Safety module and charging station provided with a safety module

• US 10,252,619 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compleo Charging Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: innogy SE (E.ON SE)
• Inventors: Helnerus, Stefan, Hesselmann, Daniel, Jundel, Sven, Waffner, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US16/011,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 320104, 320109, 180 651, 180 6521, 180 6529, 701 22, 700 22, 702 60, 702 61, 702 63, 702 64, 702 65, 307 107
• 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 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Safety module for a charging station for electric vehicles having at least one processor, a sensor input, and a switching output. In order to be able to ensure the safety of a charging station independently of a charging process, the processor monitors at least one measured sensor value at the at least one sensor input independently of a charging process, and when the measured sensor value at the sensor input exceeds a triggering criterion, the processor outputs a switch-off signal at the switching output.

Claims

1. A safety module for a charging station for electric vehicles, comprising:

a processor,

at least one sensor input, and

at least one switching output, wherein

the sensor input and the switching output have an operative connection with the processor, wherein,

in the safety module for each sensor measured value at least one triggering curve and/or one triggering criterion is stored

the processor monitors at least one measured sensor value at the at least one sensor input independently of a charging process

the processor compares a sensor measured value with an appropriate triggering curve and/or a triggering criterion and when the measured sensor value at the sensor input exceeds a triggering criterion the processor outputs a switch-off signal at the switching output

the processor reads a geographical position of the charging station from a position sensor provided within the charging station, and

the processor selects at least one of a plurality of stored triggering criteria and/or triggering curves as a function of a position of the safety module.

2. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein the processor checks the sensor input immediately before a charging process.

3. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor input is configured to receive a plurality of measured sensor values.

4. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor input is configured to receive a measured sensor value of a sensor on a contactor and/or

in that the sensor input is configured to receive a sensor measured value of a current sensor, in particular of a direct current sensor, and/or

in that the sensor input is configured to receive a sensor measured value of a temperature sensor, and/or

in that the sensor input is configured to receive a sensor measured value of a position sensor.

5. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein the switching output is connected with at least two switches that are independent of one another, wherein each of the switches is configured to electrically isolate a mains connection from the charging electronics, in particular in that a first switch is a contactor between the mains connection and the charging electronics and in that a second switch is a system-protective circuit breaker.

6. The safety module according to claim 5, wherein the processor determines the switch to be switched depending on at least one sensor measured value.

7. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor input is galvanically isolated from charging electronics and/or in that the sensor output is galvanically isolated from the charging electronics.

8. The safety module according to claim 7, wherein a plug-in module is provided for a connection to the charging electronics.

9. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein immediately before a charging process the processor performs a self-test, in particular in that the processor exchanges test signals via the sensor input with the respective sensors and/or in that the processor checks a switching capability of a respective switch via the switching output.

10. The safety module according to claim 9, wherein in the event of a negative self-test of the processor a control signal is transmitted to prevent the charging process.

11. The safety module according to claim 1, wherein a receiver module is provided for receiving triggering criteria and/or triggering curves.

12. A charging station for electric vehicles, comprising:

a mains connection,

a system-protective circuit breaker connected at the mains connection,

a contactor connected to the system-protective circuit breaker,

charging control electronics connected to the contactor, and

a safety module according to claim 1.