IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,249,824
Granted Patent B2
US 12,249,824 · App. 17/990,928 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

DC electrical network and overcurrent protection system for a DC electrical network

Inventor: Patrick Bareaud (Toulouse, FR)
Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
H02H3/08H02H1/0007B64D2221/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,249,824
App. No.
17/990,928
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The DC electrical network comprises an electrical load supplied with electricity by an electrical power source to which the electrical load is linked by a first electrical line and a second electrical line. An overcurrent protection system comprising an input pole and an output pole is mounted in series on the first electrical line. The overcurrent protection system comprises an electronic switch mounted in series between the input pole and the output pole, an electrical current sensor, and a controller configured to control the electronic switch. It also comprises an electronic device linked to the input pole and to the second electrical line. The controller is configured to command a conducting state of the electronic device when a current measurement from the electrical current sensor is above a predetermined current threshold, then to command an opening of the electronic switch.

Claims (36)

1. A DC electrical network provided to supply electricity to an electrical load by an electrical power source, the electrical network comprising:

said electrical power source, comprising a first pole and a second pole; and

said electrical load, comprising a first pole and a second pole;

a first electrical line linking the first pole of the electrical load to the first pole of the electrical power source;

a second electrical line linking the second pole of the electrical load to the second pole of the electrical power source;

an overcurrent protection system mounted in series on the first electrical line, the overcurrent protection system comprising

an input pole linked to the first pole of the electrical power source by an upstream part of the first electrical line, and

an output pole linked to the first pole of the electrical load by a downstream part of the first electrical line,

wherein the overcurrent protection system comprises

an electronic switch mounted in series between the input pole and the output pole,

an electrical current sensor provided to measure an electrical current circulating between the input pole and the output pole, and

a controller configured to control the electronic switch,

wherein the overcurrent protection system comprises an electronic device comprising a first pole linked to the input pole of the overcurrent protection system and a second pole linked to the second electrical line, this electronic device being designed to present a non-conducting state in normal operation and a conducting state when a command is applied to it, wherein the electronic device comprises a discharge tube, and

wherein the controller is configured to:

acquire an electrical current measurement from the electrical current sensor;

compare the current measurement to a predetermined current threshold; and

when the current measurement is above the predetermined current threshold, apply a command to the electronic device to command its conducting state, then command an opening of the electronic switch.

2. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to apply said command to the electronic device by commanding an application, between two poles of the discharge tube, of a voltage greater than a discharge tube trigger voltage.

3. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein one of the poles of the discharge tube is linked to the input pole of the protection system via a diode.

4. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to issue a command to open of the electronic switch after a predetermined time after having applied the command to the electronic device.

5. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to issue a command to open electronic switch after having applied the command to the electronic device, when an electrical current measurement measured by the electrical current sensor is below a second predetermined current threshold.

6. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the application of the command to the electronic device after having commanded the opening of the electronic switch.

7. The DC electrical network according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a reset command and to command a closing of the electronic switch in response to a reception of a reset command.

8. An aircraft, comprising the DC electrical network according to claim 1 .

9. An overcurrent protection system for a DC electrical network provided to supply electricity to an electrical load by an electrical power source, the electrical power source comprising a first pole and a second pole and the electrical load comprising a first pole and a second pole,

the DC electrical network being configured such that the first pole of the electrical load is linked to the first pole of the electrical power source by a first electrical line and the second pole of the electrical load is linked to the second pole of the electrical power source by a second electrical line,

the overcurrent protection system being configured to be mounted in series on the first electrical line and comprising an input pole configured to be linked to the first pole of the electrical power source by an upstream part of the first electrical line and an output pole configured to be linked to the first pole of the electrical load by a downstream part of the first electrical line,

the overcurrent protection system comprising

an electronic switch mounted in series between the input pole and the output pole,

an electrical current sensor configured to measure an electrical current circulating between the input pole and the output pole, and

a controller configured to control the electronic switch,

the overcurrent protection system comprising an electronic device comprising a first pole linked to the input pole of the overcurrent protection system and a second pole provided to be linked to the second electrical line, the electronic device being configured to present a non-conducting state in normal operation and a conducting state when a command is applied to it, wherein the electronic device comprises a discharge tube, and

wherein the controller is configured to:

acquire an electrical current measurement from the electrical current sensor;

compare the current measurement to a predetermined current threshold; and

when the current measurement is above the predetermined current threshold, apply a command to the electronic device so as to command its conducting state, then command an opening of the electronic switch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2023
From: BAREAUD, PATRICK
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
Reel/Frame 062478/0331 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 2112437 · Nov 24, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230163586A1 · May 25, 2023
References Cited (7)
US 3947748A · Klein · 1976 [cited by examiner]
US 4631621A · Howell · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 20070159745A1 · Berberich et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20090021874A1 · Divito et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20210249854A1 · Rupp · 2021 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018201546A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
French Search Report dated Jul. 8, 2022; priority document. [cited by applicant]