Electrical switch for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical switch (1) for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle, the electrical switch comprising: a contact device having at least one stationary first connection element (2) and at least one movable second connection element (4), wherein the movable second connection element (4) is actuatable by means of an actuator (6) into a closed position, in which the first connection element (2) and the second connection element (4) are electrically connected, and into an open position, in which the first connection element (2) and the second connection element (4) are not electrically connected; and an arc extinguishing device for extinguishing arcs that form during the switching of the electrical switch (1), that is to say during a closing and / or opening sequence of the movable second connection element (4), said arc extinguishing device having at least one electromagnetic coil (7) which, during the closing and / or opening sequence, is excited so as to generate a magnetic field that interacts with an arc, causing said arc to be deflected in a defined direction.

Description

[0001] Electrical switch for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an electrical switch for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle comprising a contact device with at least one fixed first connection element and at least one movable second connection element (4), wherein the movable second connection element (4) can be actuated via an actuator (6) into a closed position in which the first connection element (2) and the second connection element (4) are electrically connected, and into an open position in which the first connection element (2) and the second connection element (4) are not electrically connected, and comprising an arc extinguishing device for extinguishing arcs that occur when the electrical switch is switched, i.e. during a closing and / or opening sequence of the movable second connection element.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] Typically, permanent magnets are used in electrical circuit breakers in the DC paths of a high-voltage traction system in a hybrid or electric vehicle to control arcs that occur during switching, i.e., when the circuit breaker opens and closes. Permanent magnets constantly generate a magnetic field that can influence the current path in the electrical circuit breaker. Furthermore, these permanent magnets use rare earth elements, which should be avoided due to environmental and geopolitical supply concerns. In addition, permanent magnets are difficult to handle during production and recycling. Summary of the invention

[0006] One object of the invention is to provide an improved electrical switch for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0007] This need can be met by the subject matter of the present invention according to independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] The electrical switch according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

[0009] According to the present invention, the electrical switch comprises a contact device and an arc extinguishing device.

[0010] According to the invention, the contact device comprises at least one stationary first connection element and at least one movable second connection element. The first connection element can, for example, be arranged on a stationary contact bridge; the second connection element can, for example, be arranged on a movable contact bridge.

[0011] According to the invention, the movable second connection element can be actuated via an actuator into a closed position in which the first connection element and the second connection element are electrically connected, and into an open position in which the first connection element and the second connection element are not electrically connected.

[0012] The arc extinguishing device serves to extinguish arcs that occur when the electrical switch is switched, i.e. during a closing and / or opening sequence of the movable second connection element.

[0013] According to the invention, the arc extinguishing device has at least one electromagnetic coil which is excited during the closing and / or opening sequence in such a way that it generates a magnetic field which interacts with an arc, thereby directing it in a defined direction.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic coil is arranged geometrically such that the generated magnetic field extends perpendicular to the current flow within the arc.

[0015] Preferably, the arc can be directed in a defined direction depending on the current direction within the electromagnetic coil.

[0016] Preferably, the electromagnetic coil can be electrically connected in parallel to the terminals during the closing and / or opening sequence and disconnected from them again after completion of the closing and / or opening sequence. The same current path that generates the arc is also used to generate the magnetic field for arc quenching. This method also ensures that the generated magnetic field always has the correct polarity to guide the arc in the intended direction, regardless of the current direction within the electromagnetic coil.

[0017] Alternatively, the electromagnetic coil can be excited via a circuit to operate the actuator. In this way, too, the direction of rotation of the actuator and the information about the current flow within the electromagnetic coil can serve as a clear indicator of the direction in which the coil current must be fed into the electromagnetic coil to ensure the correct polarity of the generated magnetic field.

[0018] Alternatively, the electromagnetic coil can be energized via a separate circuit during the closing and / or opening sequence. This circuit must use information about the current direction to correctly control the current flow in the electromagnetic coil. In this way, the electromagnetic coil is only energized during the closing and / or opening sequence of the electrical connection, thus minimizing power consumption.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the electromagnetic coil can be used as an antenna of a transmitting and receiving unit. A magnetic field generated in the electromagnetic coil, for example by an electric arc or by the current flow in current-carrying components, such as power lines or busbars in or on a stationary contact bridge that is electrically connected to the first terminal element, induces a voltage in the electromagnetic coil. This voltage can be monitored by means of a connected measuring circuit to obtain information about the current flow itself and / or the specific state of the electric arc during the closing and / or opening sequence. Based on the estimated energy of the electric arc, damage to the terminal elements and thus their condition can be monitored.

[0020] Furthermore, the electromagnetic coil can preferably also be used as a high-frequency generator to produce voltage modulation on current-carrying components, such as busbars. This would allow the busbars to also be used as communication lines and / or antennas. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section view of an embodiment of an electrical switch.

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical switch along the section plane XX according to Fig. 1.

[0024] Detailed description of the invention

[0025] An embodiment of an electrical switch 1 according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0026] The electrical switch 1 comprises a switch housing 8, a contact device, and an arc quenching device. The contact device and the arc quenching device are essentially arranged within the switch housing 8.

[0027] The contact device has a fixed first connection element 2 and a movable second connection element 4.

[0028] The first connection element 2 is arranged on a fixed contact bridge 3; the second connection element is arranged on a movable contact bridge 5. The movable contact bridge 5 can be actuated by an actuator 6 against the spring force of an elastic element 9 into a closed position, in which the first connection element 2 and the second connection element 4 are electrically connected, and into an open position, in which the first connection element 2 and the second connection element 4 are not electrically connected.

[0029] The arc extinguishing device serves to extinguish arcs that occur when the electrical switch 1 is switched, i.e. during a closing and / or opening sequence of the movable contact bridge 5.

[0030] The arc extinguishing device comprises an electromagnetic coil 7. During the closing and / or opening sequence, the electromagnetic coil 7 can be excited in such a way that it generates a magnetic field which interacts with an electric arc, thereby directing it in a defined direction.

[0031] The electromagnetic coil 7 is geometrically arranged such that the generated magnetic field extends perpendicular to the current flow within the arc.

[0032] Depending on the direction of the current induced in the electromagnetic coil 7, the arc can be directed in a specific direction - by choosing the direction of the current within the electromagnetic coil 7, the arc can be pushed either towards the center of the electrical switch 1 (Fig. 1; arrow A) or towards the wall of the electrical switch 1 (Fig. 1; arrow B).

[0033] The electromagnetic coil 7 can be excited in different ways:

[0034] 1.) The electromagnetic coil 7 can be electrically connected in parallel to the terminal elements 2, 4 during the closing and / or opening sequence and disconnected from them again after completion of the closing and / or opening sequence. Alternatively, the electromagnetic coil 7 can be energized via a circuit for the operation of the actuator 6. Furthermore, the electromagnetic coil 7 can alternatively be energized via a separate circuit during the closing and / or opening sequence.

[0035] List of reference signs

[0036] 1 Electrical switch

[0037] 2 First connection element

[0038] 3 Fixed contact bridge

[0039] 4 Second connection element

[0040] 5 Movable contact bridge

[0041] 6 Actuator

[0042] 7 Electromagnetic coil

[0043] 8 switch housings

[0044] 9 Elastic element

[0045] A, B Directional arrow

Claims

Patent claims 1. Electrical switch (1) for a high-voltage drive system of a hybrid or electric vehicle comprising a contact device with at least one fixed first terminal element (2) and at least one movable second terminal element (4), wherein the movable second terminal element (4) can be actuated via an actuator (6) into a closed position in which the first terminal element (2) and the second terminal element (4) are electrically connected, and into an open position in which the first terminal element (2) and the second terminal element (4) are not electrically connected, and comprising an arc quenching device for quenching arcs that occur when the electrical switch (1) is switched, i.e., during a closing and / or opening sequence of the movable second terminal element (4), with at least one electromagnetic coil (7) which is excited during the closing and / or opening sequence to generate a magnetic field.that interacts with an electric arc, thereby directing it in a defined direction.

2. Electrical switch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the geometric arrangement of the electromagnetic coil (7) of the arc quenching device is such that the generated magnetic field extends perpendicular to the current flow within the arc.

3. Electrical switch (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, depending on a current direction within the electromagnetic coil (7), the arc can be directed in a defined direction.

4. Electrical switch (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the electromagnetic coil (7) can be electrically excited in parallel to the connection elements (2, 4) during the closing and / or opening sequence and can be disconnected again after completion of the closing and / or opening sequence.

5. Electrical switch (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electromagnetic coil (7) can be excited via a circuit for switching the actuator (6).

6. Electrical switch (1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electromagnetic coil (7) can be excited via a separate circuit.

7. Electrical switch (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electromagnetic coil (7) can be used as an antenna of a transmitting and receiving unit.

8. Electrical switch (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electromagnetic coil (7) can be used as a high-frequency generator to apply voltage modulation to current-carrying components.

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