Flexible Heat-Transfer Member for Wireless Power Systems

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless power-supplying systems face challenges in efficiently dissipating heat generated during wireless power transfer, particularly when the power-receiving and power-supplying devices are movable, as they require precise positioning to maintain heat transfer efficiency, which can be time-consuming and increases vehicle size due to cooling device requirements.

Innovation Solution

A heat-transfer device utilizing a flexible heat-transfer member with tiltability and extensibility, which includes a metal brush, spring member, or expansion-contraction member, implanted in a metal pipe with a refrigerant, to maintain thermal connection and high cooling capacity despite positional deviations between movable power-receiving and power-supplying devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a fan is mounted on the vehicle for cooling, then the cooling capability is improved, but the vehicle size is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling function is extracted from the vehicle and transferred to the power-supplying device. The flexible heat-transfer member enables heat to be conducted from the power-receiving coil in the vehicle to the power-supplying device's cooling system, eliminating the need for a fan-mounted cooling device on the vehicle itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of energy

If heat is transferred through contact between power-receiving and power-supplying devices, then cooling efficiency is improved, but positioning precision is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-transfer member is designed with flexibility to dynamically adapt to positional variations. The flexible material allows the heat transfer path to maintain thermal contact without requiring precise fixed positioning, accommodating movements and positioning errors while sustaining efficient heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible heat-transfer member is used to bridge the gap between the power-receiving and power-supplying devices. This flexible component can deform and conform to positional misalignments, maintaining thermal contact without requiring high positioning precision between the two devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible heat-transfer member is used, then adaptability to positional deviation is improved, but heat transfer efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible heat-transfer member is designed with optimized thermal parameters and physical properties to maintain high heat transfer efficiency despite its flexibility. By carefully selecting materials and dimensions, the system achieves both adaptability to positional deviations and sufficient thermal conductivity to prevent excessive energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient heat dissipation without the need for precise positioning, maintaining high cooling capacity and preventing heat transfer efficiency deterioration, even with positional deviations, thus allowing for effective cooling of wireless power-supplying systems without additional cooling devices on movable devices.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible heat-transfer member that transfers heat generated due to the wireless power supply, from one of the power-receiving device and the power-supplying device to the other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a metal pipe with a refrigerant, to maintain thermal connection and high cooling capacity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change heat absorption: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentUS9854709B2Heat-transfer device, power-supplying device, and wireless power-supplying system

Publication Date: 2017.12.26

AI summary

A wireless power-supply system (1) performing a wireless power supply between a vehicle (10) and a stop station (20), wherein the wireless power-supply system includes a heat-transfer device (30). The heat-transfer device (30) transfers heat generated due to the wireless power supply to the stop station (20) having high heat capacity from the vehicle (10) having low heat capacity. The heat-transfer device (30) includes a flexible heat-transfer member (32), in which the flexible heat-transfer member has tiltability in a moving direction of the vehicle (10).