WO2018127825A1

WO2018127825A1 - Integrated wireless charging system

Info

Publication number: WO2018127825A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/050058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guido Lieven P. DUMAREY
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-01-05
Filing date: 2018-01-04
Publication date: 2018-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-05

Abstract

A wireless charging system for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a transmission unit, an electromotor, one or more batteries to power the electromotor, and an induction receiving device mounted in the vehicle for charging said one or more batteries, the induction receiving device being able to cooperate with a charging device mounted in an area where the vehicle can park or drive over, whereby the induction receiving device is integrated in or on an existing system of the vehicle such as the drive train, invertor or battery.

Description

Integrated wireless charging system.

The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle equipment, particularly that of thermal/electric hybrid vehicles (including an engine, usually with internal combustion, and at least one electric machine) or electric vehicles, and is intended for transmission, such as double clutch transmission (DCT/PDK) , continuous variable transmission (CVT) or automatic planetary transmission.

The present invention specifically relates to an integrated wireless charging system for an electric and/or hybrid vehicle, more specifically to an (automatic) transmission system comprising such an integrated inductive wireless charging system.

Known electric/hybrid systems use an electric plugin system to load the batteries. A disadvantage of such systems is the need for an electric circuit in the neighbourhood of the vehicle and the bother and manual handling of plugging the vehicle in and out via an electric wire.

Other known systems use an inductive power plate positioned in the chassis and a charging plate hidden under the ground/surface or on top of the floor or road surface.

With inductive charging, the charger plate is planted in the ground, for example beneath the surface or on the surface of the road leading to the house or in the garage. Plate filler consists of coils that generate magnetic fields when energized by electrical current. When a vehicle is parked on it, the energy of the plate is transferred without physical contact to coil "puller" induction on the vehicle. Flow is transferred in the form of alternating current (AC) . Later in the vehicle, an electric current is converted into direct current (DC) through a converter to charge the battery.

A disadvantage of known systems is the use of stand-alone components that need to be mounted somewhere in the vehicle. This also involves extra factory assembly time to mount and connect the receiver in the vehicle. This may lead to extra costs and service mistakes. Another disadvantage arises when the system is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced. Several units must be dismounted and replaced. This is very time-consuming and costly and needs a good knowledge of the specific system. Existing inductive systems have a high cost and are heavy since there is a need for extra components to protect, connect and to cool down.

Some existing stand-alone receivers are cooled with forced air from e.g. the ventilator of the powertrain, which needs extra power and reduces the charging efficiency.

Another disadvantage of current inductive systems is the lack of specification where exactly the receiver should be mounted in the underfloor/bottom of the vehicle. The current publications speak about assembly on the front axle. However, the front axle is a very unclear position. And as long as the position is not a standard, no public inductive charging spots will be installed since the high likelihood that their position will not fit the position of the vehicle receiving device.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages, by providing a wireless charging system for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a vehicle transmission unit, an electromotor, one or more batteries to power the electromotor, and an induction receiving device mounted in the vehicle for charging said one or more batteries, the induction receiving device being able to cooperate with a charging device mounted in an area in the ground/surface to allow for proximity placement to the bottom of the vehicle, preferably located between the wheels of the vehicle while driving or stopping, whereby the induction receiving device is integrated in or on an existing system of the vehicle such as the drive train, invertor or battery.

In a preferred embodiment the induction receiving device is integrated in or on the vehicle transmission unit.

The term "integrated" means attached to or built in or being part of or having similar dimensions or providing space to house. In other words, the existing system of the vehicle, e.g. the transmission unit, comprises an induction receiving device. The term "vehicle" means a car, a bus, a truck, or any other transport vehicle.

Such a system has the advantage that the inductive plate {receiving device) is integrated in the transmission or the existing system as one unit. Maintenance and repair becomes much easier, because only the existing system needs to be handled and not the receiving device as such. The existing systems are already as such that maintenance and repair is known.

Furthermore, there is no need to find a suitable place on the vehicle to mount an individual receiving device. A major advantage is cost saving. The charging system is provided in a unit that is already equipped with the necessary power supply, cooling and housing.

The integration of the receiver in the transmission unit allows to use its existing components like a high amount of heat conducting metal, oil pump and transmission oil to improve the heat dissipation. Its integration also replaces the expensive plugs by more cost effective internal connections. A weight reduction will be achieved by using the existing housing of the transmission e.g.. The usage of transmission oil to improve the conduction speed of the power losses from the hot spot of the electronics to cooler surroundings is very effective. By integrating the receiving device in an existing system with better cooling performance and possibilities like a transmission or invertor or battery, less extra cooling losses are obtained.

Since the transmission of new cars is positioned more and more as a standard, an integration of the induction receiving device in the transmission e.g. would support the world wide standardization of the inductive charging, boost the production and lower its cost.

In another preferred embodiment the receiving device is integrated at the lowest point of the transmission unit. The "lowest point" meaning the closest to the area on which the vehicle drives, or closest to the bottom of the vehicle .

In a first specific embodiment the receiving device is fitted to the transmission unit underneath said transmission unit. "Underneath" meaning that the receiving device is fixed to the transmission unit at a point that is closest to the area on which the vehicle drives, or closest to the bottom of the vehicle.

In a second specific embodiment the induction receiving device is fitted in the oilpan of a hydraulic transmission unit .

In the embodiments of the invention the transmission unit may be any design of a transmission unit) , such as a double clutch transmission (DCT/PDK) , a continuous variable transmission (CVT) or an automatic planetary transmission. The transmission unit may be for example a longitudinal or a transverse transmission unit. Such transmission systems are e.g. described in WO2015/181480 and WO2016/092184 by the applicant.

Furthermore, in the embodiments of the invention the transmission unit, or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device is integrated in or on, may be positioned anywhere in the vehicle. This means at any suited place in the vehicle as long as the induction receiving device is positioned so as to cooperate with a charging device.

The transmission unit may be positioned for example in the front, the back or the middle of the bottom of the vehicle, to the left or to the right. As long as the charger device is positioned accordingly.

It is therefore to be understood that the induction receiving device and the transmission unit, or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device is integrated in or on, are integrated as one module, with all the advantages of production and replacement or repair.

The invention also relates to the use of a wireless charging system for charging an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a method of loading one or more batteries of an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a wireless charging system according to the invention, comprising the steps of: a) parking or driving the vehicle with the receiving device over a charging device mounted in an area to allow for proximity placement to the bottom of the vehicle, preferably located between the wheels of the vehicle; b) loading the batteries by induction; and c) driving away.

The invention also relates to a method of installing or repairing a wireless charging system in an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the invention, comprising the steps of: a) dismounting the transmission unit, or any of the existing systems, comprising the receiving device; b) repairing or replacing the receiving device; and c) mounting back the transmission unit, or any of the existing systems.

The invention further also relates to a transmission unit for a vehicle, whereby the transmission unit comprises an induction receiving device of a wireless charging system according to the invention, whereby said induction receiving device is integrated in or on the transmission unit .

The invention still further relates to a vehicle, whereby said vehicle comprises a transmission unit, or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device is integrated in or on, as described in the previous paragraph . With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodiments of a system and use according to the invention are described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows a vehicle with an integrated wireless charging system according to the invention;

figure 2 shows a wireless charging/receiving system according to the invention;

figure 3 shows an integrated wireless charging transverse transmission system according to the invention; and

figure 4 shows an integrated wireless charging longitudinal transmission system according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle with an integrated wireless charging system according to the invention comprising a charging device 1, a receiving device 2, a controller 3, batteries 4 and an electromotor 5.

Figure 2 shows a wireless charging/receiving system according to the invention, comprising a receiving device 2 and a charging device 1 which is preferably to be mounted on/in the floor.

Figure 3 shows an integrated wireless charging transverse transmission 6 comprising a receiving device 2 mounted underneath. The system further comprises an electromotor 5 and a torque converter 7. Figure 4 shows an integrated wireless charging longitudinal transmission 6 comprising a receiving device 2 mounted underneath. The system further comprises an integrated electromotor 5 and an axis 8.

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments of a system and use according to the invention described as an example and shown in the drawings, but such a system and use can be realised in all kinds of variants, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims .

Wireless charging system for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a vehicle transmission unit (6), an electromotor (5), one or more batteries (4) to power the electromotor, and an induction receiving device (2) mounted in the vehicle for charging said one or more batteries

(4), the induction receiving device (2) being able to cooperate with a charging device {1} mounted in an area in the ground/surface to allow for proximity placement to the bottom of the vehicle, preferably located between the wheels of the vehicle while driving or stopping, characterised in that the induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or onan existing system of the vehicle such as the drive train, invertor or battery.

System according to claim 1, characterised in that the induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or on the vehicle transmission unit (6) .

System according to claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that the receiving device (2) is integrated at the lowest point of the transmission unit (6).

System according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the receiving device (2) is fitted to the transmission unit (6) underneath said transmission unit (6) .

5. System according to any of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the induction receiving device (2) is fitted in the oilpan of a hydraulic transmission unit (6).

6. System according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the transmission unit (6) may be any design of a transmission unit (6), such as a double clutch transmission (DCT/PDK) , a continuous variable transmission (CVT) or an automatic planetary transmission.

System according to claim 6, characterised in that transmission unit (6) may be a longitudinal or transverse transmission unit (6).

System according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the transmission unit (6), or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or on, may be positioned at any suited place in the vehicle.

System according to claim 8, characterised in that the transmission unit (6) may be positioned in the front, the back or the middle of the bottom of vehicle, to the left or the right.

System according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the induction receiving device (2) and the transmission unit (6), or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or on, are integrated as one module. Use of a wireless charging system according to any of claims 1 to 10 for charging an electric or hybrid vehicle .

Method of loading one or more batteries (4) of an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a wireless charging system according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of:

a. parking or driving the vehicle with the receiving device (2) over a charging device (1) mounted in an area in the ground/surface to allow for proximity placement to the bottom of the vehicle, preferably located between the wheels of the vehicle ;

b. loading the batteries (4) by induction; and c. driving away.

Method of installing or repairing a wireless charging system in an electric or hybrid vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of:

a . dismounting the transmission unit (6), or any of the existing systems, comprising the receiving device (2) ;

b. repairing or replacing the receiving device (2); and

c. mounting the transmission unit (6), or any of the existing systems. 14. Transmission unit (6) for a vehicle, characterised in that said transmission unit comprises an induction receiving device (2) of a wireless charging system according to any of claims 1 to 10, whereby said induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or on the transmission unit (6) .

Vehicle, characterised in that said vehicle comprises a transmission unit (6) , or any of the existing systems the induction receiving device (2) is integrated in or on, according to claim 14.