Battery arrangement for operating electrical loads in a vehicle for transporting hazardous materials

• US 9,650,001 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2013
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Gruler, Martin, Wehrlein, Rainer, Grill, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/426,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 320134, 320127, 361 54, 307 107
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A battery arrangement for electrical loads in a vehicle for transporting hazardous waste includes: a battery having at least a first terminal, electrically connectable to an electrical load; a first electrical resistor electrically connected in series to the battery and a second terminal, the second terminal being electrically connectable to the electrical load; and a switch component connected electrically in parallel to the first electrical resistor and connected electrically to the battery. The switch component is controlled such that a first voltage applicable to a third terminal and having a value exceeding a specifiable value closes the switch component and the first resistor is short-circuited. When the applicable first voltage falls below the specifiable value, the switch component opens and the short-circuit is broken.

Claims

1. A battery arrangement for an electrical load in a vehicle configured to carry hazardous material, comprising:

a battery having at least one first connection electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a first electrical resistor connected electrically in series with the battery and a second connection, the second connection being electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a switch component part connected electrically in parallel with the first electrical resistor and electrically connected to the battery, the switch component part being controllable such that when a first voltage, which can be applied at a third connection, exceeds a presettable value, the switch component part is closed to short circuit the first resistor, and in the case when the first voltage falls below the presettable value, the switch component part is opened to cancel the short circuit; and

a delay element configured to delay a switching operation of the switch component part, the delay element being connected electrically in series between a first contact of the switch component part and the third connection and being arranged such that, in the case of a loss of the first voltage, a second voltage is provided that is present at the first contact and is reduceable after a presettable time.

2. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch component part is a semiconductor switching device.

3. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the semiconductor switching device is a MOSFET in the form of a voltage controlled n channel MOSFET.

4. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delay element comprises an RC element, having an electrical resistor connected electrically in series between the third connection and the first contact, and an electrical capacitor connected electrically in parallel with the first contact.

5. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a diode connected electrically in series between the third connection and the delay element, the diode blocking an electric current flow in the direction of the third connection.

6. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.

7. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first voltage is applicable to the first connection so that an electric charging current flows to the first connection via the battery, by which electric charging current flows to the battery.

8. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a separate charging element having a deep discharge protection, the separate charging element being connected electrically in parallel with the battery.

9. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery, the switch component part and the first resistor are arranged in a housing.

10. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing comprises at least one outer contact element of the first connection, the second connection and the third connection.

14. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a cast plastic shell.

11. An electrical system for a vehicle configured to carry hazardous material, the system comprising:

at least one electrical load,

a voltage source, and

a battery arrangement including;

a battery having at least one first connection electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a first electrical resistor connected electrically in series with the battery and a second connection, the second connection being electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a switch component part connected electrically in parallel with the first electrical resistor and electrically connected to the battery, the switch component part being controllable such that when a first voltage, which can be applied at a third connection, exceeds a presettable value, the switch component part is closed to short circuit the first resistor, and in the case when the first voltage falls below the presettable value, the switch component part is opened to cancel the short circuit; and

a delay element configured to delay a switching operation of the switch component part, the delay element being connected electrically in series between a first contact of the switch component part and the third connection and being arranged such that, in the case of a loss of the first voltage, a second voltage is provided that is present at the first contact and is reduceable after a presettable time.

12. The electrical system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the voltage source is a vehicle battery and/or a generator.

13. A method for operating a battery arrangement including:

a battery having at least one first connection electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a first electrical resistor connected electrically in series with the battery and a second connection, the second connection being electrically connectable to the electrical load;

a switch component part connected electrically in parallel with the first electrical resistor and electrically connected to the battery, the switch component part being controllable such that when a first voltage, which can be applied at a third connection, exceeds a presettable value, the switch component part is closed to short circuit the first resistor, and in the case when the first voltage falls below the presettable value, the switch component part is opened to cancel the short circuit; and

a delay element configured to delay a switching operation of the switch component part, the delay element being connected electrically in series between a first contact of the switch component part and the third connection and being arranged such that, in the case of a loss of the first voltage, a second voltage is provided that is present at the first contact and is reduceable after a presettable time, the method comprising;

a voltage source providing the first voltage for supplying power to the electrical load and applying the first voltage at the third connection, wherein in this case the switch component part is closed and the first resistor is short circuited so that the first voltage present at the first connection forms as a voltage drop across the battery, electrically charging the battery; and

in the event of the loss of the first voltage, opening the switch component part and canceling the short circuit, wherein in this case the battery provides a third voltage so that a current flows which is limited by the first resistor and is used to supply power to the electrical load.