Power collector for inductive power transfer

Electricity: transmission to vehicles – Magnetic induction

Patent

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Details

B60L 900

Patent

active

058395547

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for inductive transfer of power across a gap, useful in the provision of electric power to one or more mobile consumers of electric power. It has particular application to an electrically powered railway or to road vehicles.


BACKGROUND

The concept of inductive coupling as a roadway power transmission system has been known for approximately 100 years, and there have been many attempts to develop the use of inductive coupling for the transportation of road vehicles. However, they have not proved to be sufficiently efficient and hence not commercially successful.


OBJECT

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved induction system capable of powering vehicles, or one which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.


STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention comprises a power collector for collecting power from an inductive power transfer system across a space, using as its primary emitters of power as varying magnetic flux one or more primary conductors capable of carrying an alternating electric current having an operating frequency, the power collector comprising at least one capacitance and at least one coil of one or more windings for intercepting the magnetic field from the one or more primary conductors, and at least one electrical load, characterised in that the capacitance is in series with the coil and the load, and the reactance of the series capacitance is substantially equal to the inductive reactance of the coil at the operating frequency.
In a subsidiary aspect the windings of the coil of the power collector are made of solid conductive metallic material.
In a further subsidiary aspect the electrical load comprises a device capable of immediately consuming the alternating current developed within the windings of the coil.
In an alternative subsidiary aspect the electrical load comprises a device capable of using power from a storage battery connected to the power collector.
In a yet further subsidiary aspect the load comprises a device capable of using the alternating current after a first conversion into direct current and a second conversion into a voltage or current of a regulated amplitude.
In a more direct subsidiary aspect the load comprises a DC motor capable of providing a motive power .
In a second main aspect the invention comprises a primary conductor (for use with a power collector), comprising an elongated loop formed from one or more turns of an insulated conductive cable of a type having, for the conductive portion, a low ratio of external surface are to volume.
In a related aspect the conductive cable may optionally comprise a superconductive material of a type capable of exhibiting a very low ohmic resistance when cooled to below its superconducting temperature.
In another aspect the invention provides an inductive power transfer system in combination with a power collector as previously described, said system comprising a source of alternating electric power having an operating frequency; a resonant primary; a vehicle having at least one said power collector mounted thereon; wherein said power collector comprises at least one capacitance and at least one coil of one or more windings for intercepting the magnetic field from the one or more primary conductors, and at least one electrical load, characterized in that the capacitance is in series with the coil and the load, and the reactance of the series capacitance is substantially equal to the inductive reactance of the coil at the operating frequency.
In another aspect at least one metallic rail may be used as a primary conductor, upon which a substantially non-conductive vehicle may be supported by at least one non-conductive support incapable of conducting an electric current from the rail.
In a further aspect the operating frequency of the source of alternating power used in this system lies in the range of from 30 Hz to 1 MHz.
More preferably the operating frequency of the source of alternating power is that of a

REFERENCES:
patent: 3914562 (1975-10-01), Bolger
patent: 4007817 (1977-02-01), Bolger, Jr.
patent: 4800328 (1989-01-01), Bolger et al.
patent: 5311973 (1994-05-01), Tseng et al.
patent: 5431264 (1995-07-01), Tseng et al.

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