IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,642,967
Granted Patent B2
US 11,642,967 · App. 16/947,290 · Granted May 9, 2023

Independent high voltage interlocking loop systems

Inventors: Jonathan M. Baumann (Hanna City, IL); Justin D. Middleton (Peoria, IL); Jason Lee Miller (Princeville, IL); Dustin Craig Selvey (Eureka, IL); Alexander C. Crosman, III (Dunlap, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
B60L3/0046B60L53/20B60L58/20B60L2200/40B60L2240/54
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,642,967
App. No.
16/947,290
Granted
May 9, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A machine may a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) system to provide power to one or more components of the machine, the first HVIL system comprising: a plurality of groups of batteries; a plurality of disconnect components connected to the plurality of groups of batteries; a plurality of sets of contactors, a set of contactors, of the plurality of sets of contactors, being connected to a group of batteries of the plurality of groups of batteries. The machine may a second HVIL system to receive power from a power source, the second HVIL system comprising: a port configured to receive a connector of the power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries, wherein the second HVIL system is independent with respect to the first HVIL system.

Claims (71)

1. A machine, comprising:

a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) system to provide power to one or more components of the machine, the first HVIL system comprising:

a plurality of groups of batteries,

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are connected in parallel in the first HVIL system;

a plurality of disconnect components connected to the plurality of groups of batteries,

wherein a disconnect component, of the plurality of disconnect components, is connected in series to a group of batteries of the plurality of groups of batteries, and

wherein the disconnect component is configured to cause the group of batteries to be disconnected from the first HVIL system while one or more other groups of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, remain connected to the first HVIL system to provide power to the one or more components;

a plurality of sets of contactors,

wherein a set of contactors, of the plurality of sets of contactors, is connected to the group of batteries; and

a second HVIL system to receive power from a power source, the second HVIL system comprising:

a port configured to receive a connector of the power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries, wherein the second HVIL system is independent with respect to the first HVIL system.

2. The machine of claim 1 ,

wherein the set of contactors includes:

a positive contactor connected to the group of batteries, and

a negative contactor connected to the group of batteries.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a plurality of high voltage (HV) pins and a plurality of low voltage (LV) pins, and

wherein the plurality of LV pins comprise an HVIL pin.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the port is configured to be disabled to prevent the port from outputting power when the port is disconnected from the connector, and

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are configured to continue to provide power to the one or more components after the port has been disabled.

5. The machine of claim 1 ,

wherein the group of batteries is a first group of batteries that forms a first HVIL circuit, and

where a second group of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, forms a second HVIL circuit that is separate and independent from the first HVIL circuit.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the port is a first port,

wherein the second HVIL system further comprises a second port, and

wherein the second port is configured to receive the connector of the power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries when the connector is not connected to the first port.

7. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising:

a control component configured to simultaneously disconnect the plurality of groups of batteries from the first HVIL system and disable the port, of the second HVIL system, to prevent the port from outputting power.

8. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:

determine whether the port is disconnected from the connector; and

selectively:

disable movement of the machine when the port is connected to the connector, and

provide a notification indicating that the port is disconnected from the connector when the port is disconnected from the connector.

9. A system comprising:

a first system comprising:

a plurality of groups of batteries configured to power to one or more components of a machine,

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are connected in parallel in the first system;

a plurality of disconnect components connected to the plurality of groups of batteries,

wherein a disconnect component, of the plurality of disconnect components, is connected in series to a group of batteries of the plurality of groups of batteries, and

wherein the disconnect component is configured to cause the group of batteries to be disconnected from the first system while one or more other groups of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, remain connected to the first system to provide power to the one or more components; and

a second system comprising:

a port configured to receive a connector of a power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries, wherein the first system is independent with respect to the second system.

10. The system of claim 9 , where the first system further comprises a plurality of sets of contactors, and

wherein a set of contactors, of the plurality of sets of contactors, is connected to the group of batteries.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the disconnect component is connected between a first set of batteries and a second set of batteries of the group of batteries, and

wherein the disconnect component comprises a fuse.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first system is a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) system and the second system is a second HVIL system.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the port comprises a plurality of high voltage (HV) pins and a plurality of low voltage (LV) pins, and

wherein LV pins, of the plurality of LV pins, comprise a high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) pin that disables the plurality of HV pins when the HVIL pin is disconnected from the connector of the power source.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the port is configured to be disabled to prevent the port from outputting power when the port is disconnected from the connector, and

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are configured to continue to provide power to the one or more components when the port is disconnected from the connector.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the port is a first port, and

wherein the second system further comprises a second port, and

wherein the first port and the second port are configured to selectively receive the connector of the power source or a capping component.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the group of batteries is a first group of batteries that forms a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) circuit, and

where a second group of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, forms a second HVIL circuit that is separate and independent from the first HVIL circuit.

17. A machine comprising:

a plurality of groups of batteries configured to power to one or more components of the machine,

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are connected in parallel;

a plurality of disconnect components connected to the plurality of groups of batteries,

wherein a disconnect component, of the plurality of disconnect components, is configured to cause a group of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, to be disconnected from the machine while one or more other groups of batteries, of the plurality of groups of batteries, remain connected to the machine to provide power to the one or more components, and

wherein the disconnect component is connected in series to the group of batteries; and

a port configured to receive a connector of a power source and receive power, from the power source via the connector, to charge the plurality of groups of batteries,

wherein the plurality of groups of batteries are configured to continue to provide power to the one or more components when the port is disconnected from the connector and is disabled to prevent the port from outputting power.

18. The machine of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of groups of batteries, the plurality of disconnect components, and a plurality of sets of contactors are included in a first high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) system, and

wherein the port is included in a second HVIL system that is separate and independent from the first HVIL system.

19. The machine of claim 17 , wherein the port comprises a plurality of high voltage (HV) pins and a plurality of low voltage (LV) pins,

wherein LV pins, of the plurality of LV pins, comprise a high voltage interlocking loop (HVIL) pin, and

wherein HV pins, of the plurality of HV pins, are configured to be disabled to prevent the HV pins from outputting power when the port is disconnected from the connector.

20. The machine of claim 17 , wherein the port is a first port, and

wherein the machine further comprises a second port, and

wherein the first port and the second port are configured to selectively receive the connector of the power source or a capping component.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2020
From: BAUMANN, JONATHAN M.; MIDDLETON, JUSTIN D.; MILLER, JASON LEE; SELVEY, DUSTIN CRAIG; CROSMAN, ALEXANDER C., III
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 053776/0742 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220024318A1 · Jan 27, 2022
Cited By (1)
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