METHOD FOR OPERATING A SAFETY DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a security device, comprising a housing with at least one current-carrying element, wherein the current-carrying element is arranged in the housing interior and is enclosed by the housing. A particle detector is arranged in the housing interior, which monitors the housing interior with respect to the formation of particles.

Claims

1. A method for operating a safety device (10) comprising a housing (11) with at least one current-carrying element (12), the current-carrying element (12) being arranged in a housing interior (13) and enclosed by the housing (11), and a particle detector (15) arranged within the housing interior (13) of the housing, the method comprising monitoring, via the particle detector (15), the housing interior (13) for an occurrence of particles (24).

2. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the particle detector (15) is a photoelectric barrier.

3. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the particle detector (15) includes a radiation source (16) and a radiation receiver (17).

4. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the radiation source (16) is a light-emitting diode.

5. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radiation receiver (17) is a photodiode.

6. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the safety device (10) monitors the radiation receiver (17) for radiation emitted by an arc discharge (19).

7. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the particle detector (15) is arranged on or in an opening (18) of the housing (11).

8. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the opening (18) is a pressure equalization opening of the housing (11).

9. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the radiation source (16) is a laser diode.

10. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radiation receiver (17) is a phototransistor.

11. The method for operating a safety device (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the radiation receiver (17) is a photoresistor.

12. A safety device comprising: a housing (11); at least one current-carrying element (12) arranged in a housing interior (13) and enclosed by the housing (11); and a particle detector (15) arranged within the housing interior (13) of the housing, the particle detector configured to monitor the housing interior (13) for an occurrence of particles (24).

13. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the particle detector (15) is a photoelectric barrier.

14. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the particle detector (15) includes a radiation source (16) and a radiation receiver (17).

15. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the radiation source (16) is a light-emitting diode.

16. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the radiation receiver (17) is a photodiode.

17. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the safety device (10) monitors the radiation receiver (17) for radiation emitted by an arc discharge (19).

18. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the particle detector (15) is arranged on an opening (18) of the housing (11).

19. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the opening (18) is a pressure equalization opening of the housing (11).

20. The safety device (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the radiation source (16) is a laser diode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1: shows a schematic representation of a vehicle and of the safety device;

[0020] FIG. 2: shows a schematic representation of a safety device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] All the figures are merely schematic representations of the method according to the invention, or its components, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. In particular, distances and size relationships are not reproduced true-to-scale in the figures. In the various figures, corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 21 having a safety device 10. The safety device 10 comprises a housing 11. This housing 11 has a housing interior 13, in which a current-carrying element 12 is arranged. The current-carrying element 12 may involve any desired electronic components/elements (for example power electronics 23, DC/DC converter 23, etc.) which are enclosed by the housing 11, or are located in the housing 11. The safety device 10 is connected to a battery 22 and an electrical motor 20, and may be part of a charging device 25 (not represented here).

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a safety device 10. Elements which are the same as in FIG. 1 are provided with the same references and will not be explained in detail. The safety device 10 comprises a housing 11, in the housing interior 13 of which a current-carrying element 12 (power electronics 23, a DC/DC converter 23, etc.) is arranged. The housing 11 may have divisions or partitions inside the housing 11. A particle detector 15 is arranged in the housing interior 13. The particle detector 15 is configured as a photoelectric barrier, and consists of a radiation source 16 (emitter) and a radiation receiver 17 (receiver). A light-emitting diode or a laser diode is advantageously used as the radiation source 16. A photoresistor, a photodiode or a phototransistor is preferably used as the radiation receiver 17. The radiation source 16 emits an electromagnetic beam, which is directed at the radiation receiver 17. If particles 24 pass between the radiation receiver 17 and the radiation source 16, they are registered by the photoelectric barrier 15, which leads to the safety device 10 switching off the voltage supply 26 of the current-carrying element 12. Furthermore, the safety device 10 monitors the radiation receiver 17 for the radiation emitted by an arc discharge 19. If an arc discharge 19 occurs, the radiation then occurring is registered by the radiation receiver 17 in addition to the light emitted by the radiation source 16. The radiation of the arc discharge 19 has a typical high-frequency spectrum, which indicates the occurrence of an arc discharge 19. The safety device 10 can therefore already switch off the voltage supply 26 before any particles 24 have actually been detected by the photoelectric barrier 15. The particle detector 15 is fitted at or in an opening 18 of the housing 11. If an arc discharge 19 occurs, the air around the arc discharge becomes abruptly heated, so that a pressure increase takes place at the occurrence site of the arc discharge 19. The temporary pressure difference between the occurrence site and the rest of the housing 11 leads to the particles 24 being forcibly transported through housing openings which are present, for example the opening 18. Correspondingly, the particles are reliably detected by the particle detector 15 when they pass through the opening 18. For example, the pressure equalization opening present in the housing 11 is used as the opening 18.