Switching arrangement and process for switching off an electric energy source of a vehicle
AssigneeDaimlerChrysler AG
InventorsOtmar Bitsche, Robert Streit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switching process and apparatus for switching-off an electric energy supply of a vehicle has two switching elements which are mounted in the proximity of the electric energy source, and couple it to supply electric energy to consuming devices of the vehicle. In the event of a fault, an all-pole switch-off is implemented by opening both switching elements. One of the two switching elements is an operating switch by means of which the electric energy source can be switched off in normal operation. In the case of a vehicle driven by an electric motor in a normal operation the driving current of the electric motor is first controlled downward, and the operating switch is then opened when the driving current is decreased.
Claims11
Switching arrangement for switching off an energy supply of a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second switching elements mounted in the proximity of the energy supply, and coupling it to supply electric energy to consuming devices of the vehicle, said switching elements being operable to implement an all-pole switch-off of the energy source in the event of a fault, by opening both switching elements;
- wherein
- the first switching element is a lower capacity operating switch which is operable for switching off the energy supply at relatively lower current conditions in normal operation;
- and
- the second switching element is a higher capacity emergency cutout switch, which is operable for switching off the energy supply at relatively higher current conditions, and in which, during the separation of electrical contacts thereof, an element made of a non-conducting material is pushed between the contacts.
Process for switching off an energy supply having a switching arrangement with first and second switching elements mounted in the proximity of the energy supply, and coupling it to supply electric energy to consuming devices of the vehicle, said switching elements being operable to implement an all-pole switch-off of the energy source in the event of a fault, by opening both switching elements, wherein the first switching element is an operating switch by means of which the energy supply can be switched off in normal operation and the second switching element is an emergency cutout switch, said process comprising:
- opening said emergency cutout switch when, during a switch-off event in normal operation, either of the following is true,
- after a defined first time period t1, following initiation of the switch-off event, operating current from said energy supply is greater than a first threshold value;
- and
- when during a switch-off event in the normal operation, the operating switch does not open at all.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.