Patent ID: 12214687

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An electrical-energy transfer device30comprises a first part32and a second part34, the first and second parts32,34being able to move one relative to the other in a direction of closing between a distanced state visible inFIG.2, and a close-up state, visible inFIG.3, in which a transfer of electrical energy between the first and second parts32,34is performed.

According to applications visible inFIGS.9and10, the electrical-energy transfer device30is used to transfer electrical energy between a ground module36that incorporates the first part32, and a flying vehicle38that incorporates the second part34and that may be an airplane, a flying vehicle of the eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) type, a drone or any other flying vehicle.

The transfer of electrical energy can be used to recharge at least one electrical-energy storage system present in the flying vehicle38and/or to power at least one item of electrical equipment present in the flying vehicle38.

According to one application, the ground module36is static. According to other applications visible inFIGS.9and10, the ground module36is able to move and corresponds to a land vehicle. According to one configuration visible inFIG.9, the ground module36, which is mobile, is connected by an electrical cable36.1to an electrical power supply40in order to power the first part32of the electrical-energy transfer device30. According to another configuration visible inFIG.10, the ground module36, which is mobile, comprises at least one rechargeable electrical-energy storage system36.2for powering the first part32of the electrical-energy transfer device30.

Of course, the invention is not restricted to these applications.

In a first variant visible inFIGS.2to4, the electrical-energy transfer device30comprises a contactless system for the transfer of electrical energy between a first electrical circuit C32integral with the first part32and a second electrical circuit C34integral with the second part34.

According to one mode of operation, the first part32corresponds to an electrical-energy emitting system and the second part34corresponds to an electrical-energy receiving system.

The contactless energy transfer system comprises at least a first coil42integral with the first part32and connected to the first electrical circuit C32and a second coil44integral with the second part34and connected to the second electrical circuit C34.

According to one embodiment, the first part32comprises, in addition to the first coil42, a first frontal face F32substantially perpendicular to the direction of closing, at least one layer of ferromagnetic elements46, for example made of ferrite, and a first support48supporting the first coil42and the layer of ferromagnetic elements46. In addition, the first part32may comprise at least one shielding plate.

The second part34comprises a second support50supporting the second coil44. The second part34may comprise at least one layer of ferromagnetic elements, for example made of ferrite, and at least one shielding plate. The absence of a layer of ferromagnetic elements and of the shielding plate makes it possible to reduce the mass of the second part34.

The first part32comprises a first housing52which opens onto the first frontal face F32of the first part32, comprising at least a first lateral surface54and configured to at least partially house the second part34.

According to one embodiment, the first lateral surface54is a surface of revolution and has a first axis of revolution A54. As illustrated inFIGS.2to4, the first lateral surface54is frustoconical. In other configurations, the first lateral surface54may be conical, cylindrical, or in the shape of a hemisphere.

According to another embodiment, the first lateral surface54has oblong cross sections and comprises two portions of surface of revolution, each having an axis of revolution and which are connected by planar surfaces.

In these embodiments, the first lateral surface54comprises at least one portion of surface of revolution having a first axis of revolution A54. Thus, the first lateral surface54or just a portion of the first lateral surface54is a surface of revolution and has a first axis of revolution A54.

Providing a first lateral surface54that is a surface of revolution allows the first and second parts32,34to be positioned in the close-up state without any need for concern regarding the relative orientation of the first and second parts32,34about the first axis of revolution A54.

The axis of revolution A54is parallel to the direction of closing. A transverse plane is perpendicular to the first axis of revolution A54.

In one arrangement, this first axis of revolution A54is perpendicular to the first frontal face F32of the first part32.

Depending on the geometry of the first lateral surface54, the first housing52may comprise an end wall56that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of revolution A54.

In one configuration, the first housing52or the first lateral surface54has cross sections (in planes perpendicular to the first axis of revolution A54) which decrease with increasing distance away from the first frontal face F32. This configuration makes it possible to achieve self-centering as the second part34is being inserted into the first housing52of the first part32.

In one configuration, the housing52comprises two first lateral surfaces54, these being a distal first lateral surface distanced from the first frontal face F32, having cross sections that decrease with increasing distance from the first frontal face F32, and an open first lateral surface, adjacent to the first frontal face F32, positioned between the distal first lateral surface and the first frontal face F32and having constant cross sections. In one configuration, the first part32comprises a single first coil42which has several turns42.1to42.4coiled at the first lateral surface54and offset from one another in the direction of closing. In one arrangement, the coils42.1to42.4are evenly distributed in the direction of closing.

In another configuration, the first part32comprises several first coils42coiled at the first lateral surface54, and offset from one another in the direction of closing. In one arrangement, the first coils42are uniformly distributed in the direction of closing. According to one embodiment, the first support48is a block of material, for example made of resin, that has a first surface corresponding to the first frontal face F32and a hollow corresponding to the first housing52.

In a first arrangement, the turns of the first coil42or the first coils42are completely embedded in the block of material of the first support48and are offset towards the inside of the first support48relative to the first lateral surface54while being spaced a small distance from said first lateral surface54. In a second arrangement, the turns of the first coil42or the first coils42are partially embedded in the block of material of the first support48and positioned astride the first lateral surface54. In a third arrangement, the turns of the first coil42or the first coils42are not embedded in the block of material of the first support48and are offset towards the outside of the first support48relative to the first lateral surface54, being spaced a small distance away from said first lateral surface54.

Whatever the arrangement, the turns of the first coil42or the first coils42are held immobile relative to the first part32by any suitable retaining system.

When the first part32comprises a layer of ferromagnetic elements46, this layer has a substantially identical geometry to the first lateral surface54, give or take any scaling. In one configuration, each turn of the first coil42or each first coil42is positioned inside the layer of ferromagnetic elements46, between the axis of revolution A54and the layer of ferromagnetic elements46. The layer of ferromagnetic elements46of the first part32surrounds the first lateral surface54. Each turn of the first coil42or each first coil42is positioned between the layer of ferromagnetic elements46and the first lateral surface54.

According to one embodiment illustrated inFIG.4, the first part32comprises at least one cooling system58configured to keep the layer of ferromagnetic elements46at a temperature below a given threshold. This cooling system58comprises a cooling circuit60which has a heat-transport fluid inlet60.1, a heat-transport fluid outlet60.2and a circuit portion60.3coiled at the first lateral surface54between the turns of the first coil42or the first coils42, and embedded in the block of material of the first support48.

According to an embodiment visible inFIG.4, the first part32comprises at least one centering pin62, oriented parallel to the direction of closing and which has a first end connected to the first part32and a free second end62.1. In one configuration, the centering pin62is cylindrical and its free end62.1is positioned approximately in the same plane as the first frontal face F32of the first part32. In one arrangement, the cylindrical centering pin62has an axis coincident with the first axis of revolution A54.

In one configuration, at least one ferromagnetic element63is positioned in the centering pin62.

The second part34has at least one second lateral surface64substantially identical, give or take any scaling, to the first surface54of the first housing52of the first part32. The second lateral surface64has at least one second axis of revolution A64and one second lateral surface64for each first lateral surface54of the housing52of the first part32, each second lateral surface64being substantially identical, give or take any scaling, to the corresponding first lateral surface54. The second part34has an overall shape that complements the shape of the first housing52.

In the close-up state, when the second part34is at least partially positioned in the first housing52of the first part32, the first and second lateral surfaces54,64are positioned facing one another spaced apart by a small distance that is substantially identical on all of their surfaces.

When the first housing52has an end wall56, the second support50has a second frontal face66substantially perpendicular to the second axis of revolution A64. In the close-up state, the second frontal face66of the second support50is in contact with or spaced only slightly away from the end wall56of the first housing52of the first part32.

In one configuration, the second part34comprises a single second coil44which has several turns44.1to44.4coiled at the second lateral surface64and offset from one another in the direction of closing. In one arrangement, the turns44.1to44.4are evenly distributed in the direction of closing.

In another configuration, the second part34comprises several second coils44coiled at the second lateral surface64and offset from one another in the direction of closing. In one arrangement, the second coils44are evenly distributed in the direction of closing.

According to one embodiment, the second support50is a block of material, for example made of resin, that has a first surface corresponding to the second frontal face66and a lateral face corresponding to the second lateral surface64.

In a first arrangement, the turns of the second coil44or the second coils44are completely embedded in the block of material of the second support50and offset towards the inside of the second support50with respect to the second lateral surface64, being spaced a small distance away from said second lateral surface64. In a second arrangement, the turns of the second coil44or the second coils44are partially embedded in the block of material of the second support50and positioned astride the second lateral surface64. In a third arrangement, the turns of the second coil44or the second coils44are not embedded in the block of material of the second support50and are offset towards the outside of the second support50relative to the second lateral surface64, being spaced only a small distance away from said second lateral surface64.

In a fourth arrangement, the turns of the second coil44or the second coils44are positioned in a cavity68formed in the second support50.

Whatever the arrangement, the turns of the second coil44or the second coils44are kept immobile with respect to the first part34by any suitable retaining system.

When the first part32comprises at least one centering pin62, the second part34comprises a second housing70for each centering pin62, and configured to house this pin as a close fit. This second housing70comprises a cylindrical lateral wall of a diameter substantially equal to that of the centering pin62. In one arrangement, the second housing70has an axis coincident with the second axis of revolution A64.

According to an embodiment visible inFIG.4, of the first and second parts32,34at least one comprises a guide sensor72to assist with the positioning of the first and second parts32,34one relative to the other in a centered manner. By way of example, the guide sensor72is a positioning sensor. In one arrangement, the guide sensor72is positioned at the free second end62.1of the centering pin62of the first part32.

In operation, when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state as illustrated inFIG.3, the second part34is at least partially housed in the first housing52of the first part32and the first and second coils42,44are positioned facing one another, the second coils44being positioned inside the first coils44in a centered manner.

Providing a housing52with cross sections that decrease away from the first frontal face F32of the first part32makes it possible to achieve self-centering as the second part34is being introduced into the housing52.

According to another variant visible inFIGS.5to8, the electrical-energy transfer device30comprises at least one with-contact electrical-energy transfer system configured to perform a transfer of electrical energy between a first electrical circuit C32integral with the first part32and a second electrical circuit C34integral with the second part34.

Like with the first variant, the first part32comprises a first frontal face S32and a first housing52, opening onto the first frontal face F32and comprising at least one first lateral surface54configured to at least partially accept the second part34.

The first lateral surface54comprises at least one portion of surface of revolution having a first axis of revolution A54. Thus, the first lateral surface54or just a portion of the first lateral surface54is a surface of revolution and has a first axis of revolution A54.

In one arrangement, this first axis of revolution A54is perpendicular to the first frontal face F32of the first part32.

Depending on the geometry of the first lateral surface54, the first housing52may comprise an end wall56substantially perpendicular to the axis of revolution A54.

In one configuration, the first housing52or the first lateral surface54has cross sections (in planes perpendicular to the first axis of revolution A54) that decrease with increasing distance away from the first frontal face F32. This configuration makes it possible to achieve self-centering as the second part34is being inserted into the first housing52of the first part32.

According to embodiments visible inFIGS.5to7, the housing52comprises two first lateral surfaces54,54′, a distal first lateral surface54, distanced from the first frontal face F32, having cross sections that decrease with increasing distance away from the first frontal face F32, and an open first lateral surface54′, adjacent to the first frontal face F32, positioned between the distal first lateral surface54and the first frontal face F32and having constant cross sections.

According to a first embodiment visible inFIGS.5and6, the distal first lateral surface54is hemispherical and the open first lateral surface54′ is cylindrical.

According to a second embodiment visible inFIG.7, the distal first lateral surface54is conical and the open first lateral surface54′ is cylindrical.

According to another embodiment visible inFIG.8, the housing52comprises a single first lateral surface54, which is for example frustoconical.

The second part34has at least one second lateral surface64substantially identical, give or take any scaling, to the first lateral surface54of the first housing52of the first part32. The second lateral surface64has at least one second axis of revolution A64and has a second lateral surface64for each first lateral surface54of the housing52of the first part32, each second lateral surface64being substantially identical, give or take any scaling, to the corresponding first lateral surface54.

In the close-up state, when the second part34is at least partially positioned in the first housing52of the first part32, the first and second lateral surfaces54,64are positioned facing one another, spaced apart by a small distance that is substantially identical on all of their surfaces.

The with-contact electrical-energy transfer system comprises at least one torus-shaped helical spring74connected to the first or second electrical circuit C32, C34and which, when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state as illustrated inFIG.6, is interposed between the first and second lateral surfaces54,64of the first and second parts32,34and ensures electrical continuity between the first and second electrical circuits C32, C34of the first and second parts32,34.

According to one embodiment, of the first and second parts32,34at least one comprises a peripheral groove76, positioned at a first or second lateral surface54,64, and configured to partially house the torus-shaped helical spring74so that the latter projects from the first or second lateral surface54,64. According to the example illustrated inFIGS.5and6, the peripheral groove76is provided on the first part32.

The with-contact electrical-energy transfer system comprises a contact terminal78connected to a first or second electrical circuit C32, C34different from the one to which the torus-shaped helical spring74is connected. This spring and the contact terminal78are arranged in such a way that the torus-shaped helical spring74is in contact with the contact terminal78when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state.

According to one embodiment, the contact terminal78is a ring that extends over the entire circumference of the first or second lateral surface54,64.

In one arrangement, the first part32comprises the peripheral groove76and the torus-shaped helical spring74is connected to the first electrical circuit C32of the first part32. To complement this, the contact terminal78is integral with the second part34and connected to the second electrical circuit C34of the second part34. In another arrangement, the second part34comprises the peripheral groove76and the torus-shaped helical spring74is connected to the second electrical circuit C34of the second part34. To complement this, the contact terminal78is integral with the first part32and connected to the first electrical circuit C32of the first part32.

Of course, the invention is not restricted to this embodiment for keeping the torus-shaped helical spring74immobile in relation to the first or second part32,34to which it is connected. Thus, the peripheral groove76may be replaced by any suitable retention system.

As illustrated inFIG.8, the electrical-energy transfer device30comprises several with-contact electrical-energy transfer systems each comprising a torus-shaped helical spring74, the various torus-shaped helical springs74being offset from one another in the direction of closing.

With this second variant, the first part32may comprise a centering pin62and the second part34may comprise a second housing70, as in the first variant.

According to an embodiment visible inFIGS.5to7, the electrical-energy transfer device30comprises at least one locking system80configured to hold the first and second parts in the close-up state. This embodiment may be applied indifferently to the first and second variants.

The locking system80comprises a torus-shaped helical spring82which, when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state as illustrated inFIG.6, is interposed between the first and second lateral surfaces54,64of the first and second parts32,34; a first peripheral groove84, positioned at the first lateral surface54of the first part32and configured to partially house the torus-shaped helical spring82, at least in the close-up state, so that this spring projects from the first lateral surface54, and a second peripheral groove86, positioned at the second lateral surface64of the second part34and configured to partially house the torus-shaped helical spring82, at least in the close-up state, so that this spring projects relative to the second lateral surface64. The first and second peripheral grooves84,86are positioned facing one another when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state. Thus, in the close-up state, the torus-shaped helical spring82is positioned in the first and second peripheral grooves84,86spanning between them. In one configuration, in the distanced state, the torus-shaped helical spring82is held by the first part32. It is configured to compress elastically to allow the second part34to be introduced into the housing52of the first part32and revert to an uncompressed state when the first and second peripheral grooves84,86are positioned facing one another and the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state.

Whatever the variant, the energy transfer device comprises at least one first electrical-energy transfer element (either a turn of a first coil42, or a first coil42, or a torus-shaped helical spring74or a contact terminal78) which is connected to the first electrical circuit C32and positioned at the first lateral surface54of the first part32, and at least one second electrical-energy transfer element (either a turn of a first coil42, or a first coil42, or a torus-shaped helical spring74, or a contact terminal78) which is connected to the second electrical circuit C34and positioned at the second lateral surface64of the second part34and approximately centered relative to a first energy transfer element when the first and second parts32,34are in the close-up state, the first and second electrical-energy transfer elements being configured to perform a transfer of electrical energy between one another in the close-up state. Thus, by virtue of the housing52that allows the first and second electrical-energy transfer elements to be centered relative to one another, the first and second parts32,34, when in this close-up state, cannot fail to be positioned in such a way as to provide optimal transfer of electrical energy.

While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.