Inductive power transmission for electrical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10320238-B2
Application number	US-201615262662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a first connector end comprising:
a first sleeve that forms a first cavity with a first open end;
a first insulator disposed within the first cavity;
a plurality of first conductors positioned within the first insulator; and
a plurality of transmitting inductors coupled to a distal end of the plurality of first conductors, wherein the plurality of transmitting inductors are positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve; and

a second connector end mechanically coupled to the first connector end and comprising:
a second sleeve that forms a second cavity with a second open end;
a second insulator disposed within the second cavity;
a plurality of second conductors positioned within the second insulator; and
a plurality of receiving inductors coupled to a distal end of the plurality of second conductors, wherein the plurality of receiving inductors are positioned proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve,

wherein the plurality of transmitting inductors and the plurality of receiving inductors are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the plurality of second conductors are configured to be coupled to at least one electrical device at their proximal end, wherein the at least one electrical device operates on multi-phase power induced through the plurality of receiving inductors.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first open end and the second open end abut against each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of conductors are part of a first electrical cable, and wherein the second plurality of conductors are part of a second electrical cable.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein coupling and decoupling of the first connector end from the second connector end causes substantially no mechanical wear on the first connector end and the second connector end.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first insulator is recessed within the first sleeve, and wherein the second insulator extends beyond the second sleeve.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the second insulator of the second connector end is inserted into the first sleeve of the first connector end by hand without use of tools.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve comprises a first coupling feature, and wherein the second sleeve comprises a second coupling feature, wherein the first coupling feature and the second coupling feature couple to each other to fasten the first connector end to the second connector end.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 , wherein the first coupling feature and the second coupling feature comprise mating threads.

9. A system comprising:
a power source that generates a first current;
an electrical connector electrically coupled to the power source, wherein the electrical connector comprises:
a first connector end comprising:
a first sleeve that forms a first cavity with a first open end;
a first insulator disposed within the first cavity;
at least one first conductor positioned within the first insulator, wherein the first current flows through the at least one first conductor; and
at least one transmitting inductor coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein the first current further flows through the at least one transmitting inductor, wherein the at least one transmitting inductor is positioned proximate to the first open end of the first sleeve; and

a second connector end mechanically coupled to the first connector end and comprising:
a second sleeve that forms a second cavity with a second open end;
a second insulator disposed within the second cavity;
at least one receiving inductor disposed within the second insulator proximate to the second open end of the second sleeve, wherein the first current flowing through the at least one transmitting inductor induces a second current to flow through the at least one receiving inductor; and
at least one second conductor coupled to the at least one receiving inductor, wherein the second current flows from the at least one receiving inductor through the at least one second conductor; and

a device electrically coupled to the at least one second conductor, wherein the second current flows through the device to provide power to the device,
wherein the at least one transmitting inductor and the at least one receiving inductor are disposed proximate to each other when the first connector end is mechanically coupled to the second connector end,
wherein the first connector end and the second connector end are separable from each other,
wherein the device is maintainable without interrupting the power source by separating the first connector end from the second connector end.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrical connector is located in a hazardous environment.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is disposed within an explosion-proof enclosure that complies with applicable National Electrical Manufacturers Association standards.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein generation of the second current induced in the receiving inductor and used to power the device prevents a condition that causes an explosion in the hazardous environment.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein decoupling the first connector end from the second connector end can safely be done when the first current is flowing through the at least one transmitting inductor.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an additional transmitting inductor electrically connected to the device, wherein the second current received by the device from the at least one receiving inductor of the electrical connector flows through the additional transmitting inductor;
an additional receiving inductor positioned proximate to the additional transmitting inductor, wherein the second current flowing through the additional transmitting inductor induces a third current to flow through the additional receiving inductor; and
an additional device electrically connected to the additional receiving inductor, wherein the third current induced in the additional receiving conductor powers the additional device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the additional receiving inductor and the additional transmitting inductor are part of an additional electrical connector.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one receiving inductor and the at least one transmitting inductor are disposed within a first electrical enclosure, and wherein the additional receiving inductor and the additional transmitting inductor are disposed within a second electrical enclosure.

17. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
an additional transmitting inductor electrically connected to the at least one transmitting inductor of the electrical connector, wherein the first current that flows through the at least one transmitting inductor of the electrical connector subsequently flows through the additional transmitting inductor;
an additional receiving inductor positioned proximate to the additional transmitting inductor, wherein the first current flowing through the additional transmitting inductor induces a third current to flow through the additional receiving inductor; and
an additional device electrically connected to the additional receiving inductor, wherein the third c

Assignees

• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Bowen Scott J
• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Manahan Joseph Michael
• Bowen Scott J

Classifications

• H02J50/12 Primary

  of the resonant type · CPC title

• H01F38/14

  Inductive couplings {(for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10)} · CPC title

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01F27/02

  Casings · CPC title

• H02J5/005

  Electricity · mapped topic