferring forces acting on a distal end of the inserter portion to the coil.

11. A power supply coupler according to claim 10, wherein the interconnection member is located only between a first area, which forms the distal end of the inserter portion, and a second area, which is a surface of the coil that faces the first area.

12. A power supply coupler according to claim 11, wherein the interconnection member is compressed between the case and the coil.

13. A power supply coupler according to claim 11, wherein the interconnection member occupies all of the space.

14. The power supply coupler according to claim 10 further comprising:

a bobbin body accommodated in the case, wherein the coil is wound around the bobbin body; and

a cover accommodated in the case and coupled to the bobbin body, wherein the interconnection member is located on the bobbin body.

15. A power supply coupler for a battery charging device, wherein the coupler is connected to a power supply device by a cable and is selectively connected to and disconnected from the battery charging device, the coupler comprising:

a hollow case;

a core accommodated in the case;

a coil located around the core in the case; and

means for transferring force from the case to the coil.