Method and device for supplying at least one load

• US 7,723,954 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Frucht, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOATENG, ALEXIS ASIEDUA
• Application Number:
  US10/563,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,248 Days
• Field of Search: 320/117, 320/103, 320/116, 320/120, 320/121, 320/125, 320/127, 320/134, 320/136
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for supplying at least one load consumer during a mains failure. According to said method, a plurality of batteries acts as an emergency voltage source during the failure of a mains voltage source in order to supply the load consumer(s). The plurality of batteries is connected to the mains voltage source. The batteries are interconnected in series in order to form the emergency supply for the load consumer. To permit a simple, cost-effective emergency supply with a reliable charging of the batteries, the plurality of series-connected batteries is sub-divided into at least two battery groups using a splitter circuit and each of said battery groups is connected to the mains voltage source for charging purposes by means of a corresponding connection circuit.

Claims

1. A method for supplying power to at least one load during failure of a main voltage source, wherein batteries serve as an emergency voltage source supply to the at least one load during failure of the main voltage source and are connected to the main voltage source, the method comprising:

splitting the batteries into at least two battery groups, with the batteries of each group being connected in series;

connecting each of the at least two battery groups in parallel to the main voltage source for charging, and

connecting the at least two battery groups in series to the load for use as the emergency voltage source,

wherein splitting the at least two battery groups and connecting the at least two battery groups in parallel to the main voltage source comprises using a single switching device, the single switching device comprising an element that is directly coupleable to each of the at least two battery groups such that the single switching device is configured to both split the batteries into the at least two battery groups and to connect each of the at least two battery groups in parallel, and wherein the at least two battery groups and the load are decoupled from the main voltage source by a diode device with at least one diode arrangement therebetween.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the at least two battery groups in series to the load for use as the emergency voltage source comprises doing so by having the single switching device switch over into a state different from a state in which the batteries groups are split.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising having the single switching device switch over into the different state automatically upon the failure of the main voltage source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting a charge voltage on the at least two battery groups using a charge-voltage limiting circuit.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising interrupting further discharging of the at least two battery groups using an exhaustive discharge protective circuit after the at least two battery groups have discharged to a specified value.

6. A device for supplying power to at least one load during failure of a main voltage source, the device comprising:

batteries connected so as to be connected in series to deliver power to the at least one load during failure of the main voltage source;

a splitting circuit configured to split the batteries into at least two battery groups, with the batteries of each battery group being connected in series; and

a connection circuit configured to connect each of the at least two battery groups in parallel to the main voltage source,

wherein a single switching device provides both the splitting circuit and the connection circuit, the single switching device comprising an element that is directly couplable to each of the at least two battery groups such that the single switching device is configured to both split the batteries into the at least two battery groups and to connect each of the at least two battery groups in parallel, and wherein a diode device for decoupling is connected between the main voltage source and the at least two battery groups, said diode device comprising at least one diode connected in a connecting line to the main voltage source.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the single switching device is configured to connect the at least two battery groups in parallel for charging and in series for supplying power to the load.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the single switching device comprises at least one relay.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein contacts of the relay are arranged in a release state during failure of the main voltage source, such that the at least two battery groups are connected in series to supply power to the load.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein a resistance for charging is assigned to each battery group.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein each battery group comprises the same number of batteries.

12. The device of claim 6, further comprising a charge-voltage limiting circuit connected in parallel with each of the battery groups.

13. The device of claim 6, further comprising an exhaustive discharge protection circuit connected to the battery groups.

14. The device of claim 6, wherein the splitting circuit comprises at least a first transistor configured as an electronic switch.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the battery groups are connected to feeder lines of the main voltage source or the load by second and third transistors.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein a constant current source is connected between the second transistor and an associated battery group.