Battery disconnection system

• US 6,087,737 A
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kriegesmann, Stefan, Alksnat, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/211,146
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.7, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.2, 307/125, 180/282, 340/426, 340/428, 320/136, 361/78, 324/503
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• 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: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/576 in response to theft
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery disconnection system (10) comprising a first electrical conductor (12) electrically connectable to a terminal of a battery; a second electrical conductor (16) electrically connectable to an electrical load (18); a first electrical contact (22) attached to the first electrical conductor; a second electrical contact (24) attached to the second electrical conductor; electrical connecting means (22) reciprocally movable in an axial direction (A) between a first position in which the connecting means electrically connects the first and second contacts and a second position in which the first and second contacts are disconnected; electric drive means (26) for moving the connecting means from the first position to the second position on receipt of a predetermined signal. The predetermined signal may be generated by a crash sensor, anti-theft device, or other adverse condition sensor, or a manually operable switch.

Claims

1. A battery disconnection system comprising a first electrical conductor electrically connectable to a terminal of a battery;

a second electrical conductor electrically connectable to an electrical load;

a first electrical contact attached to the first electrical conductor;

a second electrical contact attached to the second electrical conductor;

electrical connecting means reciprocally movable in an axial direction between a first position in which the connecting means electrically connects the first and second contacts and a second position in which the first and second contacts are disconnected;

electric drive means for moving the connecting means from the first position to the second position on receipt of a predetermined signal.

2. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connecting means is the first electrical contact.

3. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first contact is a male contact and the second contact is a female contact.

4. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second contacts are female contacts and the electrical connecting means is a male contact mateable with the female contacts.

5. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second contacts are male contacts and the electrical connecting means is a female contact mateable with the male contacts.

6. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electric drive means is a solenoid.

7. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined signal is generated by a crash sensor.

8. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined signal is generated by an overload detector.

9. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined signal is generated by an anti-theft device.

10. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined signal is generated by a manually operated switch.

15. A battery disconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a battery terminal connector, the battery terminal connector being connected to the first electrical conductor.

11. A battery disconnection system comprising:

a first electrical conductor electrically connectable to a terminal of a battery;

a second electrical conductor electrically connectable to an electrical load;

a first electrical contact attached to the first electrical conductor;

a second electrical contact attached to the second electrical conductor;

electrical connecting means reciprocally movable in an axial direction between a first position in which the connecting means electrically connects the first and second contacts and a second position in which the first and second contacts are disconnected;

electric drive means for moving the connecting means from the first position to the second position on receipt of a predetermined signal,

an additional electrical conductor electrically connected to the electrical connecting means and electrically connectable to additional electrical loads;

the electrical connecting means being reciprocally movable in the axial direction between first position and a third position;

the electrical connecting means being electrically connected to the first electrical contact in the second position, and

the electrical connecting means being electrically disconnected from the first electrical contact in the third position.

12. A battery disconnection system comprising:

a first electrical conductor electrically connectable to a terminal of a battery;

a second electrical conductor electrically connectable to an electrical load;

a first electrical contact attached to the first electrical conductor;

a second electrical contact attached to the second electrical conductor;

electrical connecting means reciprocally movable in an axial direction between a first position in which the connecting means electrically connects the first and second contacts and a second position in which the first and second contacts are disconnected;

electric drive means for moving the connecting means from the first position to the second position on receipt of a predetermined signal,

an additional electrical conductor electrically connectable to additional electrical loads, and

an additional electrical contact attached to the additional electrical conductor,

the additional conduct being positioned adjacent the first contact and spaced therefrom by electrically insulating material;

the electrical connecting means being reciprocally movable in the axial direction between the first position and a third position;

the electrical connecting means being electrically connected to the first, second and additional electrical contacts in the first position,

the electrical connecting means being electrically connected to the first and additional electrical contacts in the second position, and

the electrical connecting means being electrically disconnected from the first electrical contact in the third position.

13. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electric drive means moves the electrical connecting means from the first position to the third position on receipt of another predetermined signal.

14. A battery disconnection system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the additional predetermined signal is generated by a manually operated switch.