High-Voltage Cable Conduit Access Interlock for Electrified Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fire fighting vehicles rely on internal combustion engines, which pose safety risks due to high voltage components, and there is a need for improved safety mechanisms to prevent access to active high voltage cables.
Innovation Solution
An electrified fire fighting vehicle with a high voltage cable routed through a conduit, controlled by a system that initiates alarms, disengages power, or prevents access to the cable when active, ensuring safety by preventing unauthorized access to high voltage components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage cable is routed through conduit for safety, then safety is improved, but accessibility for maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit system is divided into multiple sections with removable segments or access points, allowing the high voltage cable to remain protected within the conduit while enabling maintenance personnel to access specific portions of the cable for inspection or repair without removing the entire conduit system
Solution Approach 2:
A connector or coupling mechanism is introduced between the conduit and the high voltage cable, serving as an intermediary that maintains the protective barrier while allowing controlled access. This intermediary component enables the cable to be disconnected or accessed while the conduit remains intact
2Reliability
If alarm system is activated to warn of unauthorized access, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit system incorporates built-in sensors or detection mechanisms that automatically detect unauthorized access attempts and trigger the alarm without requiring external monitoring systems. The system serves itself by having the conduit structure include both the protective function and the detection function in an integrated manner
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm system is merged with the existing conduit and controller system, sharing common components such as the controller unit, power supply, and communication interfaces. This integration reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate standalone alarm hardware
Data Source
AI summary
An electrified vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage system supported by the chassis, a high voltage component, a conduit, a high voltage cable, and a controller. The high voltage cable is routed through the conduit and provides high voltage power between the energy storage system and the high voltage component. The controller is configured to (a) initiate an alarm if a person is attempting to access the high voltage cable with the high voltage power active, (b) disengage a contactor of the energy storage system to stop providing the high voltage power through the high voltage cable in response to (i) the person attempting to access the high voltage cable with the high voltage power active and/or (ii) the person accessing the conduit, and/or (c) prevent access to the high voltage cable in response to the contactor being engaged and the high voltage power being active.