Battery Disconnect via MOSFETs and Fuse for Elevator Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing elevator systems face challenges in safely handling and removing batteries without exposing personnel to hazardous energy, as traditional methods like relays and specialized connectors are either inadequate or costly.

Innovation Solution

A battery management architecture that uses MOSFETs and a backup fail-safe mechanism, including a fuse disconnect, to selectively connect or disconnect battery terminals from the elevator circuit, ensuring safe maintenance and installation by isolating or reconnecting battery energy under controlled conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a relay or manual switch is used to disconnect battery terminals, then the battery can be disconnected from the circuit, but personnel are still exposed to hazardous energy during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during maintenanceVSAvoidexposure to hazardous energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces MOSFETs as intermediary components between the battery terminals and the elevator circuit. These electronic switches provide automatic disconnection capability, acting as a mediator that isolates hazardous energy from personnel during maintenance operations, thereby improving safety without requiring direct manual disconnection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automatic battery disconnection through the MOSFET control circuitry that responds to maintenance mode signals. The system serves itself by automatically isolating the battery energy without requiring manual intervention to physically disconnect terminals, ensuring personnel safety while maintaining circuit integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If specialized connectors are used to prevent exposure to hazardous energy, then safety is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against hazardous energyVSAvoidcost of implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical specialized connectors with electronic MOSFET-based switching systems. This substitution eliminates the need for expensive specialized hardware connectors while achieving the same safety objective through electronic control, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining protection against hazardous energy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of standard connectors by controlling the MOSFETs to manage energy flow. Instead of relying on specialized connector physical properties, the patent uses electrical parameter control (through MOSFET resistance switching) to achieve safe disconnection, allowing the use of standard connectors and reducing overall system cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If MOSFETs are used to disconnect battery terminals, then cost is reduced and automatic control is achieved, but additional control circuitry complexity is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost-effectivenessVSAvoidcontrol circuitry for MOSFETs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MOSFET control circuitry is integrated with the existing elevator system controller, allowing the control system to perform multiple functions including battery management, maintenance mode control, and circuit monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated control circuits, thereby managing complexity while achieving automatic battery disconnection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the battery discontrol circuitry with the existing elevator system control architecture. By combining these functions into a unified control system, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated control circuits for battery management, while still achieving the cost benefits of MOSFET-based automatic disconnection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively reduces the risk of exposure to hazardous energy during battery maintenance and installation, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional methods while ensuring reliable operation and safety.

Implementation Method 1

A battery management architecture that uses MOSFETs and a backup fail-safe mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMOSFET:

Implementation Method 2

including a fuse disconnect, to selectively connect or disconnect battery terminals from the elevator circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFusing:

Data Source

PatentEP2842211B1Battery field disconnect method

Publication Date: 2023.01.18 OTIS ELEVATOR CO

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AI summary

Embodiments are directed to an apparatus comprising terminals providing a voltage, a monitor configured to receive an input from an entity external to the apparatus indicating that energy associated with the apparatus is to be selectively coupled to, or isolated from the terminals, and a protection mechanism coupled to the monitor and configured to be selectively turned on and turned off based on the input received from the external entity.