Inductive Charging Winding Alignment via Magnetic Self-Centering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for charging electric motor vehicle batteries by induction face challenges in optimizing efficiency and reducing electromagnetic radiation, with complex mechanical systems and risk of deterioration due to mechanical matching requirements.

Innovation Solution

A device that uses supports with movable elements to center the primary winding relative to the secondary winding, leveraging the vehicle's weight to adjust the position and employing a movement multiplier system for precise alignment, thus simplifying and enhancing the positioning process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical devices with funnel guides are used to guide and position the windings, then the positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases and mechanical matching requirements create risk of deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical guidance systems with a magnetic field-based positioning system. The primary and secondary windings are equipped with magnets that interact magnetically to automatically center and align the windings during charging, eliminating the need for mechanical funnel guides and their associated complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The windings perform their own positioning through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces. The magnetic interaction between primary and secondary windings creates self-centering and self-aligning effects, allowing the system to automatically correct positioning without external mechanical guidance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the primary winding is positioned close to the ground to reduce electromagnetic radiation, then the harmful radiation is reduced, but the positioning accuracy relative to the secondary winding becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic radiationVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic interaction between primary and secondary windings provides continuous feedback for positioning. The magnetic forces automatically adjust the relative positions of the windings to maintain optimal alignment, even when the primary winding is positioned close to the ground, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while reducing electromagnetic radiation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The solution achieves efficient battery charging with minimized electromagnetic radiation, providing a technologically simple, cost-effective, and precise method for aligning the primary and secondary windings, adaptable to various vehicle positions.

Implementation Method 1

a primary winding connected to a source of electrical energy and included in a casing, the primary winding being suitable to produce an inductive coupling with a secondary winding connected to the batteries of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2803524B1Device for inductive charging of the batteries of an electric motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP2803524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2803524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2803524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This inductive charging device for the batteries (40) of an electric motor vehicle (31) comprises a primary winding (16) connected to an electrical power source (14) and contained within a housing (18). The primary winding (16) is capable of inductive coupling with a secondary winding (37) connected to the vehicle's batteries (40), and the housing is positioned near the ground (S). The device includes at least one support (12a, 12b) for receiving at least one wheel (30a, 30b) of the vehicle. Each support is positioned on the ground and comprises at least one first element (48) capable, when the support (12a, 12b) to which it belongs is in contact with the wheel (30a, 30b), of moving towards the ground.Furthermore, the device includes for each support connecting means (24a, 26a, 28a, 24b, 26b, 28b) between each first element (48) and the mobile case (18) which are able, depending on the displacement of each first element, to act on the position of the case (18) relative to the secondary winding (37), along a transverse axis (X2) of rotation of the wheels (30a, 30b).