Stationary device for contactless electrical energy transmission

• US 10,892,088 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2020
• Issued: 01/12/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2020
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Institute Of Science, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Institute Of Science, Inc.
• Inventors: Miljavec, Damijan, Vukotic, Mario, Corovic, Selma, Olah, Laslo
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US16/987,309
• Time in Patent Office: 159 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2895 Windings disposed upon ring cores
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 3/14 Constrictions; Gaps, e.g. air-gaps in magnetic shunt paths H01F3/12
• 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 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A contactless charging apparatus and method for contactless charging are disclosed. In one embodiment of the contactless charging apparatus, a primary electromagnetic structure and a secondary electromagnetic structure are disposed in an opposing relationship with primary wedges of the primary electromagnetic structure facing secondary wedges of the secondary electromagnetic structure with a non-magnetic gap therebetween. Coils may be positioned in spaces defined by circumferentially slotted areas between the primary and the secondary concentric cores. A non-resonance circuit is formed between the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure to provide a contactless electrical energy transmission from the primary electromagnetic structure to the secondary electromagnetic structure with the use of a time-varying electromagnetic field.

Claims

1. A contactless charging apparatus comprising:

a primary electromagnetic structure having an upper end and an interior end, the primary electromagnetic structure including a primary yoke at the upper end, the primary yoke having a plurality of primary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the primary electromagnetic structure, the primary yoke magnetically connecting the plurality of primary wedges;

the plurality of primary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of primary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of primary slots extending radially through the primary yoke and intersecting the interior of the primary electromagnetic structure;

a secondary electromagnetic structure having a lower end and an interior end, the secondary electromagnetic structure including a secondary yoke at the lower end, the secondary yoke having a plurality of secondary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the secondary electromagnetic structure, the secondary yoke magnetically connecting the plurality of secondary wedges;

the plurality of secondary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of secondary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of secondary slots extending radially through the secondary yoke and intersecting the interior end of the secondary electromagnetic structure;

each of the primary yoke and the secondary yoke including a soft-magnetic material;

each of the plurality of primary wedges and the plurality of secondary wedges including the soft-magnetic material; and

the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure being disposed in an opposing relationship with the plurality of primary wedges facing the plurality of secondary wedges with a non-magnetic gap therebetween.

2. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure are symmetrical.

3. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure form a non-resonance circuit.

4. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary wedges further comprise respective arbitrary cross sections.

5. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary wedges further comprise an arbitrary number of primary wedges.

6. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of primary wedges further comprises a dovetail member.

7. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of primary wedges further comprises:

a pair of spaced shoulder members intersecting two adjacent slots of the plurality of primary slots;

a socket member extending from the pair of spaced shoulder members; and

a pin crowning the socket member.

8. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein adjacent primary wedges include respective adjacent pins having a slot opening therebetween.

9. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary slots further comprises an arbitrary cross section.

10. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary slots further comprises an arbitrary number of primary slots.

11. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary slots form a circumferentially slotted area.

12. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of coils are inserted into the plurality of primary slots.

13. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary electromagnetic structure is coupled to a power source.

14. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary electromagnetic structure is coupled to a load.

15. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein an electrical energy flows from the primary electromagnetic structure to the secondary electromagnetic structure.

16. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure further comprise stationary positioning.

17. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure are geometrically inverted such that the primary yoke is located at the lower end of the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary yoke is located at the upper end of the secondary electromagnetic structure.

18. A contactless charging apparatus comprising:

a primary electromagnetic structure having an upper end and an interior end, the primary electromagnetic structure including a primary yoke at the upper end, the primary yoke having a plurality of primary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the primary electromagnetic structure;

the plurality of primary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of primary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of primary slots extending radially through the primary yoke and intersecting the interior end of the primary electromagnetic structure;

a secondary electromagnetic structure having a lower end and an interior end, the secondary electromagnetic structure including a secondary yoke at the lower end, the secondary yoke having a plurality of secondary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the secondary electromagnetic structure;

the plurality of secondary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of secondary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of secondary slots extending radially through the secondary yoke and intersecting the interior end of the secondary electromagnetic structure;

each of the primary yoke and the secondary yoke including a soft-magnetic material;

each of the plurality of primary wedges and the plurality of secondary wedges including the soft-magnetic material;

the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure being disposed in an opposing relationship with the plurality of primary wedges facing the plurality of secondary wedges with a non-magnetic gap therebetween; and

the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure form a non-resonance circuit that transmits electrical energy from a source coupled to the primary electromagnetic structure to a load coupled to the secondary electromagnetic structure utilizing an electromagnetic induction.

19. The contactless charging apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic induction further comprises a time-varying electromagnetic field.

20. A contactless charging apparatus comprising:

a primary electromagnetic structure having an upper end and an interior end, the primary electromagnetic structure including a primary yoke at the upper end, the primary yoke having a plurality of primary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the primary electromagnetic structure;

the plurality of primary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of primary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of primary slots extending radially through the primary yoke and intersecting the interior end of the primary electromagnetic structure;

a secondary electromagnetic structure having a lower end and an interior end, the secondary electromagnetic structure including a secondary yoke at the lower end, the secondary yoke having a plurality of secondary wedges extending therefrom at the interior end of the secondary electromagnetic structure;

the plurality of secondary wedges defining an inner space and a plurality of secondary slots interposed therebetween, the plurality of secondary slots extending radially through the secondary yoke and intersecting the interior of the secondary electromagnetic structure;

each of the primary yoke and the secondary yoke including a soft-magnetic material;

each of the plurality of primary wedges and the plurality of secondary wedges including the soft-magnetic material;

the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure being disposed in an opposing relationship with the plurality of primary wedges facing the plurality of secondary wedges with a non-magnetic gap therebetween; and

the primary electromagnetic structure and the secondary electromagnetic structure form a non-resonance circuit that transmits an electrical energy from a source coupled to the primary electromagnetic structure to a load coupled to the secondary electromagnetic structure utilizing a time-varying electromagnetic field.