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US 10,312,040 B2Granted
Modular circuit protection systems and methods
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsPatrick Alexander von zur Muehlen, Michael Craig Henricks, Joseph James Ventura, Vinicius Marcilli Petroni
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pyrotechnic circuit protection system includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal and a plurality of pyrotechnic modules connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each of the pyrotechnic modules includes a nonconductive housing and electrical connectors facilitating plug-in connection of the pyrotechnic modules to one another. A single control module may control and coordinate a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.
Claims21
A modular pyrotechnic circuit protection system comprising:
- an input terminal;
- an output terminal;
- and
- at least one disconnect module electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal;
- wherein the at least one disconnect module comprises:
- a nonconductive housing comprising opposed first and second lateral side surfaces and opposed first and second longitudinal side surfaces interconnecting the lateral side surfaces;
- a dual prong male electrical connector on the first longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection via a first prong of the dual prong male electrical connector and to establish a pass through electrical connection via a second prong of the dual prong male electrical connector;
- a dual prong female electrical connector on the second longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection via a first prong of the dual prong female electrical connector and to establish a pass through electrical connection via a second prong of the dual prong female electrical connector;
- a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and electrically connected to the first prong of the dual prong male electrical connector or the first prong of the dual prong female electrical connector;
- a first terminal extending from the first lateral side and coupled to the input terminal;
- a second terminal extending from the second lateral side and coupled to the output terminal;
- and
- an arc mitigation element connected in parallel with the at least one disconnect module between the input terminal and the output terminal.
10 more elements
A modular pyrotechnic circuit protection system comprising:
- a housing;
- an input terminal;
- an output terminal;
- and
- at least two disconnect modules electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal inside the housing, wherein each of the at least two disconnect modules comprises:
- a nonconductive housing comprising opposed first and second lateral side surfaces and opposed first and second longitudinal side surfaces interconnecting the lateral side surfaces;
- a dual prong male electrical connector on the first longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection and a pass through electrical connection on the first longitudinal side;
- a dual prong female electrical connector on the second longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection and a pass through electrical connection on the second longitudinal side;
- and
- a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and being responsive to a control signal supplied to one of the control connections on the first longitudinal side or the second longitudinal side.
7 more elements
A photovoltaic circuit protection system comprising:
- a solar photovoltaic power system having at least one solar panel;
- a first connection terminal connected to the at least one solar panel;
- a second connection terminal connected to an electrical load;
- a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules connected between the first and second connection terminals, wherein each of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules includes:
- a nonconductive housing comprising opposed first and second lateral side surfaces and opposed first and second longitudinal side surfaces interconnecting the lateral side surfaces;
- a dual prong male electrical connector on the first longitudinal side surfaces to establish a control connection and a pass through electrical connection;
- a dual prong female electrical connector on the second longitudinal side surfaces to establish a control connection and a pass through electrical connection;
- a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and electrically connected to the dual prong male electrical connector or the dual prong female electrical connector;
- and
- an emergency control element connected to each of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules via one of the respective dual prong male and dual prong female electrical connectors.
7 more elements
A modular pyrotechnic circuit protection system comprising:
- at least one disconnect module comprising:
- a nonconductive housing comprising opposed first and second lateral side surfaces and opposed first and second longitudinal side surfaces interconnecting the lateral side surfaces;
- a dual prong male electrical connector on the first longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection via a first prong of the dual prong male electrical and to establish a pass through electrical connection via a second prong of the dual prong male electrical connector;
- a dual prong female electrical connector on the second longitudinal side surface to establish a control connection via a first prong of the dual prong female electrical and to establish a pass through electrical connection via a second prong of the dual prong female electrical connector;
- a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and electrically connected to the first prong of the dual prong male electrical connector or the first prong of the dual prong female electrical connector;
- a first terminal extending from the first lateral side;
- a second terminal extending from the second lateral side.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.