Vehicle Charging Circuit Changeover Switching for AC Load Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety precautions for vehicle charging connectors and load AC connectors are costly due to the need for multiple disconnect switches to prevent dangerous voltage application during driving and accidents, necessitating a more economical solution.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging circuit using changeover switches to disconnect and connect phases of the charging connector to the neutral conductor, reducing the number of required switches and allowing for bidirectional power flow between the charging and load connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple disconnect switches are used for all-pole isolation of charging connector and load AC connector, then safety against contact voltages is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the isolation functions for both the charging connector and load AC connector into a single disconnect switch. This switch can disconnect either the charging connector (with all its phases) or the load AC connector (with its phase and neutral conductor), eliminating the need for separate disconnect switches for each connector and reducing the total number of switching components while maintaining comprehensive safety isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single disconnect switch is designed with multi-functional capability to perform isolation for both the charging connector and the load AC connector. It can switch between different isolation modes: isolating the charging connector from the power supply grid, isolating the load AC connector from the rechargeable battery, or providing all-pole isolation for both connectors simultaneously, thereby replacing multiple specialized disconnect switches with one universal device.
2Reliability
If four disconnect switches are used for charging connector and two for load AC connector, then complete isolation is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges six separate disconnect switches (four for charging connector and two for load AC connector) into a single multi-functional disconnect switch. This consolidation reduces component count, simplifies assembly processes, lowers material costs, and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the complete isolation capability through its ability to disconnect all phases and neutral conductors of both connectors simultaneously when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-phase vehicle charging circuit equipped with an AC charging connector and with a load AC connector is provided. The charging connector is connected to an AC side of a rectifier circuit. The load AC connector is connected to a neutral conductor of the vehicle charging circuit and to a first phase of the AC side. At least one changeover switch connects at least one further phase of the AC side optionally to the neutral conductor or to an associated phase connector of the AC charging connector.