Vehicle transfer device, and vehicle which supplies power to transfer device

• US 9,669,844 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2014
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Original Assignee: IHI Corporation
• Inventors: Niizuma, Motonao
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US14/256,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101, 307104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/56 with switched windings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/50 using propulsion power supplied by batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/122 Circuits or methods for driving the primary coil, e.g. supplying electric power to the coil
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B61C 9/38 Transmission systems in or for locomotives or motor railcars with electric motor propulsion electrical features B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/28 Constructional details, e.g. end stops, pivoting supporting members, sliding runners adjustable to load dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/06 with means for shifting or lifting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/18 with means for transport in vertical direction only or independently in vertical and horizontal directions E04H6/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/22 : characterised by use of movable platforms for horizontal transport , i.e. cars being permanently parked on palettes
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/24 : characterised by use of dollies for horizontal transport , i.e. cars being permanently parked on wheeled platforms
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/34 : characterised by use of movable platforms
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/36 : characterised by use of freely-movable dollies
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/422 : Automatically operated car-parks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 : for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 : of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 : the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 : involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A transfer device transfers an electric vehicle, that has been loaded onto a pallet, in a left-right direction or in an up-down direction relative to the direction of forward travel of the electric vehicle. The pallet is provided with: a power-receiving coil that, together with a power-supplying coil of the electric vehicle, forms an electromagnetic coupling circuit; a power-receiving circuit that receives power that is supplied wirelessly from the outside via the electromagnetic coupling circuit; and an electric motor that is driven by power received by the power-receiving circuit, and that causes the pallet to move in the left-right direction or in the up-down direction.

Claims

1. A transfer device that transfers a vehicle, that has been loaded onto a pallet, in a left-right direction or in an up-down direction relative to the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, wherein the pallet comprises:

a power-receiving coil that, together with a power-supplying coil of the vehicle, forms an electromagnetic coupling circuit, wherein the power-supplying coil of the vehicle is provided in the vehicle, and

the power-receiving coil is mounted in such a position that, when the vehicle has been loaded onto the pallet, the power-receiving coil is able to face the power-supplying coil of the vehicle that is provided in the vehicle;

a power-receiving circuit that receives power that is supplied wirelessly from the vehicle via the electromagnetic coupling circuit; and

an electric motor that is driven by power received by the power-receiving circuit, and that causes the pallet to move in the left-right direction or in the up-down direction.

2. The transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the pallet is provided with:

a power converting device that converts a portion of the power received by the power-receiving circuit; and

a control unit that operates by means of the power converted by the power converting device, and controls operations of the electric motor.

3. The transfer device according to claim 2, wherein

the pallet is provided with a command input portion that operates by means of the power converted by the power converting device, and receives inputs of transfer commands from outside of the command input portion that indicate that the vehicle is to be moved in the left-right direction or in the up-down direction, and

the control unit controls the electric motor based on the transfer commands input into the command input portion.

4. A vehicle that is provided with a motor that generates power for movement, and a storage battery that supplies power to drive the motor, comprising:

a power-supplying coil installed in the vehicle that is transferred, and positioned to face the power receiving coil of, the transfer device according to claim 1; and

a power converter that converts DC power stored in the storage battery into AC power, and then supplies this to the power-supplying coil.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein there is provided a command output portion that outputs to outside of the command input portion a transfer command that indicates that the vehicle which has been loaded onto the pallet is to be transferred in the left-right direction or in the up-down direction.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein there is provided a power supply destination setting means that sets a supply destination for AC power output from the power converter either to the power-supplying coil or to the motor.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein there is provided a power supply destination setting means that sets a supply destination for AC power output from the power converter either to the power-supplying coil or to the motor.