ELECTRICAL INTERRUPT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN A HYBRID SYSTEM

• US 20110024255A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: GOMM, Ralf, Vanderlaan, Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,513,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 192/84.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0012 Feedforward or open loop systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/1022 Electromagnet
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/10437 Power Take Off clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/51 Relating safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An electrical interlock system for including a power takeoff device operable in a first state to transfer mechanical energy from an associated combustible engine to an associated electric motor and/or generator and operative in a second state to prevent the transfer of mechanical energy from the associated combustible engine to the associated electric motor and/or generator. A relay having a first switch and an energizable portion, is coupled to the power takeoff device, the electric motor and an associated power source, such that when the energizable portion is receiving electrical power from the associated power source, the power takeoff device is in the first state and when the energizable portion is not receiving electrical power from the associated power source, the power takeoff device is in the second state.

Claims

1. An electrical interlock system including:

a power takeoff device operable in a first state to transfer mechanical energy from an associated combustible engine to an associated electric motor and/or generator and operative in a second state to prevent the transfer of mechanical energy from the associated combustible engine to the associated electric motor and/or generator;

a relay coupled to the power takeoff device, the associated electric motor and/or generator and an associated power source, wherein the relay includes a first switch and an energizable portion, such that when the energizable portion is receiving electrical power from the associated power source, the power takeoff device is in the first state and when the energizable portion is not receiving electrical power from the associated power source, the power takeoff device is in the second state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power takeoff device includes a clutch and a solenoid, wherein the solenoid is energizable to control operation of the clutch.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein when the solenoid is energized, the clutch is in the first state and when the solenoid is discharged, the clutch is in the second state.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a controller operatively coupled to the power takeoff device, wherein the controller is operative to control operation of the power takeoff device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is coupled to the relay and is operable to control operation of the first switch.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a second switch, wherein the second switch is associated with an energizable actuator such that a fault detected by the solenoid or the energizable actuator places the power takeoff device in the second state.

7. The system of claim 1, further including an inverter operably coupled to the associated electric motor and/or generator and the associated secondary power source, wherein the inverter converts electrical power generated by the associated electric motor and/or generator to a direct current for storage by the associated power source.

8. A method for generating an electrical interrupt in a system having a combustible engine and an electric motor, the method including:

forming a low voltage electrical interrupt loop by coupling an electrical interrupt loop in serial to each electrical component containing at least one high voltage contact and one or more direct current storage units;

detecting a fault condition in the electrical interrupt loop, wherein the fault condition generates an open circuit in the interrupt loop;

performing a remedial action to ensure all contacts of each of the electrical components are touch safe prior to removal of any connectors from the at least one high voltage contact of the electrical components.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the remedial action includes disabling a power takeoff device operable to prevent transfer of mechanical energy from the combustible engine to the electric motor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the remedial action includes disabling the electric motor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the fault condition includes detecting a failure in a cable coupled to the at least one high voltage contact.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein generation of the fault disables engagement of a clutch associated with the power takeoff device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein generation of the fault prevents rotation disables rotation of the electric motor.

17. The method of claim 11, further including converting electrical power generated by an associated electric motor and/or generator to a direct current for storage by the associated secondary power source.

12. A method for generating an electrical interrupt, the method including:

receiving electrical power from an associated secondary direct current power source at an energizable device;

controlling a power takeoff device such that when the energizable device is receiving electrical power from the associated secondary direct current power source, the power takeoff device is operable in a first state to transfer mechanical energy from an associated combustible engine to an associated electric motor and/or generator and when the energizable device is not receiving power from the associated secondary direct current power source a fault is detected and the power takeoff device is operable in a second state to prevent the transfer of mechanical energy from the associated combustible engine to the associated electric motor and/or generator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of controlling includes operatively coupling a switch controlled by the energizable device between the power takeoff device and the associated secondary direct current power source.

14. The method of claim 12, further including controlling the switch with a controller.

18. An electrical interrupt system for use in a hybrid vehicle system, the system including:

a power takeoff device;

an electric motor operatively coupled to the power takeoff device;

an inverter coupled to the electric motor, wherein the inverter is operable to receive power from the electric motor and provide power to the electric motor; and

an electrical interrupt loop including at least one energizable electrical component associated with a least one of the power takeoff device and/or the inverter, wherein the energizable electrical component is energizable in response to receiving electric power from an associated battery operably coupled in the electrical interrupt loop, such that an interrupt condition is generated when the energizable electrical component is not receiving electric power from the associated battery.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interrupt condition prevents energization of the energizable electrical component.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the interrupt condition prevents the power takeoff device from transferring mechanical energy from an associated combustible engine to the associated electric motor.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the interrupt condition disables the associated electric motor.

22. An electrical interrupt for use in a system having a plurality of direct current storage units, the system including:

one or more electrical components having at least one high voltage contact for transferring current to and/or from one or more of a plurality of direct current storage units;

an electrical interrupt circuit operatively coupled in serial to each electrical component containing a high voltage contact in the system and each of the direct current storage units, wherein an electrical interrupt is triggered by an open circuit in the electrical interrupt circuit and the electrical interrupt results in isolation of each of the associated direct current storage units.

23. The electrical interrupt of claim 22, wherein each of the high voltage contacts are substantially immediately placed in a touch safe condition upon triggering of the interrupt.