Vehicle Power Supply Relay Orientation for Collision Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle power supply systems fail to prevent electricity from passing through two relays simultaneously during a collision due to matching conduction and interruption directions of movable contacts, which can lead to harness disconnection or high voltage passing through during large acceleration inputs.
Innovation Solution
The first and second relays are arranged with opposite movement directions for connecting and disconnecting, with one relay oriented to separate from fixed contacts in the direction of greatest acceleration input during a collision, ensuring that electricity does not pass through both relays simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the movable contacts of the two system main relays are arranged with matching conduction and interruption movement directions, then the relay structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but electricity may pass through both relays simultaneously during a collision due to large acceleration inputs overcoming spring force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging the movable contacts of the two relays in opposite movement directions relative to the vehicle's acceleration direction. Specifically, one relay's movable contact moves in the direction of acceleration while the other moves opposite to it, creating an asymmetric configuration that ensures at least one relay maintains disconnection during collision acceleration forces
2Device complexity
If both relays are arranged to disconnect in the same direction during collision, then the control logic is simplified, but the acceleration input may cause both movable contacts to move in the same direction allowing electricity to pass through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetry in the spatial arrangement of the two relays, positioning them such that their movable contacts respond differently to acceleration forces. One relay is oriented with its movable contact movement direction aligned with the acceleration vector, while the other is oriented oppositely, ensuring differential response to collision forces
3Reliability
If the movable contact is arranged to separate from fixed contacts in the direction of greatest acceleration input, then electricity is prevented from passing through both relays simultaneously during collision, but the relay orientation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the relays in opposite orientations before collision occurs. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when acceleration forces act during collision, one relay's movable contact is already positioned to separate from its fixed contact, creating a predetermined protective effect against simultaneous conduction
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 configuration effectively prevents simultaneous conduction through both relays during collisions, ensuring reliable disconnection of the high voltage circuit in both front and rear collision scenarios, thereby maintaining circuit integrity.
Implementation Method 1
even if the electromagnetic force of the two system main relays is turned OFF and the high voltage circuit is interrupted by a collision control
Implementation Method 2
when a large acceleration input, which overcomes the spring force, is applied at the time of the collision
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle power supply system is provided for an electric vehicle. The vehicle power supply system has a first relay and a second relay, which are two-contact movable relays that connect/disconnect a high voltage circuit. The first relay has a first movable contact that is arranged to move with respect to a first fixed contact in a first direction when connecting/disconnecting. The second relay has a second movable contact is arranged to move with respect to a second fixed contact in a second direction when connecting/disconnecting. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. One of the first and second relays is oriented such that its movable contact separates from its fixed contact in a direction in which the greatest acceleration input is applied at the time of a collision.