Adjustable inductor and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12087485-B2
Application number	US-202318478449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2023
Priority date	Jun 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

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 core having an adjustable width;
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the width 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 below a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when above the predetermined temperature threshold.

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

3. The adjustable inductor of claim 1 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to increase the inductance; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to decrease the inductance.

4. The adjustable inductor of claim 1 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to decrease the width of the core; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to increase the width of the core.

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

6. The adjustable inductor of claim 1 , wherein the core is a toroidal core having a plurality of gaps, the adjustable inductor further comprising a material positioned in the gaps and at least one winding wound on the core, and wherein the force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby adjust the width of the core.

7. The adjustable inductor of claim 6 , wherein the material is substantially non-magnetic and electrically conductive.

8. A tunable trap filter inductor comprising:
an adjustable inductor including:
a core having an adjustable width, and
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the width and thereby an inductance of the adjustable inductor; and

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

9. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , further comprising a capacitor in a series-type electrical connection with the adjustable inductor, and wherein the inductance of the adjustable inductor is adjusted based on a variation of a capacitance of the capacitor.

10. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , wherein the film is a varnish.

11. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to increase the inductance; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to decrease the inductance.

12. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to decrease the width of the core; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to increase the width of the core.

13. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , wherein the core is a toroidal core having a plurality of gaps, the adjustable inductor further comprising a material positioned in the gaps and at least one winding wound on the core, and wherein the force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby adjust the width of the core.

14. The tunable trap filter inductor of claim 8 , wherein the film is configured to:
prevent movement of the force-applying structure when below a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when above the predetermined temperature threshold.

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

16. 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 core having an adjustable width, and
a force-applying structure operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the width and thereby an inductance of the first adjustable inductor; and

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

17. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 16 , wherein the film is configured to:
prevent movement of the force-applying structure when below a predetermined temperature threshold, and
allow movement of the force-applying structure when above the predetermined temperature threshold.

18. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 16 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to increase the inductance; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to decrease the inductance.

19. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 16 , wherein:
the force configured to be applied by the force-applying structure is a first force and a second force greater than the first force;
an increase from the first force toward the second force is configured to decrease the width of the core; and
a decrease from the second force toward the first force is configured to increase the width of the core.

20. The three-phase matched filter inductor of claim 16 , wherein the core is a toroidal core having a plurality of gaps, the first adjustable inductor further comprising a material positioned in the gaps and at least one winding wound on the core, and wherein the force-applying structure is operable to apply a force to the core to adjust the gaps and thereby adjust the width of the core.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Pagenkopf Kenneth Edward

Classifications

• H01F27/24

  Magnetic cores · CPC title

• H01F27/28

  Coils; Windings; Conductive connections · CPC title

• H03H2210/026

  Inductor · CPC title

• H03H7/0115

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

• H01F27/32

  Insulating of coils, windings, or parts thereof · CPC title