WO2017153338A1

WO2017153338A1 - Battery safety

Info

Publication number: WO2017153338A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/055192
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Werner; Alexander LIND; Dan Henrik LILJA; Carl Fredrik Alexander SILFVER
Original assignee: Radinn Ab
Priority date: 2016-03-08
Filing date: 2017-03-06
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Also published as: SE1650311A1; SE540673C2

Abstract

A battery unit for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10) is presented. The battery unit comprising: a primary power source (102) being adapted to power the propulsion unit of the vehicle via a pair of primary powering terminals (110), a control unit (105) arranged to be activated upon interconnection of a pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b) and to send out an control signal in response to being activated, and a switching unit (106) connected to the primary power source and at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals, the switching unit being arranged to connect the primary power source to at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals upon receiving an activation signal.

Description

BATTERY SAFETY

Technical Field

The present inventive concept relates to safety in handling a battery unit, especially a battery unit for a wakejet. Background

Batteries as powering sources are becoming more and more prevalent in a broad field of technology areas. The many uses range from electrical cars to cell phones. Furthermore, as technology advance and areas of use are becoming more specific, careful designing of the battery are needed in order to achieve desired performance.

The embodiment of the battery is highly dependable on the

functionality of the battery as well as the environment in which the battery functions. Often, caution has to be taken while handling the battery. If a battery is subjected to conditions it is not designed for, there are risks involved that may lead to uncontrolled consequences such as explosions, release of toxic material or fire. It is therefore important to protect the battery from for example heat and water.

Some batteries are positioned deeply in the interior of a machine, for example, and do not have to be protected to the same extent as an

interchangeable battery. Some activities, such as switching the battery to recharge it or temporarily subject the battery to external conditions of a machine, such as splashes of water or humidity, are cases in which safety measures are crucial. Summary of the Inventive Concept

In view of the above, it is an object to improve the security of a battery in a battery unit. It is a particular object to increase the security of a battery unit in a system for powering the propulsion of a vehicle.

These and other objects are at least partly met by the inventive concept as defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, a battery unit for powering a propulsion unit of a vehicle is provided. The battery unit comprises: a primary power source being adapted to power the propulsion unit of the vehicle via a pair of primary powering terminals; a control unit arranged to be activated upon

interconnection of a pair of activation terminals, and to send out an control signal in response to being activated; and a switching unit connected to the primary power source and at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals, the switching unit being arranged to connect the primary power source to the at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals upon receiving an activation signal.

In the context of this application, the word 'connecting' or 'connect' should be construed as galvanically coupling one thing to another.

The primary source is not connected to the powering terminals until the switching unit is activated. Further, by having the switching unit activated by an activation signal as a consequence of the control unit being activated, a safer battery unit is achieved. If the pair of activation terminals is isolated from each other, no voltage over the pair of primary powering terminals is present. This makes handling the battery unit both safer and more convenient. There is also a reduced risk of damaging the battery unit since the pair of primary powering terminals may be connected to each without short circuiting the primary power source. Furthermore, by having the control unit and the switching unit activated by separate mechanisms, increased manageability of the primary power source is achieved.

The control unit may be arranged to be powered by a secondary power source, and wherein the secondary power source is arranged to be activated upon interconnection of the pair of activation terminals

The control unit may further be arranged to send the control signal via a first control terminal. The control signal may via the third terminal check for conditions within, and in connection to, a connection between the battery unit and the vehicle.

The switching unit may be arranged to receive the activation signal via a second control terminal. The secondary power source may be arranged to, upon activation, create a voltage over a pair of secondary powering terminals. This allows for the secondary power source to power unit being external from the battery unit. Especially it allows for the secondary power source to power low voltage units external from the battery unit since the secondary power source may be made providing a considerably lower voltage than the primary power source. The secondary power source may therefore be able to power other components in the vehicle, without the primary power source.

The secondary power source may be arranged to power a, to the battery unit, external processor. An external processor may be sending the control signal and further be powered by the secondary power source, removing the need for a power source outside of the battery unit enabling the system.

The secondary power source may be a DC/DC converter.

The primary powering terminals and/or the activation terminals may be part of a multi-terminal connector.

The first control terminal, the second control terminal and/or the pair of secondary powering terminals may be part of the multi-terminal connector.

According to a second aspect, a wakejet is provided. The wakejet comprises a propulsion unit, a processor and a battery unit according to the above. The processor is configured to receive the control signal sent from the control unit; in response to receiving the control signal generate the activation signal; and send the activation signal to the switching unit.

According to a third aspect, a method for powering a propulsion unit of a vehicle is provided. The method comprises: activating a control unit of a battery unit by interconnection of a pair of activation terminals; at the activated control unit generating a control signal; sending the control signal to a processor external from the battery unit; at the processor generating an activation signal in response to receiving of the control signal; sending the activation signal to a switching unit at the battery unit; and at the switching unit closing a switch in response to receiving the activation signal and thereby connecting a primary power source of the battery unit to at least one of the terminal of a pair of primary powering terminals connected to the propulsion unit.

The above mentioned features of the battery unit and/or the wakejet, when applicable, apply to this third aspect as well. In order to avoid undue repetition, reference is made to the above.

A further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Hence, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described as such device and method may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a," "an," "the," and "said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps. Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to appended drawings showing embodiments of the invention. The figures should not be considered limiting the invention to the specific embodiment; instead they are used for explaining and understanding the invention.

As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 illustrates a battery unit.

Fig. 2 illustrates a battery unit.

Fig. 3 illustrates a switching unit.

Fig. 4 is block diagram of a method for powering a propulsion unit of a vehicle.

Detailed Description

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be of any type. In a preferred embodiment the vehicle 10 is a wakejet. The vehicle comprises a propulsion unit 12, a battery unit 14 and a processor 16. The battery unit 14 is positioned inside a compartment of the vehicle 10. The battery unit 14 is connected to the vehicle 10 via a connector. Preferably, the battery unit 14 is releasably connected to the vehicle 10. The batter y unit 14 acts as a power source for the propulsion unit 12. When mounted in the vehicle the battery unit 14 is connected to the propulsion unit 12. When mounted in the vehicle the battery unit 14 is connected to the processor 16. The processor 16 may be configured to perform numerous control functions for the vehicle.

Fig. 2 illustrates embodiments of the battery unit 14. The battery unit 14 is in a preferred embodiment a replaceable battery unit 14. A nonfunctioning battery unit may for example be replaced by a functioning battery unit. Furthermore, an empty or almost empty battery unit may be replaced by a charged or fully charged battery unit.

The battery unit 14 comprises a primary power source 102, a control unit 104, a switching unit 106, a pair of activation terminals 108a, 108b, a pair of primary powering terminals 1 10, a first control terminal 1 12, a second control terminal 1 14 and a pair of secondary powering terminals 1 16a, 1 16b.

The above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 1 10, 1 12, 1 14, 1 16a, 1 16b may be female sockets arranged to connect to male pins. Alternatively, the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 1 10, 1 12, 1 14, 1 16a, 1 16b may be male pins arranged to connect to female sockets. Yet alternatively, one or more of the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 1 10, 1 12, 1 14, 1 16a, 1 16b may be a male pin and one or more of the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 1 10, 1 12, 1 14, 1 16a, 1 16b may be a female socket.

The primary power source 102 is configured to power the propulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10 via the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10.

Hence, the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 is connected to the propulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10. The pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 may support a higher current than the other terminals 108a, 108b, 1 12, 1 14,1 16a, 1 16b. The primary power source 102 may comprise one or more battery cells. The primary power source 102 may be arranged to output voltages in the range of 30-50 volts.

The switching unit 106 is configured to control a connection between the primary power source 102 and at least one terminal of the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10. Hence, the switching unit 106 is configured to control a switching between a powering mode and a non-powering mode of the battery unit 14. In the powering mode the battery unit 14 is configured to provide power from the primary power source 102 to the propulsion unit 12. In the non-powering mode the battery unit 14 is configured not to provide power from the primary power source 102. The switching unit 106 comprises a switch that is arranged to connect and disconnect the primary power source to and from the at least one terminal of the pair of primary powering

terminals 1 10. In Fig. 2 the switching unit 106 is illustrated in an open state. Hence, the battery unit 14 is in the non-powering mode

The control unit 104 is configured control the switching unit 106 such that the switching unit 106 may switch between the non-powering mode and the powering mode and vice versa. The control unit 104 comprises a secondary power source 120 and a battery manager 122. It is the battery manager 122 that is responsible for the controlling functions of the control unit 104. The secondary power source 120 is arranged to power the battery manager 122. The secondary power source 120 may be arranged to output voltages in the range of 10-15 volts. The secondary power 120 source may be a battery. The battery may comprise at least one battery cell. According to a non-limiting example, the secondary power source 102 is a 12 V battery. Alternatively, the secondary power source 104 may, as the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment, be a DC-to-DC converter, being able to convert direct current from one voltage level to another. The DC-to-DC converter may, as in the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment, be configured to receive power from the primary power source 102. Hence, the secondary power source 104 may receive power from the primary power source 102. Alternatively, the DC-to-DC converter may be configured to receive power from a power source (not shown) outside said battery unit 101 .

Hence, according to the above the power output of the primary power source 102 is greater than the power output of the secondary power source 120. By arranging the secondary power source 120 to have a smaller power output than the primary power source 102, a safer battery unit 14 may be set up. The secondary power source 120 may for example be safe to handle by hand, while the primary power source 102 may not. A two-step battery unit 14 is therefore set in place where a power source with a lesser power output controls a power source with higher power output.

The control unit 104 is connected to the activation terminals 108a, 108b. The activation terminals 108a, 108b are configured such that they may be interconnected to each other. The connection between the activation terminals 108a, 108b may be made by means of an interconnection (not shown). The interconnection is made of conducting material, letting current pass between the activation terminals 108a, 108b. According to one non- limiting example the interconnection is a jumper. The control unit 104 is configured such that upon connecting the activation terminals 108a, 108b to each other the control unit 104 is activated. According to a non-limiting example, the control unit 104 is configured such that upon connecting the activation terminals 108a, 108b to each other the secondary power source 120 is activated. The control unit 104 may further configured such that upon not connecting the activation terminals 108a, 108b, the control unit 102 is inactivated. Upon activation of the control unit 102, the control unit 102 is configured to generate a control signal. The control signal is provided on the first control terminal 1 12. The first control terminal 1 12 may be a single terminal. Alternatively, the first control terminal 1 12 may be a pair of terminals. The control signal may comprise various types of signals. The control signal is preferably sent using a CAN-bus protocol. The control signal is indicative of that the control unit 104 is activated. The control signal may carry information about the status of the primary power source 102. Said status may comprise information about the voltage level of individual battery cells of the primary power source 102. The status may also comprise battery balance information about the primary power source 102. The control signal may furthermore contain information about the connection status of the first control terminal 1 12. The control signal may be a command signal comprising one or more digital data information packages. The control signal may be an analog electrical signal. The control signal may comprise a plurality of analog electrical signals having different voltage levels.

When the battery unit 14 is mounted in the vehicle 10 the processor 16 of the vehicle 10 is connected to the first control terminal 1 12. The processor 16 is configured to process the control signal and generate an activation signal. When the battery unit 14 is mounted in the vehicle 10 the processor 16 is further connected to the second control terminal 1 14. The switching unit 106 is configured to receive the activation signal via the second control terminal 1 14. Hence, the switching unit 106 is activated as a consequence of the control unit 104 being activated.

The secondary power source 120 of the control unit 104 may be configured to upon activation, create a voltage over the pair of secondary powering terminals 1 16a, 1 16b. The processor 16 may be connected to the pair of secondary powering terminals 1 16a, 1 16b. Hence, the secondary power source 120 may be configured to power the processor 16.

As mentioned above, when activated the control unit 102 is, at least indirectly, activating the switching unit 106. By the activation of the switching unit 106, the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 will be electrically connected to the propulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10. Accordingly, the primary power source 102 may therefore power the propulsion unit 12.

According to non-limiting embodiments the switching unit 106 may comprise a relay, a contactor and an anti-spark resistor. The activation signal may comprise a contactor signal and a relay signal for controlling the relay and the contactor, respectively. An exemplary embodiment of the switching unit 106 comprising the relay 202, the contactor 204, the anti spark

resistor 206 is illustrated in Fig. 3. The relay 202 is controlled by means of the relay signal of the activation signal. The relay 202 is configured to control a first switch 208 connecting the anti-spark resistor 206 in-between the primary power source 202 and said at least one terminal of the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10. The contactor 204 is configured to control a second switch 210. The contactor 204 is controlled by the contactor signal of the activation signal. The second switch 210 may be closed only after the first switch 208 is activated. A stepwise activation of the switching unit 106 may prevents sparks from appearing in the switching unit 106.

In connection with Fig. 4 a method for powering the propulsion unit 12 of the vehicle 10 will be discussed. The method comprising the following acts: Activating S400 the control unit 104 of the battery unit 14 by interconnection of the pair of activation terminals 108a, 108b. At the activated control unit 104 generating S402 a control signal. Sending S404 the control signal to the processor 16. At the processor 16 generating S406 an activation signal in response to receiving of the control signal. Sending S408 the activation signal to the switching unit 106 at the battery unit. At the switching unit closing a switch in response to receiving the activation signal and thereby connecting S410 the primary power source 102 of the battery unit to at least one of the terminal of the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 connected to the propulsion unit 12.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the switching unit 106 may in a closed state be arranged to connect the primary power source 102 to one of the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 and in an open state be arranged to disconnect the primary power source 102 from said one of the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10.

Moreover, any number of the above mentioned terminals 108a, 108b, 1 10, 1 12, 1 14, 1 16a, 1 16b may be part of a multi-terminal connector 1 18. The multi-terminal connector 1 18 may form a portion of the connector connecting the battery unit 14 to the vehicle 10. As shown in Fig. 2 the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 may be separate from the multi-terminal connector 1 18. In this embodiment the multi-terminal connector 1 18 comprises the pair of activation terminals 108a, 108b, the first control terminal 1 12, the second control terminal 1 14 and the pair of secondary powering terminals 1 16a, 1 16b. According to this embodiment the connector connecting the battery unit 14 to the vehicle 10 is formed by the multi-terminal connector 1 18 and the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10. Alternatively, the pair of primary powering terminals 1 10 may be part of the multi-terminal connector 1 12.

Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A battery unit for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10), the battery unit comprising:

a primary power source (102) being adapted to power the propulsion unit of the vehicle via a pair of primary powering terminals (1 10);

a control unit (104) arranged to be activated upon interconnection of a pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b), and to, in response to being activated, send out a control signal via a first control terminal (1 12); and

a switching unit (106) connected to the primary power source (102) and at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering

terminals (1 10), the switching unit (106) being arranged to connect the primary power source (102) to at least one of the terminals of the pair of primary powering terminals (1 10) upon receiving an activation signal via a second control terminal (1 14).

2. The battery unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit (104) is arranged to be powered by a secondary power source (120), and wherein the secondary power source (120) is arranged to be activated upon

interconnection of the pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b).

3. The battery unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the secondary power source (120) is arranged to, upon activation, create a voltage over a pair of secondary powering terminals (1 16a, 1 16b).

4. The battery unit according to claim 3, wherein the secondary power source (120) is arranged to power a, to the battery unit, external

processor (16).

5. The battery unit according to any one of claims 2-4, wherein the secondary power source (120) is a DC/DC converter.

6. The battery unit according to any one of claims 1 -5, wherein the primary powering terminals (1 10) and/or the activation terminals (108a, 108b) are part of a multi-terminal connector (1 18).

7. The battery unit according to claims 3 and 6, wherein the first control terminal (1 12), the second control terminal (1 14) and/or the pair of secondary powering terminals (1 16a, 1 16b) are part of the multi-terminal

connector (1 18).

8. A wakejet comprising a propulsion unit (12), a processor (16) and a battery unit (14) according to any one of claims 1 -7, wherein the processor (16) is configured to:

receive the control signal sent from the control unit (104);

in response to receiving the control signal generate the activation signal; and

send the activation signal to the switching unit (106).

9. A method for powering a propulsion unit (12) of a vehicle (10), the method comprising:

activating (S400) a control unit (104) of a battery unit (14) by

interconnection of a pair of activation terminals (108a, 108b);

at the activated control unit (104) generating (S402) a control signal; sending (S404) the control signal to a processor (16) external from the battery unit (14);

at the processor (16) generating (406) an activation signal in response to receiving of the control signal;

sending (S408) the activation signal to a switching unit (106) at the battery unit (14); and

at the switching unit (106) closing a switch in response to receiving the activation signal and thereby connecting (S410) a primary power source (102) of the battery unit (14) to at least one of the terminal of a pair of primary powering terminals (1 10) connected to the propulsion unit (12).