Electric current distribution system for automotive vehicles
First Claim
1. An electric current distribution system, particularly for powering a plurality of loads such as lamps, motors, and ignition systems in automotive vehicles, comprising:
- a junction box (5) having an input terminal connected with an electric power source (1;
3) for providing power to said junction box, and a plurality of output terminals electrically coupled to the input terminal and connected respectively with said loads (7) for providing power to said loads, a fusible link (4) connected between the input terminal of the junction box (5) and the power source (1;
3), and earthing means (10;
12) comprising a grounding element connected between the input terminal and ground and acting in response to a direct signal from a crash sensor to immediately earth the input terminal of the junction box (5) causing excess current to flow through and break the fusible link (4) cutting off power to the input terminal, the output terminals and said loads.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric current distribution system, particularly for automotive vehicles, comprises a junction box (5) having an input terminal connected with a battery (3) and a plurality of output terminals connected with loads (7), a fusible link (4) being connected between the input terminal of the junction box (5) and the battery (3), and earthing means (10; 12) acting in response to a crash sensor to earth the input terminal of the junction box (5). In the event of a car crash, the earthing means acts in response to the output from the crash sensor, thereby causing an electric current supplied from a battery 3 to flow to the earth via a fusible link 4. The electric current heats and fuses off the fusible link 4. Thus, the flow of electric current to the respective loads can securely be cut off by the construction simpler than that of the prior art.
13 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electric current distribution system, particularly for powering a plurality of loads such as lamps, motors, and ignition systems in automotive vehicles, comprising:
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a junction box (5) having an input terminal connected with an electric power source (1;
3) for providing power to said junction box, and a plurality of output terminals electrically coupled to the input terminal and connected respectively with said loads (7) for providing power to said loads,a fusible link (4) connected between the input terminal of the junction box (5) and the power source (1;
3), andearthing means (10;
12) comprising a grounding element connected between the input terminal and ground and acting in response to a direct signal from a crash sensor to immediately earth the input terminal of the junction box (5) causing excess current to flow through and break the fusible link (4) cutting off power to the input terminal, the output terminals and said loads.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for cutting off all current flow to a set of operating loads such as lamps, motors, and the ignition system, in an automotive vehicle when the vehicle is involved in a crash, of the type comprising:
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a junction box disposed on said vehicle;
a plurality of series circuits disposed in said junction box;
input terminal means, electrically coupled to a current source on said vehicle and connected in common to said plurality of series circuits, for providing current to said series circuits, and including a fusible link between said current source and said series circuits;
a plurality of output terminals respectively coupled between said plurality of series circuits and a plurality of said operating loads, for respectively providing current to said loads;
crash sensing means for sensing the crashing of the vehicle and producing a signal indicative thereof;
wherein the improvement comprises;
a grounding element, connected directly to said crash sensing means and between the input terminal means and ground, for acting in response to said indicative signal from said crash sensing means to immediately ground the input terminal means causing excess current to flow through and break the fusible link cutting off current to said series circuits, said output terminals and to said loads in the event of a crash of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification