• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A battery unit for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10) is presented. The battery unit comprising: a primary power source (102) being adapted to power the propulsion unit of the vehicle via a pair of primary powering terminals (110), a control unit (105) arranged to be activated upon interconnection of a pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b) and to send out an control signal in response to being activated, and a switching unit (106) connected to the primary power source and at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals, the switching unit being arranged to connect the primary power source to at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals upon receiving an activation signal.Figure elected for publication: Fig. 2
    公开号:SE1650311A1
    申请号:SE1650311
    申请日:2016-03-08
    公开日:2017-09-09
    发明作者:werner Philip；Lind Alexander；Henrik LILJA Dan；Fredrik Alexander Silfver Carl
    申请人:Radinn Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    BATTERY SAFETY Technical FieldThe present inventive concept relates to safety in handling a batteryunit, especially a battery unit for a wakejet.
    BackgroundBatteries as powering sources are becoming more and more prevalent in a broad field of technology areas. The many uses range from electrical carsto cell phones. Furthermore, as technology advance and areas of use arebecoming more specific, careful designing of the battery are needed in orderto achieve desired performance.
    The embodiment of the battery is highly dependable on thefunctionality of the battery as well as the environment in which the batteryfunctions. Often, caution has to be taken while handling the battery. lf abattery is subjected to conditions it is not designed for, there are risksinvolved that may lead to uncontrolled consequences such as explosions,release of toxic material or fire. lt is therefore important to protect the batteryfrom for example heat and water.
    Some batteries are positioned deeply in the interior of a machine, forexample, and do not have to be protected to the same extent as aninterchangeable battery. Some activities, such as switching the battery torecharge it or temporarily subject the battery to external conditions of amachine, such as splashes of water or humidity, are cases in which safetymeasures are crucial.
    Summarv of the lnventive Concept ln view of the above, it is an object to improve the security of a batteryin a battery unit. lt is a particular object to increase the security of a batteryunit in a system for powering the propulsion of a vehicle.
    These and other objects are at least partly met by the inventiveconcept as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are setout in the dependent claims.
    According to a first aspect, a battery unit for powering a propulsion unitof a vehicle is provided. The battery unit comprises: a primary power sourcebeing adapted to power the propulsion unit of the vehicle via a pair of primarypowering terminals; a control unit arranged to be activated uponinterconnection of a pair of activation terminals, and to send out an controlsignal in response to being activated; and a switching unit connected to theprimary power source and at least one of the terminals of the pair of primarypowering terminals, the switching unit being arranged to connect the primarypower source to the at least one of the terminals of the pair of primarypowering terminals upon receiving an activation signal. ln the context of this application, the word “connecting” or “connect'should be construed as galvanically coupling one thing to another.
    The primary source is not connected to the powering terminals until theswitching unit is activated. Further, by having the switching unit activated byan activation signal as a consequence of the control unit being activated, asafer battery unit is achieved. lf the pair of activation terminals is isolated fromeach other, no voltage over the pair of primary powering terminals is present.This makes handling the battery unit both safer and more convenient. Thereis also a reduced risk of damaging the battery unit since the pair of primarypowering terminals may be connected to each without short circuiting theprimary power source. Furthermore, by having the control unit and theswitching unit activated by separate mechanisms, increased manageability ofthe primary power source is achieved.
    The control unit may be arranged to be powered by a secondary powersource, and wherein the secondary power source is arranged to be activatedupon interconnection of the pair of activation terminals The control unit may further be arranged to send the control signal viaa first control terminal. The control signal may via the third terminal check forconditions within, and in connection to, a connection between the battery unitand the vehicle.
    The switching unit may be arranged to receive the activation signal via a second control terminal.
    The secondary power source may be arranged to, upon activation,create a voltage over a pair of secondary powering terminals. This allows forthe secondary power source to power unit being external from the batteryunit. Especially it allows for the secondary power source to power low voltageunits external from the battery unit since the secondary power source may bemade providing a considerably lower voltage than the primary power source.The secondary power source may therefore be able to power othercomponents in the vehicle, without the primary power source.
    The secondary power source may be arranged to power a, to thebattery unit, external processor. An external processor may be sending thecontrol signal and further be powered by the secondary power source,removing the need for a power source outside of the battery unit enabling thesystem.
    The secondary power source may be a DC/DC converter.
    The primary powering terminals and/or the activation terminals may bepart of a multi-terminal connector.
    The first control terminal, the second control terminal and/or the pair ofsecondary powering terminals may be part of the multi-terminal connector.
    According to a second aspect, a wakejet is provided. The wakejetcomprises a propulsion unit, a processor and a battery unit according to theabove. The processor is configured to receive the control signal sent from thecontrol unit; in response to receiving the control signal generate the activationsignal; and send the activation signal to the switching unit.
    According to a third aspect, a method for powering a propulsion unit ofa vehicle is provided. The method comprises: activating a control unit of abattery unit by interconnection of a pair of activation terminals; at theactivated control unit generating a control signal; sending the control signal toa processor external from the battery unit; at the processor generating anactivation signal in response to receiving of the control signal; sending theactivation signal to a switching unit at the battery unit; and at the switchingunit closing a switch in response to receiving the activation signal and therebyconnecting a primary power source of the battery unit to at least one of the terminal of a pair of primary powering terminals connected to the propulsionunit.
    The above mentioned features of the battery unit and/or the wakejet,when applicable, apply to this third aspect as well. ln order to avoid unduerepetition, reference is made to the above.
    A further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should beunderstood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way ofillustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.
    Hence, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular component parts of the device described or steps of the methodsdescribed as such device and method may vary. lt is also to be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. lt must be noted that, as"the,and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to"a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore,the words "comprising", “including”, “containing” and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.
    Brief Description of the Drawinqs The above and other aspects of the present invention will now bedescribed in more detail, with reference to appended drawings showingembodiments of the invention. The figures should not be considered limitingthe invention to the specific embodiment; instead they are used for explainingand understanding the invention.
    As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions areexaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout.
    Fig. 1 i|ustrates a battery unit.
    Fig. 2 i|ustrates a battery unit.
    Fig. 3 i|ustrates a switching unit.
    Fig. 4 is block diagram of a method for powering a propulsion unit of avehicle.
    Detailed DescriptionThe present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferredembodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, beembodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited tothe embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided forthoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of theinvention to the skilled person.
    Fig. 1 i|ustrates a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be of any type. ln apreferred embodiment the vehicle 10 is a wakejet. The vehicle comprises apropulsion unit 12, a battery unit 14 and a processor 16. The battery unit 14 ispositioned inside a compartment of the vehicle 10. The battery unit 14 isconnected to the vehicle 10 via a connector. Preferably, the battery unit 14 isreleasably connected to the vehicle 10. The batter y unit 14 acts as a powersource for the propulsion unit 12. When mounted in the vehicle the batteryunit 14 is connected to the propulsion unit 12. When mounted in the vehiclethe battery unit 14 is connected to the processor 16. The processor 16 maybe configured to perform numerous control functions for the vehicle.
    Fig. 2 i|ustrates embodiments of the battery unit 14. The battery unit14 is in a preferred embodiment a replaceable battery unit 14. A non-functioning battery unit may for example be replaced by a functioning batteryunit. Furthermore, an empty or almost empty battery unit may be replaced bya charged or fully charged battery unit.
    The battery unit 14 comprises a primary power source 102, a controlunit 104, a switching unit 106, a pair of activation terminals 108a, 108b, a pair of primary powering terminals 110, a first control terminal 112, a secondcontrol terminal 114 and a pair of secondary powering terminals 116a, 116b.
    The above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 110, 112, 114, 116a, 116bmay be female sockets arranged to connect to male pins. Alternatively, theabove mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 110, 112, 114, 116a, 116b may bemale pins arranged to connect to female sockets. Yet alternatively, one ormore of the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 110, 112, 114, 116a,116b may be a male pin and one or more of the above mentioned terminals108a, 108b, 110, 112, 114, 116a, 116b may be afemale socket.
    The primary power source 102 is configured to power the propulsionunit 12 of the vehicle 10 via the pair of primary powering terminals 110.Hence, the pair of primary powering terminals 110 is connected to thepropulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10. The pair of primary powering terminals110 may support a higher current than the other terminals 108a, 108b, 112,114,116a, 116b. The primary power source 102 may comprise one or morebattery cells. The primary power source 102 may be arranged to outputvoltages in the range of 30-50 volts.
    The switching unit 106 is configured to control a connection betweenthe primary power source 102 and at least one terminal of the pair of primarypowering terminals 110. Hence, the switching unit 106 is configured to controla switching between a powering mode and a non-powering mode of thebattery unit 14. ln the powering mode the battery unit 14 is configured toprovide power from the primary power source 102 to the propulsion unit 12. lnthe non-powering mode the battery unit 14 is configured not to provide powerfrom the primary power source 102. The switching unit 106 comprises aswitch that is arranged to connect and disconnect the primary power sourceto and from the at least one terminal of the pair of primary poweringterminals 110. ln Fig. 2 the switching unit 106 is illustrated in an open state.Hence, the battery unit 14 is in the non-powering mode The control unit 104 is configured control the switching unit 106 suchthat the switching unit 106 may switch between the non-powering mode andthe powering mode and vice versa. The control unit 104 comprises asecondary power source 120 and a battery manager 122. lt is the battery manager 122 that is responsible for the controlling functions of the controlunit 104. The secondary power source 120 is arranged to power the batterymanager 122. The secondary power source 120 may be arranged to outputvoltages in the range of 10-15 volts. The secondary power 120 source maybe a battery. The battery may comprise at least one battery cell. According toa non-limiting example, the secondary power source 102 is a 12 V battery.Alternatively, the secondary power source 104 may, as the in Fig. 2 shownembodiment, be a DC-to-DC converter, being able to convert direct currentfrom one voltage level to another. The DC-to-DC converter may, as in the inFig. 2 shown embodiment, be configured to receive power from the primarypower source 102. Hence, the secondary power source 104 may receivepower from the primary power source 102. Alternatively, the DC-to-DCconverter may be configured to receive power from a power source (notshown) outside said battery unit 101.
    Hence, according to the above the power output of the primary powersource 102 is greater than the power output of the secondary powersource 120. By arranging the secondary power source 120 to have a smallerpower output than the primary power source 102, a safer battery unit 14 maybe set up. The secondary power source 120 may for example be safe tohandle by hand, while the primary power source 102 may not. A two-stepbattery unit 14 is therefore set in place where a power source with a lesserpower output controls a power source with higher power output.
    The control unit 104 is connected to the activation terminals 108a,108b. The activation terminals 108a, 108b are configured such that they maybe interconnected to each other. The connection between the activationterminals 108a, 108b may be made by means of an interconnection (notshown). The interconnection is made of conducting material, letting currentpass between the activation terminals 108a, 108b. According to one non-limiting example the interconnection is a jumper. The control unit 104 isconfigured such that upon connecting the activation terminals 108a, 108b toeach other the control unit 104 is activated. According to a non-limitingexample, the control unit 104 is configured such that upon connecting theactivation terminals 108a, 108b to each other the secondary power source 120 is activated. The control unit 104 may further configured such that uponnot connecting the activation terminals 108a, 108b, the control unit 102 is in-activated. Upon activation of the control unit 102, the control unit 102 isconfigured to generate a control signal. The control signal is provided on thefirst control terminal 112. The first control terminal 112 may be a singleterminal. Alternatively, the first control terminal 112 may be a pair ofterminals. The control signal may comprise various types of signals. Thecontrol signal is preferably sent using a CAN-bus protocol. The control signalis indicative of that the control unit 104 is activated. The control signal maycarry information about the status of the primary power source 102. Saidstatus may comprise information about the voltage level of individual batterycells of the primary power source 102. The status may also comprise batterybalance information about the primary power source 102. The control signalmay furthermore contain information about the connection status of the firstcontrol terminal 112. The control signal may be a command signal comprisingone or more digital data information packages. The control signal may be ananalog electrical signal. The control signal may comprise a plurality of analogelectrical signals having different voltage levels.
    When the battery unit 14 is mounted in the vehicle 10 the processor 16of the vehicle 10 is connected to the first control terminal 112. The processor16 is configured to process the control signal and generate an activationsignal. When the battery unit 14 is mounted in the vehicle 10 the processor 16is further connected to the second control terminal 114. The switchingunit 106 is configured to receive the activation signal via the second controlterminal 114. Hence, the switching unit 106 is activated as a consequence ofthe control unit 104 being activated.
    The secondary power source 120 of the control unit 104 may beconfigured to upon activation, create a voltage over the pair of secondarypowering terminals 116a, 116b. The processor 16 may be connected to thepair of secondary powering terminals 116a, 116b. Hence, the secondarypower source 120 may be configured to power the processor 16.
    As mentioned above, when activated the control unit 102 is, at leastindirectly, activating the switching unit 106. By the activation of the switching unit 106, the pair of primary powering terminals 110 will be electricallyconnected to the propulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10. Accordingly, the primarypower source 102 may therefore power the propulsion unit 12.
    According to non-limiting embodiments the switching unit 106 maycomprise a relay, a contactor and an anti-spark resistor. The activation signalmay comprise a contactor signal and a relay signal for controlling the relayand the contactor, respectively. An exemplary embodiment of the switchingunit 106 comprising the relay 202, the contactor 204, the anti sparkresistor 206 is illustrated in Fig. 3. The relay 202 is controlled by means of therelay signal of the activation signal. The relay 202 is configured to control afirst switch 208 connecting the anti-spark resistor 206 in-between the primarypower source 202 and said at least one terminal of the pair of primarypowering terminals 110. The contactor 204 is configured to control a secondswitch 210. The contactor 204 is controlled by the contactor signal of theactivation signal. The second switch 210 may be closed only after the firstswitch 208 is activated. A stepwise activation of the switching unit 106 mayprevents sparks from appearing in the switching unit 106. ln connection with Fig. 4 a method for powering the propulsion unit 12of the vehicle 10 will be discussed. The method comprising the following acts:Activating S400 the control unit 104 of the battery unit 14 by interconnectionof the pair of activation terminals 108a, 108b. At the activated control unit 104generating S402 a control signal. Sending S404 the control signal to theprocessor 13. At the processor 13 generating S406 an activation signal inresponse to receiving of the control signal. Sending S408 the activation signalto the switching unit 106 at the battery unit. At the switching unit closing aswitch in response to receiving the activation signal and thereby connectingS410 the primary power source 102 of the battery unit to at least one of theterminal of the pair of primary powering terminals 110 connected to thepropulsion unit 12.
    The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by nomeans is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On thecontrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope ofthe appended claims.
    For example, the switching unit 106 may in a closed state be arrangedto connect the primary power source 102 to one of the pair of primarypowering terminals 110 and in an open state be arranged to disconnect theprimary power source 102 from said one of the pair of primary poweringterminals 110. l/loreover, any number of the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b,110, 112, 114, 116a, 116b may be part of a multi-terminal connector 118. Themulti-terminal connector 118 may form a portion of the connector connectingthe battery unit 14 to the vehicle 10. As shown in Fig. 2 the pair of primarypowering terminals 110 may be separate from the multi-terminal connector118. ln this embodiment the multi-terminal connector 118 comprises the pairof activation terminals 108a, 108b, the first control terminal 112, the secondcontrol terminal 114 and the pair of secondary powering terminals 116a,116b. According to this embodiment the connector connecting the batteryunit 14 to the vehicle 10 is formed by the multi-terminal connector 118 and thepair of primary powering terminals 110. Alternatively, the pair of primarypowering terminals 110 may be part of the multi-terminal connector 112.
    Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can beunderstood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimedinvention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appendedclaims.
    权利要求:
    Claims (11)
    [1] 1. A battery unit for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10), thebattery unit comprising: a primary power source (102) being adapted to power the propulsionunit of the vehicle via a pair of primary powering terminals (110); a control unit (104) arranged to be activated upon interconnection of apair of activation terminals (108a, 108b), and to send out an control signal inresponse to being activated; and a switching unit (106) connected to the primary power source and atleast one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals, theswitching unit being arranged to connect the primary power source to at leastone of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals upon receiving an activation signal.
    [2] 2. The battery unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is arrangedto be powered by a secondary power source (104), and wherein thesecondary power source is arranged to be activated upon interconnection ofthe pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b).
    [3] 3. The battery unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is furtherarranged to send the control signal via a first control terminal (112).
    [4] 4. The battery unit according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the switchingunit is arranged to receive the activation signal via a second controlterminal (114).
    [5] 5. The battery unit according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the secondarypower source is arranged to, upon activation, create a voltage over a pair ofsecondary powering terminals (116a, 116b).
    [6] 6. The battery unit according to claim 5, wherein the secondary power sourceis arranged to power a, to the battery unit, external processor (13). 12
    [7] 7. The battery unit according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the secondarypower source is a DC/DC converter.
    [8] 8. The battery unit according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the primarypowering terminals and/or the activation terminals (108a, 108b) are part of amulti-terminal connector (118).
    [9] 9. The battery unit according to claims 3-5 and 8, wherein the first controlterminal (112), the second control terminal (114) and/or the pair of secondarypowering terminals (116a, 116b) are part of the multi-terminal connector (118).
    [10] 10. A wakejet comprising a propulsion unit (12), a processor (16) and abattery unit (14) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the processor isconfigured to: receive the control signal sent from the control unit; in response to receiving the control signal generate the activationsignal; and send the activation signal to the switching unit.
    [11] 11. A method for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10), the methodcomprising: activating (S400) a control unit (104) of a battery unit (14) byinterconnection of a pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b); at the activated control unit (104) generating (S402) a control signal; sending (S404) the control signal to a processor (13) external from thebattery unit (14); at the processor (13) generating (406) an activation signal in responseto receiving of the control signal; sending (S408) the activation signal to a switching unit (106) at thebattery unit; and 13 at the switching unit closing a switch in response to receiving theactivation signal and thereby connecting (S41 O) a primary power source (102)of the battery unit to at least one of the terminal of a pair of primary poweringterminals (110) connected to the propulsion unit (12).
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    同族专利:
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    SE540673C2|2018-10-09|
    WO2017153338A1|2017-09-14|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1650311A|SE540673C2|2016-03-08|2016-03-08|Battery unit with safety arrangement, wakejet and method for powering a vehicle|SE1650311A| SE540673C2|2016-03-08|2016-03-08|Battery unit with safety arrangement, wakejet and method for powering a vehicle|
    PCT/EP2017/055192| WO2017153338A1|2016-03-08|2017-03-06|Battery safety|
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