Modular circuit protection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017330715-A1
Application number	US-201615234196-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pyrotechnic circuit protection system includes a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal and a plurality of pyrotechnic modules connected between the first and second connection terminals. Each of the pyrotechnic modules includes a nonconductive housing and electrical connectors facilitating plug-in connection of the pyrotechnic modules to one another. A single control module may control and coordinate a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

First claim

1 . A modular pyrotechnic circuit protection system comprising:
an input terminal; an output terminal; and at least one disconnect module electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal; wherein the at least one disconnect module comprises:
a nonconductive housing comprising opposed side surfaces;
a first electrical connector on one of the opposed side surfaces;
a second electrical connector on the other of the opposed side surfaces;
a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and electrically connected to at least one of the first and second electrical connectors; and
first and second terminals coupled to the respective input terminal and output terminal; and
an arc mitigation element connected in parallel with the at least one disconnect module between the input terminal and the output terminal.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an emergency control element in communication with the at least one disconnect module via one of the first and second electrical connectors.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the arc mitigation element comprises an electrical fuse.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is a male connector, wherein the second electrical connector is a female connector, and wherein a pass through electrical connection from the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector is established in the nonconductive housing of the at least one disconnect module.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one disconnect module includes at least two disconnect modules connected in parallel via respective ones of the first and second electrical connectors.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one disconnect module includes at least two disconnect modules, one of the at least two disconnect modules connected in series with the arc mitigation element.

7 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising an emergency control element in communication with each of the at least two disconnect modules, the emergency control element configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a first one of the at least two disconnect modules; and after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a second one of the at least two disconnect modules.

8 . A modular pyrotechnic circuit protection system comprising:
a housing; an input terminal; an output terminal; and at least two disconnect modules electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal inside the housing, wherein each of the at least two disconnect modules comprises:
a nonconductive housing comprising opposed side surfaces;
a first electrical connector on one of the opposed side surfaces;
a second electrical connector on the other of the opposed side surfaces; and
a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the housing and electrically connected to at least one of the first and second electrical connectors.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an arc extinguishing media surrounding the at least two disconnect modules inside the housing.

10 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an arc mitigation element electrically connected in parallel with at least one of the at least two disconnect modules inside the housing.

11 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an arc mitigation element electrically connected in series with at least one of the at least two disconnect modules between the input terminal and the output terminal.

12 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an emergency control element in communication with each of the at least two disconnect modules, the emergency control element configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a first one of the at least two disconnect modules; and after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a second one of the at least two disconnect modules.

13 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical fuse connected in series with a first one of the at least two disconnect modules and also connected in parallel with a second one of the at least two disconnect modules.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first electrical connector is a male connector, wherein the second electrical connector is a female connector, and wherein a pass through electrical connection is established in the housing from the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector.

15 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least two disconnect modules are connected in parallel via respective ones of the first electrical connector and second electrical connector in each of the at least two disconnect modules.

16 . A photovoltaic circuit protection system comprising:
a solar photovoltaic power system having at least one solar panel; a first connection terminal connected to the at least one solar panel; a second connection terminal connected to an electrical load; a plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules connected between the first and second connection terminals, wherein each of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules include: a nonconductive housing comprising opposed side surfaces;
a first electrical connector on one of the opposed side surfaces;
a second electrical connector on the other of the opposed side surfaces;
a pyrotechnic disconnect element inside the nonconductive housing and electrically connected to at least one of the first and second electrical connectors; and
an emergency control element connected to each of the plurality of pyrotechnic modules via one of the first and second electrical connectors.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules includes at least two pyrotechnic disconnect modules connected in parallel to one another via respective ones of the first and second electrical connectors.

18 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising an arc mitigation element connected in series with at least one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules are surrounded by an arc extinguishing media.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the emergency control element is configured to:
generate a first control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a first one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules; and after a predetermined time delay, generate a second control signal to operate the pyrotechnic disconnect element inside a second one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

21 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising an arc mitigation element connected in parallel to at least one of the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules.

22 . The pyrotechnic circuit protection system of claim 16 further comprising a housing, the plurality of pyrotechnic disconnect modules inside the housing.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Von Zur Muehlen Patrick Alexander
• Henricks Michael Craig
• Ventura Joseph James
• Petroni Vinicius Marcilli

Classifications

• H01H9/02

  Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) · CPC title

• H01H85/38

  Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc (by powder filling H01H85/18; by mechanical tension applied to fusible member H01H85/36) · CPC title

• H01H9/106

  fuse and switch being connected in parallel · CPC title

• H01H39/006 Primary

  Opening by severing a conductor · CPC title

• H01H9/54

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere · CPC title