Hybrid vehicle electrical distribution system having integrated fuse conductor paths
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJohn Paul Gibeau, Benjamin A. Tabatowski-Bush, Baojin Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle includes an electrified propulsion system powered by a traction battery. The vehicle also includes an electrical distribution system (EDS) to pass current to and from the traction battery. The EDS is provided with at least one flexible electrical distribution component (FEDC) including a plurality of individual conductor paths. At least one of the individual conductor paths defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion sized to operate as a fuse and thereby break an electrical circuit of the at least one individual conductor path in response to heat generated from conducting an electrical current greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claims18
A vehicle comprising:
- an electrified propulsion system powered by a traction;
- and
- an electrical distribution system (EDS) to pass current to and from the traction battery, the EDS having at least one flexible electrical distribution component (FEDC) connection including a plurality of individual conductor paths, wherein at least one of the individual conductor paths defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion configured to operate as a fuse and break an electrical circuit of the at least one individual conductor path in response to heat generated from conducting an electrical current that is greater than a predetermined threshold and wherein the reduced width narrowed portion defines a trapezoidal notch shape.
An electrical distribution system (EDS) for an electrified vehicle having a high voltage traction battery in electrical communication with a controller comprising:
- a flexible electrical distribution component (FEDC) connection including a plurality of individual conductor paths configured to electrically connect the traction battery to the controller, wherein at least one of the individual conductor paths defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion configured to operate as a fuse and break an electrical circuit of the at least one individual conductor path in response to heat generated from conducting electrical current that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
A vehicle comprising:
- a traction battery including a plurality of battery cells configured to power an electric machine over an electrical distribution system (EDS);
- a controller in electrical connection with the traction battery over the EDS;
- and
- at least one flexible electrical distribution components (FEDC) connection including an individual conductive trace extending from each of the plurality of battery cells to the controller, wherein each of the individual conductive traces defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion sized to operate as a fuse and thereby break an electrical circuit between a corresponding one of the plurality of battery cells and the controller in response to heat generated from conducting an electrical current greater than a predetermined threshold, and wherein the reduced width narrowed portion defines a semi-elliptical notch shape or a sinusoidal notch shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.