System for bypassing and isolating electrical power cells
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.
InventorsErich H. Soendker, Joel Edward Bruemmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical power cell system including first and second electrical power cells having first and second terminals, one or more transient voltage suppressors connected in parallel with a relay, the relay having two states, the first state of the relay connects the first and second electrical power cells in series, and the second state of the relay bypasses the first electrical power cell so that the first electrical power cell is not connected in series with the second electrical power cell.
Claims16
An electrical power cell bypass and isolation system comprising:
- first and second electrical power cells;
- a relay having first and second states, the first state of the relay connects the first and second electrical power cells in series, and the second state of the relay bypasses the first electrical power cell so that the first and second electrical power cells are not connected in series;
- and
- one or more transient voltage suppressors connected in parallel with the relay.
A method for isolating and bypassing a first electrical power cell of a plurality of electrical power cells, the method comprising:
- latching the relay to a first state in which the first electrical power cell is electrically connected in series with the plurality of electrical power cells;
- monitoring operation of the first electrical power cell;
- upon detection of a malfunction of the first electrical power cell, throwing the relay to a second state that bypasses the first electrical power cell so that it is not connected in series with the plurality of electrical power cells;
- and
- routing current through one or more transient voltage suppressors during throw time of the relay.
A method for installing electrical power cells into a series circuit of electrical power cells, the method comprising:
- a. installing into the series circuit an electrical power cell together with an electrical power cell isolation circuit capable of isolating the electrical power cell from other electrical power cells in the series circuit;
- b. after installation of the electrical power cell, isolating the electrical power cell from the series circuit of electrical power cells using the electrical power cell isolation circuit;
- c. repeating steps a and b until all electrical power cells have been installed in the series circuit of electrical power cells;
- and
- d. using the electrical power cell isolation circuits to connect in series all electrical power cells of the series circuit by no longer isolating the cells.
The method claim of 13, wherein the electrical power cell isolation circuit further comprises a bypass control circuit capable of controlling the relay.
The method claim of 14, wherein the bypass control circuit controls the relay using an actuator device having one or more relay coils.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.