US 10,320,238 B2Granted

Inductive power transmission for electrical devices

AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited

InventorsJoseph Michael Manahan, Scott J. Bowen

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Abstract

An electrical system that includes an enclosure and a power source located outside the enclosure and generating a first current. The electrical system can also include a transmitting inductor located within the enclosure and electrically connected to the power source, where the first current generated by the power source flows through the transmitting inductor. The electrical system can further include a receiving inductor positioned proximate to the transmitting inductor within the enclosure, where the first current flowing through the transmitting inductor induces a second current to flow through the receiving inductor. The electrical system can also include a device located within the enclosure and electrically connected to the receiving inductor, wherein the second current induced in the receiving conductor powers the device.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrical connector, comprising:

a first connector end comprising:
a first sleeve that forms a first cavity with a first open end;
a first insulator disposed within the first cavity;
a plurality of first conductors positioned within the first insulator;
and
a plurality of transmitting inductors coupled to a distal end of the plurality of first conductors, wherein the plurality of transmitting inductors are positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve;
and
a second connector end mechanically coupled to the first connector end and comprising:
a second sleeve that forms a second cavity with a second open end;
a second insulator disposed within the second cavity;
a plurality of second conductors positioned within the second insulator;
and
a plurality of receiving inductors coupled to a distal end of the plurality of second conductors, wherein the plurality of receiving inductors are positioned proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve,
wherein the plurality of transmitting inductors and the plurality of receiving inductors are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the plurality of second conductors are configured to be coupled to at least one electrical device at their proximal end, wherein the at least one electrical device operates on multi-phase power induced through the plurality of receiving inductors.

12 more elements

A system comprising:

a power source that generates a first current;
an electrical connector electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the electrical connector comprises:
a first connector end comprising:
a first sleeve that forms a first cavity with a first open end;
a first insulator disposed within the first cavity;
at least one first conductor positioned within the first insulator, wherein the first current flows through the at least one first conductor;
and
at least one transmitting inductor coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein the first current further flows through the at least one transmitting inductor, wherein the at least one transmitting inductor is positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve;
and
a second connector end mechanically coupled to the first connector end and comprising:
a second sleeve that forms a second cavity with a second open end;
a second insulator disposed within the second cavity;
at least one receiving inductor disposed within the second insulator proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve, wherein the first current flowing through the at least one transmitting inductor induces a second current to flow through the at least one receiving inductor;
and
at least one second conductor coupled to the at least one receiving inductor, wherein the second current flows from the at least one receiving inductor through the at least one second conductor;
and
a device electrically coupled to the at least one second conductor, wherein the second current flows through the device to provide power to the device,
wherein the at least one transmitting inductor and the at least one receiving inductor are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the first connector end and the second connector end are separable from each other,
wherein the device is maintainable without interrupting the power source by separating the first connector end from the second connector end.

17 more elements

A system comprising:

a power source that generates a first current having a first phase and a second phase;
an electrical connector electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the electrical connector comprises:
a first connector end comprising:
a first sleeve that forms a first cavity with a first open end;
a first insulator disposed within the first cavity;
a first conductor positioned within the first insulator, wherein the first phase of the first current flows through the first conductor;
a second conductor positioned within the first insulator, wherein the second phase of the first current flows through the second conductor;
a first transmitting inductor coupled to the first conductor, wherein the first phase of the first current further flows through the first transmitting inductor, wherein the first transmitting inductor is positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve;
a second transmitting inductor coupled to the second conductor, wherein the second phase of the first current further flows through the second transmitting inductor, wherein the second transmitting inductor is positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve;
and
a second connector end mechanically coupled to the first connector end and comprising:
a second sleeve that forms a second cavity with a second open end;
a second insulator disposed within the second cavity;
a first receiving inductor disposed within the second insulator proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve, wherein the first phase of the first current flowing through the first transmitting inductor induces a first phase of a second current to flow through the first receiving inductor;
a second receiving inductor disposed within the second insulator proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve, wherein the second phase of the first current flowing through the second transmitting inductor induces a second phase of the second current to flow through the second receiving inductor;
a third conductor coupled to the first receiving inductor, wherein the first phase of the second current flows through the third conductor;
and
a fourth conductor coupled to the second receiving inductor, wherein the second phase of the second current flows through the fourth conductor;
and
at least one device electrically coupled to the third conductor and the fourth conductor, wherein the first phase and the second phase of the second current flows through the at least one device to provide power to the at least one device,
wherein the first transmitting inductor and the first receiving inductor are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the second transmitting inductor and the second receiving inductor are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the first connector end and the second connector end are separable from each other.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/262,662Filed 12 Sep 2016 · division
Priority: 5 Mar 2013
Published: US 2017/0004922 A15 Jan 2017
Granted: 11 Jun 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H02J 50/12
Using inductive coupling: of the resonant type
H01F 27/02
Details of transformers or inductances, in general: casings
H01F 38/14
Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions: inductive couplings
H02J 50/40
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: using two or more transmitting or receiving devices

Family

Application13/786,246Parent of this division · filed 5 Mar 2013
US 2017/0004922 A1Pre-grant publication · published 5 Jan 2017
US 9,509,146 B2Parent of this division
US 2014/0256188 A1Published application
US 10,320,238 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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