Reception unit comprising a receiver coil for the contactless transfer of electric energy and method for the production thereof

• US 8,193,886 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: thyssenkrupp Transrapid GmbH (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Original Assignee: thyssenkrupp Transrapid GmbH (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Inventors: Hahn, Wolfgang, Zheng, Qinghua, Diekmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUSLEH, MOHAMAD A
• Application Number:
  US12/444,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 335/219, 335/284, 335/296, 335/299, 336/90, 336/115, 336/117, 336/119, 104/281, 104/284, 104/286, 191/10, 246/194, 296/021
• US Class Current: 335/299
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/04 Magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 Electromagnet, transformer or inductor

Abstract

A reception unit is provided including a receiver coil for the contactless transfer of electric energy. The receiver coil includes a plurality of flux guiding elements (16a, 16b) that are made of a highly permeable material and that are designed to concentrate the field lines. The flux guiding elements (16a, 16b) form a continuous molded part that is embodied in a base body (18) and that is combined with the base body to form a component that can be completely prefabricated. The molded part is produced by casting and the base body (18) is used as a casting mold.

Claims

1. A receiving unit comprising:

a receiver coil for a contactless transmission of electrical energy;

a plurality of flux-conducting elements to concentrate lines of flux the flux-conducting elements being formed of a material with high permeability compared to that of air, the flux-conducting elements being associated with the receiver coil

a basic body with depressions in a grid frame structure receiving the flux-conducting elements, the flux-conducting elements being formed of a single contiguous shaped part by pouring, which is arranged in the depressions, which has a grid frame structure and which is integrated with the basic body into a completely prefabricated assembly unit.

2. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the basic body is provided with stop and positioning means for positioning the receiver coil.

3. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the basic body is provided with webs for supporting the receiver coil between the depressions.

4. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the basic body consists of a plastic.

5. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 4, wherein the basic body is formed of a foam.

6. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the receiver coil has two longitudinal sections arranged at spaced locations and end windings connecting the two longitudinal sections.

8. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flux-conducting elements are formed of a material containing a ferrite.

9. A receiving unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flux-conducting elements contain strips extending at right angles to longitudinal sections of the receiver coil and connection elements, which extend in parallel to the longitudinal sections and connect the strips to one another.

7. A receiving unit in accordance with claim wherein the basic body has a space, which is intended to receive the receiver coil and which contains webs used to support longitudinal sections of the receiver coil and depressions in the basic body, which are arranged laterally from the flux-conducting elements.

10. A process for manufacturing a receiving unit provided with a receiver coil for a contactless transmission of electric energy, wherein a plurality of flux-conducting elements, which are intended to concentrate the field intensity and are made of a material with high permeability compared to that of air, are associated with the receiver coil, the process comprising the steps of:

forming the flux-conducting elements in a basic body used as a shaping part by the basic body being provided with depressions arranged in a grid frame structure receiving the flux-conducting elements;

preparing a liquid mixture from a casting resin and a powder of a material with high permeability; and

pouring the liquid mixture into the depressions to form the flux-conducting elements as a single contiguous shaped part comprising a grid structure.

11. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the basic body is provided with webs for supporting the receiver coil between the depressions.

12. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the mixture is cured or is allowed to cure after casting.

13. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the webs are provided with steps intended to be in contact with the receiver coil.

14. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the basic body is made of plastic.

15. A process in accordance with claim 13, wherein the basic body is made of a foam.

16. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the depressions are prepared by machining a panel forming the basic body.

17. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the basic body is made of at least one of plastic and a foam and the basic body is prepared in a mold designed as a negative mold of the basic body by casting, foaming or pressing.

18. A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the basic body is provided with a space intended for receiving the receiver coil.

19. A process in accordance with claim 18, wherein the basic body is prepared in a mold designed as a negative mold of the basic body by casting, foaming or pressing and the space is prepared by inserting a displacement body in the mold.

20. A process in accordance with claim 19, wherein the receiver coil is inserted into the basic body before the mixture is poured in.

21. A receiving unit comprising:

a receiver coil for a contactless transmission of electrical energy;

a plurality of flux-conducting elements to concentrate lines of flux, the flux-conducting elements being formed of a material with high permeability compared to that of air, the flux-conducting elements being associated with the receiver coil, the flux-conducting elements together comprising a single contiguous shaped part with a grid structure;

a basic body with depressions in a grid frame structure, the depressions in the grid frame structure receiving the single contiguous shaped part, the basic body and single contiguous shaped part with associated receiver coil forming a completely prefabricated assembly unit.

22. A receiving unit according to claim 21, wherein said flux-conducting elements are formed as said single contiguous shaped part by providing said depressions in the grid frame structure as a mold and pouring a liquid mixture including said material into said depressions in the grid frame structure wherein said flux-conducting elements have an outer surface that is complementary to said depressions in the grid frame structure.