Adjustable inductor and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11456101-B2
Application number	US-202016903703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

An adjustable inductor including a toroidal core defining a plurality of gaps, a compressible gap material positioned in the gaps, at least one winding wound on the core, a force-applying structure, and a film substantially covering the adjustable inductor. The force-applying structure is operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby an inductance of the adjustable inductor. The film is configured to prevent movement of force-applying structure when above a predetermined temperature threshold, and allow movement of the force-applying structure when below the predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable inductor comprising:
a toroidal core defining a plurality of gaps;
a compressible gap material positioned in the gaps;
at least one winding wound on the core;
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby an inductance of the adjustable inductor; and
a film substantially covering the adjustable inductor, the film configured to
prevent movement of the force-applying structure when above a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when below the predetermined threshold.

2. The adjustable inductor of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 150° C.

3. The adjustable inductor of claim 1 , wherein the film is a varnish.

4. A tunable trap filter inductor comprising:
an adjustable inductor including
a toroidal core defining a plurality of gaps;
a compressible gap material positioned in the gaps;

at least one winding wound on the core;
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby an inductance of the adjustable inductor; and

a capacitor in a series-type electrical connection with the adjustable inductor;
wherein the adjustable inductor further includes a film substantially covering the adjustable inductor.

5. The tunable trap filter of claim 4 , wherein the inductance of the adjustable inductor is adjusted based on a variation of a capacitance of the capacitor.

6. The tunable trap filter of claim 4 , wherein the film is a varnish.

7. The tunable trap filter of claim 4 , wherein the film is configured to
prevent movement of force-applying structure when above a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when below the predetermined threshold.

8. The tunable trap filter of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 150° C.

9. A three-phase matched filter inductor comprising:
a first adjustable inductor having a first variable inductance;
a second adjustable inductor having a second variable inductance; and
a third adjustable inductor having a third variable inductance;
wherein the first, second, and third variable inductances are matched after production of the first, second, and third adjustable inductors;
wherein the first adjustable inductor includes
a toroidal core defining a plurality of gaps;
a compressible gap material positioned in the gaps;
at least one winding wound on the core; and
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby the first variable inductance; and

wherein the first adjustable inductor further includes a film substantially covering the first adjustable inductor.

10. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 9 , wherein the film is configured to
prevent movement of force-applying structure when above a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when below the predetermined threshold.

11. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined threshold is approximately 150° C.

12. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 9 , wherein the film is a varnish.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Pagenkopf Kenneth Edward

Classifications

• H03H7/0115

  comprising only inductors and capacitors (H03H7/075, H03H7/09, H03H7/12, H03H7/13 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01F27/28

  Coils; Windings; Conductive connections · CPC title

• H03H2007/013

  Notch or bandstop filters · CPC title

• H01F27/24

  Magnetic cores · CPC title

• H03H2210/026

  Inductor · CPC title