Modular battery disconnect unit

• US 9,266,434 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Girard, Gregory J., Whalen, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dominique, Emmanuel R
• Application Number:
  US13/655,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20130099765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• 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 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a battery disconnect unit (BDU) and a cartridge. The BDU includes a first positive terminal, a first negative terminal, a second positive terminal, a second negative terminal, a first current path, a second current path, a first switch, and a second switch. The first current path is between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal. The second current path is between the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal. The first switch is disposed in the first current path. The second switch is disposed in the second current path. The cartridge includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a current path between the first terminal and the second terminal. The first terminal is configured to connect to one of the terminals on the BDU.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a battery disconnect unit (BDU) that includes a first positive terminal, a first negative terminal, a second positive terminal, a second negative terminal, a first current path between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal, a second current path between the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal, a first switch disposed in the first current path, a second switch disposed in the second current path, and a BDU housing including a slide member; and

a first cartridge that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a current path between the first terminal and the second terminal and a cartridge housing including a slide path corresponding to the slide member,

wherein the first terminal is configured to connect to one of the terminals on the BDU, and

wherein the slide member and the slide path are configured such that the slide path engages the slide member so as to guide the first cartridge to connect the first terminal to the one of the terminals on the BDU.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second switch is different from the first switch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the BDU housing is configured to isolate components disposed within the BDU when the first cartridge is detached from the BDU.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the BDU includes a first connector that is connected to the switch and that is configured to be connected to a battery control unit (BCU).

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the BDU includes a second connector that is configured to be connected to the BCU and a wiring harness that connects the second connector to the first current path on both sides of the first switch and to the second current path on both sides of the second switch.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal on the first cartridge and the one of the terminals on the BDU to which the first terminal is connected are quick-disconnect terminals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge housing is configured to isolate the connection between the first terminal on the first cartridge and the one of the terminals on the BDU when the first cartridge is installed onto the BDU.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first cartridge includes a fuse disposed in the current path between the first terminal and the second terminal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first terminal on the first cartridge and the second terminal on the first cartridge are different types of terminals.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the cartridge includes a current sensor that measures current in the current path between the first terminal and the second terminal.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second cartridge including a third terminal configured to connect to at least one of the terminals on the BDU, a fourth terminal, and a second current path between the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the first terminal on the first cartridge is configured to connect to the first positive terminal on the BDU, and

the first cartridge includes a fifth terminal configured to connect to the first negative terminal on the BDU, a sixth terminal, and a third current path connecting the fifth terminal and the sixth terminal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the second cartridge includes at least one of a switch and a fuse disposed in the second current path between the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the BDU housing includes a first side wall and an end wall perpendicular to the first side wall, the slide member extending outwardly from the end wall, and

the first cartridge includes a bottom wall defining the slide path and a second side wall perpendicular to the bottom wall, the second side wall including a lip configured to overlap the first side wall.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the slide member includes a first longitudinal end, and the one of the terminals on the BDU extends from the first longitudinal end, and

the first cartridge includes an upper wall opposite the bottom wall, and the first terminal extends from the upper surface towards the bottom surface so as to contact the one of the terminals on the BDU in an installed state.

16. A system comprising:

a battery disconnect unit (BDU) that includes a first positive terminal, a first negative terminal, a second positive terminal, and a second negative terminal, a first current path between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal, a second current path between the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal, a first switch disposed in the first current path, and a second switch disposed in the second current path; and

a cartridge that includes a third positive terminal, a third negative terminal, a fourth positive terminal, a fourth negative terminal, a third current path between the third positive terminal and the fourth positive terminal, and a fourth current path between the third negative terminal and the fourth negative terminal,

wherein the third positive terminal is configured to connect to the first positive terminal on the BDU and the third negative terminal is configured to connect to the first negative terminal on the BDU, and

wherein the cartridge includes a third switch disposed in the third current path and a fourth switch disposed in the fourth current path.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the cartridge includes a first fuse disposed in the third current path and a second fuse disposed in the fourth current path.

18. A system comprising:

a battery disconnect unit (BDU) that includes a first positive terminal, a first negative terminal, a second positive terminal, and a second negative terminal, a first current path between the first positive terminal and the second positive terminal, a second current path between the first negative terminal and the second negative terminal, a first switch disposed in the first current path, and a second switch disposed in the second current path; and

a cartridge that includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a current path between the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein the first terminal is configured to be connected to one of the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal, and the second terminal is configured to be connected to one of the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the cartridge includes a switch and a resistor disposed in the current path between the first terminal and the second terminal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the resistor is sized based on a desired period for charging capacitive loads connected to the one of the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal.