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    • 专利摘要:
    22 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a surge arrester (1, 21) for a domestic robotassembly including a perimetral wire (2) connectable to a control station (3),such as robotic lawn mower assembly. The surge arrester (1, 21) comprisinga ground rod (4), a set of control station connectors (51, 52), a set ofperimetral wire connectors (61, 62), and a protection circuit (7a) arrangedbetween the set of control station connectors (51, 52) and the set ofperimetral wire connectors (61, 62). The protection circuit (7a) comprising afirst electrical path and second electrical path from the perimetral wireconnector (61, 62) to the control station connectors (51, 52), and at least twosurge protecting elements (75; 71, 72, 73) connected to and along eachelectrical path. Each surge protecting element (71, 72, 73) is furtherconnected to the ground rod (4), such that the protection circuit (7a) is able todischarge at least a portion of a transient surge, entering from the set ofperimetral wire connectors (61, 62), via the at least two surge protectingelements (75; 71, 72, 73) to the ground rod (4). For publication: Figure 1
    公开号:SE1551084A1
    申请号:SE1551084
    申请日:2015-08-20
    公开日:2017-02-21
    发明作者:Karlzon Anders
    申请人:Anders Karlzon Med Firma Zitt Innovation；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    A SURGE ARRESTER FOR A DOMESTIC ROBOT ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a surge arrester, more specifically to a surge arrester for a domestic robot assembly.
    BACKGROUND ln general, autonomous machines such as robots are increasinglybecoming more and more common, often due to the fact that they are asignificant Iabor-saving factor for many consumers. Repetitive and time-consuming tasks may nowadays be performed without any significantsupervision or involvement by operators or users.
    Robotic lawn mowers are an example of autonomous machines whichhave been very commercially successful and which, more or less, haverevolutionized the lawn mowing industry. Robotic lawn mowers are oftenprovided with a perimetral or boundary wire which is used to provide therobotic lawn mower with an enclosure within which it is permitted to operate.Though, some robotic lawn mowers are provided with a guiding wire which isused for a similar purpose as the perimetral wire. Such wires (perimetral orguiding) generally carry a low frequency, low-voltage signal which is detectedby the robot so that it can determine its position relative to the wire.
    However, robotic lawn mowers are generally very exposed to all kindsof hardships, e.g. rough weather, theft, vandalism, etc., in large part due tothe fact that they operate outdoors, are fully autonomous and thus oftenunsupervised, which may make them a liability.
    During thunderstorms, also known as lighting storms or electricalstorms, electrical charges are built up within clouds. When the charge is largeenough, a large discharge in the form of a lightning strike occurs. Relatingback to the robotic lawn mowers, a lighting strike may cause a transient surgecaught by the wire arrangements and led to the control station, where the riskof damage due to surge voltages is imminent. Moreover, if the control station further has docking or charging capabilities there is a chance of the robotic 2 lawn mower also being damaged, and in some cases, when the controlstation is connected to a home grid, devices or appliances within the homegrid may also suffer damages. Thus, for owners of robotic lawn mowers,thunderstorms may result in a very unpleasant situation involving, in a bestcase scenario, repairing or replacing the control station.
    Today, the recommended course of action for owners of robotic lawnmowers, dictated by manufacturers and insurance companies, is todisconnect the perimetral (and/or guiding) wires from the control station andto disconnect the control station from the home grid. This solution mayhowever not always be possible as thunderstorms cannot always beanticipated, and even so, it is a very cumbersome approach. Hence, ownersof robotic lawn mowers going on extended trips should always disconnecttheir robotic lawn mowers. However, this may of course defeat the purpose ofinvesting in the robotic lawn mower in the first place as manual lawn mowingmay be needed after an extended trip due to the height and/or thickness ofthe grass and vegetation.
    There is therefore a need for a device which is capable of preventingthese types of situations from occurring, protecting for example robotic lawnmower, and to minimize the damages resulting from lighting strikes in asimple, efficient and cost effective manner.
    SUMMARY ln view of the above, an objective of the invention is to solve or at leastreduce one or several of the drawbacks discussed above. Generally, theabove objective is achieved by the attached independent patent claims.
    According to a first aspect of the present invention, this and otherobjectives are achieved by a surge arrester for a domestic robot assemblyincluding a perimetral wire connectable to a control station, such as roboticlawn mower assembly. The surge arrester comprises a ground rod adapted tobe inserted into the ground, a set of control station connectors for electricalconnection to the control station, a set of perimetral wire connectors forelectrical connection to the perimetral wire, and a protection circuit arranged 3 between the set of control station connectors and the set of perimetral wireconnectors. The protection circuit comprises a first electrical path from a firstperimetral wire connector to a first control station connector, a secondelectrical path from a second perimetral wire connector to a second controlstation connector, and at least two surge protecting elements connected toand along each electrical path, and wherein each surge protecting element isfurther connected to the ground rod, such that the protection circuit is able todischarge at least a portion of a transient surge, entering from the set ofperimetral wire connectors, via the at least two surge protecting elements tothe ground rod.
    The present invention is based on the realization that a domestic robotassembly used outdoors may be protected by a surge arrester arrangedbetween the control station and a perimetral wire, and that in order for thetransient surge to be reduced or minimized at least two surge protectingelement where each protective element is connected to a ground rod shouldbe utilized. ln use, the surge arrester is installed between the perimetral wireand the control station and prevents a transient surge from reaching thecontrol station by dissipating the transient surge through the surge protectingelements to the ground rod. The present invention thereby allows owners ofdomestic robot assemblies to leave their domestic robot assembliesconnected during thunderstorms as there is a reduced risk that the controlstation is harmed when a lighting strike hits the ground close to the perimetrialwire. Hence, another advantage is that the owner of a domestic robotassembly may leave his domestic robot connected while leaving his domicile,e.g. going on an extended trip as the risk for any surges harming his robot orhome is reduced. Further, if the surge arrester is damaged by a transientsurge the protection circuit may be replaced while the ground rod is reusedwith a new protection circuit. Hence, components of the surge arrester arereplaceable in order to even further lower the cost of a lighting strike for theconsumer. A surge arrester according to the present invention is also easyand cheap to produce, and may use several off the shelf components. 4 A transient surge may also be known as a transient voltage surge, ortransient voltage spike. The surge arrester is as understood suitable for adomestic robot assembly such as a domestic automatic lawn mowerassembly or system. However, it is of course possible to use a surge arresteraccording to the present invention for protecting other types of electricalcircuits or devices arranged outdoors. For example, the surge arrester mayalso be used to protect an alarm system for a fence. Such an alarm systemmay comprise, equivalent of the perimetral wire, an alarm wire in and/or alonga fence which detects a movement of the fence, e.g. generated from anintruder climbing the fence. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the at least two surgeprotecting elements for each electrical path are connected in parallel witheach other so that each surge protecting element of the at least two surgeprotecting elements form a protective stage, wherein each protective stage isconfigured to discharge a portion of the transient surge to the ground rod.This means that there is less chance that the protection circuit needs to bereplaced as the energy in the transient surge is divided over the protectionstages. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, each protective stage isconfigured to discharge the transient surge at different voltage magnitudes tothe ground rod, wherein the protective stages are arranged in a decrementalmanner from the perimetral wire connectors to the control station connectorsalong each electrical path, with respect to voltage magnitude dischargecapability. Hence, the different protective stages may comprise different surgeprotecting elements adapted for the expected magnitude of the voltagedischarger. For example, a gas tube may be used for as the first surgeprotecting element, and in a decremental manner a varistor and then a TVS(transil) diode. ln at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention, each protectivestage is configured to trigger to discharge the transient surge at differentspeed to the ground rod, the protective stages may be arranged in a decremental manner from the perimetral wire connectors to the control station 5 connectors along each electrical path, with respect to time for triggering foreach surge protecting element. This means that surge protecting elementswhich have a longer time for triggering, i.e. to become conductive, anddischarge a portion of the transient surge may be arranged closer to theperimetral wire connectors. For example, surge protecting elements whichcan handle large amounts of voltage and/or current may but trigger moreslowly and may be arranged closer to the perimetral wire connector fromwhich a transient surge may enter.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the protection circuit furthercomprises at least one inductor connected in series along the electrical pathbetween each surge protecting element. The inductor(s) may slow down thetransient surge along each electrical path in order to enable each surgeprotecting element to direct a portion of the transient surge to the ground rod.ln other words, the inductor may slow down the transient surge such that firstand subsequent protective stages has time enough to trigger and becomeconductive to direct the transient surge to the ground rod.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the protection circuit isarranged on a printed circuit board (PCB) being connected to the ground rod.Thereby, each surge protecting element and the ground rod is connected viathe PCB.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the printed circuit board is indirect contact with the ground rod. The printed circuit board may compriseand opening through which the ground round is electrically and mechanicallyconnected. The opening is preferably provided in the centre of the PCB inorder to provide a short connection path to the ground rod for the surgeprotecting elements. Alternatively, the printed circuit board may be connectedto the ground rod via a connection wire. The connection wire may have across-sectional area of at least 50 mm2 in order to provide a sufficiently largeelectrical conductivity.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the surge arrester further comprises a protective mat arranged around the ground rod, such thatvegetative growth around the ground rod is at least partially hindered. ln order 6 to reduce the risk for any harm to perimetral wires or control station wires theprotective mat may be arranged to prevent vegetative growth around theground rod such that there is no need to cut the vegetation there. Theprotective mat may comprise openings for the ground rod, the perimetralwires and/or guiding wires. The protective mat may have radial extension, asseen from the ground rod of at least 10 cm.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the protection circuit furthercomprises at least one equalizing component connected between the first andsecond electrical path at a portion of the first and second electrical pathlocated between the first and second control station connector and the atleast two surge protecting elements. The at least one equalizing componentfurther reduces the risk for any transient surge to harm the control station byat least partly equalizing a residual voltage left after the surge protectingelements, between the two control station connectors for the perimetral wire.ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the domestic robot assembly further comprises a guiding wire, the surge arrester further comprising a set ofguiding wire connectors for electrical connection to a guiding wire, whereinthe protection circuit is a perimetral protection circuit and the at least twosurge protecting elements are surge protecting elements for the perimetralprotection circuit, and wherein the surge arrester further comprises a guideprotection circuit, which guide protection circuit comprises, a first electricalpath from a first guiding wire connector to a third control station connector, asecond electrical path from a second guiding wire connector to a fourthcontrol station connector, at least two surge protecting elements for the guideprotection circuit connected to and along each electrical path of the guideprotection circuit, and wherein each surge protecting element of the at leasttwo surge protecting elements for the guide protection circuit is furtherconnected to the ground rod, such that the guide protection circuit is able todischarge at least a portion of a transient surge, entering from the set ofguiding wire connectors, via the at least two surge protecting elements for theguide protection circuit to the ground rod. As mentioned above, a domesticrobot assembly or system may also comprise a guiding wire which the robot 7 uses for guidance and/or navigation. The guiding wire may be connected inthe same manner as the perimeter wire, and thus protect the control stationstation or the robot through the surge arrester. The at least two surgeprotecting elements for the guide protection circuit may be arranged in thesame manner as described above in exemplary embodiments for the at leasttwo surge protecting elements for the perimetral protection circuit. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the guide protection circuitfurther comprises at least one equalizing component connected between thefirst and second electrical path of the guide protection circuit at a portion ofthe first and second electrical path of the guide protection circuit locatedbetween the third and fourth control station connector and the at least twosurge protecting elements for the guide protection circuit. The at least oneequalizing component further reduces the risk for any transient surge to harmthe control station by at least partly equalizing a residual voltage left after thesurge protecting elements, between the two control station connectors for theguiding wire. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the perimetral protection circuitis arranged on a first side of a printed circuit board, and the guide protectioncircuit is arranged on a second side of the printed circuit board. This meansthat there is little space required for the PCB in the surge arrester, and thatonly one PCB may be needed. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, both the first and second sideof the printed circuit board is connected to the ground rod. Hereby, both theperimetral protection circuit and the guide protection circuit have a shortconnection path to the ground rod and thereby may dissipate a transientsurge efficiently. ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the surge protecting elementsare selected from the group comprising: gas discharge tubes, varistors, TVSdiodes, trisils, avalanche diodes and zener diodes. The listed electricalcomponent may all be used to advantage with the present invention forconnecting an electrical path to the ground rod. 8 ln at least one exemplary embodiment, the perimetral protection circuitand/or the guide protection circuit comprises at least three surge protectingelements. Thereby, three separate protective steps which couple differentmagnitudes of the transient surge to the ground rod may be provided.
    According to a second aspect of the present invention, the objectivesare also at least partly achieved by a domestic robot assembly, such as arobotic lawn mower assembly. The domestic robot assembly comprising acontrol station for the domestic robot, the control station being connectable toan electric outlet, wherein the control station comprises a control unitconfigured to transmit control signals through a perimetral wire connectable tothe control station. The perimetral wire is connected to the control station viaa surge arrester according to the first aspect of the invention.
    This second aspect may generally have the same features andadvantages as the first aspect. For example, the domestic robot assemblymay further comprise a guiding wire and a guiding wire protection circuit asdescribed above in connection with the first aspect.
    According to a further aspect of the present invention, the objectivesare also at least partly achieved by a surge arrester for a fence alarm systemincluding an alarm wire connectable to an alarm control station. The surgearrester comprising a ground rod adapted to be inserted into the ground, a setof control station connectors for electrical connection to the control station, aset of alarm wire connectors for electrical connection to the alarm wire, aprotection circuit arranged between said set of control station connectors andsaid set of alarm wire connectors. The protection circuit comprising a firstelectrical path from a first alarm wire connector to a first control stationconnector, a second electrical path from a second alarm wire connector to asecond control station connector, at least two surge protecting elementsconnected to and along each electrical path, and wherein each surgeprotecting element is further connected to said ground rod, such that saidprotection circuit is able to discharge at least a portion of a transient surge,entering from said set of alarm wire connectors, via each surge protectingelement of said at least two surge protecting elements to the ground rod. 9 This further aspect may generally have the same features andadvantages as the first aspect or second aspect. For example, it isunderstood that there may be several alarm wires connected by using a moreprotection circuit such as the protection circuit described above to be usedwith a guiding wire but instead being used for an additional alarm wire.Hence, there may be a plurality of protection circuits each connected to analarm wire.
    Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention willbecome apparent when studying the appended claims and the followingdescription. The skilled person realizes that different features of the presentinvention may be combined to create embodiments other than thosedescribed in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invenfion.
    Brief description of the drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the presentinvention, with reference to the appended drawings. The same referencenumerals will be used for similar elements.
    Figure 1 shows a domestic robot assembly including a perimetral wireconnectable to a control station, such as robotic lawn mower system and asurge arrester according to at least one exemplary embodiments of theinvenfion.
    Figure 2 shows a domestic robot assembly further including a guidingwire connectable to a control station, such as robotic lawn mower system anda surge arrester according to at least one exemplary embodiments of theinvenfion.
    Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a surge arresteraccording to at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 4 shows a bottom-up cross sectional view of a protection circuitaccording to at least one exemplary embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 5 is a schematic view of an electric circuit diagram for aprotection circuit in surge arrester in accordance with different embodimentsof the invention.
    Figure 6 shows a surge arrester according to the present invention being used with an alarm system for a fence.
    Detailed description of embodiments ln the present detailed description, embodiments of a method andsystem according to the present invention are mainly discussed withreference to schematic views showing a domestic robot assembly and asurge arrester according to various embodiments of the invention. lt shouldbe noted that this by no means limits the scope of the invention, which is alsoapplicable in other circumstances for instance with other types or variants ofsystems or devices than the embodiments shown in the appended drawings.Further, that specific components are mentioned in connection to anembodiment of the invention does not mean that those components cannotbe used to an advantage together with other embodiments of the invention.The invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawingswhere first attention will be drawn to the structure, and secondly to thefunction.
    Figure 1 show a surge arrester 1 for a domestic robot assemblyaccording to at least one embodiment of the invention. The surge arrester 1 isalso shown in an enlarged view. The surge arrester 1 is further illustrated inconnection with a domestic robot assembly which includes a perimetral wire 2which is connected to a control station 3 via the surge arrester 1. The controlstation 3 in turn is connected to a house 9. The control station 3 is thusprovided electrical power from the grid of the house 9. The domestic robotassembly illustrated herein is a robotic lawn mower assembly. However, it isof course also possible to user the inventive surge arrester 1 with other typesof domestic robot assemblies or other types of equipment which are typicallyplaced outdoors. 11 The surge arrester 1 comprises a ground rod 4, a set of control stationconnectors 5, herein a pair of control station connectors, for electricalconnection to the control station 3, a set of perimetral wire connectors 6,herein a pair of perimetral wire connectors, for electrical connection to theperimetral wire, and a protection circuit 7a arranged between the set ofcontrol station connectors 5 and the set of perimetral wire connectors 6. Theprotection circuit 7a is arranged within an enclosure 8.
    The enclosure 8 may be made of plastic, or any other suitableinsulating material. The enclosure 8 protects the protection circuit 7aarranged therein from rain and other environmental hazards. The enclosure 8is therefore preferably at least partly watertight. The enclosure 8 hasfeedthroughs for the ground rod 4, the control station connectors 5 and theperimetral (and/or guiding) wire connectors 6. ln figure 1 the ground rod 4 is shown inserted into the ground 40. Thelength of the ground rod 4 is in the range of 1 .5 m to 2.5 m. The ground rod 4is typically inserted for about 1 to 1.5 m into the ground 40 to provide asufficient electrical and mechanical connection to the ground 40. The groundrod 4 may be a steel rod or cylinder coated with copper or a copper alloy. Thecopper or copper alloy provides a better electrical connection to the ground40. A first end of the ground rod 4 may be tapered in order to facilitateinsertion into the ground 40. The second end of the ground rod, opposite thefirst end, may have an external thread for connecting the ground rod 4 to theenclosure 8 and protection circuit 7a. The ground rod 4 may further comprisea nut 41 (see figure 3) which may be tightened against the outside of theenclosure in order to secure the ground rod 4 to the enclosure 8 andprotection circuit 7a.The enclosure 8 may have an internal thread for securingthe ground rod 4 to the enclosure 8. lt should be noted that is important thatthe ground rod 4 has a good electrical connection to the protection circuit 7a.For example, the protection circuit 7a may be directly contacted with thesecond end of the ground rod 4. This may be provided by many differentknown means, e.g. nuts, bolts and threading as described or other meanssuch as snap connections and the like. 12 The protection circuit 7a comprises a first electrical path 70a from afirst perimetral wire connector 61 to a first control station connector 51, and asecond electrical path 70b from a second perimetral wire connector 62 to asecond control station connector 52. The protection circuit 7a is preferablyarranged on a printed circuit board 7' (PCB). The PCB 7' may be directlyconnected to the ground rod 4. Therefore, the PCB may comprise an opening7" in the centre of the PCB for receiving the second end of the ground rod 4.The protection circuit 7a further comprises at least two surge protectingelements 75 connected to and along each electrical path 70a, 70b. Eachsurge protecting element 75 is further connected to the ground rod 4.Thereby, the protection circuit 7a is able to discharge at least a portion of atransient surge, entering from the set of perimetral wire connectors 6, viaeach surge protecting element 75 of the set of surge protecting elements 75to the ground rod 4.ln use, the control station 3 sends low frequency low voltage, e.g. below 100 Hz and 48 V, perimetral control signals along the perimetral wire 2.This enables the autonomous lawn mower 31 to navigate the area containedwithin the perimetral wire 2 and cut the vegetation therein. The control signalstransmitted on the perimetral wire 2 are largely unimpeded by the protectioncircuit 7a. The lawn mower 31 may perform the lawn mowing according to apre-set schedule with regular intervals, or with intervals being influencedbased on weather data or in any other known manner. The control station 3may be a combined control and charging station in the case that the lawnmower 31 is a rechargeable electric lawn mower. lf there is a lighting strikewithin a close distance, e.g. 0-100 m, of the domestic robot assembly atransient surge may be generated in the perimetral wire 2. Without the surgearrester 1, such a transient surge reaches the control station 3 and possiblyalso the house 9. Hence, there is a large risk that the control station 3 andpossibly the lawn mower 31 are harmed or even destroyed by such atransient surge. Further, since the control station 3 is connected to the grid ofthe house 9, the transient surge may also reach the house 9 and causedamage. However, by the inclusion of the surge arrester 1 between the 13 perimetral wire 2 and the control station 3, the transient surge generated inthe perimetral wire 2 first reaches the surge arrester 1 where it is impeded.The transient surge travelling along the electrical paths 70a, 70b triggers thesurge protecting elements 75 to become conductive and redirect the transientsurge to the ground rod 4 which dissipates the transient surge into the ground40.
    A transient surge sufficiently large will destroy the protection circuit 7a.ln order to replace the protection circuit 7a, the owner of the domestic robotassembly may connect each end of the perimetral wire 2 to each other whileordering or installing a replacement for the protection circuit 7a. Then, theowner may simply detach, e.g. unscrew, the enclosure 8 and thus protectioncircuit 7a from the ground rod 4. Hence, there is no need to remove theground rod 4. A replacement protection circuit 7a may then be installed uponthe second end of the ground rod 4, and the perimetral wire connected to theperimetral wire connectors 6. The protection circuit 7a and enclosure 8 maythus be sold as a separate replacement unit.
    Figure 2 show a surge arrester 21 according to at least oneembodiment of the invention. The surge arrester 21 is illustrated in connectionwith a domestic robot assembly which in addition to the features shown anddiscussed in connection with figure 1 also includes a guiding wire 22 which isconnected to a control station 3 via the surge arrester 21.
    The surge arrester 21 is further illustrated in figure 3 and 4 where theprotection circuit 7a previously discussed is a perimetral protection circuitarranged on one side of the PCB 7' and a guide protection circuit 7b isarranged on the other side of the PCB 7”. ln figure 3 the top side of the PCB7' is the perimetral protection circuit 7a with the corresponding surgeprotecting elements 75. The bottom side of the PCB, i.e. the side facing theground 40, is the guide protection circuit 7b with the corresponding surgeprotecting element 75”.
    The surge arrester 21 thus further comprises a third 53 and fourth 54control station connector, and a first 63 and second 64 guiding wire connectorfor connecting to the guiding wire 22. Hence, the set of control station 14 connectors now comprises four control station connectors. Note that theguiding wire connectors 63, 44 are arranged as the inner pair of connectors.This provides a larger distance between the perimetral wire connectors inorder to reduce the |ike|ihood of a spark forming. Further, if only theperimetral wire connectors are to be connected, this may also adhere toindustry standards for autonomous lawn mowers.
    Note that the connection between the perimetral wire connectors andguiding wire connectors 61, 62, 63, 64 and the wires 2, 22 is smooth andpreferably does not have sharp angles in order to reduce the |ike|ihood ofsparks forming between the connectors 61, 62, 63, 64 during a transientsurge.
    The surge arrester 21 further comprises a protective mat 42 arrangedaround the ground rod 4. The purpose of the protective mat 42 is to hindervegetative growth around the surge arrester 21. Thereby, there is less risk forany harm to perimetral wires or control station wires as there is no need to cutthe vegetation around the ground rod 4 and accidentally cut either theperimetral wires 2 or control station wires 22. The protective mat 42 hasopenings for the ground rod 4, the perimetral wires 2 and/or guiding wires 22.The protective mat may have radial extension, as seen from the ground rod 4of at least 10 cm. The protective mat 42 may be shaped either circular orsquare.
    Referring to figure 4 which is a bottom-up cross sectional view of thesurge arrester 21, note that the guide protection circuit 7b is substantially thesame as the perimetral protection circuit 7a (referred to as protection circuit7a in figure 1). ln other words, the guide protection circuit 7b also comprises afirst and second electrical path 70a', 70b' which have surge protectingelements 75' connected in parallel directly to the ground rod 4.
    During use the control station 3 sends out guide control signals on theguiding wires 22, which are low frequency and low voltage distinguishablefrom the perimetral control signals. The guide control signal in similarity to theperimetral control signals are also substantially unaffected by the guideprotection circuit 7b.
    Hence, another advantage is that the same circuit and design, e.g. thesame surge arrester 21 may be used for different makes and models ofdomestic robot assemblies as it is simply up to the user to connect only theperimetral wire if his or her robot assembly only has a perimetral wire,whereas a domestic robot assembly comprising also a guiding wire may alsoconnect the guiding wire to the surge arrester. lt may of course be possiblethat certain robot assemblies only utilizes a guiding wire, in that case thosemay be connected either the guiding wire connected or to the perimetral wireconnectors.
    Figure 5 is an electric circuit diagram for either the perimetralprotection circuit 7a or the guide protection circuit 7b. As noted above, thesame reference numerals refer to the same elements.
    The first electrical path 70a from the first perimetral wire connector 61to the first control station connector 51 is connected via a set of surgeprotecting elements 75, herein three surge protecting elements 71, 72, 73.Likewise, the second electrical path 70b from the second perimetral wireconnector 62 to the first control station connector 52 is connected via a set ofsurge protecting elements 75, herein three surge protecting elements 71, 72,73. The surge protecting elements 75 are connected in parallel with eachother to the ground rod 4. Each surge protecting element 75 thus forms aprotective stage configured to discharge a portion of a transient surge to theground rod 4. ln the embodiment shown in figure 5, each protective stage isconfigured to discharge the transient surge at different voltage magnitudes tothe ground rod 4. The protective stage, i.e. the surge protecting elements 75are arranged in a decremental manner from the perimetral and guiding wireconnectors 61, 62 to the control station connectors 51, 52 along eachelectrical path 70a, 70b, with respect to voltage magnitude dischargecapability and time for triggering the conduction to the ground rod 4.
    An inductor 700 is connected in series along the first and secondelectrical path 70a, 70b, between each surge protecting element 75 in orderto slow down a transient surge. ln this case, the protection circuit 7 comprisesthree surge protecting elements 75, and thus two inductors. The first surge 16 protecting element 71, as seen from the perimetral and guiding wireconnectors 61, 62 is a gas discharge tube. The gas discharge tube 71 canhandle large amounts of current and voltage and activates and becomesconductive by high voltage spikes. However, the gas discharge tube may beslow to trigger. Therefore, the second surge protecting element 72 is avaristor which may also handle relatively large amount of current and voltagebut triggers faster than the gas discharge tube 71. The third surge protectingelement 73 is a transil diode which has less capacity than either the gasdischarge tube 71 or the varistor 72, but a very short triggering time. Acapacitor 74 is arranged to redirect any remaining AC spikes to the groundrod 4. Downstream of the surge protecting elements 75 towards the controlstation connectors 51, 52 three equalizing components are arranged whichconnects the first and second (referred to as a third and fourth in the case of aguide protection circuit 7b) electrical path 70a70b, in order to equalize anyremaining voltage between the control station connectors 51, 52, and therebyprotect the control station 3 if there remains a voltage high enough to causedamage. As shown in figure 5 the equalizing component may comprise avaristor 77, a transil diode 78 and a capacitor 79.
    Note that the ground rod 4 is directly connected to the PCB 7', andeach one of the surge protecting element 71, 72, 73are directly connected tothe ground rod 4 with a short connection path.
    The surge protecting elements 75 may of course comprise other typesof electrical components for performing the same purpose, such as gasdischarge tubes, varistors, TVS diodes, trisils, avalanche diodes and zenerdiodes.
    Note that the electric circuit diagram for the perimetral protection circuit7a shown in figure 5 and the guide protection circuit 7b are in principleidentical and the components shown in figure 5 and explained above are thesame components and are arranged similarly for the guide protection circuit7b. The difference being that the perimetral wire connectors 61, 62 would bethe guiding wire connectors 63, 64 and the control station connectors 51, 52would be the control station connectors 53, 54. The reference numerals 75, 17 70a and 70b may equally well refer to the reference numerals 75', 70a' and70b' of the guide protection circuit 7b. ln at least one exemplary embodiment not shown in the appendeddrawings, only two surge protecting elements, e.g. a gas discharge tube anda varistor, and an inductor is used for the protection circuit. ln other exemplary embodiments, more than three surge protectingelements and more than two inductors may be used.
    Figure 6 shows a surge arrester 100 for a fence alarm system includingan alarm wire 102 connectable to an alarm control station 106. The alarmwire 102 is arranged in, or on, and along a fence 104 in order to detectmovement of the fence cause by e.g. an intruder which climbs the fence. Thealarm wire may be threaded through a chain-link wire (not shown). The alarmcontrol station 106 is connected to a house or building 9. The surge arrester100 is thereby used to prevent a transient surge from e.g. a lighting strikewhich hits the fence 104 or close to the fence from damaging the alarmcontrol station 106 and possibly the building 9. The above description offeatures, components and such of a surge arrester in connection with figures1 to 5 is valid also for the surge arrester 100 shown in figure 6. The fencealarm system may of course utilize more than one alarm wire, in that casemore than one protection circuit may be used as described for a guiding wire.
    Additionally, even though the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many differentalterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled inthe art. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood andeffected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from astudy of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Furthermore,in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements orsteps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.
    权利要求:
    Claims (15)
    [1] 1. A surge arrester (1, 21, 100) for a domestic robot assembly including aperimetral wire (2) connectable to a control station (3), such as robotic lawnmower assembly, said surge arrester (1, 21) comprising: a ground rod (4) adapted to be inserted into the ground (40); a set of control station connectors (51, 52) for electrical connection tothe control station (3); a set of perimetral wire connectors (61, 62) for electrical connection tothe perimetral wire (2); a protection circuit (7a) arranged between said set of control stationconnectors (51, 52) and said set of perimetral wire connectors (61, 62), saidprotection circuit (7a) comprising; a first electrical path (70a) from a first perimetral wire connector(61) to a first control station connector (51 ); a second electrical path (70b) from a second perimetral wireconnector (62) to a second control station connector (52); at least two of surge protecting elements (75; 71, 72 ,73)connected to and along each electrical path, and wherein each surgeprotecting element (75; 71, 72, 73) is further connected to said ground rod (4),such that said protection circuit (7a) is able to discharge at least a portion of atransient surge, entering from said set of perimetral wire connectors (61, 62),via said at least two surge protecting elements (75; 71, 72, 73) to the groundrod (4).
    [2] 2. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to claim 1, wherein said at leasttwo surge protecting elements (75; 71, 72, 73) for each electrical path areconnected in parallel with each other so that each surge protecting element(71, 72, 73) of said at least two surge protecting elements (75; 71, 72, 73)forms a protective stage, wherein each protective stage is configured todischarge a portion of the transient surge to said ground rod (4). 19
    [3] 3. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to claim 2, wherein eachprotective stage is configured to discharge said transient surge at differentvoltage magnitudes to said ground rod (4), wherein the protective stages arearranged in a decremental manner from the perimetral wire connectors (61,62) to the control station connectors (51, 52) along each electrical path, withrespect to voltage magnitude discharge capability.
    [4] 4. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein eachprotective stage is configured to trigger to discharge said transient surge atdifferent speed to said ground rod (4), wherein the protective stages arearranged in a decremental manner from the perimetral wire connectors (61,62) to the control station connectors (51, 52) along each electrical path, with respect to time for triggering for each surge protecting element (71, 72, 73).
    [5] 5. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein said protection circuit (7a) further comprises at least oneinductor (700) connected in series along each electrical path (70, 70b)between each surge protecting element.
    [6] 6. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein said protection circuit (7a) is arranged on a printed circuitboard (7') being connected to said ground rod (4).
    [7] 7. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to claim 6, wherein said printedcircuit board (7') is in direct contact with said ground rod (4).
    [8] 8. The surge arrester (1, 21) according any one of the preceding claims,wherein said surge arrester (1, 21) further comprises a protective mat (42)arranged around said ground rod (4), such that, vegetative growth around said ground rod (4) is at least partially hindered.
    [9] 9. The surge arrester (1, 21) according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein said protection circuit (7a) further comprises at least oneequalizing component (77, 78, 79) connected between the first and secondelectrical path (70a, 70b) at a portion of said first and second electrical pathlocated between said first and second control station connectors (51, 52) andsaid set of surge protecting elements (75).
    [10] 10. wherein the domestic robot assembly further comprises a guiding wire (22), The surge arrester (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, said surge arrester (21 ) further comprising:a set of guiding wire connectors (63, 64) for electrical connection to aguiding wire (22);wherein the protection circuit (7a) is a perimetral protection circuit (7a)and the at least two surge protecting elements (75) are surge protectingelements (75) for the perimetral protection circuit (7a), and wherein said surgearrester (21) further comprises a guide protection circuit (7b), which guideprotection circuit (7b) comprises:a first electrical path (70a') from a first guiding wire connector(63) to a third control station connector (53);a second electrical path (70b') from a second guiding wireconnector (64) to a fourth control station connector (54);at least two surge protecting elements (75'; 71, 72, 73) for the guide protection circuit (7b) connected to and along each electrical path of theguide protection circuit (7b), and wherein each surge protecting element ofsaid at least two surge protecting elements (75'; 71, 72, 73) for the guideprotection circuit is further connected to said ground rod (4), such that saidguide protection circuit (7b) is able to discharge at least a portion of atransient surge, entering from said set of guiding wire connectors (63, 64), viasaid at least two surge protecting elements (75'; 71, 72, 73) for the guide protection circuit to the ground rod (4). 21
    [11] 11. The surge arrester (21) according to claim 10, wherein the guideprotection circuit (7b) further comprises at least one equalizing component(77, 78, 79) connected between the first and second electrical path (70a',70b') of the guide protection circuit (7b) at a portion of said first and secondelectrical path of the guide protection circuit located between said third andfourth control station connector (53, 54) and said at least two surge protecting elements (75'; 71, 72, 73) for the guide protection circuit.
    [12] 12.perimetral protection circuit (7a) is arranged on a first side of a printed circuit The surge arrester (21) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said board (7'), and wherein said guide protection circuit (7b) is arranged on a second side of said printed circuit board (7').
    [13] 13.and second side of the printed circuit board (7') are connected to said groundrod (4). The surge arrester (21) according to claim 12, wherein both said first
    [14] 14.claims, wherein said perimetral protection circuit (7a) and/or said guide The surge arrester (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding protection circuit (7b) comprises at least three surge protecting elements (75,75'; 71, 72, 73).
    [15] 15.comprising:a control station (3) for the domestic robot (31), said control station (3) being connectable to an electric outlet, wherein the control station (3) A domestic robot assembly, such as a robotic lawn mower assembly comprises a control unit configured to transmit control signals through aperimetral wire (2) connectable to the control station (3),wherein the perimetral wire (2) is connected to the control station (3) via a surge arrester (1, 21) according to any one of the preceding claims.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    SE539127C2|2017-04-11|
    EP3338333A1|2018-06-27|
    WO2017029404A1|2017-02-23|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US5023745A|1989-09-06|1991-06-11|Erico International Corporation|Surge arrestor apparatus and method|
    US5353189A|1992-11-02|1994-10-04|Tomlinson John C|Surge protector for vehicular traffic monitoring equipment|
    CN100373731C|2005-03-04|2008-03-05|昆山双桥传感器测控技术有限公司|Lightningproof circuit and immersion type piezoresistance liquid level transmitter with the same|
    CN2862463Y|2005-12-23|2007-01-24|广西地凯科技有限公司|Current and voltage signal protector|
    EP2502482B1|2011-03-23|2013-05-22|Fabrizio Bernini|Apparatus for cutting grass|
    EP2502481B1|2011-03-23|2013-02-13|Fabrizio Bernini|Apparatus for cutting grass|
    CN203278216U|2013-03-25|2013-11-06|深圳市瑞隆源电子有限公司|Three-in-one lightning arrester used in video monitoring system|
    CN104134986A|2014-08-14|2014-11-05|刘雨佳|Two-way dual-mode 485 communication lightning protector|
    CN204407880U|2015-02-05|2015-06-17|吴厚俊|A kind of practicality lightning arrester|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1551084A|SE539127C2|2015-08-20|2015-08-20|A surge arrester for a domestic robot assembly|SE1551084A| SE539127C2|2015-08-20|2015-08-20|A surge arrester for a domestic robot assembly|
    EP16770207.5A| EP3338333A1|2015-08-20|2016-08-19|A surge arrester for a domestic robot assembly|
    PCT/EP2016/069741| WO2017029404A1|2015-08-20|2016-08-19|A surge arrester for a domestic robot assembly|
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