GB2502820A - Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles - Google Patents

Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2502820A
GB2502820A GB1210143.2A GB201210143A GB2502820A GB 2502820 A GB2502820 A GB 2502820A GB 201210143 A GB201210143 A GB 201210143A GB 2502820 A GB2502820 A GB 2502820A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
power coupling
stationary
vehicles
transport system
inductive power
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Withdrawn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
GB1210143.2A
Other versions
GB201210143D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew Dames
Andrew Howe
Timothy Norris
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.)
Ampium Ltd
Original Assignee
Ampium Ltd
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 Ampium Ltd filed Critical Ampium Ltd
Priority to GB1210143.2A priority Critical patent/GB2502820A/en
Publication of GB201210143D0 publication Critical patent/GB201210143D0/en
Publication of GB2502820A publication Critical patent/GB2502820A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION 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
    • B60L5/00Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles
    • B60L5/005Current collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION 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
    • B60L50/00Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
    • B60L50/40Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION 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
    • B60L53/00Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
    • B60L53/10Methods 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
    • B60L53/12Inductive energy transfer
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60MPOWER SUPPLY LINES, AND DEVICES ALONG RAILS, FOR ELECTRICALLY- PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60M7/00Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway
    • B60M7/003Power lines or rails specially adapted for electrically-propelled vehicles of special types, e.g. suspension tramway, ropeway, underground railway for vehicles using stored power (e.g. charging stations)
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60LPROPULSION 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
    • B60L2200/00Type of vehicles
    • B60L2200/26Rail vehicles
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/70Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/60Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
    • Y02T10/7072Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
    • YGENERAL 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
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T90/00Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02T90/10Technologies relating to charging of electric vehicles
    • Y02T90/14Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A transport system 110 for transporting passengers and/or freight includes a guide rail arrangement 70 for guiding one or more vehicles 20A, 20B. The system includes an inductive power coupling arrangement 120, 130 for coupling power in a non-contact inductive manner to the one or more vehicles. One or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus 130 is disposed along at least one side of a lane of the guide rail arrangement, extending upwardly for projecting an alternating magnetic field towards one or more side regions of the vehicles. One or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus 120 is disposed along one or more sides of the vehicles for receiving power from the stationary inductive power coupling apparatus. The stationary power coupling apparatus my be disposed in a manner akin to a fence arrangement along at least one side of the guide rail arrangement.

Description

TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to transport systems, for example to transport systems based upon vehicles such as buses and/or trucks. Moreover, the invention also concerns methods of operating transport systems, for example to methods of operating transport systems based upon vehicles such as buses and/or trucks.
Background of the invention
In a published European patent application no. EP 0, 289, 868 ("Roadway power and control system for inductively coupled transportation system", Inductran Corporation, California, USA), there is described an electrical modular roadway adapted for transmitting power to and controlling inductively-coupled vehicles travelling thereon.
IS The system comprises a plurality of elongate, electrically-connected inductor modules arranged in an aligned end-to-end spaced apart manner in order to form a continuous vehicle path. Each module has a magnetic core and power windings which generate a magnetic field extending above the road surface. Controllable relays are connected between modules for allowing operating electric current to either activate or bypass selected modules. Sensing windings included in the modules are activated by the presence of a vehicle on one module to provide control signals to relays for other modules. Although an operating frequency for creating the magnetic field is not described, the modules are constructed in a manner which would allow them to be energized at normal line frequency, for example 50 Hz or 60 Hz.
Guided bus and tram guided transport systems are known, for example a guided bus system implemented in respect of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Guiding tracks implemented using concrete components have been disposed in rural areas between Cambridge and neighbouring settlements. Internal combustion engine drive4rains are employed to propel buses within an urban centre of Cambridge along a normal inner-city road network, and also propel the buses when travelling along the aforesaid guiding tracks in rural areas. The guided tracks enable drivers of the buses to travel safely in the rural areas, whereas the buses blend with conventional traffic within Cambridge city centre and also in the aforementioned setfiements. An illustration of such a guided bus system is provided in FIG. 1, wherein the guided bus system is indicated generally by 10. The bus system 10 includes one or more buses including a plurality of seats 30 for accommodating passengers, an internal combustion engine drive train denoted by 40, and wheels 50 driven by the drive train for propelhng the one or more buses 20. The one or more buses 20 are operable to travel along a pair of guide rails 70 which are structurally coupled together via one or more transverse members 80, At certain portions along the guide rails 70, a region 90 between the rails 70 is soil, for example with growing vegetation, where the transverse members 80 are not present. The guide rails 70 and the transverse members 80 are fabricated from concrete that has been reinforced with elongate steel reinforcing components. It is customary contemporary practice to place two such sets of guide rails 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2 for supporting contraflow of buses 20A, 20B, wherein the bus 20A is in rear view, and the bus 20B is in front view. A gap region 100 separates the two sets of guide rails 70, so that the buses 20A, 20B are able to pass one another without mutually touching. Although the system 10 is described for use with buses 20, it will be appreciated that freight-carrying trucks can optionally alternatively or additionally utilize the guide rails 70.
There arises a challenge of adapting established bus systems based upon buses with internal-combustion engine drive-trains to function on alternative energy sources, for example for reducing cost of energy for operating the bus systems and for reducing their dependence upon fossil fuels which result in pollution and Carbon Dioxide emissions when the bus systems are in operation. The inductively coupled transportation system as described in patent application no. EP 0, 289, 868 ("Roadway power and control system for inductively coupled transportation system", lnductran Corporation, balifornia, USA) and trolley-bus systems are costly and disruptive to install and represent an unattractive solution in economically difficult contemporary circumstances where effects of "peak oil" are beginning to become apparent worldwide, and a need for energy-effective and economical transport systems are increasingly de&red. -3.
Summary of the invention -----
The present invention seeks to provide transport systems, for example bus transport systems, which are easier and less costly to install, and which are capable of operating directly from electrical power. -The present invention seeks to provide component parts required for implementing aforesaid transport systems1 for example bus transport systems, which are easier and less costly to install, and which are capable of operating directly from electrical power.
ID -
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport system as claimed in appended claim 1: there is provided a transport system for transporting passengers andIor freight, wherein the transport system includes a guide rail arrangement for guiding one or more vehicles therealong, wherein the system includes an inductive power coupling arrangement for coupling power in a non-contact inductive manner to the one or more vehicles, characterized in that (a) the system includes one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus disposed along at least one side of the lane of the guide rail arrangement, the one or more stationary power coupling apparatus extending upwardly at the at east one side for projecting an alternating magnetic field towards one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles; and (b) the system includes one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus disposed along one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles for receiving in operation inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus.
The invention is of advantage in that the transport system is easier and less costly to implement. -Optionally, the transport system is implemented, such that the one or more stationary power coupling apparatus forms a substantially vertically-extending fence-like arrangement along at least one side of the lane of the guide rail arrangement.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus and the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus are operable to function in a resonant power coupling mode in a resonant frequency range of 1 kHz to 140 kl-tz, more preferable in a resonant frequency range of 5 kHz to 140 kHz. Other ranges of resonant frequency are possible to use, for example in a range of 500 Hz to 1 MHz, either in a resonant mode or a non-resonant mode.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus are accommodated in at least one trailer coupled to the IS one or more vehicles. Such a manner of mounting allows for rapid and inexpensive retrofitting of the transport system to contemporary existing vehicles, for example buses and/or trucks.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus include a servo arrangement for maintaining one or more pickup coils at a substantially controlled distance (D) from the one or more stationary apparatus when passing thereby in operation, wherein the one or more pickup coils are operable to receive inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary apparatus. Optionally, the substantially controlled distance (D) is a substantially constant distance, wherein the servo arrangement is operable to adjust to placement inaccuracies of the one or more stationary apparatus and/or movement tolerance allowed for the one or more vehicle along the one or more guide rails.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus includes one or more pickup coils for receiving inductively coupled power, and a shield arrangement for shielding an interior of the one or more vehicles from alternating magnetic fields generated by the one or more stationary apparatus when in operation.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the, one or more vehicle apparatus is provided with a mechanism arrangement for retracting the one or more vehicle apparatus away from the one or more stationary apparatus and in towards an interior of the one or more vehicles when not in use to provide inductive power coupling to the one or more vehicles.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the transport system is adapted for use with a guided-rail bus system. More optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the guided bus system includes at least two lanes, and the one or more stationary apparatus is disposed in a gap region between the at least two lanes, such that the one or more stationary apparatus is operable to provide inductive power coupling to vehicles travelling along the at least two lanes. More optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more stationary apparatus is arranged to be anchored to one or more guide rails of the guided-rail bus system.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that one or more stationary apparatus are operable to receive a near field pilot signal emitted from the one or more vehicles and to be activated to provide inductive power coupling when the one or more vehicles are in near spatial proximity to the one or more stationary apparatus. Near spatial proximity is, for example, in an order of metres, for example less than 5 metres.
Optionally, the transport system is implemented such that the one or more stationary apparatus are arranged to be couplable end-to-end to form a substantially continuous arrangement along the guide rail arrangement.
According to a second aspect of the invention1 there is provided a method of provided inductive power coupling to one or more vehicles of a transport system for transporting passengers and/or freight, wherein the transport system includes a guide rail arrangement for guiding the one or more vehicles therealong, wherein the system includes an inductive power coupling arrangement for coupling power in a non-contact inductive manner to the one or more vehicles, characterized in that the method includes: (a) disposing one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus along at least one side of a lane of the guide rail arrangement, the one or more stationary power coupling apparatus extending upwardly at the at least one side for projecting an alternating magnetic field towards one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles; and - (b) including one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus disposed along one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles for receiving in operation inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus.
Optionally, the method includes employing a servo arrangement to maintain the one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus a controlled distance from one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus when passing thereby in operation.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an inductive power coupling apparatus for use in implementing the transport system pursuant to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the inductive power coupling apparatus is mountable to one or more side regions of one or more vehicles of the transport system.
It will be appreciated that features of the invention are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Description of the diagrams
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional illustration of a known contemporary guided bus transport system; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of a known contraflow guided bus system akin to the system of FIG. 1; -7.
FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional illustration of a guided bus transport system pursuant to the present invention; FIG. 38 is a plan-view illustration of an implementation of guide rails for the guided bus transport system of FIG. 3A; FIG. 4A is a side view of an stationary apparatus for use in implementing the system of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B; FIG. 48 is a side view of a plurality of the stationary apparatus of FIG. 4A connected in a series chain along the guide rails of FIG. 3B; and FIG. 5 is a side view of coupling apparatus mounted onto one or more sides of buses employed for implementing the system as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B.
In the accompanying diagrams, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing
Description of embodiments of the invention
In overview, the present invention is concerned with a transport system, for example a bus transport system for transporting passengers as illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 38 and indicated generally by 110, wherein inductive power coupling is employed, and bus inductive power coupling apparatus 120 is mounted on one or more side regions of buses 20A, 2DB and corresponding stationary inductive coupling apparatus 130 is disposed adjacent in a spaced apart manner to the one or more side regions of the buses 20A, 208, for example in the gap region 100 between the guide rails 70, so that both contraflow directions of the buses 20A, 208 can be powered synergisticafly from the same stationary-inductive coupling apparatus 130.
Optionally, inductive coupling apparatus 140 is additionally or alternatively provided in a region between the guide rails 70, namely in the region 90 between where the transverse members 80 are included at intervals along the guide rails 70, and the buses 20A, 2DB include bus inductive power coupling apparatus 150 mounted to an underside of the buses 20A, 208. The inductive coupling apparatus 150 is optionally implemented in a generally similar manner to the apparatus 120.
The system 110 provides many benefits. For example, elongate steel reinforcement components included in the guide rails 70 potentially interferes with inductive power coupling, for example by causing eddy-current losses and/or detuning resonant circuits employed to implement the apparatus 140, 150. When inductive coupling is implemented via the apparatus 120, 130 at one or more lower side regions of the buses 20A, 20B, steel reinforcement components included in the guide rails 70 have relatively negligible influence on an efficiency of inductive power transfer, enabling a highly reliable and efficient inductive power coupling to be achieved to the buses 20A, 208. When steel reinforcement components included in the guide rails 70 andlor transverse member 80 do not adversely influence operation of the apparatus 140, 150, for example along certain sections of the guide rails 70 along a bus route, the apparatus 140, 150 can additional or alternatively be employed to provide inductive power coupling toihe buses 20A, 20B to propel the buses 20A, 20B along the guide rails 70.
When only one set of guide rails 70 is provided, namely a single lane configuration, the buses 20A, 208 travel along the same set of guide rails 70, for example provided with one or more crossing loops at intervals therealong for the buses 20A, 20B to pass by one another, and are beneficially provided with the bus inductive power coupling apparatus 120 on both side regions of the buses 20A, 208 so that they can couple from the stationary coupling apparatus 130 disposed along one side of the lane formed by the set of guide rails 70, irrespective of a direction of travel of the buses 20A, 208, for example for reducing implementation cost of the system 110 when lower intensity of bus traffic is likely to be encountered in operation.
The stationary coupling apparatus 130 is beneficially implemented in a form of modules, for example as illustrated in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 46, which are optionally mutuafly similar mass-produced items including associated electronic drive circuits, for example resonant drive circuits based upon Silicon Carbide solid state driver devices. Moreover, the stationary coupling apparatus 130 are beneficially provided with power delivered via cable arrangements 220 disposed in the gap region 100 between the sets of guide rails 70. Optionally, the stationary coupling apparatus 130 include one or more receivers for receiving near-field emissions from the buses 20A, 20B, for example near-field optical, wireless and/or ultrasonic emissions, so that the stationary coupling apparatus 120 is only energized when one or more of the buses 20A, 20B are in close spatial proximity thereto; such selective activation of the apparatus 130, similarly the apparatus 140, is capable of reducing a total power consumed by the system 110 when propelling the buses 20A, 208 and improves operating longevity of the apparatus 130, 140. Optionally, the buses 20A, 2GB are operable to emit a pilot signal in the near-field emissions which are relayed via the apparatus 130, 140 to a coordination centre for the system 110, such that spatial positions of the buses 20A, 2DB can be monitored at the coordination centre.
The stationary coupling apparatus 130 is beneficially implemented as modules which beneficially forin, when installed along the guide rails 70, a fence-like structure which beneficially synergistically also prevents unauthorized trespass across the guide rails 70, and also provides benefit by shielding against snow drifting such that at least one lane of the system 110 is passable in severe winter snow conditions. Additionally, the stationary coupling apparatus 130 has planar surfaces which are optionally employed for presenting advertisement content; for example, the planar surfaces are provided with OLEIJ panels for presenting graphical advertisement and/or bus service information and/or for illuminating the guide rails 70 for enhancing operating safety of the system 110. Such advertising can provide additional income to commercial operators of the system 110.
The apparatus 120, 130, 140, 150 optionally include one or more coils of electrical conductor for creating an alternating magnetic field for providing inductive coupling of power to the buses 20A, 20B, for example motive power for propelling the buses 20A, 208. Optionally, the one or more coils are operating in a resonant mode for improving an efficiency of inductive power transfer. Optionally, the resonant frequency is in a range of 50 Hz to 140 kHz, more preferably in a range of 1 kHz to kHz, and most preferably in a range of 5 kHz to 140 kHz. Optionally, the one or more coils are fabricated from Lift wire, from externally-insulated conductive metal tape, from individually-insulated electrical conductors in multicore cables, from ribbon cable or similar. The apparatus 120, 130, 140, 150 is beneficially housed in non-conductive enclosures, for example plastics material enclosures; plastics materials includes, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, Nylon, Carbon-fibre reinforced composite, glass-fibre reinforced composite or similar: Optionally, active areas of one or more coils of the apparatus 110, 120, 130, 140 are arranged to be substantially spatially overlapping when they pass one another along the guide rails 70 as aforementioned, when the system 110 is in operation.
Optionally, the drive train 40 of the buses 20A, 20B include one or more electric motors for providing motive power to the wheels 50, as weD as one or more energy storage elements, for example SLA or Lithium rechargeable batteries andlor supercapacitors for providing the drive train 40 with motive power in sections along the guide rails 70 which are devoid of the apparatus 130, 140, for example at pedestrian crossing and/or road vehicle crossings, and within city centres where the buses 20A, 208 are remote from the guide rails 70 and intermingling in a dense urban environment including contemporary internal combustion engine traffic, for example gasoline automobiles. Supercapacitors have been developed by contemporary companies such as Eestor Inc., USA.
Referring next to FIG. 4A, there is shown a view of the apparatus 130 including its upper housing 180 and its lower base 190. The base 190 provides the apparatus with mechanical stability, namely a foundation, when the upper housing 180 is in an upright orientation in use; optionally, the base 190 is fabricated, at least in part, from concrete. Moreover, the lower base 190 includes drive electronic circuits, control electronic circuits and connectors for implementing the aforementioned cable arrangements 220 for connecting the apparatus 130 in series along the guide rails 70, for example along the gap region 100. Furthermore, the upper housing 180 is constructed from aforesaid non-conductive non-ferromagnetic plastics materials, composite or similar. The housing 180 includes an excitation coil 200 with a central flux region 210. Additionally, the central flux region 210 beneficially has an area in a range of 1 m2 to 10 m2, depending upon a length and height of the apparatus 130.
Optionally, the lower base is provided with one or more mechanical interlocking features which enable the apparatus 130 to be rapidly coupled together to form a fence-like arrangement along the guide rails 70, thereby enabling rapid installation of the apparatus 130. Optionally, the apparatus 130 is designed to mount alongside the guide rails 70 by attaching to the guide rails 70, for example via bolting apertures included at sides of the guide rails 70 and/or by some form of clamping arrangement onto the guide rails 70, for example screw clamps traversing an upper edge of the guide rails 70. The excitation coil 200 is beneficially implemented as a series of groups resonant electrical LC circuits, wherein each group includes one or more parallel coupled LC circuits. Such an implementation of the excitation is capable of enhancing excitation efficiency when generating an alternating field in the central flux region 210, and hence providing more efficient inductive power coupling to the buses 20A, 20B. Optionally, the central flux region 210 is substantially devoid of any ferromagnetic flux guiding components therein, namely is effectively air-cored.
ic The apparatus 130 is beneficially installed from installation vehicles travelling via the guide rails 70. During the installation, the apparatus 130 is lowered by crane from the installation vehicles, secured in position in relation to the guide rails 70 and then coupled to one or more neighbouring mutually similar apparatus 130 as illustrated in FIG. 48. Moreover, the apparatus 130 can be prefabricated in factory environments and then transported as complete modules to the guide rails 70 for installation in respect thereof. Economies of manufacturing scale and automation are possible to reduce costs of manufacture and installation.
Referring next to FIG. 5, there is shown a side view along the stationary apparatus 130 and along a side region of a bus 20 as aforementioned. The bus inductive power coupling apparatus 120 includes a housing 250 fabricated from an insulating non-ferromagnetic material, . for example a plastics material and/or a composite material. Within the housing 250 is accommodated a pickup coil arrangement 260 having a central flux region 270 which is arranged to overlap the excitation coil 200 of the stationary apparatus 130. The housing 250 is supported via a non-ferromagnetic insulating spacing element 280, for example fabricated from closed-cell flexible polymeric foam material! to a conducting shield 300 which optionally has a outwardly directed peripheral lip; the shield 300 is beneficially fabricated from an electrically-conductive non-ferromagnetic metal! for example from Aluminium sheet. Optionally, a distance between the shield 300 and the coil 260 is maintained substantially constant in operation so as not to disturb a resonant tuning of the coil 260.
Optionally the shield 300 is fabricated from metal sheet having a thickness in a range of 0.2 mm to 3 mm thick. Between the bus 20 and the shield 300 is included an actuator assembly 310 which is operable to move the shield 300 and its coil 260 relative to the stationary apparatus 130 so as to maintain a distance D substantially controlled in operation for example substantially constant in operation. Optionally, a sensing arrangement including sensor electronic circuits 320 and a sensor 270, for example implemented as an ultrasonic distance measuring sensor arrangement,are included, for example on the actuator assembly 310, and arranged to access via the central flux region 270 to measure the distance D and servo the actuator arrangement 310 to keep the distance 0 controlled, for example substantially constant, at a preferred working distance, thereby providing for efficient inductive power transfer to the bus 20 whilst also maintaining a safety distance to prevent collision of the bus apparatus 120 onto the stationary apparatus 130 in operation.
Optionally, the apparatus 120 is retracted into the bus 20, for example as denoted by an arrow 350 and associated dashed outlines in FIG. 5, when the bus 20 is remote from the stationary apparatus 130 and its guide rails 70, for example when the bus is employed in a standard urban environment such as a city centre when intermingling with conventional contemporary traffic, for example in Cambridge City Centre, United Kingdom.
The system 110 is capable of being implemented using buses 20 which have been equipped with apparatus 120, optionally also the apparatus 150, during their original manufacture. Alternatively, the apparatus 120, optionally also the apparatus 150, can be retrofitted to buses 20 by way of one or more upgrades during their service Life, for example in response to a severe oil crisis in the Middle East which starves much of the Western World from essential oil supplies. The apparatus 120 can be included at one or more locations along one or more sides of the buses 20; muta (is mutaridis aSo the apparatus 150 when also utilized, At the same time, the buses 20 are beneficially equipped with one or more electric drive motors for providing motive force to propel the buses 20, together with associated power conditioning electronic circuits on the buses 20.
When minimal invasive operations are desired to the buses 20, the apparatus 120, optionally also the apparatus 150, can be mounted onto a trailer, together with power conditioning circuits, one or more electric motors, a drive trains and wheels, wherein the trailer is coupled to a rear end and/or front end of a conventional bus, for example a bus including a conventional internal combustion engine drive train. Such an approach enables an existing fleet of conventional buses to be cQnverted at short notice, for example in emergency conditions when oil and gas suddenly becomes scarce, to operate in the transport system 110. Similar consideration also pertain to goods vehicles, for example goods delivery tracks and vans.
S
As depicted in FIG. 4B, the stationary apparatus 130 is capable of being mass produced in factory premises and then deployed rapidly along guided roadways for converting such roadways to electric propulsion, Electric power feed, for example from an electric power distribution network, is made to the mutually connected stationary apparatus 130 at opportune intervals along a roadway including the guide rails 70. The present invention thus provides a manner of rapidly converting contemporary society to a low-Carbon society, at least in respect of transport, provided that power for the system 110 is generated from low-Carbon sustainable resources, for example wind turbine generators, hydroelectric power generators, tidal is energy generators, solar power generators, geothermal power generators, safe green Thorium LFTR nuclear reactors which are synergistically capable of burning up dangerous contemporary nuclear waste to generate harmless final by-products for the World environment.
Although the use of concrete guide rails 70 is described in the foregoing, the present invention is also susceptible to being used in light-railway systems wherein the guide rails 70 are implemented as steel rails in a manner akin to contemporary railway systems.
Modifications to embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as "including", "comprising", "incorporating", consisting or, "have", "is" used to describe and claim the present invention are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural. Numerals included within parentheses in the accompanying claims are intended to assist understanding of the claims and should not be construed in any way to limit subject matter claimed by these claims.

Claims (16)

  1. CLAIMS1. A transport system (110) for transporting passengers and/or freight, wherein said transport system (110) includes a guide rail arrangement (70) for guiding one or more vehicles (20) therealong, wherein the system (110) includes an inductive power coupling arrangement (120, 130) for coupling power in a non-contact inductive manner to the one or more vehicles (20), characterized in that (a) said system (110) includes one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (13Q) disposed along at least one side of a lane of the guide rail arrangement (70), said one or more stationary power coupling apparatus (130) extending upwardly at said at least one side for projecting an alternating magnetic field towards one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles (20): and (b) said system (110) includes one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus (120) disposed along one or more sides of the one or more vehicles (20) for receiving in operation inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130).
  2. 2. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more stationary pow& coupling apparatus (130) forms a substantially vertically-extending fence-like arrangement along at least one side of the lane of the guide rail arrangement (70).
  3. 3. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130) and the one or more.vehicle power coupling apparatus (120) are operable to function in a resonant power coupling mode in a resonant frequency range of 500 Hz to 1 MHz.
  4. 4. A transport system (100) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130) and the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus (120) are operable to function in a resonant power coupling mode in a resonant frequency range of 5 kHz to 140 kHz.
  5. 5. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus (120) are accommodated in at least one traUer coupled to the one or more vehicles (20).
  6. 6. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus (120) include a servo arrangement (310, 320, 330) for maintaining one or more pickup coils (260) at a substantially controlled distance (D) from the one or more stationary apparatus (130) when passing thereby in operation, wherein said one or more pickup coils (260) are operable to receive inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary apparatus (130).
  7. 7. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more vehicle power coupling apparatus (120) includes one or more pickup coils (260) for receiving inductively coupled power, and a shield arrangement (300) for shielding in operation an interior of the one or more vehicles (20) from alternating magnetic fields generated by the one or more stationary apparatus (130) when in operation.
  8. 8. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said one or more vehicle apparatus (120) is provided with a mechanism arrangement for retracting said one or more vehicle apparatus (120) away from the one or more stationary apparatus (130) and in towards an interior of the one or more vehicles (20) when not in use to provide inductive power coupling to the one or more vehicles (20).
  9. 9. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said system (110) is adapted for use with a guided-rail bus system.
  10. 10. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said guided-rail bus system includes at least two lanes! and said one or more stationary apparatus (130) is disposed in a gap region (100) between said at least two lanes, such that said one or more stationary apparatus (130) is operable to provide inductive power coupling to vehicles (20) travelling along the at least two, lanes.
  11. 11. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said one or more stationary apparatus (130) is arranged to be anchored to one or more guide rails of the guided-rail bus system
  12. 12. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one or more stationary apparatus (130) are operable to receive a near field pilot signal emitted from the one or more vehicles (20) and to be activated to provide inductive power coupling when said one or more vehicles (20) are in near spatial proximity to the one or more stationary apparatus (130).
  13. 13. A transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said one or more stationary apparatus (130) are arranged to be couplable end-toend to form a substantially continuous arrangement along the guide rail arrangement (70).
  14. 14. A method of provided inductive power coupling to one or more vehicles (20) of a transport system (110) for transporting passengers and/or freight, wherein said transport system (110) includes a guide rail arrangement (70) for guiding said one or more vehicles (20) therealong, wherein the system (100) includes an inductive power coupling arrangement (t20, 130) for coupling power in a non-contact inductive manner to the one or more vehicles (20), characterized in that said method includes: (a) disposing one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130) along at least one side of a lane of the guide rail arrangement (70), said one or more stationary power coupling apparatus (130) extending upwardly at said at least one side for projecting an alternating magnetic field towards one or more side regions of the one or more vehicles (20); and (b) including one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus (120) disposed along one or more sides of the one or more vehicles (20) for receiving in operation inductively coupled power from the one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130).
  15. 15. A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said method includes employing a servo arrangement to maintain said one or more vehicle inductive power coupling apparatus (120) a controlled distance from one or more stationary inductive power coupling apparatus (130) when passing thereby in operation.
  16. 16. An inductive power coupling apparatus (120, 130) for use in implementing the transport system (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inductive power coupling apparatus (120,. 130) is mountable to one or more side regions of one or more vehicles (20) of the transport system (110).
GB1210143.2A 2012-06-08 2012-06-08 Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles Withdrawn GB2502820A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1210143.2A GB2502820A (en) 2012-06-08 2012-06-08 Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1210143.2A GB2502820A (en) 2012-06-08 2012-06-08 Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201210143D0 GB201210143D0 (en) 2012-07-25
GB2502820A true GB2502820A (en) 2013-12-11

Family

ID=46605624

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1210143.2A Withdrawn GB2502820A (en) 2012-06-08 2012-06-08 Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2502820A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017108199A1 (en) * 2015-12-22 2017-06-29 Sew-Eurodrive Gmbh & Co. Kg System for inductive transmission of electrical power to vehicles and method for operating a system
AT519516A1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2018-07-15 Ing Dr Techn Gerfried Cebrat Dipl Robotized vehicle-mounted device for the contactless loading of vehicles on the curb and road surface
DE102017009815A1 (en) * 2017-10-14 2019-04-18 Danger Möricke Technological functions for the properties of inductively magnetic e-mobile power supply
WO2022094426A1 (en) * 2020-10-30 2022-05-05 Solar Intermodal Corporation Devices and methods for mounting solar panels

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH09191502A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-07-22 Railway Technical Res Inst Noncontact inductive current collector
US5710502A (en) * 1992-09-02 1998-01-20 Cableco And Poumey System for recharging the storage batteries of an electric motor vehicle
US5855261A (en) * 1994-12-26 1999-01-05 Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho Non-contact electric power supplying system for vehicle
JP2001320803A (en) * 2000-05-08 2001-11-16 Hitachi Ltd Current collector for magnetic levitation train
US20080121481A1 (en) * 2006-10-17 2008-05-29 Murata Machinery, Ltd. Non-contact electricity feeding facility

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5710502A (en) * 1992-09-02 1998-01-20 Cableco And Poumey System for recharging the storage batteries of an electric motor vehicle
US5855261A (en) * 1994-12-26 1999-01-05 Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho Non-contact electric power supplying system for vehicle
JPH09191502A (en) * 1995-11-09 1997-07-22 Railway Technical Res Inst Noncontact inductive current collector
JP2001320803A (en) * 2000-05-08 2001-11-16 Hitachi Ltd Current collector for magnetic levitation train
US20080121481A1 (en) * 2006-10-17 2008-05-29 Murata Machinery, Ltd. Non-contact electricity feeding facility

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2017108199A1 (en) * 2015-12-22 2017-06-29 Sew-Eurodrive Gmbh & Co. Kg System for inductive transmission of electrical power to vehicles and method for operating a system
AT519516A1 (en) * 2016-12-20 2018-07-15 Ing Dr Techn Gerfried Cebrat Dipl Robotized vehicle-mounted device for the contactless loading of vehicles on the curb and road surface
DE102017009815A1 (en) * 2017-10-14 2019-04-18 Danger Möricke Technological functions for the properties of inductively magnetic e-mobile power supply
WO2022094426A1 (en) * 2020-10-30 2022-05-05 Solar Intermodal Corporation Devices and methods for mounting solar panels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201210143D0 (en) 2012-07-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10967740B2 (en) Inductive power coupling systems for roadways
US8833533B2 (en) Ultra slim power supply device and power acquisition device for electric vehicle
US8997955B2 (en) Transferring electric energy to a vehicle by induction
KR100944113B1 (en) Power supply system and method for electric vehicle
AU2010335485B2 (en) Track for a track bound vehicle
US8827058B2 (en) Inductively receiving electric energy for a vehicle
US8528710B2 (en) Mobile type non-contact power feeding device
RU2408476C2 (en) Method of wireless electric power transmission and device to this end (versions)
US20130154553A1 (en) Wireless Automated Vehicle Energizing System
US6637343B2 (en) System and method for controlling flow of vehicles
US6619212B1 (en) Method for achieving and maintaining desired speed on a guideway system
US20030173173A1 (en) Transportation system
GB2502820A (en) Inductive power coupling for rail-guided electric vehicles
AU2013261800A1 (en) Arrangement for providing vehicles with energy comprising magnetizable material
Mohamed et al. An overview of inductive power transfer technology for static and dynamic EV battery charging
EP2877367B1 (en) Cable support for supporting a conductor arrangement producing an electromagnetic field, conductor arrangement, and route for vehicles comprising the conductor arrangement
Strebkov et al. Resonant Power System for Electric Transport
Yasuda et al. Proposed Dynamic Contactless Power Transfer System

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)