Inductive coupler for electric vehicle charger
First Claim
1. An inductive coupler in a battery charging system for an electric vehicle comprising a primary device having a primary coil for connection to a power source, and a secondary device for mounting on said vehicle and having a secondary coil for coupling to a battery in said vehicle, said primary and secondary devices being assembleable with one of said primary and secondary coils being insertable within an open space defined by the other of said primary and secondary coils for coupling said coils electromagnetically to induce an electromotive force in said secondary coil upon establishing a current in said primary coil in the assembled condition of the coupler, said other of said primary and secondary coils being formed and sized larger than said one of said primary and secondary coils at least along a predetermined axis to provide a first clearance at least in the direction of said predetermined axis between said coils when assembled, said first clearance in the direction of said predetermined axis being greater than any clearance in the direction orthogonal to said predetermined axis, and means for mounting said primary device adjacent a space for parking said vehicle with means for moving said primary device at least horizontally into a selectable position for engaging and assuming said assembled condition with said secondary device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inductive coupler for use in a battery charging system for an electric vehicle has a primary device having a primary coil and a core and a secondary device having a secondary coil and core. The primary and secondary devices are coupleable together with the primary coil placed within an open space defined by the secondary coil. The secondary coil is formed and sized so as to have a greater dimension than the primary coil as measured in the longitudinal direction of an electric vehicle parked for battery charging so that a space interval between the two coils in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is greater than that in the lateral direction of the vehicle.
241 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. An inductive coupler in a battery charging system for an electric vehicle comprising a primary device having a primary coil for connection to a power source, and a secondary device for mounting on said vehicle and having a secondary coil for coupling to a battery in said vehicle, said primary and secondary devices being assembleable with one of said primary and secondary coils being insertable within an open space defined by the other of said primary and secondary coils for coupling said coils electromagnetically to induce an electromotive force in said secondary coil upon establishing a current in said primary coil in the assembled condition of the coupler, said other of said primary and secondary coils being formed and sized larger than said one of said primary and secondary coils at least along a predetermined axis to provide a first clearance at least in the direction of said predetermined axis between said coils when assembled, said first clearance in the direction of said predetermined axis being greater than any clearance in the direction orthogonal to said predetermined axis, and means for mounting said primary device adjacent a space for parking said vehicle with means for moving said primary device at least horizontally into a selectable position for engaging and assuming said assembled condition with said secondary device.
- 7. An inductive coupler in a battery charging system for an electric vehicle comprising a primary device having a primary coil and a core for connection to a power source, and a secondary device for mounting on said vehicle and having a secondary coil for coupling to a battery in said vehicle, said primary and secondary devices being assembleable with one of said primary and secondary coils being insertable within an open space defined by the other of said primary and secondary coils for coupling said coils electromagnetically to induce an electromotive force in said secondary coil upon establishing a current in said primary coil in the assembled condition of the coupler, said other of said primary and secondary coils being formed and sized larger than said one of said primary and secondary coils at least along a predetermined axis to provide a first clearance at least in the direction of said predetermined axis between said coils when assembled, said first clearance in the direction of said predetermined axis being greater than any clearance in the direction orthogonal to said predetermined axis, said core having a portion which is movable to form a closed magnetic circuit after said primary and secondary devices are assembled together, and means for mounting said primary device adjacent a space for parking said vehicle with means for moving said primary device at least horizontally into a selectable position for engaging and assuming said assembled condition with said secondary device.
Specification