Closed magnetic wireless power transfer system

• US 9,647,483 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Rockway, John D., Hansen, Peder, Bana, Viktor, Anderson, Greg, Phipps, Alex, Rodriguez, Doeg
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/754,471
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320114, 320115, 320104
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/255 made from particles H01F27/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/36 Electric or magnetic shields or screens movable for varying inductance H01F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/363 made of electrically conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10

Abstract

A wireless power transfer system includes a receive coil system nested within a transmit coil system forming a closed magnetic circuit. The transmit coil system includes a non-planar tapered transmit coil disposed within a tapered ferrite housing and a layer of insulating material surrounding the non-planar tapered transmit coil and the tapered ferrite housing. The receive coil system includes a ferrite plug comprising a column portion centrally secured to a plate portion, a non-planar receive coil wound around the column portion, a layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil, and a hemispherical covering surrounding the insulated column portion and non-planar receive coil. The non-planar receive coil has a smaller diameter than the non-planar tapered transmit coil. The maximum outside diameter of the hemispherical covering is less than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of the non-planar tapered transmit coil.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an insulated transmit coil system comprising an insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil disposed within a tapered ferrite housing and a layer of insulating material surrounding the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil and the tapered ferrite housing; and

an insulated receive coil system, nested within the insulated transmit coil system, comprising a ferrite plug comprising a column portion centrally secured to a plate portion, a non-planar receive coil wound around the column portion, wherein the non-planar receive coil has a smaller diameter than the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, a layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil, and a hemispherical covering surrounding the insulated column portion and non-planar receive coil, wherein the maximum outside diameter of the hemispherical covering is less than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, wherein the non-planar receive coil is positioned within the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, forming a closed magnetic circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmit coil system further comprises an electromagnetic shielding plate coupled to a distal end of the ferrite housing.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the receive coil system further comprises an electromagnetic shielding plate coupled to a distal end of the plate portion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulated transmit coil system is operatively coupled to an underwater charging circuit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the insulated receive coil system is operatively coupled to an unmanned underwater vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the insulated receive coil system is operatively coupled to an underwater sensor node.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the insulated transmit coil system is operatively coupled to an unmanned underwater vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the layer of insulating material surrounding the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil and ferrite housing and the layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil each comprise a clear urethane material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hemispherical covering comprises a high-pressure polymer material.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a vertical midpoint of the non-planar receive coil is substantially aligned with a vertical midpoint of the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil.

11. A system comprising:

an insulated transmit coil system comprising an insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil disposed within a tapered ferrite housing, a layer of insulating material surrounding the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil and the tapered ferrite housing, and an electromagnetic shielding plate coupled to the distal end of the ferrite housing; and

an insulated receive coil system, nested within the insulated transmit coil system, comprising a ferrite plug comprising a column portion centrally secured to a plate portion, a non-planar receive coil wound around the column portion, wherein the non-planar receive coil has a smaller diameter than the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, a layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil, an electromagnetic shielding plate coupled to the distal end of the plate portion, and a hemispherical covering surrounding the insulated column portion and non-planar receive coil, wherein the maximum outside diameter of the hemispherical covering is less than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, wherein the non-planar receive coil is positioned within the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil such that a vertical midpoint of the non-planar receive coil is substantially aligned with a vertical midpoint of the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil, forming a closed magnetic circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the insulated transmit coil system is operatively coupled to an underwater charging circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the insulated receive coil system is operatively coupled to an unmanned underwater vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the insulated receive coil system is operatively coupled to an underwater sensor node.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the insulated transmit coil system is operatively coupled to an unmanned underwater vehicle.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the layer of insulating material surrounding the insulated non-planar tapered transmit coil and ferrite housing and the layer of insulating material surrounding the column portion and the non-planar receive coil each comprise a clear urethane material.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the hemispherical covering comprises a high-pressure polymer material.