Method for operating a safety device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10793005-B2
Application number	US-201716331565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2017
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a security device, comprising a housing with at least one current-carrying element, wherein the current-carrying element is arranged in the housing interior and is enclosed by the housing. A particle detector is arranged in the housing interior, which monitors the housing interior with respect to the formation of particles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a safety device ( 10 ), the safety device ( 10 ) including a housing ( 11 ) with at least one current-carrying element ( 12 ) connected to a power supply ( 26 ), the current-carrying element ( 12 ) being arranged in a housing interior ( 13 ) and enclosed by the housing ( 11 ), and a particle detector ( 15 ) configured as a photoelectric barrier and includes a radiation source ( 16 ) and a radiation receiver ( 17 ) and is arranged within the housing interior ( 13 ) of the housing, the method comprising:
monitoring, via the particle detector ( 15 ), for an occurrence of an arc discharge ( 19 ) by monitoring the housing interior ( 13 ) for conductive particles ( 24 ) resulting from the arc discharge and for radiation emitted from the arc discharge ( 19 ); and
switching off the power supply ( 26 ) in response to detecting, via the radiation receiver ( 17 ) the occurrence of the arc discharge upon detecting the radiation or conductive particles ( 24 ),

wherein the safety device ( 10 ) is configured to switch off the power supply ( 26 ) upon detecting the radiation emitted by the arc discharge ( 19 ), via the radiation receiver ( 17 ), before the particles ( 24 ) have been detected by the photoelectric barrier.

2. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation source ( 16 ) comprises a light-emitting diode.

3. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation receiver ( 17 ) comprises a photodiode.

4. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the particle detector ( 15 ) is arranged on or in an opening ( 18 ) of the housing ( 11 ).

5. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the opening ( 18 ) is a pressure equalization opening of the housing ( 11 ).

6. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation source ( 16 ) is a laser diode.

7. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation receiver ( 17 ) comprises a phototransistor.

8. The method for operating a safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radiation receiver ( 17 ) comprises a photoresistor.

9. A safety device comprising:
a housing ( 11 );
at least one current-carrying element ( 12 ) connected to a power supply ( 26 ) and arranged in a housing interior ( 13 ) and enclosed by the housing ( 11 ); and
a particle detector ( 15 ) configured as a photoelectric barrier and includes a radiation source ( 16 ) and a radiation receiver ( 17 ) and is arranged within the housing interior ( 13 ) of the housing, the particle detector configured to monitor the housing interior ( 13 ) for an occurrence of an arc discharge ( 19 ) by monitoring the housing interior ( 13 ) for conductive particles ( 24 ) and for radiation emitted from the an arc discharge ( 19 ),

wherein the safety device ( 10 ) is configured to switch off the power supply ( 26 ) upon detecting the radiation emitted by the arc discharge ( 19 ), via the radiation receiver ( 17 ), before the conductive particles ( 24 ) have been detected by the photoelectric barrier.

10. The safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the radiation source ( 16 ) comprises a light-emitting diode.

11. The safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the radiation receiver ( 17 ) comprises a photodiode.

12. The safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the particle detector ( 15 ) is arranged on an opening ( 18 ) of the housing ( 11 ).

13. The safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the opening ( 18 ) comprises a pressure equalization opening of the housing ( 11 ).

14. The safety device ( 10 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the radiation source ( 16 ) is a laser diode.

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Garcia Alvarez Vicente
• Sievert Holger
• Lorenz Gerd

Classifications

• H05K7/1432

  specially adapted for power drive units or power converters · CPC title

• B60L3/04 Primary

  Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions (protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H) · CPC title

• G08B17/12 Primary

  Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions · CPC title

• H02H1/0023

  sensing non electrical parameters, e.g. by optical, pneumatic, thermal or sonic sensors · CPC title

• G08B17/117

  by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire (G08B17/103, G08B17/11 take precedence) · CPC title