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US5216402A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Separable inductive coupler

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1992-01-22
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2012-01-22
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Abstract

Abstract A separable inductive coupler for transferring electrical power across a dielectric medium using magnetic induction. Its coil geometry allows for easy disassembly of primary and secondary circuits. When primary and secondary coils are mated, an extremely low leakage inductance transformer is formed. This provides for good high frequency operation at high power density. The coupler allows electrical power transfer without metal-to-metal contact. The design allows easy removal of the primary or secondary coil from the transformer. The coil geometry has very low leakage inductance and very low high-frequency resistance which allows high frequency operation. The power transfer density is much higher than previously achieved with separable inductive couplers. Approximately 6000 watts has been transferred through a version of the present separable inductive coupler having a volume of 25.8 cubic inches, yielding a power density of 230 Watts/cubic inch. The coupler is adapted to provide a safe, convenient and weatherproof device for coupling power to a load, such as an electric vehicle to recharge its propulsion battery.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul F. Carosa

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 22:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L53/00; B60L53/10; B60L53/12; B60L53/30; B60L53/34; H; H01; H01F; H01F38/00; H01F38/14; B60L2210/00; B60L2210/30; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/90; B60Y2200/91; B60Y2300/00; B60Y2300/91; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/12; Y02T90/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S336/00; Y10S336/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a primary winding having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections, each core section having a secondary winding disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a primary winding having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections, each core section having a secondary winding disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 1 which further comprises: insulating material encapsulating each of the respective primary and secondary windings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 2 wherein the insulating material comprises nylon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 1 wherein the respective coils are comprised of copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 4 wherein the respective coils are wound in a relatively flat helix shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 1 wherein the first and second matable magnetic core sections comprise ferrite material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 1 which further comprises: opening means for opening and closing the secondary core halves of the coupler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 73 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 7 wherein the opening means comprises: a moveable member attached to the upper core section; means for moving the moveable member up and down relative to the lower core section so as to alternatively mate and separate the upper core section from the lower core section; and tensioning means coupled to the moveable member for keeping the upper and lower core sections together when they are mated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 160 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a primary winding having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, a first insulating material encapsulating the primary winding, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections, each core section having a secondary winding disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, a second insulating material encapsulating each of the secondary windings, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 160 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a primary winding having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, a first insulating material encapsulating the primary winding, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections, each core section having a secondary winding disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, a second insulating material encapsulating each of the secondary windings, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 9 wherein the first and second insulating materials comprise nylon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 9 wherein the respective coils are comprised of copper.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 11 wherein the respective coils are wound in a relatively flat helix shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 9 wherein the first and second matable magnetic core sections comprise ferrite material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 9 which further comprises: opening means for opening and closing the secondary core halves of the coupler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 73 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 14 wherein the opening means comprises: a moveable member attached to the upper core section; means for moving the moveable member up and down relative to the lower core section so as to alternatively mate and separate the upper core section from the lower core section; and tensioning means coupled to the moveable member for keeping the upper and lower core sections together when they are mated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 180 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a copper primary winding having a relatively flat helix shape and having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, a first insulating material encapsulating the primary winding, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections that each comprise ferrite material, each core section having a copper secondary winding having a relatively flat helix shape disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, a second insulating material encapsulating each of the secondary windings, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 180 words
A separable inductive coupler comprising: a removable primary coil comprising a housing having a handle, a copper primary winding having a relatively flat helix shape and having an opening therein that is disposed in the housing, a first insulating material encapsulating the primary winding, and an electrical cable coupled to the primary winding that is adapted to couple power thereto from an external power source; and a secondary coil comprising first and second matable magnetic core sections that each comprise ferrite material, each core section having a copper secondary winding having a relatively flat helix shape disposed therein that is couplable to a battery, a second insulating material encapsulating each of the secondary windings, the first and second matable magnetic core sections being separable to provide for open and closed positions, and wherein the primary coil is insertable between the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections when they are in the open position, and wherein the primary and secondary coils form a transformer when the respective first and second matable magnetic core sections are in the closed position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 16 wherein the first and second insulating materials comprise nylon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 23 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 16 which further comprises: opening means for opening and closing the secondary core halves of the coupler.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 73 words
The separable inductive coupler of claim 18 wherein the opening means comprises: a moveable member attached to the upper core section; means for moving the moveable member up and down relative to the lower core section so as to alternatively mate and separate the upper core section from the lower core section; and tensioning means coupled to the moveable member for keeping the upper and lower core sections together when they are mated.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3346828A Cited
US3430174A Cited
US4362990A Cited
US4543556A Cited
US4833437A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-05-31 1996-11-30 1997-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-05-31 2000-11-30 2001-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-05-31 2004-11-30 2005-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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