DEVICE FOR BI-DIRECTIONAL POWER CONVERSION AND CHARGING FOR USE WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Main Authors: MADDOX, Brian, SKUTT, Glenn, BARRON, Mike
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.08.2024
• Subjects: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC,OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWERSUPPLY SYSTEMS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUTPOWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; GENERATION; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTED CIRCUITS; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

The present invention is directed to an electric vehicle charger that may include power electronics, one or more controllers, and one or more cable/connector plugs. The disclosed bi-charger may operate bi-directionally. Power components may be arranged in a charger enclosure in a configuration providing the optimum air flow over a heat sink(s) that will allow the most heat to be moved out of the charger enclosure with the least effort. The disclosed charger may use a combination of forced and natural convection to effectively cool the system. Power stages may be mounted in the enclosure and a control tray may be mounted above the power stages. The disclosed charger may use a three-power stage architecture. The disclosed charger also uses a configuration and method of mounting and positioning the power components within the enclosure that results in a smaller and more power dense piece of equipment.