Electric power distribution system having fault bypass feature

• US 5,818,673 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Yoshiyuki, Matsumaru, Akio, Kido, Motonori, Toyama, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/825,911
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 361/63, 307/10.1, 307/18, 307/31
• US Class Current: 361/63
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

An electric power distribution system is shown where even if supply of electric power is interrupted, other normal electric part systems can be operated. A number of electric power distribution portions are supplied with electric power through at least two systems of electric power lines. The amounts of electric currents in the two systems of the trunk lines respectively are detected and monitored by a sensor and each current detection portion. Moreover, a controller controls a switch corresponding to a sensor which has detected an abnormal value among output values from a number of current detection portions to make non-conductive the trunk line from which the abnormal value has been detected. If a fault takes place in, for example, the trunk line between the electric power distribution portions, the two ends of the trunk line respectively are disconnected by the switch. Moreover, electric power is supplied from another electric power distribution portion through the residual electric power line of the two systems of the electric power lines.

Claims

1. An electric power distribution system comprising:

a plurality of electric power distribution portions for distributing electric power to a plurality of various loads; and

a power supply portion connected to at least any one of said plural electric power distribution portions, with said plural electric power distribution portions being able to supply electric power to each other through at least two systems of electric lines and to said plurality of various loads through a plurality of branch lines, wherein said electric power distribution portions are provided with a plurality of detection portions for respectively detecting levels of electric currents in said at least two systems of electric lines and in said plurality of branch lines, plural switch means for respectively permitting/interrupting electric conduction through said at least two systems of electric lines and through said plurality of branch lines, and a control unit for controlling said switch means in correspondence with a detection portion among said plural detection portions which has output an abnormal value for a level of electric current in one of said at least two systems of electric lines and said plurality of branch lines as determined by comparison to predetermined normal values so as to make non-conductive said one system of electric lines or branch line from which the abnormal value has been detected.

2. The electric power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein at least either a content of control to switch said switch means off or a state where electric power has been supplied through said systems of electric lines or through said branch lines is recorded.

3. The electric power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is structured to issue an alarm when said control unit has detected an abnormal value in output values from said plural detection portions.

4. The electric power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said electric power distribution system is formed by a wire harness to be mounted on a vehicle, said electric power distribution portions are formed by electric connection boxes, and said electric connection boxes are disposed adjacent to loads on the vehicle.

5. The electric power distribution system according to claim 4, wherein said electric connection boxes are respectively connected to a variety of the loads.

6. The electric power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said plural electric power distribution portions are supplied with electric power through one of said at least two systems of electric lines, and said control unit controls said switch means in correspondence with the detection portion among said plural detection portions which has output an abnormal value for a level of electric current in one of said at least two systems of electric lines so as to make non-conductive the system of electric lines from which the abnormal value has been detected and performs switching to one of said at least two systems of electric lines which has not been made non-conductive.

7. The electric power distribution system according to claim 6, wherein at least either a content of control to switch said switch means off or a state where electric power has been supplied through said systems of electric lines or through said branch lines is recorded.

8. The electric power distribution system according to claim 6, wherein said control unit is structured to issue an alarm when said control unit has detected an abnormal value in output values from said plural detection portions.

9. An electric power distribution system comprising:

a plurality of electric power distribution portions for distributing electric power to a plurality of various loads; and

a power supply portion connected to at least any one of said plural electric power distribution portions, with said plural electric power distribution portions being respectively supplied with electric power through electric lines and supplying electric power to said plurality of various loads through a plurality of branch lines, wherein said electric power distribution portions are provided with a plurality of detection portions for respectively detecting levels of electric currents in said electric lines and in said branch lines for supplying electric power to said plurality of various loads, plural switch means for respectively permitting/interrupting electric conduction of said electric lines and said branch lines for supplying electric power to said plurality of various loads and a control unit for controlling said switch means corresponding to a detection portion among said plural detection portions which has output an abnormal value for a level of electric current in one of said electric lines and branch lines as determined by comparison to predetermined normal values so as to make non-conductive said one electric line or branch line from which the abnormal value has been detected.

10. The electric power distribution system according to claim 9, wherein at least either a content of control to switch said switch means off or a state where electric power has been supplied through said electric lines or through said branch lines is recorded.

11. The electric power distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said control unit is structured to issue an alarm when said control unit has detected an abnormal value in output values from said plural detection portions.

12. The electric power distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said electric power distribution system is formed by a wire harness to be mounted on a vehicle, said electric power distribution portions are formed by electric connection boxes, and said electric connection boxes are disposed adjacent to loads on the vehicle.

13. The electric power distribution system according to claim 12, wherein said electric connection boxes are respectively connected to a variety of the loads.