Power supply cut off apparatus

• US 5,389,824 A
• Filed: 03/17/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushikikaisha Equos Research
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Equos Research
• Inventors: Moroto, Shuzo, Kawamoto, Mutumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/032,246
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 180/271, 180/274, 180/281, 180/282, 180/283, 180/286, 280/727, 280/734, 280/735, 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/437, 340/440
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/12 Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• 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: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A power supply cut off apparatus is provided in which a DC power supply voltage supplied from a main power supply is converted into an AC current by an inverter of a driver, and brushless DC motors are driven by the converted current, during normal operation. In the normal operation, an abnormal state of an electrical vehicle, such as collision, is detected by a plurality of sensors, and collision detection signals are supplied to a diagnosis section. The diagnosis section determines whether an actual collision has occurred or detects a state in which a collision is unavoidable on the basis of the collision detection signals and, as a result, supplies a power cutoff signal to a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker cuts off the output of power supply voltage from the main power supply to the driver using relays.

Claims

1. A power supply cut off apparatus for an electrical vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor for driving said electrical vehicle;

a first power supply circuit for driving said electric motor;

a state detection sensor for detecting a state of said vehicle;

collision diagnosis means for diagnosing a collision state of said vehicle on the basis of a state detection signal output from said state detection sensor; and

power supply opening means for opening said first power supply circuit according to a diagnosis result from said collision diagnosis means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second power supply circuit having a voltage that is lower than a voltage of said first power supply circuit, said second power supply circuit being used as a power supply for auxiliary devices provided in said electrical vehicle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second power supply circuit uses a vehicle body as an electric loop, and said first power supply circuit does not use the vehicle body as an electric loop.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply opening means includes an electromagnetic relay connected to said first power supply circuit, and said power supply opening means opens said first power supply circuit by actuating said electromagnetic relay.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detection sensor comprises an electrical sensor for detecting a collision electrical vehicle by integrating a signal output from an accelerometer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detection sensor comprises a rolamite type sensor which uses a roller-like mass as an inertial member for detecting deceleration, and a leaf spring that is wound around said mass.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detection sensor comprises a viscous damping type sensor for detecting a collision of said electrical vehicle by a mass arranged in a cylinder based on an attracting force of a magnet and a viscous force of air passing through a gap between said mass and said cylinder.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detection sensor is arranged at least in front of side frames of said electrical vehicle, in a front portion of a passenger'"'"'s compartment between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front passenger'"'"'s seat, and behind said side frames.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said state detection sensor comprises a distance sensor for measuring a distance to an obstacle, and a vehicle speed sensor for measuring a vehicle speed, said collision diagnosis means determines an abnormal approach state to the obstacle based on measurement values from said distance sensor and said vehicle speed sensor, and said power supply opening means opens an electrical output from said first power supply circuit when said collision diagnosis means determines the abnormal approach state.

10. A power supply cut off apparatus for an electrical vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor for driving said electrical vehicle;

a power supply for driving said electric motor;

output control means for controlling an electrical output from said driving power supply to said electric motor;

a state detection sensor for detecting a state of said vehicle; and

power supply cut off means for instructing said output control means to stop electrical power output and cutting off said power supply when an abnormal condition is detected based on an output from said state detection sensor.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when an abnormal condition is detected based on an output from said state detection sensor, said power supply cut off means instructs said output control means to stop electrical power output and cuts off said power supply after an elapse of a predetermined period of time.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when an abnormal condition of said vehicle is detected on the basis of an output from said state detection sensor, said power supply cut off means instructs said output control means to stop electrical power output and, thereafter, cuts off said power supply.