Cooled secondary coils of electric automobile charging transformer

• US 5,408,209 A
• Filed: 11/02/1993
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanzer, Herbert J., Ramos, Sergio, Quon, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US08/146,689
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 336/60, 336/61, 336/83, 336/179, 336/183, 336/DIG. 2, 320/2, 320/21
• US Class Current: 336/60
• 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: F28D 15/0233 the conduits having a particular shape, e.g. non-circular cross-section, annular F28D15/0241, F28D15/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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 transformer is used to charge the battery of an electric automobile. The primary of the transformer is connected to a fixed power supply and is separable from a secondary mounted in the automobile. The secondary is cooled by cooling structure mounted on the secondary, particularly a heat pipe.

Claims

1. An automobile charging transformer comprising:

a primary inductive charge coupler for attachment to a fixed power supply, said primary inductive charge coupler having a primary electric winding; and

an inductive charge receptacle including a transformer secondary electric winding for mounting in the automobile to charge the battery of the electric automobile, a magnetic core for completing a magnetic circuit through said primary and secondary windings, wherein said inductive charge receptacle transformer has a slot therein to receive said inductive charge coupler and said secondary winding is divided into first and second secondary winding portions with said first and second secondary winding portions being positioned on opposite sides of said slot and a heat pipe for cooling said secondary winding is associated with both said first and second secondary widing portions, wherein said heat pipe has a portion adjacent each said secondary winding portion and a heat pipe portion remote from said secondary winding portion so that heat from said secondary winding is discharged remotely from said secondary winding, and further wherein said heat pipe comprises an annular body having heat pipe passages therein and condensers attached to said annular body and positioned away from said annular body, said heat pipe passages extending into said annular body and into said consenser.

2. The transformer of claim 1 wherein said means for cooling said secondary winding includes a fluid passage adjacent said secondary winding.

3. The transformer of claim 2 wherein a heat exchange fluid is in said fluid passage adjacent said secondary winding.

4. The transformer of claim 3 wherein said passage comprises a portion of a heat pipe, said heat pipe having an end remote from said secondary winding so that heat from said secondary winding is discharged remote from said secondary winding.

5. The transformer of claim 1 wherein there are two condensers attached to each said annular body and each said annular body has two heat pipe passages therein, one extending into each of said condensers.