Switching Device for a Multi-Pole High-Voltage Vehicle Power Supply of an Electrically Operable Motor Vehicle, Electronic Control Unit, and Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A switching device for a multi-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply of an electrically operable motor vehicle is provided. The switching device includes at least one first electromechanical switch assigned to a first pole of at least one high-voltage accumulator, and having at least one second electromechanical switch assigned to a second pole of at least one high-voltage accumulator, wherein a first switch and a second switch have a different design and are designed to meet a first defined requirement together, and wherein at least one of the two switch typeshere referred to as the first switchis designed so as meet at least a second defined requirement on its own.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A switching device for a multi-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply system of an electrically operable motor vehicle, having at least one first electromechanical switch which is assigned to a first pole of at least one high-voltage store, and having at least one second electromechanical switch which is assigned to a second pole of at least one high-voltage store, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch are differently configured and are designed to fulfil a common first specified requirement, and wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch is configured such that it exclusively fulfils a second specified requirement.

13. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the common first specified requirement is a two-pole breaking capability.

14. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the second specified requirement for the at least one first electromechanical switch is an on-load breaking capability up to an operating voltage limit.

15. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the second specified requirement for the at least one first electromechanical switch is an on-load breaking capability up to an operating voltage limit.

16. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch is configured such that it exclusively fulfils a third specified requirement including a bounce-free switch-in capability.

17. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch is configured such that it exclusively fulfils a third specified requirement including a bounce-free switch-in capability.

18. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch are respectively provided with an actuator which is actuatable by a low-voltage supply, in order to connect or interrupt the power supply lines of the high-voltage vehicle power supply system.

19. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch and the at least one second electromechanical switch are respectively provided with an actuator which is actuatable by a low-voltage supply, in order to connect or interrupt the power supply lines of the high-voltage vehicle power supply system.

20. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one first electromechanical switch opens automatically.

21. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one first electromechanical switch opens automatically.

22. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one second electromechanical switch remains closed.

23. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch is further configured such that, in the event of a failure of the low voltage supply to the actuator, the at least one second electromechanical switch remains closed.

24. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch comprises a return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes a solenoid, is de-energized, and thus does not counteract the return spring.

25. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one first electromechanical switch comprises a return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes a solenoid, is de-energized, and thus does not counteract the return spring.

26. The switching device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch comprises no return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes an electric motor having a self-locking spindle, being de-energized, remains in its current position.

27. The switching device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one second electromechanical switch comprises no return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator, wherein the actuator, which includes an electric motor having a self-locking spindle, being de-energized, remains in its current position.

28. An electronic control unit for a motor vehicle, for actuating at least two different electromechanical switches of a switching device according to claim 12.

29. An electrically operable motor vehicle having a switching device according to claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary application of an overall switching device according to the invention; and

[0025] FIG. 2 shows examples of advantageous configurations of a first and second switch of the switching device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified by the same reference symbols.

[0027] FIG. 1 represents a switching device 10 for a two-pole high-voltage vehicle power supply system of an electrically operable motor vehicle. The high-voltage vehicle power supply system comprises two high-voltage stores HVS1 and HVS2, each having a nominal voltage of approximately 400 V. The high-voltage vehicle power supply system further comprises a changeover matrix USM (in this case, having three further switches), by means of which the two high-voltage stores HVS1 and HVS2 are connectable either in series or in parallel. In particular, upon the connection of the vehicle to a DC charging terminal, charging at 800 V can thus be permitted.

[0028] For charging at such a high voltage or capacity (with a limiting operating current of approximately 1 kA), for reasons of safety, it is necessary for stipulated requirements to be observed. A first requirement, in particular, is a capability for the common isolation of the positive and negative poles from the charging source (two-pole breaking capability). A second requirement is a breaking capability up to the limiting operating current (or the order of magnitude of 1 kA). A third requirement is a bounce-free switch-in capability. A further requirement is the interruption of the high-voltage supply, in the event of a failure of the (low-voltage) supply to the actuators for the switch-on and switch-off of the high-voltage supply associated with a malfunction.

[0029] Known high-voltage vehicle power supply systems have previously employed identical switches for the fulfilment of all these requirements, wherein each switch is capable of fulfilling all requirements. The invention relates to the employment of differently configured switches which, in combination, fulfil all requirements, and which assume specific sub-functions.

[0030] To this end, first electromechanical switches S1 are assigned to the positive poles (+) of the high-voltage stores HVS1 and HVS2, and second electromechanical switches S2 are assigned to the negative poles (?) of the high-voltage stores HVS1 and HVS2. The switches S1 and S2 are differently configured and, to this end, are designed to fulfil a first specified and common requirement, particularly a two-pole breaking capability, wherein only one of the two types of switches (in this case, the switches S1 which are assigned to the positive poles (+)) are configured for the exclusive fulfilment of a second specified requirement. Preferably, the second specified requirement is a breaking capability up to the limiting operating current. Accordingly, with respect to capacity, the second type of switches, i.e., the switches S2 which are assigned to the negative poles, can be configured with a less robust, and consequently more cost-effective design rating than the first type of switches (S1 switches).

[0031] Conversely, the second type of switches (or the second switches S2 which are assigned to the negative poles) are preferably configured such that they exclusively fulfil a specified third requirement, particularly a bounce-free switch-in capability. With respect hereto, in turn, the first type of switches can be configured with a simpler design.

[0032] Both types of switches S1 and S2 are respectively provided with an actuator A1 and A2 which is actuatable by means of a low-voltage supply (12 V), in order to connect or interrupt the supply lines of the high-voltage vehicle power supply system.

[0033] The first switch S1 (or the first type of switch) is further configured such that, in the event of the failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator A1, it opens automatically. The first switch S1 thus comprises, for example, a return spring F for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator A1, wherein the actuator A1, in particular a solenoid, is de-energized and unpowered, and thus does not counteract the return spring F (c.f. FIG. 2, left-hand side).

[0034] The second switch S2 (or the second type of switch) is further configured such that, in the event of the failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator A2, it remains closed. The second switch S2 thus comprises no return spring for the opening thereof in the event of a failure of the low-voltage supply to the actuator A2, wherein the actuator A2, particularly an electric motor having a self-locking spindle SP, being de-energized, remains in its current position (c.f. FIG. 2, right-hand side).

[0035] Both switches (or types of switches) S1 and S2 thus fulfil, on the one hand, respectively differing requirements and, on the other hand, also fulfil common requirements.

[0036] Optionally, a third switch S3, in the form of a known pyro switch, can be provided for short-circuit protection.

[0037] The switches of the changeover matrix USM can optionally assume the same design as the second switches S2.

[0038] In FIG. 2, for each switch S1 and S2, or for each type of switch, a particularly advantageous configuration is represented.

[0039] A configuration of a first switch S1 is represented on the left-hand side, and a configuration of a second switch S2 is represented on the right-hand side. However, the invention is not limited to these configurations of both types of switches.

[0040] An advantageous design of a first switch S1 is as follows: [0041] e.g., Schaltbau multi-contact contactor with the following properties: [0042] Breaking capability up to the limiting operating current (approximately 1 kA) [0043] Contact resistance approximately 50 uOhms, holding power approximately 5 W [0044] Automatic opening in the event of the loss of the 12 V supply

[0045] An advantageous design of a second switch S2 is as follows: [0046] e.g., Sonceboz actuator (single contact with brushless DC motor) [0047] Switch-in capability up to a voltage differential of 10 V [0048] Contact resistance approximately 30 uOhms, holding power 0 W [0049] Remains closed in the event of the loss of the 12 V supply [0050] Mechanical impact-resistance in the open state

[0051] An advantageous design of an optional third switch S3 (not represented here in greater detail, on the grounds that the employment of pyro switches for short-circuit protection is already extensively known) is as follows: [0052] e.g., Daicel pyro switch [0053] Breaking capability up to a full short-circuit current of approximately 15 kA [0054] Contact resistance approximately 30 uOhms.