Contact arrangement for safe disconnection of a power supply in a vehicle
View Patent ↗A contact arrangement is described for connecting a power supply to electrical components in a vehicle. The contact arrangement may include a first mechanical contact for connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component, and a second mechanical contact for connecting a second lead of a power supply to the electrical component. The first and second mechanical contacts are configured to disconnect the power supply in the event of a collision. The first mechanical contact is configured to be arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle.
1. A contact arrangement for connecting a power supply to electrical components in a vehicle, the contact arrangement comprising:
a first mechanical contact for selectively connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component; and
a second mechanical contact for selectively connecting a second lead of the power supply to the electrical component, the first and second mechanical contacts configured to disconnect the power supply in the event of a collision;
wherein the first mechanical contact is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle, the substantially perpendicular arrangement preventing reconnection of at least one of the first and second mechanical contacts as a result of a secondary collision after the collision.
2. The contact arrangement according to claim 1 , configured to disconnect the power supply by moving a switch element of the first mechanical contact in a first direction in the transverse plane of the vehicle, and by moving a switch element of the second mechanical contact in a second direction in relation to the transverse plane of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
3. The contact arrangement according to claim 2 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the disconnection of the first contact and the second contact.
4. The contact arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the first contact and the second contact if a collision is detected.
5. A vehicle comprising:
an electrical machine;
a power supply providing power to the electrical machine; and
a contact arrangement according to claim 2 arranged between the power supply and the electrical machine.
6. The vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electrical vehicle.
7. The contact arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein each mechanical contact is an electromechanical relay.
8. The contact arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a collision detector configured to detect a collision of the vehicle.
9. The contact arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the collision detector is an accelerometer.
10. The contact arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein the first contact and second contact are configured to disconnect the power supply if a collision is detected by the collision detector.
11. A vehicle comprising:
an electrical machine;
a power supply providing power to the electrical machine; and
a contact arrangement according to claim 1 arranged between the power supply and the electrical machine.
12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle or an electrical vehicle.
13. A power supply arrangement for a vehicle comprising:
a power supply;
a first mechanical contact for selectively connecting a first lead of the power supply to an electrical component; and
a second mechanical contact for selectively connecting a second lead of a power supply to an electrical component, the first and second mechanical contacts configured to disconnect the power supply from an electrical component in the event of a collision;
wherein the first mechanical contact is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second mechanical contact in relation to a transverse plane of the vehicle, the substantially perpendicular arrangement preventing reconnection of at least one of the first and second mechanical contacts as a result of a secondary collision after the collision.
14. The power supply arrangement according to claim 13 , configured to disconnect the power supply by moving a switch element of the first mechanical contact in a first direction in the transverse plane of the vehicle, and by moving a switch element of the second mechanical contact in a second direction in relation to the transverse plane of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
15. The contact arrangement according to claim 14 , further comprising a control unit for controlling the disconnection of the first contact and the second contact.
16. The contact arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the control unit is configured to disconnect the first contact and the second contact if a collision is detected.
17. The power supply arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the power supply is an energy storage.
18. The power supply arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the power supply is a battery.
19. The power supply arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the power supply is a fuel cell.
20. The contact arrangement according to claim 13 , further comprising a collision detector configured to detect a collision of the vehicle.