Hand-held inductive charger having concentric windings

• US 5,327,065 A
• Filed: 01/22/1992
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Cox, Gerald A., Bruni, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hickey, R. J.
• Application Number:
  US07/823,949
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 320/39, 336/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 320/108
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 336/02 Separable

Abstract

A hand-held inductive charger having concentric windings for transferring electrical power across a dielectric medium using magnetic induction. The charger comprises a removable primary coil assembly having a housing with a primary core disposed therein, and a primary winding protruding from the primary core. An electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from a power source. A secondary coil assembly having a receptacle housing is also provided, and a secondary core is disposed in the receptacle housing, and first and second concentric secondary windings are disposed in the secondary core. The first and second concentric secondary windings are coupled to a battery of an automobile. The first and second concentric secondary windings have a gap therebetween that is adapted to receive the primary winding therein. The primary and secondary coil assemblies form a transformer when their respective windings are mated. The charger allows an electric vehicle to be charged safely without any type of conventional electrical plug. The charger thus provides a safe, convenient and weatherproof mechanism for coupling power from a voltage source to an electric vehicle to recharge its propulsion battery. Approximately 6000 watts has been transferred through an embodiment of the charger having a volume of 25.8 cubic inches, yielding a power density of 230 Watts/cubic inch.

Claims

1. An inductive charger comprising:

a removable primary coil assembly comprising a housing, a primary core disposed in the housing, a primary winding protruding from the primary core, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and

a secondary coil assembly comprising a receptacle housing that is matable with the removable primary coil assembly, a secondary core disposed in the receptacle housing, first and second concentric secondary windings disposed in the secondary core that are couplable to a battery and wherein the first and second concentric secondary windings have a gap therebetween that is adapted to receive the primary winding therein;

wherein the primary and secondary coil assemblies form a transformer when the respective primary and secondary windings and primary and secondary coil assemblies are mated.

2. The inductive charger of claim 1 wherein the primary and secondary cores are comprised of ferrite material.

3. The inductive charger of claim 1 wherein the primary and secondary windings are comprised of copper.

4. A hand-held inductive charger comprising:

a removable primary coil assembly comprising a cylindrical housing having a handle portion, a cylindrical primary core comprising ferrite material disposed in the housing, a circular primary winding protruding from the cylindrical primary core, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and

a secondary coil assembly comprising a receptacle housing, a cylindrical secondary core comprising ferrite material disposed in the receptacle housing, first and second concentric circular secondary windings disposed in the secondary core that are couplable to a battery and wherein the first and second concentric circular secondary windings have a gap therebetween that is adapted to receive the circular primary winding therein;

wherein the primary and secondary coil assemblies form a transformer when the respective primary and secondary windings and primary and secondary coil assemblies are mated.

5. The hand-held inductive charger of claim 4 wherein the primary and secondary windings are comprised of copper.

6. A hand-held inductive charger comprising:

a removable first coil assembly comprising a housing having a handle portion, a first core disposed in the housing, a first winding protruding from the primary core, and an electrical cable coupled to the first winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from a power source; and

a second coil assembly comprising a receptacle housing, a second core disposed in the receptacle housing, first and second concentric second windings disposed in the second core that are couplable to a battery and wherein the first and second concentric second windings have a gap therebetween that is adapted to receive the first winding therein;

wherein the first and second coil assemblies form a transformer when the respective first and second windings and first and second coil assemblies are mated.

7. The inductive charger of claim 6 wherein the first and second cores are comprised of ferrite material.

8. The inductive charger of claim 6 wherein the first and second windings are comprised of copper.