U.S. patent application number 11/008640 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-28 for primary conductor arrangement for a system for the inductive transmission of electrical energy.
This patent application is currently assigned to WAMPFLER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT. Invention is credited to Green, Andrew.
Application Number | 20050161300 11/008640 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34796586 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050161300 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green, Andrew |
July 28, 2005 |
Primary conductor arrangement for a system for the inductive
transmission of electrical energy
Abstract
A primary conductor arrangement for a system for the inductive
transmission of electrical energy, wherein the conductor
arrangement includes an outgoing line and a return line that extend
parallel to one another and can be connected to a current source in
order to apply an electric current to the outgoing line and the
return line. The conductor arrangement is divided into a plurality
of adjacent sections, wherein each section contains an outgoing
line and a return line as well as connection lines that connect the
outgoing line and the return line. The sections are arranged
relative to one another such that two adjacent sections overlap in
a region near their connection line.
Inventors: |
Green, Andrew;
(Malsburg-Marzell, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLEIT KAIN GIBBONS GUTMAN BONGINI & BIANCO
COURVOISIER CENTRE II, SUITE 404
601 BRICKELL KEY DRIVE
MIAMI
FL
33131
US
|
Assignee: |
WAMPFLER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
WEIL AM RHEIN-MARKT
DE
|
Family ID: |
34796586 |
Appl. No.: |
11/008640 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11008640 |
Dec 9, 2004 |
|
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PCT/EP03/01777 |
Feb 21, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
190/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 5/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/010 |
International
Class: |
A47B 085/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 12, 2002 |
DE |
202 09 092.2 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A primary conductor arrangement for a system for the inductive
transmission of electrical energy, wherein the conductor
arrangement comprises an outgoing line and a return line that
extend parallel to one another and can be connected to a current
source in order to apply an electric current to the outgoing line
and the return line, characterized in that the conductor
arrangement is divided into a plurality of adjacent sections,
wherein each section contains an outgoing line and a return line as
well as connection lines that connect the outgoing line and the
return line, and in that the sections are arranged relative to one
another such that two adjacent sections overlap in a region near
their connection line.
2. The primary conductor arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that the length L of the overlapping region
approximately corresponds to the length of the connection
lines.
3. The primary conductor arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that the successive sections overlap in the
longitudinal direction of the primary conductor arrangement.
4. The primary conductor arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that the outgoing line and the return line of one
section lie on top of the outgoing line and the return line of the
adjacent section in the overlapping region.
5. The primary conductor arrangement according to claim 1,
characterized in that the free ends of one of the outgoing line and
the return line of each section are connected to a pair of supply
lines for connecting the one of the outgoing line and the return
line to a current source, wherein the supply lines extend
approximately perpendicular to the one of the outgoing line and
return line.
6. The primary conductor arrangement according to claim 5,
characterized in that the two supply lines of one section that form
a pair respectively contain a straight region and an adjacent
curved region, with the straight regions extending parallel to and
closely adjacent to one another, and with the curved regions of the
two supply lines crossing on top of one another.
7. A system for the inductive transmission of electrical energy,
with a primary conductor arrangement according to claim 1 for the
transmission of electrical energy to a consumer that can be
displaced along the primary conductor arrangement, wherein the
consumer contains an energy receiving unit for the inductive
reception of electrical energy from the magnetic field generated by
the primary conductor arrangement.
8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that each
section of the primary conductor arrangement is supplied with an
electric current by a separate current source.
9. The system according to claim 7 characterized by two
intersecting primary conductor arrangements, each comprising a
primary conductor arrangement for a system for the inductive
transmission of electrical energy, wherein the conductor
arrangement comprises an outgoing line and a return line that
extend parallel to one another and can be connected to a current
source in order to apply an electric current to the outgoing line
and the return line, characterized in that the conductor
arrangement is divided into a plurality of adjacent sections,
wherein each section contains an outgoing line and a return line as
well as connection lines that connect the outgoing line and the
return line, and in that the sections are arranged relative to one
another such that two adjacent sections overlap in a region near
their connection line, and wherein the overlapping regions of the
sections of each conductor arrangement lie outside an intersecting
region.
10. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that
resonance tuning is realized by respectively inserting at least one
tunable capacitor into the outgoing line and the return line of
each section of the conductor arrangement, wherein said tunable
capacitor is connected to one of the outgoing line and the return
line by means of branch lines, and wherein the branch lines of the
outgoing line and the branch lines of the return line are arranged
offset relative to one another by a distance A that is at least as
large as the electrically effective length of the energy receiving
unit of the consumer in the longitudinal direction as referred to
the primary conductor arrangement.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Patent
Application No. PCT/EP03/01777, filed Feb. 21, 2003, the contents
of which are here incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Applicant claims the benefit of 35 USC Section 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention pertains to a primary conductor arrangement
for a system for the inductive transmission of electrical
energy.
[0004] 2. Prior Art
[0005] Conductor arrangements for the contactless, inductive
transmission of energy, in which a primary circuit is formed by two
parallel lines that are spaced apart from one another by a certain
distance, are generally known from the prior art, for example,
according to DE 197 46 919 A1. A movable consumer that contains a
secondary circuit, for example, a ground transport vehicle, can be
displaced along such a primary conductor arrangement, wherein the
aforementioned secondary circuit serves for the inductive reception
of electrical energy from the magnetic field generated by the
current-carrying primary circuit.
[0006] Known primary conductor arrangements are formed by a
conductor loop that is installed along a line segment and connected
to a current source. The conductor loop consequently comprises an
outgoing line and a return line that are installed such that they
extend parallel to one another and are spaced apart by a certain
distance. The current source supplies the primary circuit thus
formed with a current, with the current flowing in opposite
directions in the outgoing line and the return line.
[0007] A sufficient energy density of the magnetic field generated
by the primary circuit can only be achieved along the conductor
arrangement with conventional current sources if the conductor
arrangements have a limited range, i.e., a limited length of the
outgoing line and the return line. However, an essentially
arbitrary length of the conductor arrangement is required,
particularly in the inductive energy supply of ground transport
vehicles in order to provide the vehicle with an appropriate range.
It would also be desirable to realize a largely homogenous field
strength distribution along the primary circuit, i.e., a largely
homogenous density of the magnetic field generated by the primary
circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Consequently, the invention is based on the objective of
developing a primary conductor arrangement for the inductive
transmission of electrical energy to a movable consumer enabling as
large a range as possible for the consumer that is displaceable
along the primary conductor arrangement, wherein a largely
homogenous field-strength distribution should be generated along
the primary conductor arrangement when a current is applied.
[0009] In a primary conductor arrangement according to the preamble
of claim 1, this objective is attained with the features disclosed
in the characterizing portion of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments
of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0010] The invention proposes to divide the conductor arrangement
into a plurality of adjacent sections, wherein each section
comprises an outgoing line and a return line as well as connection
lines that connect the outgoing line and the return line, and
wherein the sections are arranged relative to one another such that
two successive sections overlap in the region near their connection
line. The division of the primary circuit into several sections
makes it possible to achieve a sufficiently high magnetic field
density along the entire conductor arrangement since a current can
be separately applied to each section by a current source. The
overlap of the adjacent sections at their edges ensures a
homogenous field-strength distribution in this transition area. A
largely homogenous transition of the magnetic field-strength
distribution from one section to the adjacent section not only
ensures a uniform energy supply to the movable consumer along the
line segment of the primary circuit, but is also particularly
required if the magnetic field of the primary circuit is
simultaneously utilized for tracking the movable consumer along the
line segment.
[0011] The invention is described in greater detail below with
reference to embodiments that are illustrated in the appended
figures. The respective figures show:
[0012] a. FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a primary conductor
arrangement;
[0013] b. FIG. 2, a detailed oblique representation of the
overlapping region between two sections of the primary conductor
arrangement shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] c. FIG. 3, a detailed oblique representation of the
overlapping region between two sections of the primary conductor
arrangement shown in FIG. 1, with two current supply points near
the overlapping region;
[0015] d. FIG. 4, a detailed oblique representation of the
overlapping region between two sections of the primary conductor
arrangement shown in FIG. 1, with one current supply point near the
overlapping region;
[0016] e. FIG. 5, an oblique representation of an intersection
between the primary conductor arrangements according to FIG. 1,
and
[0017] f. FIG. 6, a detailed oblique representation of an outgoing
line and a return line of a section of the primary conductor
arrangement shown in FIG. 1, with tuning capacitors respectively
inserted into the outgoing line and the return line.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0018] g. FIG. 1 schematically shows a primary circuit for a system
for the inductive transmission of electrical energy that is formed
by a primary conductor arrangement 1 according to the invention,
said system being used for transmitting electrical energy to a
consumer that can be displaced along the primary conductor
arrangement 1. The primary conductor arrangement 1 is divided into
a plurality of adjacent sections (A-H). Each of these sections
(A-H) contains an outgoing line 2, a return line 3 and a connection
line 5 that connects the outgoing line and the return line. The
outgoing lines and the return lines of the sections (A-H) are
respectively identified by the reference symbols 2X, 3X and 5X in
FIG. 1, wherein X designates the respective conductor section
(A-H).
[0019] The outgoing lines 2 and the return lines 3 are arranged
parallel to one another in each section A-H, and the connection
lines 5 form the transition between the outgoing line 2 and the
return line 3. In this context, the term parallel arrangement of
the outgoing lines and the return lines refers to the outgoing line
and the return line 3 being spaced apart from one another by a
constant distance. The respective lines may extend straight, as
shown in sections A, C, E and G, or be bent in order to form a
curve, as shown in sections B, D, F and H. The cables that form the
primary conductor arrangement 1 are realized in the form of bunched
conductors. Each section (A-H) of the primary conductor arrangement
1 contains a current source 4 for applying a current to the
conductor loop of the respective section that is formed by the
outgoing line 2, the connection line 5 and the return line 3. In
the section identified by the reference symbol A in FIG. 1, the
outgoing line 2A is connected to a current source 4A via supply
lines 8A and 9A. The supply lines 8A, 9A extend approximately
perpendicular to the outgoing line 2A.
[0020] The other sections B-H are analogously provided with one
respective current source 4B, 4C, . . . 4H, wherein the current
sources are connected to either the outgoing line 2 or the return
line 3.
[0021] One respective adjacent section is situated on either side
of each section of the conductor arrangement, such that it forms an
extension of the outgoing line 2 and the return line 3,
respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For example, the section B
is situated to the right, and the section H is situated to the
left, of section A. Adjacent sections are arranged relative to one
another such that they overlap in an overlapping region 7 near the
respective connection line 5. This overlap is realized such that
the outgoing line 2X of one section extends directly above and
closely adjacent to the corresponding outgoing line 2X+1 of the
adjacent section in the overlapping region 7. This applies
analogously to the return lines 3 of adjacent sections within the
overlapping region 7.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of the overlapping
region 7 between two adjacent sections A, B. FIG. 2 indicates that
the length of the overlapping region 7 in the longitudinal
direction of the outgoing line and return line approximately
corresponds to the length of the respective connection lines 5A and
5B, which are curved in a semicircular shape. This is why the
conductor arrangement has the shape of a circular winding if it is
viewed from the top. However, the overlapping region 7 may also be
made larger, for example, approximately twice as large as the
length of the connection lines.
[0023] FIG. 3 also shows the overlapping region 7 between two
adjacent sections A and B, wherein current supply points for
applying a current to the outgoing lines 2A and 2B of the
respective sections A and B are provided in the vicinity of the
overlapping region 7. These current supply points are respectively
formed by supply lines 8B, 9B and 8A, 9A that branch off the
respective outgoing lines 2B and 2A and are connected to the
current source 4. The respective supply lines 8B, 9B and 8A, 9A
extend approximately perpendicular to the respective outgoing lines
2B and 2A. The supply lines 8, 9 are installed closely adjacent to
one another in plastic tubes 10. Alternatively to the plastic tubes
10, the supply lines 8 and 9 may also be installed closely adjacent
to one another by means of cable ties. Due to the perpendicular
alignment of the supply lines 8, 9 relative to the outgoing line 2,
undesirable magnetic interference fields are not generated by said
supply lines in the longitudinal direction of the outgoing line or
return line. The angled or bent section that respectively forms the
transition from the supply lines 8, 9 to the corresponding outgoing
line 2 and return line 3 is made as short as possible and bent in
the smallest radius possible without producing kinks in the cable.
In another embodiment that is not illustrated in the figures, the
two supply lines 8, 9 are installed such that they lie on top of
one another in the bent region. A largely homogenous field
distribution of the magnetic field generated by the
current-conducting conductor arrangement is achieved in this
fashion in the vicinity of the current supply points.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the current supply point
of a section B is arranged near the overlapping region 7. The
supply point of the adjacent section A, in contrast, is spaced
apart from the overlapping region 7 by a larger distance, and
consequently is no longer visible in the detail according to FIG.
4.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows an intersection of two primary conductor
arrangements 1a and 1b. According to this figure, the outgoing line
and the return line of two sections B.sub.1b and B.sub.1a of the
two primary conductor arrangements 1a and 1b intersect in an
intersecting region 11. The regions 7 overlapping with the
respective adjacent sections A.sub.1b and A.sub.1a of the
corresponding primary conductor arrangements 1a and 1b preferably
lie a sufficient distance from the intersecting region 11. In this
context, the term sufficient distance refers to at least the
electrically effective length of the secondary winding of the
energy receiving unit of the movable consumer.
[0026] In order to make it possible to tune the primary conductor
arrangement and the energy receiving unit of the movable consumer
that carries the secondary winding to resonance, at least one
tunable capacitor 12 is provided in each section (A-H) of the
primary conductor arrangement. FIG. 6 shows a detailed
representation of one section of a primary conductor arrangement.
One respective tunable capacitor 12 is inserted into the outgoing
line 2 as well as into the return line 3 via branch lines 13, 14;
15, 16. Relative to the branch lines 15, 16 of the return line 3,
the branch lines 13, 14 of the outgoing line 2 are arranged offset
relative to one another by a certain distance along the primary
conductor arrangement, said distance being at least as large as or
larger than the electrically effective length of the energy
receiving unit of the movable consumer.
* * * * *