EP3701618A1 - Appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles - Google Patents

Appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles

Info

Publication number
EP3701618A1
EP3701618A1 EP18807116.1A EP18807116A EP3701618A1 EP 3701618 A1 EP3701618 A1 EP 3701618A1 EP 18807116 A EP18807116 A EP 18807116A EP 3701618 A1 EP3701618 A1 EP 3701618A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electromagnetic induction
induction recharging
recharging element
appliance
fact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP18807116.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Giuseppe Simonazzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Meta System SpA
Original Assignee
Meta System SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meta System SpA filed Critical Meta System SpA
Publication of EP3701618A1 publication Critical patent/EP3701618A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/10—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles characterised by the energy transfer between the charging station and the vehicle
    • B60L53/12—Inductive energy transfer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/30—Constructional details of charging stations
    • B60L53/35—Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
    • B60L53/38—Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles specially adapted for charging by inductive energy transfer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/60—Monitoring or controlling charging stations
    • B60L53/65—Monitoring or controlling charging stations involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L53/00—Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/60—Monitoring or controlling charging stations
    • B60L53/66—Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J50/00—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
    • H02J50/90—Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70—Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/12—Electric charging stations
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/14—Plug-in electric vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/16—Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10—Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/16—Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/167—Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y04—INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS
    • Y04S—SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS
    • Y04S30/00—Systems supporting specific end-user applications in the sector of transportation
    • Y04S30/10—Systems supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles
    • Y04S30/14—Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles.
  • a number of appliances are known for recharging electric vehicles used both for recharging in the home and for recharging in specific service stations.
  • known recharging systems comprise a battery charger installed on an electric vehicle and connected to one or more batteries to be recharged.
  • the battery charger must be connected by means of appropriate electric connectors to DC/AC power supply means, such as, e.g., the electrical socket commonly used in domestic environments.
  • connection between the battery charger of the electric vehicle and the power supply means must be made by means of a specific power cable and appropriate connectors.
  • the battery charger starts charging the battery using the power supplied by the supply means.
  • the recharging system just described ensures the high-efficiency recharging of the battery of the electric vehicle, but it is not without drawbacks.
  • this system makes it indispensable to use an external power supply cable provided with an appropriate connector, which must be connected manually by the owner of the vehicle or by a skilled operator every time the battery has to be recharged and, on the contrary, must be disconnected every time the recharging operation has terminated.
  • connection and disconnection operations of the power supply cable are not always without risks, e.g., due to electrical faults and/or distraction errors in performing such operations.
  • Another drawback is due to the fact that if the power supply cable is unusable, e.g. because it is lost or broken, recharging the electric vehicle is not possible unless the vehicle is equipped with a replacement power supply cable.
  • connection of the power supply cable to the power supply means and/or to the battery charger may require the use of one or more adapters, especially if recharging is carried out at service stations where the connection standard used is different from that used in the home environment.
  • Induction recharging systems generally comprise two induction recharging assemblies: a first mobile induction recharging assembly mounted on the vehicle and a second fixed induction recharging assembly installed in the appropriate recharging stations, such as e.g., service stations or public car parks, or in domestic environments, as in the case of private garages.
  • the induction recharging assemblies each comprise a series of windings made of high electrical conductivity material, such as, e.g., copper.
  • the mobile induction recharging assembly is mounted under the chassis of the electric vehicle and is substantially facing the ground, while the fixed induction recharging assembly consists of a spiral made of conductive material, such as, e.g., copper, fixed or incorporated to the floor at the recharging stations and connected to AC power supply means.
  • conductive material such as, e.g., copper
  • the two induction recharging assemblies face each other when the vehicle is parked and the battery can be recharged simply by activating the fixed induction recharging assembly.
  • the current flowing this way generates a magnetic field which extends towards the vehicle parked on top of the fixed induction recharging assembly.
  • the magnetic field passes through the windings of the mobile induction recharging assembly to form an inductive coupling.
  • the inductive coupling established between the induction recharging assemblies allows the battery to be recharged without using auxiliary power cables and without the need to perform various manual operations that must be repeated at each recharging operation and which are repetitive and tedious over time.
  • the magnetic field passing through the fixed induction recharging assembly in turn generates a current that recharges the battery of the electric vehicle.
  • this recharging system is also susceptible to upgrading tied to the magnetic coupling between the induction recharging assemblies used in the recharging process.
  • the two induction recharging assemblies must face one another perfectly and be placed as close as possible to each other to ensure maximum inductive coupling and maximum recharging efficiency.
  • the driver must perform several maneuvers to ensure that the two induction recharging assemblies are facing each other correctly and that the battery is recharged quickly and efficiently.
  • fixed induction recharging assemblies generally require more or less invasive ground and/or power grid installation, which makes it difficult to move or reposition this type of recharging system.
  • the size of the fixed induction recharging assembly is generally such as to generate intense electromagnetic fields which, given the gap between the fixed induction recharging assembly and the mobile induction recharging assembly, are poorly directed, i.e. they propagate in space in substantially all directions.
  • the electromagnetic field generated in this way can cause serious problems of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in the electronic devices and circuits affected by it, without neglecting the risks to which the human body is subjected, e.g., that of the vehicle user, if subjected for long periods of time to very intense electromagnetic fields that propagate in free field.
  • EMC electromagnetic compatibility
  • the main aim of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which allows the two induction recharging assemblies to be precisely, accurately and automatically centered and juxtaposed in order to improve recharging efficiency.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which is easy to transport and to reposition according to needs without any special intervention by the user.
  • An additional object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which confines the propagation of electromagnetic fields within the induction recharging assemblies and avoids these propagating freely in space.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles, which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the scope of a simple, rational, easy, efficient to use and cost-effective solution.
  • Figure 1 is a general diagram of a first embodiment of the appliance according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a top view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a side view of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a side view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the detail of the appliance shown in Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 is a general diagram of a second embodiment of the appliance according to the invention.
  • Figure 7 is a top view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 6;
  • Figure 8 is a side view of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 9 is a side view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 6.
  • reference numeral 1 globally indicates an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles.
  • the appliance 1 comprises:
  • the electric vehicle 3 comprises a main chassis 7 provided with movement means 8, specifically wheels, for moving the electric vehicle 3 itself and resting it on the ground. Furthermore, the main chassis 7 comprises a lower portion 9 substantially facing the ground.
  • the electric vehicle 3 is composed of an electric car intended for road circulation and the alternating current supply means 6 substantially consist of an electric socket for domestic use.
  • appliance 1 is fitted to different types of electric vehicles, e.g., earthmoving machinery, or wherein the alternating current supply means 6 consist of another power source, e.g., of the type of a socket for industrial use.
  • alternating current supply means 6 consist of another power source, e.g., of the type of a socket for industrial use.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted onto the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3 and is substantially facing the ground.
  • the appliance 1 comprises automatic positioning means 10 of the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 with respect to the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4, the automatic positioning means 10 being configured to move and position the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 in the proximity of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
  • the automatic positioning means 10 comprise a robot 11 on which the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is fitted.
  • the robot 11 comprises a support frame 12 provided with a lower portion 13 arranged substantially facing the ground and an upper portion 14 substantially opposed the lower portion 13.
  • the support frame 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a flat lower face 13, arranged substantially parallel and facing the ground, and a flat upper face 14, substantially parallel and opposed the flat lower face 13.
  • the robot 11 comprises displacement means 15, in this case a plurality of wheels resting on the ground and associated with the lower portion 13 to allow the displacement of the robot 11 substantially in all directions.
  • the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is connected to the alternating current supply means 6 by means of a power cable 16 associated with the robot 11.
  • the power cable 16 is substantially an extension cable adapted to maintain the connection between the alternating current supply means 6 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 also when the robot 11 moves away from the alternating current supply means 6.
  • the distance off the ground of the upper portion 14 of the robot 11 is smaller than the distance off the ground of the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3. This way, the robot 11 can move freely underneath the electric vehicle 3 without the risk of becoming trapped.
  • the automatic positioning means 10 comprise at least one fine juxtaposition element 18, configured to precisely juxtapose the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 with the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
  • the support frame 12 comprises an opening 17 obtained on the upper portion 14, and the fine juxtaposition element 18 is composed of a telescopic cylinder housed inside the support frame 12 of the robot 11 through the opening 17.
  • the fine juxtaposition element 18 comprises a flat upper portion 19 arranged horizontally.
  • the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is placed in view on the flat upper portion 19 of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
  • the automatic positioning means 10 comprise an optical detection assembly 20 configured to detect the position of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
  • the optical detection assembly 20 may comprise at least one image detecting camera arranged facing from the upper portion 14 of the robot 11.
  • the automatic positioning means 10 comprise a short-range wireless communication assembly 21 configured to communicate and identify the electric vehicle 3.
  • the wireless communication assembly 21 comprises a first transceiver antenna 22 configured to communicate with a second transceiver antenna 23 fitted onto the electric vehicle 3.
  • the first transceiver antenna 22 and the second transceiver antenna 23 communicate via a short-range communication standard, such as e.g. Bluetooth.
  • a short-range communication standard such as e.g. Bluetooth.
  • radio frequency communication standard used is different.
  • communication can be implemented through a proprietary communication protocol.
  • the appliance 1 comprises a battery charger 24 of the electric charge accumulator 2, the battery charger 24 being provided with at least one input connectable to at least one alternating current supply assembly 25.
  • the battery charger 24 comprises:
  • At least one AC/DC conversion block 26 located inside the external container 39 and provided with at least one input connectable to the alternating current supply assembly 25, the conversion block 26 being configured to convert the voltage applied by the alternating current supply assembly 25;
  • At least one power factor correction unit 27 located inside the external container 39 and provided with at least one input connected downstream of the conversion block
  • the power factor correction unit 27 comprises a first conversion unit 28 which is adapted to perform an AC/DC voltage conversion.
  • the battery charger 24 comprises a second DC/DC conversion unit 29 connected in series to the first conversion unit 28 of the power factor correction unit 27.
  • the first conversion unit 28 is made outside the power factor correction unit 27, e.g. wherein it is a circuit block installed downstream of the power factor correction unit 27.
  • the battery charger 24 is fitted onto the electric vehicle 3 and is electrically connected to the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and to the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is connected at input to the power factor correction unit 27 of the battery charger 24.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is housed at least partly inside the external container 39 and comprises at least one external portion 40 located outside the external container 39 and connectable in contact with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5.
  • the external portion 40 is connected in direct contact with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 comprises at least a first ferromagnetic body 36 and at least a first electric conductor 38 wound at the first ferromagnetic body 36 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 comprises at least a second ferromagnetic body 32 and at least a second electric conductor 35 wound at the second ferromagnetic body 32, the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 being configured to produce at least one magnetic field 33 and the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 being configured to magnetically couple up with the magnetic field 33.
  • the ferromagnetic body comprises:
  • the external portion 40 comprises two first extremal sections 34 arranged substantially parallel to each other and coming out of the external container 39 as shown in detail in Figure 5.
  • the battery charger 24 is provided with a pair of openings made on the external container 39 so as to allow the first ferromagnetic body 36 to come out of the external container 39 with the first extremal sections 34.
  • the internal portion 41 comprises:
  • first electric conductor 38 is repeatedly wound around the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the conductor element 44 is repeatedly wound around the second ferromagnetic section 43 as shown in figure 5.
  • the internal portion 41 of the first ferromagnetic body 36 can comprise two longitudinal sections substantially parallel to each other and made respectively as an extension of a first extremal section 34 of the external portion 40.
  • first ferromagnetic section 42 and the second ferromagnetic section 43 are interposed between the longitudinal sections and arranged substantially parallel to each other to form a substantially rectangular structure.
  • the second ferromagnetic body 32 comprises two second extremal sections
  • the second electric conductor 35 is repeatedly wound around the second ferromagnetic body 32 as shown in figure 5.
  • the battery charger 24 is associated with the electric vehicle 3 with the first extremal sections 34 substantially overhanging from the vehicle 3 so as to extend towards the ground.
  • the second ferromagnetic body 32 is arranged with the convexity of the "C" facing the ground.
  • the battery charger 24 can be connected directly to the alternating current supply assembly 25 by means of a first connector 30 connected at input to the AC/DC conversion block and a second connector 31 , complementary to the first connector 30 and connected to the alternating current supply assembly 25.
  • the electric charge accumulator 2 can be charged in an alternative way, by manually connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31.
  • the alternating current supply assembly 25 substantially consists of an electric socket for home use.
  • the alternating current supply assembly 25 consists of another power source, such as e.g. a socket for industrial use.
  • the operation of the appliance 1 is as follows.
  • the first transceiver antenna 22 of the automatic positioning means 10 communicates with the second transceiver antenna 23 of the electric vehicle 3.
  • the second transceiver antenna 23 communicates to the first transceiver antenna 22 an identification code of the electric vehicle 3.
  • the automatic positioning means 10 recognize the electric vehicle 3 as a vehicle to be recharged and start operating.
  • the robot 11 approaches the electric vehicle 3 to recharge the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • the optical detection assembly 20 allows the automatic positioning means 10 to detect the position of the electric vehicle 3 and to guide the robot 11 below the lower portion 9.
  • the optical detection assembly 20 can be configured to detect a specific identification reference applicable at or in the proximity of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
  • the optical detection assembly 20 detects the position of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and allows the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 to be precisely positioned below the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4, each facing the other.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 are placed side by side by means of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
  • the flat upper portion 19 of the telescopic cylinder rises above the flat upper portion 14 of the robot 11 and moves closer to the electric vehicle 3 until it is juxtaposed with the lower portion 9 at the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
  • first extremal sections 34 of the first ferromagnetic body 36 are brought precisely into contact with the second extremal sections 37 of the second ferromagnetic body 32.
  • the direct contact between the first extremal sections 34 and the second extremal sections 37 allows maximizing the transfer of energy between the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 and consequently improving the recharging efficiency of the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • first ferromagnetic body 36 and the second ferromagnetic body 32 form a substantially closed body with a substantially "8" shape as shown in figure 4.
  • each winding of the second electric conductor 35 around the second ferromagnetic body 32 produces a magnetic field 33 which is added to that generated by the adjacent windings and extends outside the flat upper portion 19 and inside the external portion 40 of the first ferromagnetic body 36.
  • the field lines formed by the magnetic field 33 formed in this way are closed in passing through the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the second ferromagnetic section 43.
  • the magnetic field 33 passes through the windings of the first electric conductor 38 and, in particular, through the windings of the conductor element 44 in which it produces an induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) for recharging the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 form a transformer in which the primary winding is defined by the second electric conductor 35 and the secondary winding is defined by the conductor element 44.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 also forms a transformer in which the primary winding is defined by the first electric conductor 38 and the secondary winding is defined by the conductor element 44.
  • the first electric conductor 38 and the conductor element 44 are connected at input to the power factor correction unit 27 which carries out an AC/DC conversion of the induced e.m.f. through the first conversion unit 28 and corrects the power factor.
  • the second conversion unit 29 After the AC/DC conversion, the second conversion unit 29 performs a DC/DC conversion in order to obtain the voltage value necessary to charge the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • the second transceiver antenna 23 of the electric vehicle 3 communicates to the first transceiver antenna 22 of the automatic positioning means 10 that recharging has terminated.
  • the fine juxtaposition element 18 moves away from the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3 and returns inside the support frame 12 with the flat upper portion 19 arranged substantially coplanar to the flat upper face 14 of the robot 11.
  • the robot 11 moves through the displacement means 15 away from the electric vehicle 3 so as not to be a hindrance to the starting and displacing of the electric vehicle 3. More specifically, the automatic positioning means 10 use the optical detection assembly 20 to determine the position of the robot 11 and ensure that it is not below the electric vehicle 3 when the latter is started.
  • a further embodiment is shown in the figures from 6 to 9.
  • This embodiment differs from the previous one in terms of the arrangement of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and in the shape of the first ferromagnetic body 36.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted on the electric vehicle 3 and is located outside the external container 39 of the battery charger 24. More specifically, with reference to figure 9, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted on the electric vehicle 3 with the first ferromagnetic body 36 arranged in the proximity of the lower portion 9.
  • the first ferromagnetic body 36 is made with a "C" shape, substantially identical to the shape of the second ferromagnetic body 32, and is turned with the concavity of the "C" towards the ground.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 comprises only the first electric conductor 38 repeatedly wound around the first ferromagnetic body 36.
  • the juxtaposition of the second ferromagnetic body 32 to the first ferromagnetic body 36 is made easier, since the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 and the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 face the flat upper portion 19 and the lower portion 9 respectively, the juxtaposition of which is relatively simple.
  • An additional embodiment of the appliance 1 not shown in the drawing tables consists in making the fine juxtaposition element 18 with a projection of fixed length which extends starting from the flat upper portion 19 of the robot 11.
  • the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is arranged at a height above the ground which is greater than the height of the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3.
  • the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is mounted laterally to the electric vehicle 3 at a height above the ground substantially identical to the height above the ground of the flat upper portion 19.
  • first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 are arranged in such a way as to orient the concavity of the "C" shape of the first ferromagnetic body 36 and of the second ferromagnetic body 32 substantially to the side and facing towards the outside of the electric vehicle 3 and of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
  • Each of the previously described embodiments does not rule out the recharging of the electric charge accumulator 2 without the use of the robot 11, by connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31 or, in other words, substantially by connecting the electric charge accumulator 2 to the alternating current supply assembly 25.
  • the conversion block 26 of the battery charger 24 performs an AC/DC conversion of the voltage supplied at input by the alternating current supply assembly 25.
  • the output voltage from the conversion block 26 enters at input the second conversion unit 29, which performs a DC/DC conversion in such a way as to obtain the voltage value necessary to charge the electric charge accumulator 2.
  • the recharging of the electric charge accumulator 2 is carried out in an alternative way by manually connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31.
  • the automatic positioning means make it possible to facilitate the parking operations of the electric vehicle, since the first electromagnetic induction recharging element and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element face each other automatically.
  • the fine juxtaposition element and the outer portion of the first ferromagnetic body make possible the direct contact of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element, thus significantly increasing the recharging efficiency of the electric charge accumulator.
  • the positioning accuracy ensured by the automatic positioning means makes it possible to make a robot of small dimensions which makes the recharging appliance substantially portable.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
  • Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

The appliance (1) for recharging high-efficiency electric vehicles, comprising: an electric charge accumulator (2) fitted on an electric vehicle (3); a first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) for charging the electric charge accumulator (2), the first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) being fitted on the electric vehicle (3) and associated with the electric charge accumulator (2); a second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) connected to alternating current supply means (6), the second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) being configured to operate in conjunction with the first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) to recharge the electric charge accumulator (2); automatic positioning means (10) of the second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) with respect to the first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4), the automatic positioning means (10) being configured to move and position the second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) in the proximity the first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4).

Description

APPLIANCE FOR INDUCTION RECHARGING OF HIGH-EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles.
Background Art
A number of appliances are known for recharging electric vehicles used both for recharging in the home and for recharging in specific service stations.
In general, known recharging systems comprise a battery charger installed on an electric vehicle and connected to one or more batteries to be recharged.
The battery charger must be connected by means of appropriate electric connectors to DC/AC power supply means, such as, e.g., the electrical socket commonly used in domestic environments.
More specifically, the connection between the battery charger of the electric vehicle and the power supply means must be made by means of a specific power cable and appropriate connectors.
Once the connection has been made, the battery charger starts charging the battery using the power supplied by the supply means.
The recharging system just described ensures the high-efficiency recharging of the battery of the electric vehicle, but it is not without drawbacks.
In fact, this system makes it indispensable to use an external power supply cable provided with an appropriate connector, which must be connected manually by the owner of the vehicle or by a skilled operator every time the battery has to be recharged and, on the contrary, must be disconnected every time the recharging operation has terminated.
This involves, first of all, time consumption by the user who, in the case of a private individual who recharges at home, must also remember to carry out this operation of connection to the power supply network.
Furthermore, the connection and disconnection operations of the power supply cable are not always without risks, e.g., due to electrical faults and/or distraction errors in performing such operations.
Another drawback is due to the fact that if the power supply cable is unusable, e.g. because it is lost or broken, recharging the electric vehicle is not possible unless the vehicle is equipped with a replacement power supply cable.
Furthermore, the connection of the power supply cable to the power supply means and/or to the battery charger may require the use of one or more adapters, especially if recharging is carried out at service stations where the connection standard used is different from that used in the home environment.
The drawbacks which accompany the recharging systems described above are at least partly overcome by induction recharging systems.
Induction recharging systems generally comprise two induction recharging assemblies: a first mobile induction recharging assembly mounted on the vehicle and a second fixed induction recharging assembly installed in the appropriate recharging stations, such as e.g., service stations or public car parks, or in domestic environments, as in the case of private garages.
Generally, the induction recharging assemblies each comprise a series of windings made of high electrical conductivity material, such as, e.g., copper.
More specifically, the mobile induction recharging assembly is mounted under the chassis of the electric vehicle and is substantially facing the ground, while the fixed induction recharging assembly consists of a spiral made of conductive material, such as, e.g., copper, fixed or incorporated to the floor at the recharging stations and connected to AC power supply means.
This way, the two induction recharging assemblies face each other when the vehicle is parked and the battery can be recharged simply by activating the fixed induction recharging assembly.
In fact, after the activation of the fixed induction recharging assembly, the corresponding windings are crossed by the current supplied by the AC power supply means.
The current flowing this way generates a magnetic field which extends towards the vehicle parked on top of the fixed induction recharging assembly.
More specifically, the magnetic field passes through the windings of the mobile induction recharging assembly to form an inductive coupling.
The inductive coupling established between the induction recharging assemblies allows the battery to be recharged without using auxiliary power cables and without the need to perform various manual operations that must be repeated at each recharging operation and which are repetitive and tedious over time.
In fact, the magnetic field passing through the fixed induction recharging assembly in turn generates a current that recharges the battery of the electric vehicle.
This way, it is only necessary to park the vehicle on the appropriate recharging stations and activate the corresponding fixed induction recharging assembly to recharge the battery.
However, this recharging system is also susceptible to upgrading tied to the magnetic coupling between the induction recharging assemblies used in the recharging process.
In fact, the two induction recharging assemblies must face one another perfectly and be placed as close as possible to each other to ensure maximum inductive coupling and maximum recharging efficiency.
For this reason, the driver must perform several maneuvers to ensure that the two induction recharging assemblies are facing each other correctly and that the battery is recharged quickly and efficiently.
Moreover, between the fixed induction recharging assembly and the mobile induction recharging assembly there is always a gap that depends essentially on the height of the vehicle off the ground and is not negligible in terms of inductive coupling and recharging efficiency.
Moreover, generally, fixed induction recharging assemblies generally require more or less invasive ground and/or power grid installation, which makes it difficult to move or reposition this type of recharging system.
Furthermore, the size of the fixed induction recharging assembly is generally such as to generate intense electromagnetic fields which, given the gap between the fixed induction recharging assembly and the mobile induction recharging assembly, are poorly directed, i.e. they propagate in space in substantially all directions.
The electromagnetic field generated in this way, can cause serious problems of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) in the electronic devices and circuits affected by it, without neglecting the risks to which the human body is subjected, e.g., that of the vehicle user, if subjected for long periods of time to very intense electromagnetic fields that propagate in free field.
Description of the Invention
The main aim of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which allows the two induction recharging assemblies to be precisely, accurately and automatically centered and juxtaposed in order to improve recharging efficiency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which is easy to transport and to reposition according to needs without any special intervention by the user.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles which confines the propagation of electromagnetic fields within the induction recharging assemblies and avoids these propagating freely in space.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles, which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the scope of a simple, rational, easy, efficient to use and cost-effective solution.
The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles according to claim 1.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive embodiment of an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a general diagram of a first embodiment of the appliance according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a side view of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a side view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the detail of the appliance shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a general diagram of a second embodiment of the appliance according to the invention;
Figure 7 is a top view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side view of the appliance shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 9 is a side view of a detail of the appliance shown in Figure 6.
Embodiments of the Invention
With particular reference to these illustrations, reference numeral 1 globally indicates an appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles.
In particular, the appliance 1 according to the invention comprises:
at least one electric charge accumulator 2 fitted on an electric vehicle 3;
- at least a first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 for charging the electric charge accumulator 2, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 being fitted on the electric vehicle 3 and associated with the electric charge accumulator 2; at least a second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 connected to alternating current supply means 6, the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 being configured to operate in conjunction with the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 to recharge the electric charge accumulator 2.
The electric vehicle 3 comprises a main chassis 7 provided with movement means 8, specifically wheels, for moving the electric vehicle 3 itself and resting it on the ground. Furthermore, the main chassis 7 comprises a lower portion 9 substantially facing the ground.
With particular reference to the specific possible embodiments shown in the drawing tables, the electric vehicle 3 is composed of an electric car intended for road circulation and the alternating current supply means 6 substantially consist of an electric socket for domestic use.
Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the appliance 1 is fitted to different types of electric vehicles, e.g., earthmoving machinery, or wherein the alternating current supply means 6 consist of another power source, e.g., of the type of a socket for industrial use.
More specifically, with reference to the particular embodiment shown in figures from 1 to 5, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted onto the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3 and is substantially facing the ground.
Advantageously, the appliance 1 comprises automatic positioning means 10 of the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 with respect to the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4, the automatic positioning means 10 being configured to move and position the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 in the proximity of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
Preferably, the automatic positioning means 10 comprise a robot 11 on which the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is fitted.
The robot 11 comprises a support frame 12 provided with a lower portion 13 arranged substantially facing the ground and an upper portion 14 substantially opposed the lower portion 13.
With particular reference to the specific embodiment shown in the illustrations, the support frame 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with a flat lower face 13, arranged substantially parallel and facing the ground, and a flat upper face 14, substantially parallel and opposed the flat lower face 13.
Different types and conformations of the robot 11 cannot however be ruled out.
Moreover, the robot 11 comprises displacement means 15, in this case a plurality of wheels resting on the ground and associated with the lower portion 13 to allow the displacement of the robot 11 substantially in all directions.
The second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is connected to the alternating current supply means 6 by means of a power cable 16 associated with the robot 11.
Preferably, the power cable 16 is substantially an extension cable adapted to maintain the connection between the alternating current supply means 6 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 also when the robot 11 moves away from the alternating current supply means 6.
Advantageously, the distance off the ground of the upper portion 14 of the robot 11 is smaller than the distance off the ground of the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3. This way, the robot 11 can move freely underneath the electric vehicle 3 without the risk of becoming trapped.
Advantageously, the automatic positioning means 10 comprise at least one fine juxtaposition element 18, configured to precisely juxtapose the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 with the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
For example, with reference to a possible embodiment shown in the illustrations, the support frame 12 comprises an opening 17 obtained on the upper portion 14, and the fine juxtaposition element 18 is composed of a telescopic cylinder housed inside the support frame 12 of the robot 11 through the opening 17.
The fine juxtaposition element 18 comprises a flat upper portion 19 arranged horizontally. Advantageously, the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is placed in view on the flat upper portion 19 of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
Different embodiments of the fine juxtaposition element cannot however be ruled out, wherein these consist of different movement means of the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5.
The automatic positioning means 10 comprise an optical detection assembly 20 configured to detect the position of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
In particular, the optical detection assembly 20 may comprise at least one image detecting camera arranged facing from the upper portion 14 of the robot 11.
The automatic positioning means 10 comprise a short-range wireless communication assembly 21 configured to communicate and identify the electric vehicle 3.
In particular, the wireless communication assembly 21 comprises a first transceiver antenna 22 configured to communicate with a second transceiver antenna 23 fitted onto the electric vehicle 3.
Preferably, the first transceiver antenna 22 and the second transceiver antenna 23 communicate via a short-range communication standard, such as e.g. Bluetooth.
Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the radio frequency communication standard used is different. For example, communication can be implemented through a proprietary communication protocol.
Conveniently, the appliance 1 comprises a battery charger 24 of the electric charge accumulator 2, the battery charger 24 being provided with at least one input connectable to at least one alternating current supply assembly 25.
Furthermore, the battery charger 24 comprises:
- at least one external container 39 associable with the electric vehicle 3;
at least one AC/DC conversion block 26 located inside the external container 39 and provided with at least one input connectable to the alternating current supply assembly 25, the conversion block 26 being configured to convert the voltage applied by the alternating current supply assembly 25;
at least one power factor correction unit 27 located inside the external container 39 and provided with at least one input connected downstream of the conversion block
26.
Preferably, the power factor correction unit 27 comprises a first conversion unit 28 which is adapted to perform an AC/DC voltage conversion.
Furthermore, the battery charger 24 comprises a second DC/DC conversion unit 29 connected in series to the first conversion unit 28 of the power factor correction unit 27. Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the first conversion unit 28 is made outside the power factor correction unit 27, e.g. wherein it is a circuit block installed downstream of the power factor correction unit 27.
The battery charger 24 is fitted onto the electric vehicle 3 and is electrically connected to the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and to the electric charge accumulator 2.
Specifically, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is connected at input to the power factor correction unit 27 of the battery charger 24.
More in detail, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is housed at least partly inside the external container 39 and comprises at least one external portion 40 located outside the external container 39 and connectable in contact with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5.
In fact, when it is necessary to recharge the electric charge accumulator 2, the external portion 40 is connected in direct contact with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5.
In this way, the transfer of energy between the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is maximized with consequent improvement of the recharging efficiency of the electric charge accumulator 2.
Advantageously, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 comprises at least a first ferromagnetic body 36 and at least a first electric conductor 38 wound at the first ferromagnetic body 36 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 comprises at least a second ferromagnetic body 32 and at least a second electric conductor 35 wound at the second ferromagnetic body 32, the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 being configured to produce at least one magnetic field 33 and the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 being configured to magnetically couple up with the magnetic field 33.
Specifically, the ferromagnetic body comprises:
at least one internal portion 41 housed inside the battery charger 24 and at which is wound the first electric conductor 38 connected to the power factor correction unit 27; - at least one external portion 40 located externally to the battery charger 24 and connectable in contact with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element
5.
Conveniently, the external portion 40 comprises two first extremal sections 34 arranged substantially parallel to each other and coming out of the external container 39 as shown in detail in Figure 5.
Appropriately, the battery charger 24 is provided with a pair of openings made on the external container 39 so as to allow the first ferromagnetic body 36 to come out of the external container 39 with the first extremal sections 34.
Advantageously, the internal portion 41 comprises:
- at least a first ferromagnetic section 42 at which is wound the first electric conductor 38;
at least a second ferromagnetic section 43 associated with the first ferromagnetic section 42;
at least one conductor element 44 wound at the second ferromagnetic section 43 and connected to the power factor correction unit 27.
In particular, the first electric conductor 38 is repeatedly wound around the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the conductor element 44 is repeatedly wound around the second ferromagnetic section 43 as shown in figure 5.
With reference to figure 5, the internal portion 41 of the first ferromagnetic body 36 can comprise two longitudinal sections substantially parallel to each other and made respectively as an extension of a first extremal section 34 of the external portion 40.
Moreover, the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the second ferromagnetic section 43 are interposed between the longitudinal sections and arranged substantially parallel to each other to form a substantially rectangular structure.
Conveniently, the second ferromagnetic body 32 comprises two second extremal sections
37 and a rectilinear section interposed between the second extremal sections 37 to form a body with a substantially "C" shape.
Furthermore, in the same way as the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the second ferromagnetic section 43, the second electric conductor 35 is repeatedly wound around the second ferromagnetic body 32 as shown in figure 5.
Appropriately, the battery charger 24 is associated with the electric vehicle 3 with the first extremal sections 34 substantially overhanging from the vehicle 3 so as to extend towards the ground.
On the contrary, the second ferromagnetic body 32 is arranged with the convexity of the "C" facing the ground.
Conveniently, the battery charger 24 can be connected directly to the alternating current supply assembly 25 by means of a first connector 30 connected at input to the AC/DC conversion block and a second connector 31 , complementary to the first connector 30 and connected to the alternating current supply assembly 25.
In this way, the electric charge accumulator 2 can be charged in an alternative way, by manually connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31.
The alternating current supply assembly 25 substantially consists of an electric socket for home use.
Other embodiments cannot however be ruled out wherein the alternating current supply assembly 25 consists of another power source, such as e.g. a socket for industrial use. The operation of the appliance 1 is as follows.
When the electric vehicle 3 is parked in the proximity of the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5, the first transceiver antenna 22 of the automatic positioning means 10 communicates with the second transceiver antenna 23 of the electric vehicle 3.
More specifically, the second transceiver antenna 23 communicates to the first transceiver antenna 22 an identification code of the electric vehicle 3.
If the identification code is correct, the automatic positioning means 10 recognize the electric vehicle 3 as a vehicle to be recharged and start operating.
Consequently, the robot 11 approaches the electric vehicle 3 to recharge the electric charge accumulator 2.
More specifically, the optical detection assembly 20 allows the automatic positioning means 10 to detect the position of the electric vehicle 3 and to guide the robot 11 below the lower portion 9.
Advantageously, the optical detection assembly 20 can be configured to detect a specific identification reference applicable at or in the proximity of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
Furthermore, the optical detection assembly 20 detects the position of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and allows the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 to be precisely positioned below the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4, each facing the other.
Once arranged in this way, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 are placed side by side by means of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
More specifically, the flat upper portion 19 of the telescopic cylinder rises above the flat upper portion 14 of the robot 11 and moves closer to the electric vehicle 3 until it is juxtaposed with the lower portion 9 at the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4.
Once this position has been reached, the first extremal sections 34 of the first ferromagnetic body 36 are brought precisely into contact with the second extremal sections 37 of the second ferromagnetic body 32.
In particular, the direct contact between the first extremal sections 34 and the second extremal sections 37 allows maximizing the transfer of energy between the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 and consequently improving the recharging efficiency of the electric charge accumulator 2.
Advantageously, the first ferromagnetic body 36 and the second ferromagnetic body 32 form a substantially closed body with a substantially "8" shape as shown in figure 4.
In this position, the second electric conductor 35 is crossed by the current supplied by the alternating current supply means 6.
In particular, each winding of the second electric conductor 35 around the second ferromagnetic body 32 produces a magnetic field 33 which is added to that generated by the adjacent windings and extends outside the flat upper portion 19 and inside the external portion 40 of the first ferromagnetic body 36.
Advantageously, the field lines formed by the magnetic field 33 formed in this way are closed in passing through the first ferromagnetic section 42 and the second ferromagnetic section 43.
Moreover, the magnetic field 33 passes through the windings of the first electric conductor 38 and, in particular, through the windings of the conductor element 44 in which it produces an induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) for recharging the electric charge accumulator 2.
In particular, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 form a transformer in which the primary winding is defined by the second electric conductor 35 and the secondary winding is defined by the conductor element 44.
Furthermore, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 also forms a transformer in which the primary winding is defined by the first electric conductor 38 and the secondary winding is defined by the conductor element 44. What is more, the first electric conductor 38 and the conductor element 44 are connected at input to the power factor correction unit 27 which carries out an AC/DC conversion of the induced e.m.f. through the first conversion unit 28 and corrects the power factor.
After the AC/DC conversion, the second conversion unit 29 performs a DC/DC conversion in order to obtain the voltage value necessary to charge the electric charge accumulator 2.
When the electric charge accumulator 2 is charged, the second transceiver antenna 23 of the electric vehicle 3 communicates to the first transceiver antenna 22 of the automatic positioning means 10 that recharging has terminated.
Consequently, the fine juxtaposition element 18 moves away from the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3 and returns inside the support frame 12 with the flat upper portion 19 arranged substantially coplanar to the flat upper face 14 of the robot 11.
Finally, the robot 11 moves through the displacement means 15 away from the electric vehicle 3 so as not to be a hindrance to the starting and displacing of the electric vehicle 3. More specifically, the automatic positioning means 10 use the optical detection assembly 20 to determine the position of the robot 11 and ensure that it is not below the electric vehicle 3 when the latter is started.
A further embodiment is shown in the figures from 6 to 9.
This embodiment differs from the previous one in terms of the arrangement of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and in the shape of the first ferromagnetic body 36.
Conveniently, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted on the electric vehicle 3 and is located outside the external container 39 of the battery charger 24. More specifically, with reference to figure 9, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is fitted on the electric vehicle 3 with the first ferromagnetic body 36 arranged in the proximity of the lower portion 9.
Furthermore, the first ferromagnetic body 36 is made with a "C" shape, substantially identical to the shape of the second ferromagnetic body 32, and is turned with the concavity of the "C" towards the ground.
What is more, in this embodiment, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 comprises only the first electric conductor 38 repeatedly wound around the first ferromagnetic body 36.
The operation of this embodiment is substantially identical to the previous embodiment, except for the fact that the first ferromagnetic body 36 and the second ferromagnetic body 32 do not come into contact with each other to recharge the electric charge accumulator 2, but they are only juxtaposed at close range. In this way, the realization of the appliance 1 is simplified compared to the first described embodiment.
For example, the juxtaposition of the second ferromagnetic body 32 to the first ferromagnetic body 36 is made easier, since the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 and the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 face the flat upper portion 19 and the lower portion 9 respectively, the juxtaposition of which is relatively simple.
An additional embodiment of the appliance 1 not shown in the drawing tables consists in making the fine juxtaposition element 18 with a projection of fixed length which extends starting from the flat upper portion 19 of the robot 11.
In this way, the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 is arranged at a height above the ground which is greater than the height of the lower portion 9 of the electric vehicle 3.
Appropriately, in this embodiment, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 is mounted laterally to the electric vehicle 3 at a height above the ground substantially identical to the height above the ground of the flat upper portion 19.
Furthermore, the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5 are arranged in such a way as to orient the concavity of the "C" shape of the first ferromagnetic body 36 and of the second ferromagnetic body 32 substantially to the side and facing towards the outside of the electric vehicle 3 and of the fine juxtaposition element 18.
The operation of this embodiment is substantially identical to that of the previously described embodiment, except for the fact that the robot 11 does not have to arrange itself underneath the electric vehicle 3 for the first electromagnetic induction recharging element 4 to correctly face the second electromagnetic induction recharging element 5, but simply has to be placed sideways to the electric vehicle 3.
Each of the previously described embodiments does not rule out the recharging of the electric charge accumulator 2 without the use of the robot 11, by connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31 or, in other words, substantially by connecting the electric charge accumulator 2 to the alternating current supply assembly 25.
More specifically, the conversion block 26 of the battery charger 24 performs an AC/DC conversion of the voltage supplied at input by the alternating current supply assembly 25. The output voltage from the conversion block 26 enters at input the second conversion unit 29, which performs a DC/DC conversion in such a way as to obtain the voltage value necessary to charge the electric charge accumulator 2.
In this way, in the event of its not being possible to use the automatic positioning means 10, the recharging of the electric charge accumulator 2 is carried out in an alternative way by manually connecting the first connector 30 to the second connector 31.
It has, in practice, been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.
In particular, the fact is underlined that the automatic positioning means make it possible to facilitate the parking operations of the electric vehicle, since the first electromagnetic induction recharging element and the second electromagnetic induction recharging element face each other automatically.
Furthermore, the fine juxtaposition element and the outer portion of the first ferromagnetic body make possible the direct contact of the first electromagnetic induction recharging element with the second electromagnetic induction recharging element, thus significantly increasing the recharging efficiency of the electric charge accumulator.
This also allows the electromagnetic field to be confined within the first and the second electromagnetic induction recharging elements without its being propagated freely in space.
What is more, the positioning accuracy ensured by the automatic positioning means makes it possible to make a robot of small dimensions which makes the recharging appliance substantially portable.

Claims

1) Appliance (1) for recharging high-efficiency electric vehicles, comprising:
at least one electric charge accumulator (2) fitted on an electric vehicle (3);
at least a first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) for charging said electric charge accumulator (2), said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) being fitted on said electric vehicle (3) and associated with said electric charge accumulator (2);
at least a second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) connected to alternating current supply means (6), said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) being configured to operate in conjunction with said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) to recharge said electric charge accumulator (2);
characterized by the fact that it comprises automatic positioning means (10) of said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) with respect to said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4), said automatic positioning means (10) being configured to move and position said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) in the proximity of said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4).
2) Appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said automatic positioning means (10) comprise a robot (11) on which said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) is fitted.
3) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said automatic positioning means (10) comprise at least one fine juxtaposition element (18), configured to precisely juxtapose said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) with said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4). 4) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said automatic positioning means (10) comprise an optical detection assembly (20) configured to detect the position of said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4).
5) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said automatic positioning means (10) comprise a short-range wireless communication assembly (21) configured to communicate and identify said electric vehicle (3).
6) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a battery charger (24) of said electric charge accumulator (2), said battery charger (24) being provided with at least one input connectable to at least one alternating current supply assembly (25). 7) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said battery charger (24) comprises:
at least one external container (39) associable with said electric vehicle (3);
at least one AC/DC conversion block (26) located inside said external container (39) and provided with at least one input connectable to said alternating current supply assembly (25), said conversion block (26) being configured to convert the voltage applied by said alternating current supply assembly (25);
at least one power factor correction unit (27) located inside said external container (39) and provided with at least one input connected downstream of said conversion block (26).
8) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) comprises at least a first ferromagnetic body (36) and at least a first electric conductor (38) wound at said first ferromagnetic body (36) and said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) comprises at least a second ferromagnetic body (32) and at least a second electric conductor (35) wound at said second ferromagnetic body (32), said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) being configured to produce at least one magnetic field (33) and said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) being configured to magnetically couple up with said magnetic field (33).
9) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) is connected at input to said power factor correction unit (27) of the battery charger (24).
10) Appliance (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) is housed at least partly inside said external container (39) and comprises at least one external portion (40) located outside said external container (39) and connectable in contact with said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5).
11) Appliance (1) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that said first ferromagnetic body comprises:
- at least one internal portion (41) housed inside said battery charger (24) and at which is wound said first electric conductor (38) connected to said power factor correction unit (27);
said external portion (40) located externally to said battery charger (24) and connectable in contact with said second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5).
12) Appliance (1) according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that said internal portion (41) comprises:
at least a first ferromagnetic section (42) at which is wound said first electric conductor (38);
at least a second ferromagnetic section (43) associated with said first ferromagnetic section (42);
at least one conductor element (44) wound at said second ferromagnetic section (43) and connected to said power factor correction unit (27).
13) Appliance (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) is fitted on said electric vehicle (3) and located outside said external container (39) of said battery charger (24).
14) High-efficiency wireless battery charger (45) comprising:
at least one external container (39) associable with an electric vehicle (3);
at least one AC/DC conversion block (26) located inside said external container (39) and provided with at least one input connectable to an alternating current supply assembly (25), said conversion block (26) being configured to convert the voltage applied by said alternating current supply assembly (25);
at least one power factor correction unit (27) located inside said external container (39) and provided with at least one input connected downstream of said conversion block (26);
characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4) for recharging said electric vehicle (3), housed at least partly inside said external container (39) and connected to said power factor correction unit (27), said first electromagnetic induction recharging element (4), being provided with at least one external portion (40) located outside said external container (39) and connectable in contact with at least a second electromagnetic induction recharging element (5) to charge said electric vehicle (3).
15) Battery charger (45) according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that said internal portion (41) comprises:
at least a first ferromagnetic section (42) at which is wound said first electric conductor (38);
at least a second ferromagnetic section (43) associated with said first ferromagnetic section (42);
at least one conductor element (44) wound at said second ferromagnetic section (43) and connected to said power factor correction unit (27).
EP18807116.1A 2017-10-24 2018-10-23 Appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles Withdrawn EP3701618A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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IT102017000120754A IT201700120754A1 (en) 2017-10-24 2017-10-24 EQUIPMENT FOR INDUCTION CHARGING OF HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
PCT/IB2018/058249 WO2019082076A1 (en) 2017-10-24 2018-10-23 Appliance for induction recharging of high-efficiency electric vehicles

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