EP3841646A1

EP3841646A1 - Supply system for supplying electrical power and method for operating a supply system

Info

Publication number: EP3841646A1
Application number: EP19720605.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefan Lugschitz; Günther Mader; Rudolf Thalbauer
Original assignee: Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Frauscher Sensortechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2018-08-21
Filing date: 2019-04-30
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Also published as: CN112567583A; WO2020038616A1; EP3614517A1; US20220109297A1; BR112021002083A2; RU2769173C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a supply system (20) for supplying electrical power. The supply system (20) comprises at least one power supply (21), which has a power source (22), and at least two consumer units (23). The consumer units (23) each have a first input (24), a second input (25) and a consumer (38). Each of the consumer units (23) has a switch (26), which is arranged between the first and the second input (24, 25), at least one consumer unit (23) is electrically coupled to the power supply (21), the consumers (38) are electrically connected in parallel, and each of the consumer units (23) is configured to autonomously control the associated switch (26). The invention further relates to a method for operating a supply system (20).

Description

description

SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR SUPPLY WITH ELECTRICAL VOLTAGE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SUPPLY SYSTEM

A supply system for supplying electrical voltage and a method for operating a supply system are specified.

Consumers can be connected to a supply system for supplying electrical voltage. Consumers can, for example, run parallel along one

Supply line be switched and can be supplied with electrical voltage from the supply system. For example, the consumers can be a multiplicity of sensors which are arranged at different positions. To protect against failures that can occur due to short circuits or voltage dips along the supply line, many supply systems have two

Supply lines on. However, if a short circuit occurs in one of the consumers, both supply lines can break down without additional protective circuitry. Thus, all consumers connected to the supply lines would no longer be supplied with voltage.

One problem to be solved is to specify a supply system for supplying electrical voltage which has improved protection against failures.

The task is determined by the subject of the independent

Claim resolved. Advantageous refinements and developments are specified in the subclaims.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system for supplying electrical voltage, the supply system comprises at least one

Power supply that has a voltage source. The voltage supply can have at least one output, which is set up so that electrical consumers or consumer units can be connected. Thus, the Power supply to be designed to provide electrical voltage. The voltage supply can be designed to provide a predefinable voltage. The voltage source can have two outputs, one of which is electrically connected to the output of the voltage supply and the other to ground.

Alternatively, both outputs of the voltage source can be electrically connected to the

Power supply must be connected. In this case, the supply system can be operated floating.

The supply system further comprises at least two consumer units. The consumer units can be designed to be supplied with electrical voltage.

The consumer units each have a first input, a second input and a consumer. The consumer units can each be supplied with electrical voltage via the first input and the second input. Both

For example, consumers can be sensors. The sensors can be arranged along an object to be monitored. In addition, the sensors can be designed to detect vehicles that are moving along the object to be monitored. For example, the object to be monitored can be tracks on which trains are moving. It is also possible that the consumers are other electrical consumers.

Each of the consumer units has a switch which is arranged between the respective first and the respective second input. This can mean that the first input is electrically connected to a first side of the switch and the second input is electrically connected to a second side of the switch, the second side of the switch being arranged on a side facing away from the first side of the switch. If the switch is closed, the first input and the second input can be electrically connected to one another. If the switch is open, the first input and the second input are not electrically connected to one another via the switch. The switch can be, for example, a mechanical or an electronic switch. At least one consumer unit is electrically coupled to the voltage supply. This can mean that at least one consumer unit is electrically connected to the

Power supply is connected. For example, one of the inputs of the

Consumer unit to be electrically connected to the output of the voltage supply. The at least one consumer unit can be connected to the

Power supply must be connected. It is also possible that each of the

Consumer units are electrically connected to the power supply.

The consumer units are arranged in series. The consumers are electrically connected in parallel. This means that the consumers are electrically connected in parallel with respect to the voltage supply. For this purpose, the consumer units can each be connected to both poles of the voltage supply. The consumers are each part of a consumer unit. The consumer units are arranged one after the other. For this purpose, for example, the second input of a consumer unit can be electrically connected to the first input of a further consumer unit. A supply line can thus be formed. The supply line can have electrical connections between the voltage supply and the consumer units. The

Supply line can for example be an electrical connection between the

Power supply and a first input of a first consumer unit and the electrical connection via the switch between the first input and the second input of the first consumer unit. The supply line can also have electrical connections between the other consumer units. Since the consumer units are each connected to both poles of the voltage supply, the consumers of the consumer units are electrically connected in parallel to one another.

Each of the consumer units is designed to control the associated switch independently. For this purpose, each of the consumer units can have a control unit which is designed to independently control the associated switch. This can mean that the control unit is designed to control the switch in such a way that it is closed or opened. The control unit can be connected to the switch via a control connection. The control connection can be a mechanical, an electrical or a wireless connection. The fact that each of the consumer units is designed to control the associated switch independently can mean that each of the consumer units uses only information from the respective consumer unit to control the associated switch. Each of the consumer units can thus be designed for the associated switch only with information from the respective one

Control consumer unit. This can mean that the supply system is designed to be operated without communication links between the consumer units. Each of the consumer units can thus be designed to control the associated switch without information from other consumer units. The supply system can be free of communication links between the consumer units.

If a short circuit occurs in one of the consumer units or in one of the consumers, the current along the supply line rises sharply and the voltage is greatly reduced. This means that not all consumer units can be supplied with a predefinable voltage from the power supply. By making each of the

Consumer units has a switch, the consumer unit, in which a short circuit occurs, can be electrically decoupled from the other consumer units by opening switches. If the switches of the consumer units, which are arranged adjacent to the consumer unit with a short circuit, are opened, the consumer units, which are closer to the voltage supply than the consumer unit concerned, can be supplied with electrical voltage. This means that in the event of a short circuit in one of the consumer units, the entire supply line does not necessarily fail. Only the consumer unit in which the short circuit occurs and the consumer units which are located further away from the voltage supply fail.

The structure of the supply system described here advantageously enables improved protection against failures with only one supply line. A second supply line is not required in this case. By opening the switches of the consumer units, which are arranged adjacent to the consumer unit with a short circuit, the consumer units which are closer to the

Power supply are arranged, continue to be supplied with voltage. Since only one Supply line is required, material for electrical lines or

Connections can be saved.

Another advantage of the supply system described here is that by opening the switches of the consumer units, which are adjacent to the

Consumer unit with a short circuit are arranged, the occurring short circuit can be localized. This simplifies the repair of the supply system.

Since the switch is controlled independently by the respective consumer unit, communication between the consumer units is not necessary. In the event of a short circuit, the associated switch is opened by the consumer units, which detect a voltage drop, and an exchange of data between the consumer units is not required.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, this comprises

Supply system at least one voltage supply, which has a voltage source, and at least two consumer units, the consumer units each having a first input and a second input, each of the

Consumer units has a switch, which is arranged between the respective first and the respective second input, at least one consumer unit is electrically coupled to the voltage supply, the consumer units are electrically connected in series, and each of the consumer units is designed to control the associated switch independently.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, the

Supply system at least one additional voltage supply with a further voltage source. The further voltage supply can have a similar or the same structure as the voltage supply. The further one

Power supply can be designed to provide electrical voltage. The electrical voltage can be predetermined. At least one of the consumer units is electrically coupled to the further voltage supply. This can mean that at least one of the consumer units is electrically connected to the other

Power supply is connected. The further power supply can be connected to one of the Power supply side of the supply line facing away. This can mean that the voltage supply is electrically connected to a first consumer unit and that the further voltage supply is electrically connected to the last of the consumer units arranged one after the other.

If the supply line is interrupted, for example in the area of one of the electrical connections between the consumer units, the

Consumer units continue from the power supply and further

Power supply can be supplied with electrical voltage. The supply system thus advantageously has improved protection against failures, in particular against interruptions along the supply line.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, each switch is controlled exclusively by information from the associated consumer unit. This means that each of the consumer units is designed to control the associated switch independently. No information from other consumer units is required to control the switch. The supply system can thus be designed to be operated without communication connections between the consumer units. The supply system is therefore advantageously more robust against failures and there is no communication infrastructure between the

Consumer units needed.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, the

Voltage supply has a current limit or a power limit. This can mean that the current occurring at the output of the voltage supply is limited to a maximum permissible current or that that at the output of the

Power supply power is limited. In the event of a short circuit in one of the consumer units, the current in the supply line rises sharply. Since the current occurring at the voltage supply is limited by the current limitation, the voltage along the supply line drops sharply. A strongly falling voltage can thus be used as an indicator of a short circuit. According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, there are two

Consumer units are electrically connected to one another via a supply line. This means that a supply line is arranged between two consumer units. A first consumer unit can be electrically connected to the voltage supply via a supply line. A further consumer unit can be electrically connected to the further voltage supply via a further supply line. For example, the second input of the first consumer unit can be electrically connected to the first input of a second consumer unit

Supply line to be connected. The supply line thus shows the

Supply lines on. Only one supply line is advantageously required.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, two consumer units are electrically connected to one another via exactly one supply line. This means that two consumer units each have only one

Supply line are electrically connected to each other. A supply line can be an electrical connection with two electrical lines. One of the two electrical lines can be grounded. It is furthermore possible for exactly one supply line to be arranged between all two consumer units for all consumer units. Advantageously, no second supply line and no communication link between the

Consumer units needed. This saves costs and material in the manufacture of the supply system.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, the

Consumers each have an inductive sensor. The inductive sensor can be, for example, a wheel sensor for detecting the wheels of trains. The wheel sensor can be arranged on tracks. In addition, the wheel sensor can be designed to detect wheels of trains. The consumers can thus have distances of several meters or kilometers between each other. The supply system can extend over a length of several 100 meters or several kilometers

extend. Since high safety standards are required in the area of train detection, it is advantageous that the supply system has improved protection against failures.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, each of the

Consumer units have an energy store The energy store can be, for example, a capacitor. The energy store can be electrically connected to the first input and the second input of the consumer unit. The energy store can also be electrically connected to the control unit, so that it can be supplied with electrical voltage by the energy store. The energy store can be designed to store electrical charge. For example, the energy storage device can be charged as soon as at the inputs of the

Consumer unit has an electrical voltage. Furthermore, the

Energy storage be electrically connected to the inductive sensor. The

Energy storage devices can be designed to supply the inductive sensor with electrical voltage at least temporarily.

Since each of the consumer units has an energy store, the

Consumer units are also supplied with voltage from the respective energy store in the event that, for a short time, less or no voltage is provided by the voltage supply.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, the first

Inputs and the second inputs electrically connected to an electrical valve each. The electrical valve may be configured to be permeable to electrical current in one direction and to be impermeable or less permeable to electrical current in the opposite direction. In addition, the electric valve can be controlled electrically. The electrical valve is arranged such that it is connected in the forward direction from the supply line to the consumer unit. This ensures that the consumer units can be supplied with voltage from the power supply and that there is no current flow from the

Consumer units for power supply there. According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, the electrical valves each have a diode or a transistor. The diodes are polarized so that they are connected in the forward direction from the supply line to the consumer unit. This ensures that the consumer units can be supplied with voltage from the power supply and that there is no current flow from the

Consumer units for power supply there. The diodes can be semiconductor diodes. The transistors can be metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs).

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, a resistor is connected in parallel with each switch. The resistance is one

Charging resistor. The resistor can have a high electrical resistance.

With the switch open, if there is no short circuit in the respective

Consumer unit is present, input capacities of the consumer unit are partially charged, so that the voltage drop when the switch is closed is limited.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, each of the

Consumer units a measuring device, which is designed to determine the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit. The measuring device can, for example, be designed to contact the consumer unit

Determine voltage at the first input and at the second input. If there is a fault in the supply system, the voltage at the consumer unit can change. If, for example, a short circuit occurs in another consumer unit, the voltage is reduced significantly and the switches of the neighboring consumer units are opened.

According to at least one embodiment of the supply system, each of the

Consumer units designed to control the associated switch depending on the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit. This can mean that the switch is opened as soon as the voltage applied to the consumer unit falls below a predefinable minimum value. If the applied voltage falls below the minimum value, there may be a short circuit in one of the other consumer units. It is possible that the control unit of the Consumer unit is designed to control the associated switch depending on the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit. A short circuit in the supply system can lead to a voltage drop in several supply units, so that several switches are opened. This means that a supply unit can be arranged between two supply units in which the switches are open. In this case, the supply unit in the middle can no longer be supplied with voltage via the supply line. As soon as the switches of the two neighboring consumer units are open, the

Consumer unit between these two consumer units over the

Energy stores are supplied with electrical voltage. Thus, the

Consumer unit can also be supplied with voltage in the event of a short circuit in another consumer unit.

It is also possible for the switch to be closed again as soon as the voltage applied to the consumer unit again exceeds a predefinable threshold value. This can be the case, for example, if the switches of the two

Consumer units, which are arranged adjacent to the consumer unit with a short circuit, are open and the voltage provided by the voltage supply rises again. By opening the switches, the consumer unit with a short circuit is decoupled from the supply system. That means the rest

Consumer units can be supplied with voltage from the power supply. If the supply system has a voltage supply, all consumer units which are arranged closer to the voltage supply than the consumer unit in which the short circuit is present can continue to be supplied with voltage in a regular manner. If the supply system has a voltage supply and a further voltage supply, all other consumer units can continue to be supplied with voltage in the event that there is a short circuit in one of the consumer units or in one of the supply lines. So that points

Supply system an improved protection against failures.

Furthermore, a method for operating one described here

Supply system specified. According to at least one embodiment of the method, the associated switch is opened for each consumer unit when the switch which is in contact with the consumer unit

Voltage is below a predefinable minimum value. The on the

The voltage applied to the consumer unit can drop below the minimum value, for example, if a short circuit occurs in another consumer unit. In this case, it is advantageous to uncouple the consumer unit with a short circuit from the supply system at least temporarily by opening the switch of the neighboring consumer unit or the switch of the two neighboring consumer units. A breakdown of the voltage at the consumer unit or at the inductive sensor of the consumer unit is thus avoided. It is also possible that those at the

Applied voltage drops below the minimum value if a short circuit occurs in the supply line. In this case, it is advantageous to open the switches of the consumer units, which are arranged adjacent to the short circuit. The remaining consumer units can thus continue to be supplied with voltage by the voltage supply.

According to at least one embodiment of the method, the associated switch is opened after a predeterminable period of time when the at the

Applied voltage unit is below a predetermined minimum value. This can mean that the associated switch is only opened when the voltage applied to the consumer unit is below the minimum value for a predefinable period of time. This prevents the switch from being opened in the event of brief voltage fluctuations. Brief voltage fluctuations can occur along the supply line, even if there is no short circuit. In this case, the associated switch is only opened after the predeterminable time period if the voltage applied to the consumer unit is below the minimum value within this time period.

According to at least one embodiment of the method, the switch is closed at predeterminable time intervals after the switch has opened if the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit is above a predefinable threshold value. This may mean that the switch is closed as soon as the on the

Consumer unit applied voltage is above the threshold. If it falls on the If the voltage applied to the consumer unit is again below the minimum value, the switch can be opened again. If the voltage applied to the consumer unit does not then fall below the minimum value again, the switch can remain closed. This makes it possible for the consumer units in which there is no short circuit to continue to be supplied with voltage from the power supply as soon as the switches of the consumer units which are arranged adjacent to the consumer unit with a short circuit are opened.

The supply system described here and the method described here for operating a supply system are described below in conjunction with

Embodiments and the associated figures explained.

Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the supply system

Supply with electrical voltage.

A further exemplary embodiment of the supply system is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

6, 7 and 8 show exemplary embodiments of a consumer unit.

FIG. 9 shows a section of a further exemplary embodiment of the supply system.

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of the method for operating a

Described supply system.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the supply system 20 for supplying electrical voltage. The supply system 20 includes one

Power supply 21, which has a voltage source 22. The voltage source 22 has two outputs 34. One of the outputs 34 is grounded and the other of the outputs 34 is electrically connected to a current limiting unit 35. Alternatively, it is possible for the voltage supply 21 to have a power limiting unit instead of the current limiting unit 35. In addition, the voltage supply 21 an output 34. The current limiting unit 35 is designed for the

Output 34 of the voltage supply 21 limit the current occurring to a maximum permissible current. Has the power supply 21

Power limiting unit, it is designed to limit the power occurring at the output 34 of the voltage supply 21 to a maximum permissible power. Between the current limiting unit 35 and the output 34 of the

Power supply 21, a diode 31 is arranged. The current limiting unit 35 is electrically connected to the diode 31 and the diode 31 is electrically connected to the output 34 of the voltage supply 21. The diode 31 is polarized so that it is connected from the current limiting unit 35 to the output 34 in the forward direction.

The supply system 20 also has at least two consumer units 23, in this case four consumer units 23. The consumer units 23 are electrically connected to the voltage supply 21. The consumer units 23 are arranged in series. Each of the consumer units 23 has a first input 24 and a second input 25. The first input 24 of one of the consumer units 23 is electrically connected to the output 34 of the voltage supply 21. The first input 24 of one of the consumer units 23 is electrically connected to the output 34 of the voltage supply 21 via a supply line 29. The second input 25 of this consumer unit 23 is electrical with the first input 24 of another

Consumer unit 23 connected via a further supply line 29. This means that a supply line 29 is arranged between each two consumer units 23. There are two consumer units 23 for exactly one

Supply line 29 electrically connected to each other. A second supply line 29 between two consumer units 23 is therefore advantageously not required. A supply line 29 can have two electrically conductive cables or wires.

Each of the consumer units 23 has a switch 26 which is arranged between the respective first input 24 and the respective second input 25. The switches 26 are electrically connected in series. Two switches 26 are connected to one another via a supply line 29. The first inputs 24 and the second inputs 25 are each electrically connected to a diode 31. In addition, each is the Consumer units 23 designed to independently control the associated switch 26. The structure of the consumer units 23 is shown in FIGS. 6 to 9.

The consumer units 23 each have a consumer 38. The consumers 38 can each have an inductive sensor. The sensors can be wheel detectors for the detection of trains, which are arranged along tracks. Thus, the supply lines 29 between the consumer units 23 can each have lengths of several meters, several hundred meters or several kilometers.

In Figure 2, the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is shown. A lies between the second consumer unit 23 from the left and the third consumer unit 23

Short circuit to ground in the supply line 29 before. The consumer units 23 are designed to measure the voltage applied to the consumer unit 23. For this purpose, the voltage that is present between one of the diodes 31 and ground is determined. If a short circuit occurs, the current rises sharply and the voltage drops.

The consumer units 23 are designed to control the associated switch 26 as a function of the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit 23. Due to the short circuit in the supply line 29, the voltage applied to the second consumer unit 23 from the left falls below a predefinable one

Minimum value. The associated switch 26 is therefore opened. It is further possible that the voltage applied to a plurality of consumer units 23 falls below a predeterminable minimum value and that therefore a plurality of switches 26 are opened. For example, the associated switch 26 is also opened in the third consumer unit 23 due to the voltage dip. As long as the short circuit is still present in the supply line 29, the third consumer unit 23 and the fourth can thus

Consumer unit 23 can no longer be supplied with voltage by the voltage supply 21.

However, by opening the switch 26 of the second consumer unit 23, the short circuit in the supply line 29 is decoupled from the voltage supply 21. Therefore, the first consumer unit 23 and the second consumer unit 23 can continue to be supplied with voltage from the voltage supply 21. The structure of the With a simple connection between the consumer units 23, the supply system 20 thus also enables the supply of at least some of the consumer units 23 with voltage by the voltage supply 21 even in the event of a short circuit in a supply line 29.

FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the supply system 20. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the supply system has

20 a further voltage supply 27 with a further voltage source 28. The further voltage supply 27 has the same structure as the voltage supply

The further voltage supply 27 is arranged on a side of the supply system 20 facing away from the voltage supply 21. The further one

Power supply 27 has an output 34, which via a

Supply line 29 is electrically connected to the second input 25 of one of the consumer units 23.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. Between the second consumer unit 23 from the left and the third consumer unit 23 is engaged

Short circuit to ground in the supply line 29 before. After one

Voltage drop along the supply line 29, the switches 26 of the second and third consumer unit 23 remain open. So the short circuit is in the

Supply line 29 from the voltage supply 21 and the other

Power supply 27 decoupled. The first and the second consumer unit 23 are further supplied with voltage by the voltage supply 21. The third and fourth consumer units 23 are supplied with voltage by the further voltage supply 27. This means that all consumer units 23 can continue to be supplied with voltage evenly in the event of a short circuit in a supply line 29.

FIG. 5 shows the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3. In the third

Consumer unit 23 from the left is short-circuited. Therefore, the voltage drops along the supply line 29, which is why several switches 26 may open. After opening the switches 26 on the second consumer unit 23 and the fourth consumer unit 23, the remaining switches 26 are successively again closed. Now the first and the second consumer unit 23 can

Power supply 21 can be supplied with voltage. The fourth

Consumer unit 23 is also connected via the further voltage supply 27

Power supplied. The faulty third consumer unit 23 is from the

Power supply 21 and the further power supply 27 decoupled.

Advantageously, this structure of the supply system 20 thus enables only the faulty consumer unit 23 to be decoupled from the supply system 20 and all further consumer units 23 to continue to be supplied with voltage in a regular manner. For this purpose, only one supply line 29 is connected between each

Power supplies 21, 27 and the consumer units 23 are required.

An exemplary embodiment of a consumer unit 23 is shown in FIG. The

Consumer unit 23 has a first input 24 and a second input 25. The first input 24 and the second input 25 are each electrically connected to a

Supply line 29 connected. A switch 26 is arranged between the first input 24 and the second input 25. A resistor 32 is connected in parallel with the switch 26. The resistor 32 is a charging resistor. The first input 24 is electrically connected to a diode 31. The diode 31 is further electrically connected to a measuring device 33 and a further diode 31. The

Measuring device 33 is designed to determine the voltage applied to consumer unit 23. The second input 25 is electrically connected to a further diode 31. The further diode 31 is also connected to the measuring device 33 and a further diode 31. The voltage present between the consumer unit 23 and ground is thus determined in the measuring device 33. The measuring device 33 is connected to a control unit 36. The control unit 36 is designed to control the switch 26. This means that the control unit 36 can control the switch 26 in such a way that it is closed or opened. The

Control unit 36 is connected to switch 26 via a control connection 37. The control connection 37 can be a mechanical, an electrical or a wireless connection.

The first input 24 and the second input 25 are each electrically connected to an energy store 30 of the consumer unit 23 via two diodes 31 in the forward direction connected. The energy store 30 is connected to the measuring device 33 and the control unit 36. In addition, the energy store 30 is connected to an electrical consumer 38, such as an inductive sensor. If the voltage at both inputs 24, 25 drops in the event of a fault or the opening of the switches 26 of neighboring consumer units 23, the

Measuring device 33, the control unit 36 and the electrical consumer 38 are supplied with voltage from the energy store 30.

Another exemplary embodiment of a consumer unit 23 is shown in FIG. In comparison to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the consumer unit 23 has two transistors 39. The transistors 39 are p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. In this case, the transistors 39 act as an electrical valve. In addition, the transistors 39 act as switches. The transistors 39 are each connected to the control unit 36 via a control connection 37. The control unit 36 is designed to control the transistors 39. If there are no faults in the supply system 20 and the consumer units 23 are supplied with current via the voltage supply 21, the current can flow through the diode of one of the transistors 39 in the forward direction of the diode and the other of the transistors 39 is driven in such a way that the current flows through it can flow in the same direction to the next consumer unit 23. In order to stop the current flow, this transistor 39 can be controlled in such a way that the current can no longer flow. This corresponds to the situation that the switch 26 in that shown in Figure 6

Embodiment is open. A current flow in both directions is possible for the consumer unit 23 shown. The transistors 39 can advantageously be controlled in such a way that the voltage drop across the diode 31 of the consumer unit 23 is short-circuited. This increases the electrical efficiency.

A further exemplary embodiment of a consumer unit 23 is shown in FIG. In comparison to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the consumer unit 23 is connected via the supply line 29 to the other of the poles of the voltage supply 21. In this case, the transistors 39 are n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. The diode 31 and the measuring device 33 are instead of the supply lines 29 with a return line to the voltage supply 21 or connected to a reference potential. In comparison to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, this exemplary embodiment has the advantage that no level converter is required. Instead, the transistors 39 can be driven directly by the control unit 36. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 7, a level converter is required for controlling the transistors 39 at high voltages.

FIG. 9 shows a section of a further exemplary embodiment of the supply system 20. The supply system 20 has the voltage supply 21 and at least two consumer units 23. In addition to the consumer units 23 shown, the supply system 20 can have further components. Each of the consumer units 23 is connected to both poles of the voltage supply 21. This means that each of the consumer units 23 is connected to both outputs 34 of the voltage supply 21. The first consumer unit 23 is connected to the two outputs 34 of the voltage supply 21 via two supply lines 29. The first input 24 of the consumer unit 23 is connected to a via a supply line 29

Output 34 of the voltage supply 21 connected. In addition, an output 34 of the consumer unit 23 is connected via a supply line 29 to an output 34 of the voltage supply 21. The second consumer unit 23 is connected to the two outputs 34 of the voltage supply 21 via two supply lines 29 and the first consumer unit 23. Thus, consumers 38 are the

Consumer units 23 electrically connected in parallel. In particular, the consumers 38 are electrically connected in parallel with respect to the outputs 34 of the voltage supply 21.

An exemplary embodiment of the method for operating the supply system 20 is described in connection with FIG. In a first step Sl is for each

Consumer unit 23 the voltage applied to consumer unit 23 measured by measuring device 33. In a second step S2 it is determined whether the measured voltage is below a predeterminable minimum value. In the event that the measured voltage is below the minimum value value, the applied voltage is measured again in a third step S3 after a predeterminable period of time. By measuring the voltage twice, it is avoided that a switch 26 is already opened in the supply system 20 in the event of brief voltage drops. In the event that the measured voltage is already above the first step S1

Is the minimum value, the second step S 1 follows again after the second step S 2. After the third step S3, it is again determined in a fourth step S4 whether the voltage measured in the third step S3 is below the minimum value. If the voltage is now above the minimum value, then in step S1 there was, for example, a brief voltage drop in the supply system 20. In this case, step S1 follows again. If the voltage is again below the minimum value, the switch 26 is opened in a fifth step S5.

If there is a fault or a short circuit in one of the supply lines 29 or in one of the consumer units 23, the voltage in the supply system 20 can drop sharply at least in places. To the intact consumer units 23 before

To protect against malfunctions or short circuits, the associated switches 26 are opened. In a sixth step S6, the intact consumer units 23, which are separated from the supply line 29, are supplied with voltage via their own energy stores 30. In a next step S7, the voltage applied to the consumer unit 23 is measured after a predeterminable period of time. If the voltage is below a predefinable threshold value, the switch 26 remains open and step S7 follows again. If the voltage is above the predefinable threshold value, the switch 26 is closed again in a next step S8. It is therefore possible that in this case a defective consumer unit 23 or a defective one

Supply line 29 is connected again to an intact supply line 29. In a next step S9, the voltage applied to the consumer unit 23 is measured. If the voltage is below the predefinable threshold value, the switch 26 is opened again in a next step S10. The switch 26 is not opened again after a predefinable period of time, but instantaneously in order to keep the possible voltage drop at the consumer unit 23 as short as possible. If the fault or short circuit has not yet been remedied, the on the

Consumer unit 23 applied voltage continue to be below the threshold or below the minimum value. In a next step S1, the switch 26 remains open for a predeterminable period of time. In the subsequent step S7, the applied voltage is measured again. This means that the switch 26 can in the next step S8 can be closed repeatedly as a test. The predeterminable period of time in step S1 can increase with time.

If the voltage measured in step S9 lies above the threshold value, the switch 26 remains closed in a next step S12. In a subsequent step S13, the switch 26 remains closed for a predeterminable period of time. In a next step S14, the voltage applied to the consumer unit 23 is measured. If the voltage is below the threshold value, the switch 26 is opened again in a next step S16. Then in step S6 the intact and from the

Supply line 29 supplies separate consumer units 23 with voltage via their own energy stores 30.

If the voltage measured in step S14 is above the threshold value, the switch remains

26 closed in a next step S15. Step S15 follows step S15. If there is a short circuit in one of the consumer units 23, the associated switch 26 remains open. As soon as the voltage in the supply system 20 is again above the threshold value, the remaining switches 26 are closed again and the remaining consumer units 23 are supplied with voltage again by the voltage supply 21 and, if appropriate, by the further voltage supply 27. If there is a short circuit in one of the supply lines 29, the switches 26 of the adjacent two consumer units 23 remain open until the short circuit is eliminated. This is done by briefly closing the switches 26 of the adjacent two consumer units 23 and testing the voltage at the two

Consumer units 23 reached. During this time, all consumer units 23 are disconnected from the voltage supply 21 and, if appropriate, from the further voltage supply

27 powered. The supply system 20 thus has improved protection against failures. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

20: supply system

21: Power supply 22: Power source

23: consumer unit

24: first entrance

25: second entrance

26: switch

27: further power supply

28: further voltage source 29: supply line

30: energy storage

31: diode

32: Resistance

33: measuring device

34: Exit

35: current limiting unit 36: control unit

37: Tax connection

38: Consumers

39: transistor

S1-S16: steps

Claims

claims

1. Supply system (20) for supplying electrical voltage, the

Supply system (20) comprising:

- At least one voltage supply (21) which has a voltage source (22), and

- At least two consumer units (23), wherein

- The consumer units (23) each have a first input (24), a second input

(25) and have a consumer (38),

- each of the consumer units (23) has a switch (26) which is arranged between the respective first and the respective second input (24, 25),

- at least one consumer unit (23) is electrically coupled to the voltage supply (21),

- The consumers (38) are electrically connected in parallel, and

- Each of the consumer units (23) is designed for the associated switch

(26) to be controlled independently.

2. Supply system (20) according to claim 1, wherein the supply system (20) has at least one further voltage supply (27) with a further voltage source (28).

3. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which each switch (26) is controlled exclusively by information from the associated consumer unit (23).

4. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the

Voltage supply (21) has a current limit or a power limit.

5. Supply system (20) according to the preceding claim, in which two consumer units (23) are electrically connected to one another via exactly one supply line (29).

6. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the

Consumers (38) each have an inductive sensor.

7. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which each of the consumer units (23) has an energy store (30).

8. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first inputs (24) and the second inputs (25) are electrically connected to an electrical valve in each case.

9. Supply system (20) according to the preceding claim, wherein the electrical valves each have a diode (31) or a transistor (39).

10. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a resistor (32) is connected in parallel with each switch (26).

11. Supply system (20) according to one of the preceding claims, in which each of the consumer units (23) has a measuring device (33) which is designed to determine the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit (23).

12. Supply system (20) according to the preceding claim, in which each of the

Consumer units (23) are designed to control the associated switch (26) as a function of the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit (23).

13. Method for operating a supply system (20) according to one of claims 11 or 12, in which the associated switch (26) is opened for each consumer unit (23) when the voltage applied to the consumer unit (23) is below a predeterminable minimum value lies.

14. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the opening of the associated switch (26) takes place after a predeterminable period of time when the at Consumer unit (23) applied voltage below a predetermined

Minimum value.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein after opening the switch (26), the switch (26) is closed at predefinable time intervals when the voltage applied to the respective consumer unit (23) is above a predefinable threshold value.