GB2585325A

GB2585325A - De-energizing of a vehicle for a rescue activity

Info

Publication number: GB2585325A
Application number: GB1817963.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boddenberg Stefan
Original assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd
Current assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-02
Filing date: 2018-11-02
Publication date: 2021-01-13
Also published as: DE102019128769A1; GB201817963D0

Abstract

A system for de-energizing a vehicle 10, particularly an electric vehicle (EV), for a rescue activity comprises an electrical power source 12 of the vehicle, at least one power cable 14 for supplying one or more electrical loads 16, 18, at least one controllable switch 20 in the power cable, and at least one control cable 22 having a length to be arranged in the vehicle such that it can be cut through from outside of the vehicle. The control cable further connects a control input of the controllable switch with a switch controller 24, which transmits a control signal over the control cable to the control input of the controllable switch to close the switch for supplying the one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source. The control cable may be arranged in the vehicle at and/or within one or more vehicle support structures 26, 28, e.g. pillars, such that the control cable is cut through when the one or more support structures are cut through from outside of the vehicle. The control cable may be an electrical cable or an optical cable. The control signal may be steady state, alternating or pulsed.

Description

De-energizing of a vehicle for a rescue activity

TECHNICAL FIELD

This specification relates to de-energizing of a vehicle for a rescue activity.

BACKGROUND

In case of an accident, fire or another emergency of a vehicle, particularly an electric vehicle (Ey), firefighters or other rescue personnel can get in danger of an electrical shock or arcing due to the unknown status of the electrical energy supply of the vehicle. Different solutions for warning or protecting people from electrical shocks by electrical power sources of vehicles are known from the following prior art documents: The German patent application DE 100 58 898 Al discloses a system having a battery, a starter, a generator and a precrash sensing arrangement. The starter and the generator are connected together and a circuit breaker is arranged between the battery and starter for reversible separation of the connection between the battery and the starter if the precrash sensing arrangement detects a crash.

The European patent application EP 0 825 068 Al discloses an emergency cut-off switch, for a vehicle electrical power supply system, which has a sensor working with a breaker, and especially a crash and impact sensor. In the event of a vehicle impact, the electrical power supply path is immediately broken.

The US patent US 6,417,579B1 relates to a starter circuit for a motor vehicle, which includes a circuit breaker responsive to a crash senor for disconnecting the starter circuit. A bypass switch is provided, which responds to a control circuit to provide power to the starter circuit following activation of the breaker, if the starter circuit is free of short circuits.

The international patent application W0201:3117755A1 relates to a high-voltage motor vehicle electric system comprising a high-voltage battery and a consumer network which are interconnected by an electric cable, and a quick-break switch for disconnecting the high-voltage battery from the consumer network. The quick-break switch receives an airbag signal.

The US patent US9.221,343B2 discloses a system for decoupling a HV source from an electric vehicle's electrical system that includes at least one electrical contactor, where the HV source is electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system when the electrical contactor is in a closed state and not electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system when the electrical contactor is in an open state; a supplemental restraint system that monitors collision data from a plurality of impact sensors and outputs an activation signal in response to monitored collision data; and a pyrotechnic switch, where the pyrotechnic switch has a pre-activated first state that provides a conductive path that allows the HV source to be electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system and an activated second state that severs the conductive path and prevents the HV source from being electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system.

The German patent application DE 42 08 011 Al discloses a device being coupled functionally to the actuator of an occupant restraint triggered by an acceleration limit switch. The connection of electrical loads within the vehicle to the positive terminal of its battery is broken by a contact which activates simultaneously an electronic timer. A filament lamp is caused to emit flashes into optical cables leading to the four direction indicator lamps so that these radiate the conventional hazard warning. The facility for giving warning of a hazard by flashing indicator lamps is not impaired when all other loads are disconnected from the positive terminal of the battery.

The European patent EP 0 791 942 21 relates to an onboard electrical network having a battery line for coupling an electrical generator with a storage battery used for supplying a number of electrical loads via a load line, with a switch operated in case of an accident for disconnecting the battery. The switch is operated to open both the battery line and the load line.

The US patent US5,818,122 A relates to a circuit breaking control unit which receives an impact detection signal that is outputted from outside when an impact such as a crash of a motor vehicle has been detected and generates and applies a circuit breaking control signal based on the impact detection signal. A circuit breaking unit forcibly interrupts a power supply path and stops the supply of power to a load. Therefore, the supply of power can be stopped immediately at the time the impact has been detected. In addition, a second load is a minimum electric system that is essential to cause the motor vehicle to travel. Therefore, even if the supply of power to the load is interrupted, the motor vehicle can be caused to travel. Hence, even at the time of an accident or the like, the motor vehicle can be moved to the edge of a road or the like with ease.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This specification relates to de-energizing of a vehicle for a rescue activity.

According to an aspect of this specification, a system for de-energizing a vehicle for a rescue activity is provided, which comprises an electrical power source of the vehicle, at least one power cable for supplying one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source of the vehicle, at least one controllable switch connected between the electrical power source and the one or more electrical loads in the at least one power cable, and at least one control cable having a length to be arranged in the vehicle such that it can be cut through from outside of the vehicle, wherein the at least one control cable is further provided to connect a control input of the at least one controllable switch with a switch controller, which transmits a control signal over the at least one control cable to the control input of the at least one controllable switch such that the at least one controllable switch is switched in a closed state for supplying the one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source.

According to a further aspect of this specification, a vehicle is provided, which comprises an electrical power source, at least one power cable for supplying one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source, at least one controllable switch connected between the electrical power source and the one or more electrical loads in the at least one power cable, and at least one control cable having a length and being arranged in the vehicle such that it can be cut through from outside of the vehicle, wherein the at least one control cable is further provided to connect a control input of the at least one controllable switch with a switch controller, which transmits a control signal over the at least one control cable to the control input of the at least one controllable switch such that the at least one controllable switch is switched in a closed state for supplying the one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source.

The at least one control cable may be provided to be arranged or may be arranged in the vehicle at and/or within one or more vehicle support structures such that the at least one control cable is cut through when the one or more support structures are cut through from outside of the vehicle. For example, the one or more support structures may comprise one or more pillars of the vehicle.

The at least one control cable may be an electrical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an electrical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an electrical control input of the at least one controllable switch.

The at least one control cable may be an optical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an optical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an optical control input of the at least one controllable switch.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an electrical vehicle with an embodiment of the system for de-energizing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, functionally similar or identical elements may have the same reference 25 numerals. Absolute values are shown below by way of example only and should not be construed as limiting.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an electric vehicle (EV) 10 comprising a battery package 12 integrated in the EV's underbody provided for powering electrical loads of the EV 10, particularly an electric motor 16 and further loads such as backlights 18, front lights, control devices, safety devices such as airbag systems, automatic braking control systems, electronic driving stability systems, driving assistance systems such as automatic vehicle speed control systems, distance control systems, lane keeping systems, a power management system, a drive train control system, a user interface system etc.. The battery package 12 may comprise several lithium-ion batteries switched such that an electric voltage of typically several hundred Volt, for example in to the range of 300 to 400 Volt, is generated at the battery package's output sufficient to power all electrical loads, particularly the motor 16.

The generated voltage created by the battery package 12 may be dangerous for human beings, particularly for firefighters and rescue personnel in case of an accident of the EV 10. Personnel can be endangered particularly by potential hazardous electric shocks and arcs when opening the EV 10 after an accident particularly with cutting tools, for example when a power cable 14 for supplying electric loads 16, 18 with electric power from the battery package 12 is damaged by a cutting tool.

In order to avoid such an endangerment of rescue personnel, a controllable switch 20 is provided for interrupting the power cable 14 and switched in the power cable 14 between the battery package 12 and the electric loads 16, 18. The controllable switch 20 is particularly positioned close to the output connector(s) of the battery package 12 in order to safely interrupt the power cable 14 and the electric loads 16, 18 from the voltage generated by the battery package. The controllable switch 20 can be for example positioned directly at the output(s) of the battery package 12 or close to the output(s) also in the underbody of the EV 10.

The control input of the controllable switch 20 is connected via a control cable 22 to a switch controller 24. The switch controller 24 is provided to generate and transmit a control signal via the control cable 22 to the control input of the controllable switch 20 such that the switch 20 is in a closed state and the electric loads 16, 18 are powered by the battery package 12. The switch controller 12 may be for example powered by a separate electrical supply of the EV 10, for example a 12 Volts onboard power supply system having a standard automotive battery generating a low voltage output for supplying low power loads of the EV 10. When starting the EV 10 by a driver, the switch controller 12 may be powered by this separate electric supply, then generate and transmit the control signal to the controllable switch 20 such that the switch 20 is closed and operated in a closed state. Thus, the electric loads 16, 18 are connected via the closed switch 20 to the battery package's 12 output(s) and supplied via the power cable 14 with electric power.

The control cable 22 has a length to be arranged and installed in the EV 10 to run along and/or through structures and/or parts of the EV 10, which can be cut through from outside the EV 10. For example, the cable 22 may be installed in or at the pillars of the EV 10: in Fig. 1 the cable 22 goes through the B pillar 28 and the A pillar 26. Both pillars 26 and 28 can be cut through for example along the cut lines 30 and 32 in case of an emergency when persons inside the EV 10 should be rescued.

The length and arrangement of the control cable 22 may ensure that when one or more of the EV's 10 pillars 26, 28 are cut through by rescue personnel with cutting tools, the cable 22 is also cut through. The cutting through of the control cable 22 interrupts the transmission of the control signal from the switch controller 24 to the controllable switch 20, which changes its state from closed to open, thus, interrupting the power supply of the electric loads 16 and 18 and de-energizing the components of the EV 10, which are normally supplied by electric power from the battery package. This significantly reduces the risk and danger for the rescue personnel to suffer from hazardous events such has electric shocks or arcing.

The control cable 22 can be an electrical cable or an optical cable. If it is an electrical cable, the control signal generated by the switch controller 24 and transmitted via the control cable 22 is typically a low voltage signal, which would not endanger rescue personnel when cutting through the cable 22 with cutting tools. If the control cable 22 is an optical cable, the switch controller 24 is implemented to generate the control signal as an optical signal and transmit it via the optical control cable 22 to an optical input of the controllable switch 20.

The control signal can be a steady-state signal with pre-determined levels (e.g. between 10 and 14 V for "on"-state of an electrical signal), or an alternating signal with a certain amplitude and / or frequency, or a pulsed signal with pulses at fixed or variable intervals. The "on"-state may be defined by the presence of a pre-defined level, a fixed frequency or pulses at pre-defined intervals, respectively. The "off"-state may be defined by the absence of such a pre-defined level, a pre-defined frequency signal or a pulsed signal.

The controllable switch 20 may be as described above implemented as a normally off switch, which is switched on or brought in a closed state by a respective control signal received via its control input from the switch controller. Generally speaking, the controllable switch 20 is a switching device operated in a closed state when a certain signal is received at the control input of the switch and operated in an open state when the certain signal is not received at its control input. For example, a contactor, a circuit breaker or even a fuse, which can be externally triggered (pyro switch) can be used for implementing the controllable switch 20. A cutting off of the control cable 22 transmitting the control signal to the control input of the controllable switch 20 must trigger the OFF function of the controllable switch irreversible so that the circuitry behind the switch 20, i.e. on the load side, is de-energized.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for de-energizing a vehicle (10) for a rescue activity comprising * an electrical power source (12) of the vehicle, * at least one power cable (14) for supplying one or more electrical loads (16, 18) with electrical power from the electrical power source of the vehicle, * at least one controllable switch (20) connected between the electrical power source and the one or more electrical loads in the at least one power cable, and * at least one control cable (22) having a length to be arranged in the vehicle such that it can be cut through from outside of the vehicle, wherein the at least one control cable is further provided to connect a control input of the at least one controllable switch with a switch controller (24), which transmits a control signal over the at least one control cable to the control input of the at least one controllable switch such that the at least one controllable switch is switched in a closed state for supplying the one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one control cable (22) is provided to be arranged in the vehicle at and/or within one or more vehicle support structures (26, 28) such that the at least one control cable is cut through when the one or more support structures are cut through from outside of the vehicle.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more support structures comprise one or more pillars (26, 28) of the vehicle.
4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one control cable (22) is an electrical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an electrical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an electrical control input of the at least one controllable switch.
5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one control cable (22) is an optical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an optical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an optical control input of the at least one controllable switch.
6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the control signal is a steady-state signal, an alternating signal or a pulsed signal.
7. A vehicle (10) comprising * an electrical power source (12), * at least one power cable (14) for supplying one or more electrical loads (16, 18) with electrical power from the electrical power source, * at least one controllable switch (20) connected between the electrical power source and the one or more electrical loads in the at least one power cable, and * at least one control cable (22) having a length and being arranged in the vehicle such that it can be cut through from outside of the vehicle, wherein the at least one control cable is further provided to connect a control input of the at least one controllable switch with a switch controller (24), which transmits a control signal over the at least one control cable to the control input of the at least one controllable switch such that the at least one controllable switch is switched in a closed state for supplying the one or more electrical loads with electrical power from the electrical power source.
8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the at least one control cable (22) is arranged in the vehicle at and/or within one or more vehicle support structures (26, 28) such that the at least one control cable is cut through when the one or more support structures are cut through from outside of the vehicle.
9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the one or more support structures comprise one or more pillars (26, 28) of the vehicle.
10. The vehicle of claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the at least one control cable (22) is an electrical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an electrical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an electrical control input of the at least one controllable switch.
11. The vehicle of claim 7, 8, 9 or 10 wherein the at least one control cable (22) is an optical cable and the switch controller is configured to generate an optical control signal to be transmitted via the at least one control cable to an optical control input of the at least one controllable switch.
12. The vehicle of claim 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11, wherein the control signal is a steady-state signal, an alternating signal or a pulsed signal.