Electric vehicle with circuit breakers

• US 5,816,358 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Wagner, Michael, Adler, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/581,511
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 180/279, 180/274, 180/277, 180/282, 180/283, 180/284, 180/65.8, 180/65.1, 364/424.026, 364/424.055, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 180/279
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/16 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• 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: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

An electrically powered vehicle including an electric motor connected to drive a wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor receives a supply of electric current from a power source; a power electronics device and superordinated controller regulate the current supply based upon signals received from a driver or operator of the vehicle. A sensor for sensing data indicative of an accident or impending accident is connected to the superordinated controller in which the sensed data is compared to predetermined limit values to determine if an accident situation exists. Upon determining that an accident situation exists, the superordinated controller activates a circuit breaker to disconnect the electric power supply and thereby interrupt the supply of electric current to the electric motor.

Claims

1. An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of wheels;

a plurality of electric motors, each said electric motor being operative for driving a respective one of said plurality of wheels, and each said electric motor being operable to generate an electric current in response to unpowered rotation of the respective wheel;

an electric power source for supplying electric current to said electric motors;

a first circuit breaker connected between said electric motors and said electric power source and operable to switch between a first condition in which said circuit breaker normally supplies electric current from said power source to said electric motors and a second condition in which said circuit breaker interrupts and discontinues said supply of electric current to said electric motors;

a sensor device for sensing data potentially indicative of an accident situation of the vehicle and for outputting the sensed data;

a superordinated electronic controller connected to said sensor device for storing predetermined data indicative of an accident situation, for receiving input signals from a driver of the vehicle, and for outputting a vehicle control signal for use in operating said electric motors in accordance with said input signals from a driver of the vehicle, said electronic controller being connected to said sensor device for receiving said sensed data and being operable for comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data for identifying an occurrence of an accident situation, and said electronic controller being connected to said circuit breaker for operatively switching said circuit breaker from said first condition to said second condition to interrupt and discontinue said supply of electric current to the electric motors when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation by comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data;

a power electronics device connected to said electronic controller and between said electric motors and said electric power source for regulating the supply of current to said electric motors from said power source in accordance with said vehicle control signal output by said electronic controller; and

a plurality of second circuit breakers each connected to a respective one of said plurality of electric motors and to said electronic controller, each of said second circuit breakers being operable by said electronic controller to electrically disconnect the respective electric motor when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each said electric motor includes an electric winding, and wherein said each said second circuit breaker being further operable to short the electric winding of the respective electric motor to effect braking of the respective wheel when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor device includes at least one sensor for sensing transverse acceleration of said vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor device includes at least one sensor for sensing longitudinal acceleration of said vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor device includes at least one sensor for sensing a ground clearance of said vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an airbag system connected to at least one of said sensor device and said electronic controller.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said sensor device includes at least one sensor for sensing an amount of current supplied to said electric motors.

8. An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:

at least one wheel;

at least one electric motor operable for driving the at least one wheel;

an electric power source for supplying electric current to said at least one electric motor, said electric power source comprising an internal combustion engine/generator unit;

a first circuit breaker connected between said electric motor and said electric power source and operable to switch between a first condition in which said circuit breaker normally supplies electric current from said power source to said electric motor and a second condition in which said circuit breaker interrupts and discontinues said supply of electric current to said electric motor;

a sensor device for sensing data potentially indicative of an accident situation of the vehicle and for outputting the sensed data;

a superordinated electronic controller connected to said sensor device for storing predetermined data indicative of an accident situation, for receiving input signals from a driver of the vehicle, and for outputting a vehicle control signal for use in operating said electric motor in accordance with said input signals from a driver of the vehicle, said electronic controller being connected to said sensor device for receiving said sensed data and being operable for comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data for identifying an occurrence of an accident situation, and said electronic controller being connected to said circuit breaker for operatively switching said circuit breaker from said first condition to said second condition to interrupt and discontinue said supply of electric current to the electric motor when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation by comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data;

a power electronics device connected to said electronic controller and between said at least one electric motor and said electric power source for regulating the supply of current to said at least one electric motor from said power source in accordance with said vehicle control signal output by said electronic controller; and

a constant voltage direct current link including a capacitor connecting said internal combustion engine/generator unit to said electric motor and a second circuit breaker connected to said electronic controller and operable to discharge said capacitor when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation.

9. An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:

at least one wheel;

at least one electric motor operable for driving the at least one wheel;

an electric power source for supplying electric current to said at least one electric motor;

a first circuit breaker connected between said electric motor and said electric power source and operable to switch between a first condition in which said circuit breaker normally supplies electric current from said power source to said electric motor and a second condition in which said circuit breaker interrupts and discontinues said supply of electric current to said electric motor;

a sensor device for sensing data potentially indicative of an accident situation of the vehicle and for outputting the sensed data;

a superordinated electronic controller connected to said sensor device for storing predetermined data indicative of an accident situation, for receiving input signals from a driver of the vehicle, and for outputting a vehicle control signal for use in operating said electric motor in accordance with said input signals from a driver of the vehicle, said electronic controller being connected to said sensor device for receiving said sensed data and being operable for comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data for identifying an occurrence of an accident situation, and said electronic controller being connected to said circuit breaker for operatively switching said circuit breaker from said first condition to said second condition to interrupt and discontinue said supply of electric current to the electric motor when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation by comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data; and

a power electronics device connected to said electronic controller and between said at least one electric motor and said electric power source for regulating the supply of current to said at least one electric motor from said power source in accordance with said vehicle control signal output by said electronic controller, at least one of said electric power source, said at least one electric motor, said superordinated electronic controller, and said power electronics device include electrical insulation, and said sensor device includes a sensor for sensing damage to said insulation.

10. An electrically powered vehicle, comprising:

at least one wheel;

at least one electric motor operable for driving the at least one wheel;

an electric power source for supplying electric current to said at least one electric motor;

a first circuit breaker connected between said electric motor and said electric power source and operable to switch between a first condition in which said circuit breaker normally supplies electric current from said power source to said electric motor and a second condition in which said circuit breaker interrupts and discontinues said supply of electric current to said electric motor;

a sensor device for sensing data potentially indicative of an accident situation of the vehicle and for outputting the sensed data;

a superordinated electronic controller connected to said sensor device for storing predetermined data indicative of an accident situation, for receiving input signals from a driver of the vehicle, and for outputting a vehicle control signal for use in operating said electric motor in accordance with said input signals from a driver of the vehicle, said electronic controller being connected to said sensor device for receiving said sensed data and being operable for comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data for identifying an occurrence of an accident situation, and said electronic controller being connected to said circuit breaker for operatively switching said circuit breaker from said first condition to said second condition to interrupt and discontinue said supply of electric current to the electric motor when said electronic controller identifies an occurrence of an accident situation by comparing said sensed data to said stored predetermined data;

a power electronics device connected to said electronic controller and between said at least one electric motor and said electric power source for regulating the supply of current to said at least one electric motor from said power source in accordance with said vehicle control signal output by said electronic controller; and

a security system connected to and activated by switching of said first circuit breaker from said first to said second condition.