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Handling a fault condition on a lithium-battery-powered utility vehicle

  • US 10,471,831 B2
  • Filed: 01/30/2017
  • Issued: 11/12/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A control system for a utility vehicle, the control system comprising:

  • a lithium battery;

    a battery contactor configured to control electrical access to the lithium battery; and

    control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the battery contactor, the control circuitry being configured to;

    while the battery contactor is closed to provide a set of loads of the utility vehicle with electrical access to the lithium battery, detect onset of a fault condition,in response to detection of the onset of the fault condition, perform a set of remedial operations to address the fault condition, andafter a predefined amount of time has elapsed since the onset of the fault condition, perform a subsequent operation which (i) opens the battery contactor if the fault condition remains and (ii) maintains closure of the battery contactor if the fault condition does not remain;

    wherein the control circuitry is constructed and arranged to energize an electric brake to allow the utility vehicle to move while detecting onset of the fault condition;

    wherein the control circuitry, when performing the set of remedial operations to address the fault condition, is constructed and arranged to;

    de-energize, as one of the set of remedial operations, the electric brake to stop rotation of an electric motor of the utility vehicle prior to opening the battery contactor to prevent the utility vehicle from stopping abruptly; and

    wherein opening the battery contactor disconnects the electric motor from access to electric power.

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