Inductive power transfer with inductive power transfer pad including cleaning device
An inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, which includes a stationary part and a movable part, where the movable part includes a primary winding structure for generating a magnetic or electromagnetic field while an electric current flows through windings of the primary winding structure. The inductive power transfer pad includes at least one actuator for actuating motion of the movable part and the movable part is movable at least into a first direction by the at least one actuator so as to move between a retracted state and an extended state. The inductive power transfer pad includes a cleaning device integrated in the inductive power transfer pad and adapted to remove foreign matters from a space between the stationary part and the movable part.
1. An inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, comprising a stationary part and a movable part, wherein the movable part comprises a primary winding structure for generating a magnetic or electromagnetic field while an electric current flows through windings of the primary winding structure, wherein the inductive power transfer pad comprises at least one actuator for actuating motion of the movable part, wherein the movable part is movable at least into a first direction by the at least one actuator so as to move between a retracted state and an extended state,
wherein the inductive power transfer pad comprises a cleaning device integrated in the inductive power transfer pad and adapted to remove foreign matters from a space between the stationary part and the movable part;
wherein the cleaning device comprises bellows having an expandable air volume with at least one air outlet adapted to direct an air blast to at least a part of the space between the stationary part and the movable part, wherein the expandable air volume is inflated while the movable part moves from the retracted state into the extended state and is deflated while the movable part moves from the extended state into the retracted state.
2. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is automatically operated to remove the foreign matters from the space between the stationary part and the movable part while the movable part moves from the extended state into the retracted state.
3. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 2 , wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning element attached to the movable part or to the actuator and arranged to wipe off the foreign matters from a surface of the stationary part and/or of the actuator.
4. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 3 , further comprising a cooling device in the space between the stationary part and the movable part, wherein the cleaning device is adapted to remove foreign matters from the cooling device.
5. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 1 , wherein the expandable air volume fills an area between the movable part and the stationary part.
6. The inductive power transfer pad of claim 5 , wherein the expandable air volume has an air inlet which is positioned closer to the movable part than to the stationary part.
7. A method of operating an inductive power transfer pad for inductive power transfer to a vehicle, comprising a stationary part and a movable part, wherein the movable part comprises a primary winding structure which is operated to generate a magnetic or electromagnetic field by conducting an electric current through windings of the primary winding structure, wherein an actuator of the inductive power transfer pad actuates motion of the movable part, so that the movable part is moved at least into a first direction and so that the movable part is moved between a retracted state and an extended state, the method comprising:
removing, by a cleaning device integrated in the inductive power transfer pad, foreign matters from a space between the stationary part and the movable part;
directing air, by the cleaning device using bellows having an expandable air volume with at least one air outlet adapted to direct an air blast to at least a part of the space between the stationary part and the movable part;
inflating the expandable air volume while the movable part moves from the retracted state into the extended state; and
deflating the expandable air volume while the movable part moves from the extended state into the retracted state.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprising:
removing automatically, by the cleaning device, foreign matters from the space between the stationary part and the movable part while the movable part moves from the extended state into the retracted state.
9. The method of claim 8 , the method further comprising:
wiping off, by the cleaning device using a cleaning element attached to the movable part or to the actuator, the foreign matters from a surface of the stationary part and/or of the actuator.
10. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising:
filling, by the expandable air volume, an area between the movable part and the stationary part.
11. The method of claim 10 , the method further comprising:
sucking air into the expandable air volume via an air inlet which is positioned closer to the movable part than to the stationary part.
12. The method of claim 7 , the method further comprising removing, by the cleaning device, foreign matters from a cooling device in the space between the stationary part and the movable part.