Wiring system for a vehicle and method for designing an electrical line of a wiring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020298775-A1
Application number	US-202016824539-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 19, 2020
Priority date	Mar 21, 2019
Publication date	Sep 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wiring system for a vehicle is specified, which has a voltage source and an electrical load, whereby a need for the electrical load depends on an external condition. Furthermore, the wiring system has a load path with an electrical line, which connects the voltage source to the electrical load, and a first switching element, which is arranged in the load path, for disconnecting the electrical load from the voltage source, wherein a working range of the external condition is defined, within which the function of the electrical load is reasonable, and a control unit is arranged, which is designed in such a way that a switching on of the electrical load is prevented if the external condition lies outside the working range. Furthermore, a method for the design of an electrical line of such a wiring system is given.

First claim

1 . Wiring system for a vehicle comprising:
at least one voltage source and at least one electrical load, wherein a need for the operation of the electrical load depends on an external condition and the wiring system is designed for a maximum operating range of the external condition; a load path with at least one electrical line, the load path connects the voltage source to the electrical load; and a first switching element, which is arranged in the load path, for separating the electrical load from the voltage source; wherein a working range of the external condition is defined, which is smaller than the maximum operating range; a control unit is arranged, which is designed in such a way that a switching on of the electrical load is prevented if the external condition lies outside the working range.

2 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the external condition is an external temperature and the working range is a predetermined temperature range with an upper temperature limit followed by a further working range up to a maximum temperature.

3 . Wiring system according to claim 2 , in which the upper temperature limit is dynamically adjusted if necessary.

4 . Wiring system according to claim 2 , in which the difference between the upper temperature limit and the maximum temperature is at least 30° C., preferably at least 50° C.

5 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , in which the maximum temperature is at least 80° C. and in particular at least 100° C. or at least 120° C.

6 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical line has a line cross-section which is designed only for supplying the load within the working range.

7 . Wiring system according to claim 6 , in which the line cross-section is smaller by at least a factor of 2 and preferably by at least a factor of 10 than a conventional line cross-section which would result from a design for the maximum temperature.

8 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical line is designed for a current carrying capacity of at least 30A, preferably of at least 60A and more preferably of at least 100A.

9 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical load is an electrical heating element which is used to heat:
a passenger compartment; a vehicle seat; a steering wheel; and/or an operating fluid of the vehicle.

10 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical load is a PTC heating element.

11 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical line has several supply cores, and an electronic switching element for switching the electrical load is arranged in each supply core.

12 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the first switching element is arranged for normally switching of the load during operation, and the control unit is arranged to block switching of the first switching element when the external condition is outside the working range.

13 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein further a second switching element is arranged and the control unit is arranged to cause disconnection of the load via the second switching element when the external condition is outside the working range.

14 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first switching element is arranged in a power distributor to which the electrical line is connected.

15 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , wherein the first switching element has an integrated fuse for protecting the electrical line against overcurrent or is arranged in the load path before such a fuse.

16 . Wiring system according to claim 1 , which has a measuring device for detecting the external condition.

17 . Wiring system according to claim 16 , wherein the measuring device is adapted to measure a present temperature of the electric line to determine the external condition.

18 . Wiring system according to claim 17 , wherein the measuring device is arranged to determine the present temperature by at least one of the following methods:
a direct measurement of the temperature of the electrical line, and/or an indirect measurement of the present temperature of the electric line by means of the resistance of the electrical line, a measurement of the present temperature in a component of the wiring system.

19 . Method for designing an electrical line of an wiring system for a vehicle, the wiring system comprising:
a voltage source and an electrical load, wherein the need for the electrical load depends on an external condition; a load path with an electrical line, which connects the voltage source to the electrical load; and a first switching element, which is arranged in the load path, for separating the electrical load from the voltage source; wherein a working range of the external condition is defined, the wiring system being designed for a total operating range of the external condition which is larger than the working range; a line cross section of the line is determined as a function of the working range, so that the electrical line is designed with regard to the line cross section only for operation within the working range and not within the total operating range.

20 . Procedure according to claim 19 , in which the external condition is an external temperature and the working range is a predetermined temperature range with an upper temperature limit which is followed by a further working range and wherein the line cross-section is undersized for the further working range.

Assignees

• Leoni Bordnetz Sys Gmbh

Inventors

• Schraud Bernard

Classifications

• H02J2105/30

  the load networks being external to vehicles, i.e. exchanging power with vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/667

  disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running · CPC title

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B60R16/0207

  Wire harnesses · CPC title

• B60R16/0215 Primary

  Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor · CPC title