System, method, and apparatus for power distribution in an electric mobile application using a combined breaker and relay

US11070049B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Eaton Intelligent Power Limited · IE

Inventors

• Martin Wayne Mensch · Royal Oak, US
• Brandon William Fisher · Portland, US
• Robert Stephen Douglass · Wildwood, US
• Austin Robert Zurface · Dowling, US
• Jeff Howard Urian · Troy, US
• James David · Portage, US
• Bharath Suda · Munich, DE
• Asheesh Soni · Bonn, DE
• Karsten Gerving · Bonn, DE
• Guido Völlmar · Cologne, DE
• Gerd Schmitz · Niederkassel, DE
• Christoph Bausch · Bonn, DE
• Ute Molitor · Bonn, DE
• Lutz Friedrichsen · Cologne, DE
• Kai Schroeder · Niederkassel, DE
• Julia Otte · Cologne, DE
• Madeline Philipsohn · Eitorf, DE
• Norbert Roesner · Sankt Augustin, DE
• Volker Lang · Gauting, DE
• Johannes Meissner · Bonn, DE
• Paolo D'amico · Pescara, IT
• Jalpa Shah · Woodbury, US
• Meng Wang · Tanggu, CN
• Damrongrit Piyabongkarn · Plymouth, US
• Niles Stephen Ramseyer · Portland, US
• Dennis Dukaric · Oregon City, US
• Matt Haylock · Oregon City, US
• Justin Keith Griffiths · Clarkston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2019
• Grant date: Jul 20, 2021
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/16
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A mobile application includes a motive power circuit having a power storage device and an electrical load, where the power storage device and the electrical load are selectively electrically coupled through a power bus. The application includes a power distribution unit (PDU) electrically interposed between the power storage device and the electrical load, where the PDU includes a breaker/relay positioned on one of a high side and a low side of the power storage device. The breaker/relay includes a fixed contact and a moveable contact selectively electrically coupled to the fixed contact, where the moveable contact allows power flow through the power bus when electrically coupled to the fixed contact, and prevents power flow through the power bus when not electrically coupled to the fixed contact. The breaker/relay includes an armature coupled to the moveable contact, and capable to open or close the motive power circuit.