Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H1/00—Contacts
  • H01H1/0015—Means for testing or for inspecting contacts, e.g. wear indicator
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/30—Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse
  • H01H85/303—Movable indicating elements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
  • H01H9/02—Bases, casings, or covers
  • H01H2009/0292—Transparent window or opening, e.g. for allowing visual inspection of contact position or contact condition
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
  • H01H50/54—Contact arrangements
  • H01H50/541—Auxiliary contact devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/30—Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse
  • H01H85/303—Movable indicating elements
  • H01H85/306—Movable indicating elements acting on an auxiliary switch or contact

Definitions

• Switching device for switching high electric currents and battery systems with such a switching device
• the invention relates to a switching device for switching high electrical currents having at least a first normally open contact and at least one second normally open contact, wherein the normally open contacts are spaced apart in a first switching position of the switching device and contact each other in a second switching position of the switching device for conducting an electric current.
• the invention relates to a battery system with a battery and a battery management system, wherein the battery management system comprises a control unit and at least one separation unit for galvanic isolation of the battery from a consumer and / or a charging device.
• Input switching devices are known in particular as contactors in the prior art.
• the publication DE 10 2010 032 456 A1 discloses an electrical contactor with main and auxiliary contacts as working contacts.
• Such switching devices are used in particular in battery systems of at least partially electrically operated vehicles to, if necessary, for example, a fault in the battery of the battery system or an accident with the vehicle, the battery galvanically from the vehicle or from a charger for recharging the battery separate. If such switching devices, in particular contactors, separate high currents or high currents flow through the working contacts of the switching devices, the so-called burnup of the normally open contacts occurs, in particular when an arc is formed between the working contacts.
• the normally open contacts wear out over time, which leads to a limited service life of such switching devices. To ensure the full functionality of such a switching device, it must therefore be replaced at certain intervals. It is desirable to know at which time the switching device should be replaced.
• a switching device for switching high electrical currents comprising at least a first normally open contact and at least a second normally open contact, wherein the normally open contacts are spaced apart in a first switching position of the switching device and contact each other in a second switching position of the switching device for conducting an electric current
• the switching device for signaling a wear of the normally open contacts comprises at least one wire having a defined melting point, wherein the at least one wire spaced from the at least one first normally open contact and the at least one second normally open contact in the region of an arc can be formed between the working contacts arranged in that the at least one wire, when the melting temperature is exceeded, is formed as a result of formation of an arc between the at least one first working contact and the one at least severed a second normally open contact.
• the switching device is a contactor, preferably an electromechanical contactor whose working contacts, as known in the art, are controlled by means of a magnetic coil.
• the working contacts of the switching device can be both main contacts and auxiliary contacts or secondary contacts, in particular main contacts and / or secondary contacts of a contactor as described for example in the document DE 10 2010 032 456 A1.
• the normally open contacts are preferably arranged on contact carriers, in particular on a base plate and / or a tie rod or a contact carrier plate operatively connected to a tie rod.
• the normally open contacts can also be designed as double contacts.
• the at least one wire of the switching device may in particular be made of plastic or metal.
• a metallic wire is provided.
• the at least one wire has a having circular cross-section.
• the wire may also have other cross-sectional shapes, in particular, the wire or at least one of the wires may be a flat wire, a profiled wire or a square wire.
• the at least one wire held by a holding device is arranged at a distance from the at least one first working contact and the at least one second working contact.
• the holding device is preferably arranged on the switching device.
• the holding device can be realized by clamping and / or screw elements.
• the at least one wire is held at its ends by the holding device, preferably in such a way that the wire is contactless between the ends, that is to say in particular is in contact with the switching device only via the holding device.
• the at least one wire is therefore advantageously "free-floating.”
• the at least one wire is arranged in the so-called quenching chamber of a switching device, preferably using an aforementioned holder.
• the invention utilizes the recognition that an arc damaging the make contacts, which forms when the normally open contacts are disconnected under load, causes a sharp rise in temperature, the temperature correlating with the intensity of the arc being formed.
• a wire of the switching device is advantageously dimensioned in such a way, in particular with respect to its melting point and material thickness that this melts under the action of forming between the working contacts, the working contacts damaging arc and thereby severed, the severing of the wire advantageously the formation of a damage the working contacts Arc is signaled and / or used for signaling.
• the switching device comprises at least one further wire with a defined melting point, wherein the melting point of the at least one wire is higher or lower than the melting point of the at least one other wire, and / or the material thickness of the at least one wire larger or is smaller than the material thickness of the at least one other wire.
• the intensity of an arcing occurred can be signaled.
• a plurality of wires can thus signal the severity of an action of an arc on the normally open contacts. For example, if only the weakest dimensioned wire destroyed, the severity of the impact was low. By contrast, if, for example, all the wires of different dimensions are severed, this indicates a high intensity of the arc and allows the conclusion that the working contacts were badly damaged.
• the switching device may comprise two wires, wherein the first wire has a first melting point and a first material thickness and the second wire has a second melting point, which is higher than the first melting point, and a second material thickness, which is greater than the first. Occurs in such a configuration, an arc between the working contacts, so the first wire is cut rather due to the associated with the formation of the arc temperature increase than the second wire. If only the first wire and not the second wire are severed when an arc is formed between the working contacts, the intensity of the arc was lower than when the first wire and the second wire melt and are severed.
• it allows the intensity of the arc, and thus the determination of which wire or wires were severed, conclusions about the burnup of the normally open contacts to.
• the at least one wire is mechanically tensioned, preferably by a holding device, in particular between two holders of the holding device.
• a holding device in particular between two holders of the holding device.
• the at least one wire can be used particularly well by the mechanical tension of the wire in order to mechanically and / or electrically signal wear of the working contacts, in particular by means of at least one signaling element.
• the switching device comprises at least one signaling element, which is moved from a first position to a second position when the wire is severed.
• the signaling that the switching device is to be replaced improved because the signaling here - at least not exclusively - done by the at least one wire is severed, but that the signaling element has been moved from the first position to the second position ,
• the signaling element is a signaling plate, which is arranged on the wire.
• the signaling plate is preferably made of a metal or a heat-resistant plastic material.
• the signaling plate may be disposed by welding to the wire. Due to the mechanical tension of the wire, the signaling plate is advantageously held in a first position. If the wire is severed as a result of the action of temperature of a forming between the working contacts arc, the signaling plate is moved from the first position to a second position. This change from the first position to the second position advantageously signals wear of the working contacts and thus that the switching device is to be replaced.
• the signaling element is a Signalmaschineskorper, in particular a signaling pin, which is held under bias of the mechanically tensioned wire in the first position, such that the Signaltechnikskorper by severing the wire by releasing the bias of the first Position is spent in the second position.
• the mechanical wire is connected directly to the Signalmaschineskorper, the Signalmaschineskorper is held against the force of a mechanical spring through the wire in the first position. If the wire is severed, the Signalmaschineskorper is spent by the force of the spring in the second position and thereby signals a wear of the normally-open contacts and thus that the switching device is replaced.
• the signaling body is arranged such that the signaling body is not visible in the first position, and is visible in the second position, so that the visibility of the signaling body signals that the switching device is to be replaced.
• the switching device has a guide, in which the Signalmaschineskorper is guided.
• a recess is provided as a guide, in which the Signalmaschineskorper is guided.
• the signaling body is in the first position completely arranged in the recess and thus not visible. It is only when changing from the first position to the second position that the signaling body advantageously emerges from the recess, is thus visible and thus signals that the switching device is to be exchanged.
• the switching device comprises a signaling line with an actuatable by the signaling body switching element, preferably a micro-switch, wherein the switching element is actuated by the signaling body by the transition from the first position to the second position, wherein an actuation of the switching element electrically signals a severing of the wire via the signaling line.
• the signaling line is advantageously connected to a further device, particularly preferably a control unit, connectable. If the switching element of the switching device is actuated by the signaling body, the device connected to the signaling line advantageously receives an electrical signal so that the further device can signal in particular by generating an optically or acoustically perceptible signal that the switching device is to be replaced.
• the device to which the signaling line can be connected is a battery control unit of a battery management system, wherein in particular when using the switching device with a battery system used in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle battery system Unit starting from a user of the vehicle, preferably by driving a signaling device of the vehicle instruments, can be signaled that the switching device is to be replaced.
• a further advantageous embodiment of the switching device according to the invention provides that the switching device comprises at least one display window, which is arranged such that at least one wire and / or the at least one Signalmaschineselennent in the first position and / or in the second by the at least one display window Position is visible. This is advantageously by visual inspection, for example, as part of an inspection or maintenance investigation, determined whether the switching device is replaced. It is preferably provided that the mechanically tensioned wire with a signaling plate arranged thereon is visible within the display window, preferably in such a way that the signaling plate is completely visible in the display window. If the wire has been severed as a result of an arc forming between the working contacts, then the signaling plate is no longer held in the first position but occupies a second position.
• the at least one wire is electrically conductive and the switching device comprises at least one connection element, via which a measuring device for determining the electrical conductivity of the wire can be connected.
• a measuring device for determining the electrical conductivity of the wire it is checked whether an electrically conductive connection exists from one end of the wire to the other end of the wire. This can be done in particular by measuring the electrical resistance of the wire. If the wire has been severed as a result of the occurrence of an arc between the working contacts, so that the wire is no longer electrically conductive, this is advantageously detected by the measuring device and can be signaled.
• a battery system with a battery and a battery management system comprising a control unit and at least one separation unit for galvanic isolation of the battery from a consumer and / or a charging device, wherein the separation unit is a switching device according to the invention is or at least includes.
• the battery of the battery system comprises a plurality of electrically interconnected battery cells, in particular rechargeable lithium-ion cells.
• the battery system is designed for use in hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles.
• the battery cells of the battery can be electrically connected to battery modules, wherein the battery modules are in turn electrically interconnected to a battery.
• the switching device is designed as an electromechanical contactor.
• the switching device is a switching device according to the invention, in which the at least one wire is electrically conductive and the switching device at least one Connection element comprises, via which a measuring device for determining the electrical conductivity of the at least one wire is connectable, and wherein the control unit is connected via the connection element of the switching device to the switching device or connected, wherein the control unit is designed to determine the electrical conductivity of the at least one wire ,
• the control unit is designed to detect a severing of the wire as a fault and to signal that the switching device is to be replaced.
• control unit is preferably a Battery Control Unit (BCU).
• BCU Battery Control Unit
• VCU vehicle control unit
• Figure 1 is a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of a switching device according to the invention in a first switching position.
• Fig. 2 in a simplified schematic representation of the switching device shown in Fig. 1 in a second switching position.
• the switching device 1 is an electromechanical contactor shown in a greatly simplified manner, which can be activated by means of a magnetic coil (not shown explicitly in FIGS. 1 and 2).
• the contactor 1 has while a base plate 2, which four first working contacts, namely the main contacts 4 and 4 'and the auxiliary contacts 6 and 6', comprises.
• the contactor 1 has a tie rod 3, which can move to the base plate 2 by corresponding activation of the coil not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is symbolically represented in FIG.
• the tie rod 3 has in each case to a first working contact of the base plate 2, a second normally open contact, namely the main contacts 5, 5 'and the auxiliary contacts 7, 7'.
• a first switching position of the contactor 1 which is shown in Fig. 1
• the first normally open contacts 4, 4 ', 6, 6' and the second working contacts 5, 5 ', 7, 7' spaced apart.
• a second switching position of the contactor 1 which is shown in Fig. 2
• the first normally open contacts 4, 4 ', 6, 6' contact the second normally-open contacts 5, 5 ', 7, 7', so that an electric current via the working contacts. 4 -5, 4'-5 ', 6-7 and 6'-7' can flow.
• the contactor 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a mechanically tensioned wire 8 with a defined melting point.
• the wire 8 is a metallic wire having a circular cross-section.
• the wire 8 is held mechanically tensioned at the respective ends of the wire 8 by a holding device (not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), so that the wire 8 is advantageously held "quasi-floating.”
• the wire 8 is spaced apart from the first work contact 4 and the second work contact 5, wherein the distance is selected to be small so that the heat energy of an arc forming between the work contacts acts directly on the wire 8.
• the heat energy is so high due to the intensity of the forming arc, That the melting point of the wire 8 is exceeded, the wire 8 is severed.
• the severing of the wire 8 signals a burn-off occurred at the normally open contacts of the contactor 1 and thus that the contactor 1 is to be replaced.
• a signaling element preferably a colored, heat-resistant signaling plate (not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), is provided on the mechanically tensioned wire 8. is arranged. As long as the wire 8 is mechanically tensioned, the Signaltechnischselennent is in a first position. If the wire 8 is severed, the Signalmaschineselennent occupies a second position due to the no longer existing mechanical tension. If the signaling element is no longer in the first position, this advantageously advantageously indicates more clearly that the normally open contacts of the contactor 1 have burnt down and the contactor 1 must therefore be replaced.
• the contactor 1 preferably has a display window (not explicitly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), by means of which the signaling element is visible at least in the first position.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 show only a preferred embodiment of a switching device according to the invention.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Fuses (AREA)
• Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
• Electric Propulsion And Braking For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=52292939

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2014
  • 2014-01-16 DE DE102014200681.3A patent/DE102014200681A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2015
  • 2015-01-02 KR KR1020167018573A patent/KR102305065B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2015-01-02 CN CN201580004812.6A patent/CN105900201B/zh active Active
  • 2015-01-02 EP EP15700013.4A patent/EP3095123B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2015-01-02 WO PCT/EP2015/050010 patent/WO2015106975A1/de active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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