Electrical link comprising an electrical protection device—voltage bias

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10951019-B2
Application number	US-201815969268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2018
Priority date	May 3, 2017
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

An electrical link ( 290 ) configured to link a DC high-voltage power source ( 270 ) to a user apparatus ( 250 ), and includes an electrical conductor ( 240 ) surrounded by an insulating cover and an electrical protection device ( 200 ) including: a conductive sleeve ( 280 ) arranged around the insulating cover, a biasing module ( 245 ) configured to voltage-bias the conductive sleeve ( 280 ), a circuit breaker ( 210 ) arranged on the conductor ( 240 ) and configured to cut off a current transiting through the conductor ( 240 ), and a detection module ( 220 ) connected to the conductive sleeve ( 280 ) and configured to detect a current leak out of the conductor ( 240 ) and to command the circuit breaker ( 210 ) on the basis of the detection. The invention also relates to a method for the secure supply of electric power.

First claim

The invention is:

1. An electrical link configured to link a power source to a user apparatus, the electrical link including an electrical conductor surrounded by an insulating cover and an electrical protection device, wherein the electrical production device comprises:
a conductive sleeve arranged around the insulating cover,
a biasing module configured to voltage-bias the conductive sleeve,
a circuit breaker in series with the conductor and configured to, upon command, interrupt current through the conductor, and
a detection module connected to the conductive sleeve and configured to detect a current leaking from conductor and, in response to a detected leak, command the circuit breaker to interrupt current through the conductor;
wherein the power source is a high-voltage direct-current power source, and
wherein the biasing module is configured to apply to the detection module a bias voltage having an opposite polarity sign to the voltage provided by the high-voltage direct-current power source.

2. The electrical link according to claim 1 , wherein the detection module comprises:
a comparator including a first input connected to the conductive sleeve and a second input connected to a reference voltage supplied by a DC voltage generator; and
a microcontroller receiving output signals from the comparator and generating a command signal to the circuit breaker, wherein the microcontroller is configured to send a command signal to the circuit breaker to cause the circuit breaker to interrupt current in the conductor depending on the output signals received from the comparator.

3. The electrical link according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing module comprises a DC voltage source and a bidirectional current limiter.

4. The electrical link according to claim 2 , further comprising a test module configured to test the detection module, wherein the test module comprises:
a central unit configured to command switching of a first switch and a second switch;
wherein the first switch is connected to the first input of the comparator and switches between a first non-connected terminal, a second terminal linked to the electrical conductor, and a third terminal linked to a current return line,
wherein the second switch is connected to the output of the microcontroller of the detection module and switches between a fourth terminal linked to the central unit such that only the central unit receives the command signal from the microcontroller while the second switch is at the fourth terminal, and a fifth terminal linked to the circuit breaker such that only the circuit breaker receives the command signal from the microcontroller while the second switch is at the fifth terminal;
wherein the central unit is configured implement a test mode by switching the first switch to the second terminal and the second switch to the fourth terminal and thereafter monitor a change of state of the control signal of the microcontroller; and
wherein the central unit is configured to implement an out of test phase by switching the first switch to the first terminal and control the second switch to switch to the fifth terminal.

5. The electrical link according to claim 1 , wherein the detection module comprises a low-pass filter arranged in services between the conductive sleeve and the first input of the comparator.

6. The electrical link according to claim 1 further comprising an insulating cover surrounding the conductive sleeve.

7. A method for the secure supply of electric power to a user apparatus in a vehicle via an electrical link linking the user apparatus to a power source, the electrical link comprising:
an electrical conductor surrounded by an insulating cover;
an electrical protection device comprising:

a conductive sleeve arranged around the insulating cover;
a biasing module configured to apply a voltage-bias the conductive sleeve;
a circuit breaker arranged on the conductor and configured to cut off a current transiting through the conductor; and
a detection module comprising a comparator with a first input connected to the conductive sleeve and a second input connected to a reference voltage supplied by a DC voltage generator, and a microcontroller connected between an output of the comparator and the circuit breaker, the microcontroller being configured to send a command signal to the circuit breaker on the basis of an output signal received from the comparator,

wherein the method comprises the following successive steps of:
injection, by the biasing module, of a DC voltage into the conductive sleeve;
comparison, by the comparator, of a voltage on the conductive sleeve and the reference voltage;
monitoring, by the microcontroller, of the state of the output signal of the comparator, said state being either a first state indicative of a current leak out of the electrical conductor or a second state if not;
activation of the circuit breaker by the microcontroller if the output signal of the comparator is in the first state,
wherein the power source is a high-voltage direct-current power source and the biasing module applies a DC voltage with a polarity opposite to a polarity of a DC voltage supplied by the power source to the conductor.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the detection module further comprises a test module, the test module including a central unit controlling switching of a first switch and a second switch;
wherein the first switch switches between a first terminal connected to the first input of the comparator, a second terminal which not connected to a current source, and a third terminal connected to the electrical conductor;
wherein the second switch switches between a fourth terminal establishing a connection between the output of the microcontroller of the detection module and the circuit breaker, and a fifth terminal establishing a connection between the output of the microcontroller of the detection module and the central unit and isolating the circuit breaker from the output of the microcontroller;
wherein the method further comprises a test step, implemented for a predetermined time during which the central unit commands the first switch to switch to the second terminal and commands the second switch to the fifth terminal and thereafter the central unit monitors a change of state of the command signal from the microcontroller; and
wherein, while the test step is not performed, the central unit commands the first switch to switch to the first terminal and commands the second switch to switch to the fourth terminal.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Flourens Franck
• Donadille Christian
• Oms Patrick

Classifications

• G01R31/50

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• G01R31/52 Primary

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• G01R31/008

  on air- or spacecraft, railway rolling stock or sea-going vessels · CPC title

• H03K5/24

  the characteristic being amplitude · CPC title

• H02H5/10

  responsive to mechanical injury, e.g. rupture of line, breakage of earth connection · CPC title