System, method, and apparatus for bi-directional DC short-circuit protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12424937-B2
Application number	US-202218277142-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2022
Priority date	Feb 12, 2021
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A self-triggering, bidirectional control electronics component for an electronic switch ( 50 ), for the detection and rapid shutdown of currents at a selected threshold value for both current flow directions, includes a threshold switch having a plurality of selectable shutdown threshold values for both current flow directions, the threshold switch coupled to a bidirectional current sensor system ( 65 ), arranged in the electronic switch, based on sensing of sensors on an input side of the threshold switch; and a high-speed de-energizing circuit ( 53 ) on an output side of the threshold switch including a high non-load circuit voltage for rapid removal of current from a magnetic drive coil ( 45 ), the high-speed de-energizing circuit being configured to rapidly remove the current from the magnetic drive coil when the bidirectional current sensor system senses a current greater than or equal to the selected threshold value among the plurality of selectable shutdown threshold values.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a threshold switch coupled to a bidirectional current sensor system for an electronic switch, wherein the threshold switch has a first shutdown threshold value associated with a first current flow direction and a second shutdown threshold value associated with a second current flow direction; and
a de-energizing circuit for a magnetic drive coil that operates the electronic switch, wherein the de-energizing circuit is coupled to an output of the threshold switch, wherein the de-energizing circuit is configured to apply a switch-off pulse to remove the current from the magnetic drive coil in response to the output of the threshold switch when the bidirectional current sensor system senses a current greater than or equal to a selected threshold value among the first and second shutdown threshold values.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the threshold switch comprises two comparators.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second shutdown threshold values comprises a bidirectionally adjustable current disconnection threshold value for an input side of the two comparators.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first and second shutdown threshold values corresponds to a short circuit current value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a voltage divider electrically coupled to the threshold switch, the voltage divider providing reference values for the first and second shutdown threshold values.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the voltage divider comprises at least one component selected from the components consisting of: fixed ohmic resistances, adjustable ohmic resistances, a variably adjustable potentiometer arrangement, or a Zener diode circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the bidirectional current sensor system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the bidirectional current sensor system comprises bipolar Hall sensors.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the de-energizing circuit is further configured to apply a high freewheeling counter voltage to remove the current from the magnetic drive coil.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the de-energizing circuit comprises a flyback diode for applying the high freewheeling counter voltage.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch comprises a direct current (DC) switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the electronic switch, wherein the electronic switch is electrically coupled to a power bus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic switch is a contact in a breaker/relay.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a breaker/relay comprising:
a fixed contact electrically coupled to a power bus;
the electronic switch as a movable contact selectively electrically coupled to the fixed contact;
an armature coupled to the movable contact, the armature being configured to be moved into contact with the fixed contact to allow current flow through the power bus;
a relay comprising a coil and a magnet core, the coil being configured to actuate the relay, such that the armature is pulled to the magnet core when the coil is energized; and
a breaker comprising a plurality of splitter plates in proximity to a body of the breaker; and

a permanent magnet system surrounding one or more of: the plurality of splitter plates, and an arcing path between a contact gap and the plurality of splitter plates,
wherein, during engagement or disengagement of the movable contact when the power bus is energized, the body of the breaker/relay is configured to cooperate with the splitter plates, using magnetic fields provided by the permanent magnet system, to dissipate an arc.

15. Control electronics for a DC switching device, comprising:
a bidirectional current sensor system for a power bus;
a threshold switch comprising two comparators, each of the two comparators receiving an output of the bidirectional current sensor system, wherein the threshold switch has a first shutdown threshold value associated with a first current flow direction and a second shutdown threshold value associated with a second current flow direction;
a voltage divider electrically coupled to the threshold switch, the voltage divider providing reference values to the two comparators for the first and second shutdown threshold values; and
a de-energization circuit for a magnetic drive coil that operates the DC switching device, wherein the de-energizing circuit is coupled to receive an output of the threshold switch such that the de-energizing circuit is configured to apply a switch-off pulse to remove the current from the magnetic drive coil when the bidirectional current sensor system senses a current greater than or equal to a selected threshold value among the first and second shutdown threshold values.

16. A system comprising:
a fixed contact electrically coupled to a power bus;
a movable contact selectively electrically coupled to the fixed contact;
an armature coupled to the movable contact, the armature being configured to be moved into contact with the fixed contact to allow current flow through the power bus;
a relay comprising a coil and a magnet core, the coil being configured to actuate the relay, such that the armature is pulled to the magnet core when the coil is energized;
a breaker comprising a plurality of splitter plates in proximity to a body of the breaker; and a permanent magnet system surrounding one or more of: the plurality of splitter plates, and an arcing path between a contact gap and the plurality of splitter plates, wherein, during engagement or disengagement of the movable contact when the power bus is energized, the body of the breaker is configured to cooperate with the splitter plates, using magnetic fields provided by the permanent magnet system, to dissipate an arc;
a bidirectional current sensor system for detecting current on the power bus;
a threshold switch coupled to the bidirectional current sensor system, wherein the threshold switch has a first shutdown threshold value associated with a first current flow direction and a second shutdown threshold value associated with a second current flow direction; and
a de-energizing circuit for a magnetic drive coil that operates the movable contact,
wherein the threshold switch comprises two comparators, each of the two comparators receiving an output of the bidirectional current sensor system and a reference value for the first and second shutdown threshold values from a voltage divider electrically coupled to the threshold switch,
wherein the de-energizing circuit is coupled to receive an output of the threshold switch such that the de-energizing circuit is configured to apply a switch-off pulse to remove the current from the magnetic drive coil when the bidirectional current sensor system senses a current greater than or equal to a selected threshold value among the first and second shutdown threshold values.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Schmitz Gerd
• Meid Wolfgang
• Uedelhoven Marcel

Classifications

• H02H3/087 Primary

  for DC applications · CPC title

• H02H3/006

  Calibration or setting of parameters · CPC title

• H02H1/0007

  concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445) · CPC title

• H02M1/0009

  Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter · CPC title

• H02M3/155 Primary

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title