Power cable and system for delivering electrical power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11810696-B2
Application number	US-202017001396-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2020
Priority date	May 31, 2018
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A power cable is presented. The power cable includes a power link. The power cable further includes an enclosure coupled to the power link, where the enclosure is partially open. Moreover, the power cable includes a contactor disposed at least partially within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the power link, where the contactor is configured to be connected to a receiver such that an open end of the enclosure forms a fluid-tight coupling with the receiver and a cavity is defined between the enclosure and the receiver. A system including the power cable and a method for controlling a supply of an electrical power are also presented.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of a fluid-tight seal formed between an enclosure and a charging port of a vehicle;
pressurizing a fluid within a cavity defined at least in part by the enclosure and the charging port;
sensing a pressure of the fluid within the cavity;
determining a voltage to be applied to a receiver based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid; and
supplying the voltage to the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the fluid within the cavity during use is higher than or lower than an ambient pressure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid at least partially surrounds a contactor disposed at least partially within the cavity.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the fluid is sensed by a pressure sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the fluid to the cavity.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the fluid from the cavity.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fluid is removed from the cavity via a pressure relief valve.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
adjusting the pressure of the fluid based at least in part on the sensed pressure of the fluid.

9. A method, comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of a fluid-tight seal formed by an enclosure and a charging port of a vehicle, wherein the enclosure at least partially defines a cavity at least partially surrounding a contactor;
adjusting a pressure of a fluid within the cavity;
sensing the pressure of the fluid within the cavity;
determining a voltage to be applied to a receiver via the contactor based at least in part on the pressure of the fluid; and
supplying the voltage to the receiver.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
removing at least a portion of the fluid via a pressure relief valve.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the pressure of the fluid comprises:
increasing the pressure of the fluid such that the pressure is greater than an ambient pressure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein sensing the pressure of the fluid is performed by a pressure sensor.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the voltage supplied to the receiver is based at least in part on a breakdown voltage of the fluid within the cavity.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the voltage supplied to the receiver is determined by a controller via a lookup table.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
sensing an updated pressure of the fluid within the cavity; and
adjusting the voltage applied to the receiver based at least in part on the updated pressure.

16. A method, comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of a fluid-tight seal formed between an enclosure and a charging port of a vehicle;
supplying a pressurized fluid to a cavity at least partially defined by the enclosure and the charging port;
sensing a pressure of the pressurized fluid within the cavity;
determining a voltage to be applied to a receiver based at least in part on the pressure of the pressurized fluid; and
supplying the voltage to the receiver.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: adjusting the pressure of the pressurized fluid within the cavity based at least in part on the sensed pressure of the fluid.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the voltage supplied to the receiver is determined by a controller via a lookup table.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
removing at least a portion of the pressurized fluid via a pressure relief valve.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
sensing an updated pressure of the pressurized fluid within the cavity; and
adjusting the voltage applied to the receiver based at least in part on the updated pressure.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• De Bock Hendrik Pieter Jacobus

Classifications

• H01B9/06 Primary

  Gas-pressure cables; Oil-pressure cables; Cables for use in conduits under fluid pressure · CPC title

• B60L53/14

  Conductive energy transfer · CPC title

• H01R13/5219

  Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal · CPC title

• H02G3/0616

  Joints for connecting tubing to casing · CPC title

• B60L53/18

  Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title