Mobile application with combined breaker and relay

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12394976-B2
Application number	US-202318214459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2023
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A mobile application includes a breaker/relay that includes a plurality of fixed contacts electrically coupled to a power bus, a plurality of corresponding moveable contacts that are selectively electrically coupled to the plurality of fixed contacts, allowing power flow through the power bus when electrically coupled to the fixed contacts and preventing power flow when not electrically coupled, an armature operationally coupled to at least one of the moveable contacts, such that the armature prevents electrical coupling between the at least one of the moveable contacts and the corresponding one of the fixed contacts when in a first position and allows electrical coupling when in a second position, a first biasing member biasing the armature into the first position or the second position; and an arc suppression assembly structured to guide and disperse an opening arc between each of the plurality of moveable contacts and the corresponding fixed contacts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile application, comprising:
a motive power circuit, the motive power circuit comprising a power storage device and an electrical load, wherein the power storage device and the electrical load are selectively electrically coupled through a power bus; and
a power distribution unit (PDU) electrically interposed between the power storage device and the electrical load, wherein the PDU comprises a breaker/relay positioned on one of a high side and a low side of the power storage device;
wherein the breaker/relay comprises:
a plurality of fixed contacts electrically coupled to the power bus;
a plurality of moveable contacts corresponding to the plurality of fixed contacts, wherein the plurality of moveable contacts are selectively electrically coupled to the plurality of fixed contacts, and wherein the moveable contacts allow power flow through the power bus when electrically coupled to the fixed contacts, and prevent power flow through the power bus when not electrically coupled to the fixed contacts;
an armature operationally coupled to at least one of the moveable contacts, such that the armature in a first position prevents electrical coupling between the at least one of the moveable contacts and the corresponding one of the fixed contacts, and the armature in a second position allows electrical coupling between the at least one of the moveable contacts and the corresponding one of the fixed contacts;
a first biasing member biasing the armature into one of the first position or the second position; and
an arc suppression assembly structured to guide and disperse an opening arc between each of the plurality of moveable contacts and the corresponding fixed contacts.

2. The mobile application of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of moveable contacts are linked as a dual pole single throw contacting arrangement.

3. The mobile application of claim 2 , wherein the armature is operationally coupled to both of the moveable contacts.

4. The mobile application of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of moveable contacts are separately controllable.

5. The mobile application of claim 1 , further comprising a pre-charge circuit coupled in parallel with at least one of the fixed contacts.

6. The mobile application of claim 5 , wherein the pre-charge circuit comprises a solid state pre-charge circuit.

7. The mobile application of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic actuator coupled to one of the moveable contacts, and wherein all of the plurality of moveable contacts are responsive to the magnetic actuator.

8. The mobile application of claim 1 , wherein the arc suppression assembly comprises a plurality of splitter plates and at least one permanent magnet.

9. The mobile application of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of splitter plates is positioned within arc dispersion proximity of more than one of the moveable contacts.

10. The mobile application of claim 8 , wherein the permanent magnet is positioned within arc guidance proximity of more than one of the moveable contacts.

11. The mobile application of claim 1 , further comprising a current sensor structured to determine an electrical current value in response to electrical current flowing through at least one of the moveable contacts, the mobile application further comprising a controller structured to interpret the electrical current value and to command the at least one of the moveable contacts to the first position in response to the electrical current value exceeding a threshold value.

12. The mobile application of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the moveable contacts is responsive to a Lorentz force to physically move to the first position in response to the electrical current value exceeding a second threshold value.

13. The mobile application of claim 12 , wherein the second threshold value is greater than the threshold value.

14. The mobile application of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further structured to adjust the threshold value in response to an expected electrical current value.

15. The mobile application of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further structured to increase the threshold value in response to determining that a charge operation of a battery is active.

16. The mobile application of claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar electrically coupling two of the plurality of moveable contacts.

17. The mobile application of claim 16 , wherein the bus bar comprises a hardware configuration in a region of each of the moveable contacts, wherein the hardware configuration provides for a physical response force of the moveable contacts in response to a current value through the power bus.

18. The mobile application of claim 17 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises at least one configuration selected from the configurations consisting of: an area of the bus bar in proximity to a current providing portion of the power bus; and a positioning of a portion of the bus bar in proximity to the current providing portion of the power bus.

19. The mobile application of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of current sensors, each of the plurality of current sensors operationally coupled to one of the plurality of moveable contacts.

20. The mobile application of claim 19 , wherein a first one of the plurality of moveable contacts couples a first circuit of the power bus, and wherein a second one of the plurality of moveable contacts couples a second circuit of the power bus, and wherein the first circuit and the second circuit are power circuits for separate electrical loads.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Fisher Brandon William

Classifications

• H05K7/2089

  for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor · CPC title

• B60Y2200/91

  Electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60K6/22

  characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs · CPC title

• H02M7/003

  Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections · CPC title

• H02P29/68

  based on the temperature of a drive component or a semiconductor component · CPC title