EV Power Supply Interlock Mechanism for High Voltage Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for electric vehicles do not adequately prevent high voltage from being applied to connectors during maintenance, posing a risk of electric shock when disconnecting power lines from battery packs.
Innovation Solution
A power supply system that includes a battery, a power line, a connector, a separating operation device, a switch device, a switching operation member, and an interlock member, where the interlock member is configured to prevent accidental disconnection of high-voltage connectors by ensuring the electrical connection is interrupted before allowing the operator to safely disconnect the power line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connector is made easily removable for maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental disconnection with high voltage applied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch device is activated before the connector can be disconnected, ensuring that the electrical connection is interrupted in advance. The interlock member prevents the separating operation device from being operated until the switch device has been activated, thereby performing the safety action preliminarily before the disconnection action.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the separating operation device and the switch device. It physically blocks the separating operation device when the switch device is in the closed state, and only allows operation when the switch device has been activated to open the electrical connection.
2Reliability
If the interlock mechanism is made more restrictive to prevent accidental disconnection, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service safety by automatically preventing the separating operation device from being operated unless the switch device has been properly activated. The interlock member automatically engages to block the separating operation device, and the system guides the operator through the correct sequence of operations without requiring additional safety procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A power supply system for an electric vehicle includes a battery, a power line, a connector, a separating operation device, a switch device, a switching operation member, and an interlock member. The switch device is configured to interrupt an electrical connection between the battery and the connector. The switching operation member is configured to be operated by an operator to open the switch device to interrupt the electrical connection. The interlock member is movable from a first position to a second position if the switching operation member has been operated by the operator to open the switch device to interrupt the electrical connection. The interlock member is configured to prohibit, at the first position, the operator from operating the separating operation device. The interlock member is configured to allow, at the second position, the operator to operate the separating operation device.