System and Method for Transferring Electric Energy to a Vehicle Using Constant Current Operation of Segments of a Conductor Arrangement

{
  "publication_number": "US2014097675A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "System and Method for Transferring Electric Energy to a Vehicle Using Constant Current Operation of Segments of a Conductor Arrangement",
  "abstract": "A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle such as a track bound vehicle or road automobile. The system includes an electric conductor arrangement which produces an alternating electromagnetic field, transfers electromagnetic energy to the vehicle and includes a plurality of segments. Each segment extends along the vehicle path of travel and includes one line for each phase of alternating current carried by the segment. The system includes a current supply for conducting electric energy to the segments which are electrically connected in parallel. At least one segment is coupled to the current supply via a constant current source. Each constant current source includes one or more inductances and one or more capacitances, the inductances and capacitances being adapted to each other and the input side of the constant current source so that a constant current is output to the output side.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle comprising: an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electromagnetic energy to the vehicle, the conductor arrangement comprises a plurality of segments wherein each segment extends along a section of the path of travel of the vehicle, each segment comprises one line for each phase of an alternating current which is to be carried by the segment in order to produce the electromagnetic field, a current supply for conducting electric energy to the plurality of the segments, wherein the segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other with the current supply, at least one of the segments is coupled to the current supply via an associated constant current source adapted to keep the electric current through the segment constant - while the segment is operated - independently of the electric power which is transferred to one or more vehicles travelling along the segment, each constant current source comprises a first inductance and optionally more than one inductances and comprises a first capacitance and optionally more than one capacitances, the inductances and the capacitances being adapted to each other and to the voltage at the input side of the constant current source so that a desired constant current is output to the output side, i.e. the side of the segment, the first inductance is arranged in a line of the constant current source which connects the input side with the output side and at least one junction of the line is connected with the first capacitance, the first inductance and the first capacitance as well as a second inductance, which is formed at least partly by the inherent inductance of the segment, are adapted to each other and to any additional capacitance in the segment so that the segment can be operated at a corresponding resonance frequency and the reactive power produced by the segment is essentially zero. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first inductance and the first capacitance are parts of a common module which is electrically connected to the segment. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one segment which is connected to an associated constant current source comprises a plurality of electric lines connected to a corresponding line of the constant current source, wherein each series connection of a line of the segment and of a line of the constant current source is adapted to carry a different phase of a multi-phase alternating current, each line of the constant current source comprises an inductor or an arrangement of inductors forming the first inductance and comprises a capacitor or an arrangement of capacitors forming the first capacitance which is connected to the line via a junction and for each of the series connections, the first inductance and the first capacitance as well as a second inductance, which is formed at least partly by the inherent inductance of the corresponding line of the segment, are adapted to each other and to any additional capacitance in the segment so that the segment can be operated at a corresponding resonance frequency and the reactive power produced by the segment is essentially zero. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inductance is completely formed by the inherent inductance of the segment or of the line of the segment. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the segment does not comprise an additional capacitance which compensates the inherent inductance(s) of the segment in order avoid a production of reactive power by the segment. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the constant current source is connected to the current supply via a transformer and wherein the transformer is adapted to produce an input voltage to be input to the constant current source so that the desired constant current is produced by the constant current source. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second inductance is completely formed by the inherent inductance of the segment or of the line of the segment, i.e. the transformer is adapted to the second inductance so that an input voltage is produced which results in the desired constant current. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein a stray inductance of the transformer acts as the first inductance of the constant current source. 9. A method of manufacturing a system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring electromagnetic energy to the vehicle, providing a plurality of segments as part of the conductor arrangement, so that each segment extends along a section of the path of travel of the vehicle, wherein each segment comprises one line for each phase of an alternating current which is to be carried by the segment in order to produce the electromagnetic field, providing a current supply for conducting electric energy to a plurality of the segments, wherein the segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other with the current supply, coupling at least one of the segments to the current supply via an associated constant current source, which is adapted to keep the electric current through the segment constant - while the segment is operated - independently of the electric power which is transferred to one or more vehicles travelling along the segment, equipping each constant current source with a first inductance and optionally more than one inductances and with a first capacitance and optionally more than one capacitances, wherein the inductances and capacitances are adapted to each other and to the voltage at the input side of the constant current source so that a desired constant current is output to the output side, i.e. the side of the segment, placing the first inductance in a line of the constant current source which connects the input side with the output side and connecting at least one junction of the line (100) to the first capacitance, dimensioning the first inductance of the constant current source and the first capacitance as well as a second inductance which is formed at least partly by the inherent inductance of the segment, so that the segment can be operated at a corresponding resonance frequency and the reactive power produced by the segment is essentially zero. 10. A method of operating a system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: producing an alternating electromagnetic field and thereby transferring electromagnetic energy to the vehicle by using an electric conductor arrangement, using a plurality of segments as parts of the conductor arrangement, wherein each segment extends along a different section of the path of travel of the vehicle, wherein one line or a plurality of lines of each segment is/are used to carry a respective phase or respective phases of an alternating current which produces the electromagnetic field, conducting electric energy to a plurality of the segments by using a current supply, wherein the segments are electrically connected in parallel to each other with the current supply, keeping the electric current through at least one of the segments constant while the segment is operated - independently of the electric power which is transferred to one or more vehicles travelling along the segment, by using a constant current source, which is coupled to the segment on one side and to the current supply on the other side, using in each constant current source a first inductance and optionally more than one inductances and a first capacitance and optionally more than one capacitances, wherein the inductances and capacitances are adapted to each other and to the voltage at the input side of the constant current source so that a desired constant current is output to the output side, i.e. the side of the segment, wherein the first inductance is placed in a line of the constant current source which connects the input side with the output side and wherein at least one junction of the line is connected to the first capacitance, operating the segment so that the reactive power produced by the segment is essentially zero, by using the first inductance and the first capacitance as well as a second inductance, which is formed at least partly by the inherent inductance of the segment, which are dimensioned in a corresponding manner. 11. The system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle as in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a track bound vehicle such as a light rail vehicle or a road automobile such as a bus."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B60L 5/005",
    "B60L 2200/18",
    "B60L 2200/26",
    "B60L 2200/30",
    "B60L 53/12",
    "B60L 9/00",
    "B60M 3/04",
    "B60M 7/003",
    "B60Y 2200/30",
    "B60Y 2200/91",
    "B60Y 2200/92",
    "H02J 17/00",
    "H02J 5/005",
    "H02J 50/12",
    "H02J 50/20",
    "H02J 50/40",
    "H02J 50/90",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072",
    "Y02T 90/14",
    "Y10T 29/49117"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "VOLLENWYDER KURT",
    "WORONOWICZ KONRAD",
    "CZAINSKI ROBERT",
    "MEINS JURGEN",
    "BOMBARDIER TRANSP GMBH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-06-11",
  "publication_date": "2014-04-10",
  "priority_date": "2011-06-10",
  "application_number": "US-201214124291-A",
  "family_id": "44357587",
  "citations": [
    "US2011315496A1",
    "US2014318913A1",
    "US4836344A",
    "US5174215A",
    "US5207304A",
    "US8459188B2",
    "US8528710B2"
  ]
}