# US 10,312,040 B2 · Modular circuit protection systems and methods

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- Number: US 10,312,040 B2
- Document ID: US10312040B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/234,196
- Filed: 2016-08-11
- Published: 2017-11-16
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-11
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Inventors: Patrick Alexander von zur Muehlen; Michael Craig Henricks; Joseph James Ventura; Vinicius Marcilli Petroni
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312040B2

## CPC

- H01H 39/006: {Opening by severing a conductor}
- H01H 9/02: Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26)
- H01H 9/102: {Fuses mounted on or constituting the movable contact parts of the switch}
- H01H 9/106: {fuse and switch being connected in parallel}
- H01H 9/30: Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H 9/54: Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
- H02H 3/08: responsive to excess current (responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04)
- H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules
- H10F 77/00: Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass (constructional details of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00)
- H01H 85/0241: {Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus (switches with built-in fuses H01H9/10, spark-gap arresters H01H85/44, transformers and inductances H01F27/402, capacitors H01G2/14, lamps H01K1/66, semiconductors H10W20/493 or H10W42/80)}
- H01H 85/38: Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc (by powder filling H01H85/18; by mechanical tension applied to fusible member H01H85/36)
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising an emergency control element in communication with the at least one disconnect module via the dual prong male electrical connector or the dual prong female electrical connector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the arc mitigation element comprises an electrical fuse.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one disconnect module includes at least two disconnect modules mechanically and electrically connected in parallel to one another via mating engagement of the dual prong male electrical connector or the dual prong female electrical connector of the at least two disconnect modules.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one disconnect module includes first and second disconnect modules connected to one another via mated ones of the respective male and female dual prong electrical connectors.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising an emergency control element in communication with each of the at least two disconnect modules via the mated male and female dual prong electrical connectors, the emergency control element configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the first disconnect module; and
after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the second disconnect module.

### Claim 7

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an arc extinguishing media surrounding the at least two disconnect modules inside the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an arc mitigation element electrically connected in parallel with at least one of the at least two disconnect modules inside the housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an arc mitigation element electrically connected in series with at least one of the at least two disconnect modules between the input terminal and the output terminal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an emergency control element in communication with each of the at least two disconnect modules, the emergency control element configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a first one of the at least two disconnect modules; and
after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a second one of the at least two disconnect modules.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, further comprising an electrical fuse connected in series with a first one of the at least two disconnect modules and also connected in parallel with a second one of the at least two disconnect modules.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the at least two disconnect modules are connected in parallel to one another between the input terminal and the output terminal, and wherein a mating engagement of the dual prong male electrical connector and the dual prong female electrical connector of the respective at least two disconnect modules simultaneously interconnects the control connection and the pass through electrical connection of each of the at least two disconnect modules.

### Claim 14

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules includes at least two pyrotechnic disconnect modules connected in parallel to one another and wherein a mated engagement of the respective dual prong male and dual prong female electrical connectors simultaneously interconnects the control connection and the pass through electrical connection of each of the at least two pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, further comprising an arc mitigation element connected in series with at least one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules are surrounded by an arc extinguishing media.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the emergency control element is configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a first one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules; and
after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a second one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, further comprising an arc mitigation element connected in parallel to at least one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, further comprising a housing, the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules inside the housing.

### Claim 21

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.