Method for estimating the ageing state of fuse elements and an electrical fuse maintenance system
AssigneeVolvo Truck Corporation
InventorsFrederic Leroy, David De Brito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical fuse maintenance system includes sensor adapted to measure the current flowing through a fuse element, the voltage on the fuse element, the temperature of the fuse element, and/or the temperature of an environment surrounding the fuse element, a controller configured to monitor the current, the voltage, the temperatures over a period of time while the fuse element is connected to an energized electrical power unit. Based on the monitored current, voltage and temperatures, the controller is adapted to estimate a service life remaining of the fuse element.
Claims19
A method for estimating the ageing state of fuse elements provided inside a vehicle fuse box, this method comprising steps that consist to:
- a) measure and monitor the current flowing through each fuse element;
- b) increment a counter each time the current flowing through the fuse element exceeds fuse rating, said counter corresponding to the number of current peaks supported by the fuse element;
- c) extract from a pre-established model a threshold number of current peaks that the fuse element can withstand;
- d) determining the ageing state of the fuse element as the quotient between the counter calculated at step b) and the threshold number extracted at step c), the fuse element being considered as worn out when said quotient reaches 100%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.