High voltage protection interlock system for serviceability
AssigneeRemy Technologies, L.L.C.
InventorsAndrew Meyer, Ronald Erli, Alex Creviston, Colin Hamer, Cary Ramey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interlock system and method are provided for protecting high voltage electrical couplings. The interlock system may control access to the electrical couplings based on the voltage of the electrical couplings. The interlock system may also selectively energize and de-energize the electrical couplings based on the position of a lid.
Claims20
A terminal block assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an interior region, the housing having an access opening into the interior region;
- a lid having a closed position that closes the access opening and an opened position that exposes the access opening;
- at least one terminal located within the housing;
- at least one high voltage wire having a lead that is configured for receipt in the housing to electrically couple the lead to the at least one terminal;
- and
- an interlock system comprising:
- a lock having a locked position that locks the lid in the closed position and an unlocked position that allows movement of the lid to the opened position;
- and
- a controller that commands movement of the lock between the locked position and the unlocked position.
An electrical circuit comprising:
- a first high voltage unit;
- a second high voltage unit;
- at least one electrical coupling between the first high voltage unit and the second high voltage unit;
- a terminal block assembly including a housing, the terminal block assembly having a closed configuration to enclose the at least one electrical coupling in the housing and an opened configuration to provide access to the at least one electrical coupling in the housing;
- and
- means for locking the terminal block assembly in the closed configuration based on a voltage of the at least one electrical coupling.
A method of servicing a high voltage electrical coupling in a terminal block assembly, the terminal block assembly including a housing and a lid, the method comprising the steps of:
- de-energizing the electrical coupling;
- automatically unlocking the lid when the electrical coupling reaches a predetermined voltage that is safe for human contact;
- and
- after the unlocking step, opening the lid to access the electrical coupling in the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.