Hybrid high voltage isolation contactor control
AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
InventorJay E. Bissontz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An isolation system for traction batteries for a vehicle includes battery contactors having a closed state and an open state. The current drawn from the traction batteries during transitions between the two states is managed by selecting loads for either reduced levels of operation or cutoff to reduce the total current draw. Vehicle operating conditions, such as the direction of the state transition, may control the selection of loads for operation during the transition.
Claims9
A vehicle, comprising:
- a high voltage electrical system;
- traction batteries;
- contactors between the traction batteries and the high voltage electrical system, the contactors having a closed state and an opened state;
- a plurality of vehicle electrical loads;
- sensors for indicating vehicle operating conditions;
- a vehicle control system coupled to receive output signals generated by the sensors including output signals generating a transition in state of the contactors and including means for controlling transition in the state of the contactors and further including means for controlling the amount of electricity each vehicle electrical load can draw;
- and
- the vehicle control system being responsive to vehicle operating conditions generating a change in state of the of the contactors for reducing the current draw of the plurality of vehicle loads.
A traction battery isolation system for a vehicle comprising:
- battery contactors having a closed state and an open state;
- means for establishing vehicle operating conditions;
- control means responsive to vehicle operating conditions for moving the battery contactors between states;
- a plurality of vehicle electrical loads;
- and
- the control means being further responsive to particular vehicle operating conditions for selecting vehicle electrical loads for limited operation during a state transition of the battery contactors.
In a hybrid-electric or electric vehicle equipped with an electrical power distribution system, a plurality of loads which can draw current from the electrical power distribution system, a traction battery plant and contactors having closed and open states for coupling or isolating the traction battery plant from the electrical power distribution system, a method of operating the contactors comprising the steps of:
- responsive to a change in vehicle operating conditions selecting loads for operation during a transition in state of the contactors;
- implementing a transition in state of the contactors;
- and
- selecting loads for operation based on vehicle operating conditions following completion of the transition in state of the contactors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.