IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,255,031
Granted Patent B2
US 12,255,031 · App. 17/923,119 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Switching device having an actuation unit, on-board electrical system and motor vehicle

Inventors: Florian Pritscher (Landshut, DE); Ingo Scherer (Fuerstenfeldbruck, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
H01H3/38H01H1/14H01H39/006
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 12,255,031
App. No.
17/923,119
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A switching device for an on-board electrical system of an electrically driven motor vehicle includes an electromechanical switch which is designed to connect and interrupt a supply line of the on-board electrical system. The electromechanical switch has: a stationary first switching contact, a movable second switching contact, and an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element. In order to switch from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element moves the transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path acts mechanically on the second switching contact and moves the second switching contact toward the first switching contact. In order to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element applies, at the end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without further driving by way of the drive element.

Claims (41)

1. A switching device for an on-board electrical system of an electrically drivable motor vehicle, comprising:

an electromechanical switch which is configured to connect and interrupt a supply line of the on-board electrical system, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises:

a stationary first switching contact,

a movable second switching contact, and

an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element, wherein

to transfer from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element is configured to apply a driving force to the force transmitting element to move the force-transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path is configured to act mechanically on the second switching contact and to move the second switching contact toward the first switching contact, and

to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element is configured to apply, at an end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without continuing to apply the driving force via the drive element.

2. The switching device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a spring element, wherein

to transfer the electromechanical switch from the closed switching state to the open switching state, the drive element is configured to move the force-transmitting element counter to the movement path in order to remove the pressing force from the second switching contact, wherein the second switching contact is connected to the spring element which is configured to move the second switching contact away from the first switching contact during the movement of the force-transmitting element counter to the movement path and to hold the second switching contact in a moved-away state to maintain the open switching state.

3. The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein

the spring element is an elastic busbar which is electrically and mechanically connected to the second switching contact.

4. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein

the force-transmitting element has a threaded spindle which is linearly displaceable along the movement path by the drive element.

5. The switching device according to claim 4 , wherein

the threaded spindle is oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of the second switching contact, so that the threaded spindle moved along the movement path is configured to act substantially perpendicular to the surface and to push the second switching contact substantially parallel to an orientation direction of the movement path in a direction of the first switching contact.

6. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein

the force-transmitting element has a push rod which is displaceable by the drive element.

7. The switching device according to claim 6 , wherein

the push rod is oriented obliquely to a surface of the second switching contact, so that the push rod moved along the movement path is configured to slide over the surface of the second switching contact and to push the second switching contact obliquely to an orientation direction of the movement path in a direction of the first switching contact.

8. An on-board electrical system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least two on-board electrical system components;

at least one supply line electrically connecting the at least two on-board electrical system components; and

at least one switching device comprising an electromechanical switch which is configured to connect and interrupt the at least one supply line, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises:

a stationary first switching contact,

a movable second switching contact,

an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element, wherein

to transfer from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element is configured to move the force-transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path is configured to act mechanically on the second switching contact and to move the second switching contact toward the first switching contact, and

to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element is configured to apply, at an end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without further driving via the drive element,

wherein the switching device further comprises a spring element comprising an elastic busbar which is electrically and mechanically connected to the second switching contact,

wherein the second switching contact is connected to the spring element which is configured to move the second switching contact away from the first switching contact during a movement of the force-transmitting element counter to the movement path and to hold the second switching contact in a moved-away state to maintain the open switching state.

9. An electrically drivable motor vehicle comprising an on-board electrical system according to claim 8 .

10. A switching device for an on-board electrical system of an electrically drivable motor vehicle, comprising:

an electromechanical switch which is configured to connect and interrupt a supply line of the on-board electrical system, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises:

a stationary first switching contact,

a movable second switching contact, and

an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element, wherein

to transfer from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element is configured to move the force-transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path is configured to act mechanically on the second switching contact and to move the second switching contact toward the first switching contact, and

to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element is configured to apply, at an end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without further driving via the drive element,

wherein the force-transmitting element has a push rod which is displaceable by the drive element, and

wherein the push rod is oriented obliquely to a surface of the second switching contact, so that the push rod moved along the movement path is configured to slide over the surface of the second switching contact and to push the second switching contact obliquely to an orientation direction of the movement path in a direction of the first switching contact.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: PRITSCHER, FLORIAN; SCHERER, INGO
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 062585/0175 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 118 308.9 · Jul 10, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230178308A1 · Jun 8, 2023
References Cited (15)
US 8476996B2 · Liang · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 10153709B2 · Nagel et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20150042426A1 · Ignatov et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20200075277A1 · McTigue · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200203106A1 · Duensbier et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200227220A1 · Oehler et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20240096578A1 · Loeffelbein · 2024 [cited by examiner]
DE 102017205833A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
DE 102017122008A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018103103A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
DE 102018222466A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014005611A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/065885 dated Sep. 30, 2021 with English translation (five (5) pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/EP2021/065885 dated Sep. 30, 2021 (six (6) pages). [cited by applicant]
German-language Search Report issued in German Application No. 10 2020 118 308.9 dated Mar. 11, 2021 with partial English translation (11 pages). [cited by applicant]