Systems and methods for reducing contactor freezing
US-2024113360-A1 · Apr 4, 2024 · US
Relay system
US12362117B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-12362117-B2 |
| Application number | US-202318368394-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2023 |
| Priority date | Sep 28, 2022 |
| Publication date | Jul 15, 2025 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2025 |
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- Title
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A relay system includes a relay device and a controller. The relay device includes a contact and a driving mechanism configured to switch the contact between an open mode and a closed mode. The controller is configured to control the relay device. The controller is configured to, when freezing occurs on the contact, to commence first application of electric current to the driving mechanism to generate a driving force acting in a direction in which the contact is not switched between the open mode and a closed mode.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
The invention claimed is: 1. A relay system comprising: a relay device comprising a contact and a driving mechanism configured to switch the contact between an open mode and a closed mode; and a controller configured to control the relay device, wherein the controller is configured to, when freezing occurs on the contact, commence first application of electric current to the driving mechanism to generate a driving force acting in a direction in which the contact is not switched between the open mode and the closed mode. 2. The relay system according to claim 1 , wherein the relay device further comprises: a housing configured to accommodate the contact and the driving mechanism; and a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature inside the housing, and wherein the controller is configured to terminate the first application of electric current based on the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. 3. The relay system according to claim 1 , wherein the relay device further comprises: a housing configured to accommodate the contact and the driving mechanism; and a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature inside the housing, wherein the relay system further comprises: a second temperature sensor configured to detect an ambient temperature, and wherein the controller is configured to perform an estimation related to whether the freezing has occurred on the contact based on the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor. 4. The relay system according to claim 1 , wherein the relay device comprises a first coil configured to generate a driving force for switching the contact from the open mode to the closed mode and a second coil configured to generate a driving force for switching the contact from the closed mode to the open mode, and wherein the first application of the electric current comprises applying the electric current to the second coil when the contact is in the open mode. 5. The relay system according to claim 1 , wherein the relay device comprises a first coil configured to generate a driving force for switching the contact from the open mode to the closed mode and a second coil configured to generate a driving force for switching the contact from the closed mode to the open mode, and wherein the first application of the electric current comprises applying the electric current concurrently to the first coil and the second coil. 6. A relay system comprising: a relay device comprising a contact, and a driving mechanism including a coil and configured to switch the contact between an open mode and a closed mode; and circuitry configured to control the relay device, and when freezing occurs on the contact, commence first application of electric current to the coil of the driving mechanism to generate a driving force acting in a direction in which the contact is not switched between the open mode and the closed mode.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Parts movable due to bending of a blade spring or reed · CPC title
measuring the temperature of the switch or parts thereof · CPC title
Ventilating; Cooling; Heating (for operating electrothermal relays H01H61/013) · CPC title
with taking into account of the thermal influences, e.g. change in resistivity of the coil or being adapted to high temperatures · CPC title
- H01H47/002Primary
Monitoring or fail-safe circuits · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US12362117B2 cover?
- A relay system includes a relay device and a controller. The relay device includes a contact and a driving mechanism configured to switch the contact between an open mode and a closed mode. The controller is configured to control the relay device. The controller is configured to, when freezing occurs on the contact, to commence first application of electric current to the driving mechanism to g…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Subaru Corp
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H01H47/002. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Jul 15 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 6 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).