Inductive Power Supply Unit for Rapid Vehicle Battery Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric vehicle charging solutions face challenges such as lengthy charging times, space constraints for inductive charging systems, and the difficulty of exchanging heavy batteries, which hinder the adoption of electric vehicles due to increased downtime and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
An energy supply unit designed as an encapsulated, exchangeable overall unit with an on-board network primary coil for inductive energy transmission, allowing for rapid and contact-free charging and exchange, utilizing a secondary coil for energy transfer and integrating the energy storage within a space-saving arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the vehicle battery is replaced with a charged battery, then the charging time is reduced to minutes, but the battery weight makes it difficult to exchange and requires towing to exchange stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy storage device with an inductive charging system (secondary coil) into an integrated exchangeable unit. This allows the battery to be quickly swapped while maintaining inductive charging capability, resolving the contradiction between rapid replacement and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The inductive charging system acts as an intermediary that enables energy transfer without direct mechanical or electrical contacts. This eliminates the need for heavy-duty mechanical handling mechanisms while still providing rapid charging capability during exchange.
2Speed
If the vehicle battery is charged inductively with a secondary coil on the underside, then charging speed improves, but the space required on the vehicle underside prevents combination with replaceable batteries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the secondary coil for inductive charging with the replaceable energy storage device into a single integrated unit. This combination allows both functions (rapid inductive charging and easy replacement) to coexist in the same space, eliminating the space conflict.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the battery is installed in the engine compartment with a coil-shaped conductor arrangement, then inductive charging is enabled, but the limited space results in poor magnetic coupling and high transmission losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the coil-shaped conductor arrangement with a flat secondary coil design. This substitution improves magnetic coupling efficiency and reduces transmission losses while maintaining inductive charging functionality, addressing the energy loss problem.
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 quick and safe energy replenishment, reducing downtime to comparable levels with fuel-based refueling, while preventing dust and moisture ingress and eliminating the need for mechanical contacts, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an on-board network primary coil for inductive energy transmission between the on-board network primary coil and the connection counterpart designed as an on-board network secondary coil
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 4a~4g
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy supply unit (1; 21) for supplying an onboard electrical system (8) of a land vehicle (26), in particular a wheeled vehicle, with a rechargeable electric energy accumulator (3), a secondary coil (9) connected thereto for the inductive energy transmission between the secondary coil (9), and a primary coil (28) of a charging station, to a land vehicle comprising an onboard electrical system, to a replacement station, and to a method for replacing an energy supply unit contained in a land vehicle. The invention solves the problem of making it possible to achieve a space-saving arrangement of the electrical energy accumulator and secondary coil in the vehicle, charge the electric energy accumulator in the land vehicle and quickly replace the electric energy accumulator, by an energy supply unit (1; 21), which is designed as a replaceable overall unit having a connecting element (6; 23) for connecting to a mating connecting piece (7; 24) disposed on the land vehicle (26) for the energy transmission between the energy supply unit (1; 21) and the onboard system (8), and by a corresponding land vehicle, a corresponding replacement station, and a corresponding method for replacing an energy supply unit contained in a land vehicle.