HK1218101B - Boat with electric drive and emergency stop switch - Google Patents

Description

Ship with electric drive and emergency stop switch

Technical Field

The invention relates to a ship having an electric drive and an electric storage having at least one storage element and a positive and a negative electrode, wherein the electrodes are in current-conducting connection with the storage element, and wherein an isolating device for isolating the current-conducting connection is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the storage element. The invention also relates to a method for isolating an electrical consumer from an electrical storage, wherein the electrical storage has at least one storage element and a positive and a negative electrode, and wherein the electrodes are connected in an electrically conductive manner to the storage element and the electrical consumer is connected to the electrodes.

Background

In the event of a hazard or to avoid a hazard, it is sometimes necessary to quickly and reliably disconnect electrical components and electrical consumers found on board the ship. This is the case in particular if the electrical component is connected to a high voltage source. This is particularly suitable for on-board electrical consumers.

Disclosure of Invention

The problem addressed by the invention is therefore to quickly and reliably isolate electrical consumers found on board a ship from the power supply.

This problem is solved by a ship with an electric drive and an electric storage, wherein the electric storage has at least one storage element and a positive and a negative electrode, wherein the electrodes are in current-conducting connection with the storage element, and wherein an isolating device for isolating the current-conducting connection is provided between at least one of the electrodes and the storage element, and the ship is characterized in that: an emergency stop switch is provided which is directly activatable by a user of the vessel and which is operatively connected to the isolation device.

The method according to the invention of the type mentioned at the outset differs in that the current-conducting connection between the storage element and at least one of the electrodes is interrupted by means of an emergency stop switch. By activating the emergency stop switch, the user of the ship directly isolates the current conduction between the electrode and the storage element. In this way, all electrical consumers connected to the electrodes are quickly and reliably disconnected. This is particularly important for onboard electrical consumers, as certain dangerous conditions prevail due to the humid environment and the more humid conditions.

According to the invention, the emergency stop switch acts directly on the electrical storage and switches the stored electrodes out of the supply. Thus, all electrical components connected to the electrical storage are disconnected from the power source. In an embodiment, the isolator is electrically activated. When the emergency stop switch is activated, the electrical supply of the isolating means is interrupted, with the result that the isolating means isolates the electrode of the electrical storage from the storage element or storage elements.

The invention is particularly advantageous if the electrical storage is implemented as a high voltage source. The term "high voltage source" especially intends a voltage source having a terminal voltage of more than 60 volts, more than 100 volts or more than 200 volts.

Preferably, the emergency stop switch is arranged in or on the ship so that it can be activated immediately by the user in case of a danger. In the case of outboard drive, it is particularly advantageous to provide an emergency stop switch on the outboard driven housing or on the outboard driven tiller. If the user uses the tiller to control the outboard drive, the user is always in the vicinity of the emergency stop switch and can thus activate the emergency stop switch very quickly (if necessary). Alternatively, the emergency stop switch may also be housed in the remote controller, or provided with the remote controller.

Repeated activation of the emergency stop switch may be necessary during the life of the electric drive. In the case of repeated activation, the emergency stop switch and the isolating device must therefore also function properly.

Switching an electrical isolation device under load represents an increased load and the isolation device must be properly configured. When repeated disconnection under load is required, the installation size and cost of the isolation device increase.

For this reason, it is advantageous if first the load is reduced and then the isolation device is opened. It is therefore advantageous to provide one or more of the electrical consumers with an isolating device for isolating the current-conducting connection between the respective consumer and at least one of the electrodes. The isolating means for isolating a current conducting connection between the respective consumer and at least one of the electrodes is operatively connected to an emergency stop switch.

Thus, the isolating means for interrupting the current conducting connection between the storage element and at least one of the electrodes and the isolating element or elements for isolating the current conducting connection between the respective consumer and at least one of the electrodes are activated in a staggered manner over time in order to first reduce the load before the isolating means switches the electrode or electrodes into isolation from the supply.

This may occur, for example, by the emergency stop controller time-staggered activation of the signal receiver. That is, when the emergency stop switch is activated, a time offset signal is transmitted to the isolation element and the isolation device, with the result that the isolation element and the isolation device are switched at different times.

In another embodiment, the isolation device and the isolation element receive the signal from the emergency stop switch substantially simultaneously. The isolation element and the isolation device have or are connected to control units, each having an internal delay and rearranging the switching commands into a desired order.

It is assumed that the electrical consumers connected to the electrodes of the electrical storage have an electronic control which can directly influence the electronic control of the consumers and switch off the consumers when activation of the emergency stop switch occurs.

The use of the time delay described above can reduce the reliability of the emergency stop switch circuit when the emergency stop switch is activated. For safety reasons it is therefore advantageous to additionally bring the emergency stop switch into operative connection with the electrical power supply of the electrical consumer and/or of the control unit of the isolating device and/or of the isolating element, provided that said control unit and power supply are provided. After the emergency stop switch has been activated, not only the isolating means for interrupting the current-conducting connection between the storage element and at least one of the electrodes and optionally the isolating element for interrupting the electrical connection between the consumer and the electrode, but also the control unit of the consumer, the isolating element and/or the isolating means are switched to be isolated from the supply.

In a variant of the above-described embodiment, after the emergency stop switch has been activated, the isolating element and the isolating device are first switched and the respective electrical connections are isolated before the control unit of the consumer, the isolating element and/or the isolating device are isolated from their power supply.

The interruption of the voltage source of the control unit is slightly delayed in time, i.e. the activation of the isolation element and/or the isolation device, compared to the controlled disconnection. The time delay is advantageously ensured by using a further storage element for supplying the supply voltage, wherein the further storage element has a defined energy content (energy content). For example, the further storage element may be formed by a capacitor or a battery having a defined energy content. Once this energy is consumed, the control unit is also isolated from the voltage source, with the result that the consumer is safely disconnected.

Due to the above described interleaved switching of the voltage sources of the control units of the isolation element, the isolation device and/or the consumer, the isolation element and/or the isolation device, the need for electrical storage, the consumer and the isolation element and the isolation device is minimized. The delay between switching the isolation element, opening the isolation device and disconnecting the supply voltage of the isolation device or consumer may be, for example, less than 100 ms.

For example, the time delay of the interruption of the electrical supply of the control unit of the consumer or the supply of the control unit of the isolating device is completed by means of a control store (for example a capacitor or a battery) having a defined energy content.

The emergency stop switch is preferably implemented as a solenoid switch having an electromagnetic operating principle. This applies in particular to ships with outboard drive. Outboard drives are typically implemented with a watertight housing. By using a solenoid switch, a cable bushing from an emergency stop switch mounted on the outside of the outboard drive housing to the inside of the housing is avoided. The housing is waterproof and is not adversely affected by the emergency stop switch.

For example, a control unit is provided on the outboard drive housing, which reacts to magnetic fields that are affected or disturbed by the activation of the emergency stop switch. The control unit is then operatively connected to the isolation device and optionally to further isolation elements or other control units.

For this purpose, the emergency stop switch is provided with a permanent magnet, for example. When the emergency stop switch is activated, the permanent magnet is set in a position of the outboard drive housing provided for this purpose. The sensor unit within the housing (particularly within the watertight housing) then detects that the emergency stop switch has been activated. For example, the sensor unit may comprise a component made of a soft magnetic material, which is attracted by the permanent magnet when the emergency stop switch is activated and the permanent magnet is set. Conversely, it is also possible that the permanent magnet is located inside a watertight housing and that the soft magnetic component is an element of an emergency stop switch.

In another variant, the magnetic field is generated by activating an emergency stop switch, the magnetic field acting on the control unit. The change in the magnetic field or the formation of the magnetic field, which is interpreted as a signal for an emergency disconnection and is fed to the isolating device and/or the isolating element, is determined by the control unit, and the isolating device and/or the isolating element then interrupts the current-conducting connection between the stored storage element and the electrode and/or between the consumer and the electrode.

In another embodiment of the invention, the magnetic circuit is affected when the emergency stop switch is activated. For example, during normal operation, the magnetic circuit within the outboard drive housing is maintained. When the emergency stop switch is activated, the magnet is brought into the vicinity of the magnetic circuit from the outside, and the change in the magnetic circuit caused by the change in the position of the magnet can be detected by a magnetic field sensor, a hall element, or a reed contact.

The reliability of the detection of a particular state of the magnetic circuit for the emergency stop function can be increased by using a plurality of magnetic field sensors, hall elements or reed contacts. In this case, activation of all magnetic field sensors or all reed contacts is necessary in order to connect the electrodes in a current-conducting manner to the memory element. Conversely, this means that deactivating (deactivating) one sensor or one contact is sufficient to interrupt the current-conducting connection between the storage element and the electrode and switch to the emergency stop state.

The signals of the sensors are connected by logic such that the stored isolation means only produce a current conducting connection between the storage element and the electrode, i.e. the deactivation of the emergency stop switch, if all sensors detect the correct state. As soon as one of the sensors detects the activation of the emergency stop switch, the isolating device is activated and the current-conducting connection is interrupted.

In the case of outboard drive, the tiller is used to control the direction and speed of the propulsion force and to relay a specific set point value to the control unit of the motor. The control unit then forwards a corresponding control signal to the electric drive or electric motor to rotate it, for example, more slowly or more quickly.

With outboard drive of the electric motor, tiller and control unit, there is a risk that water or moisture enters the control unit via the connection between tiller and control unit and damages sensitive electronics. Preferably, in the case of such outboard drive, the tiller and the control unit are magnetically coupled with respect to the transmitted signal.

For example, the tiller is equipped with a magnet that can change its position. For example, this change in position may be effected by a magnet integrated into the twist grip. The control unit for controlling the motor is operatively connected to a sensor for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet and thus for determining the position of the magnet. The control unit interprets the position of the magnet as a specific set point value for controlling the motor and transmits a corresponding signal to the electric motor. In addition, the magnet is used to activate the emergency stop function. If the magnet is moved from its position, its position can be detected by a sensor, transmitted to a control unit and interpreted as a signal to introduce an emergency stop, i.e. to interrupt the current conducting connection between the storage element and at least one of the electrodes.

Drawings

The invention and further advantageous configurations of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a circuit according to the invention,

figures 2 to 4 show an alternative embodiment of the invention,

fig. 5 and 6 show a variant of the invention, in which the emergency stop function is activated magnetically,

fig. 7 shows a variant in which the emergency stop function can be activated via an outboard-driven tiller.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically shows a lithium-ion battery 1 according to the invention with an emergency stop circuit. For example, the lithium ion battery 1 is used on a ship as an electric storage of a power source for an electric motor (not shown) for driving the ship and as a high voltage battery.

The lithium-ion battery 1 has a plurality of battery cells 2 or in general storage elements 2, which are connected to one another in series and/or in parallel. The battery unit 2 is connected to two battery poles 3, to which battery poles 3 an electrical consumer or consumers (e.g. an electric drive of a ship) can be connected.

A switch 4 is provided between the battery 2 and the battery pole 3, by means of which switch a current-conducting connection between the battery 2 and the battery pole 3 can be produced or interrupted. The switch 4 is activated via a relay 5. The relay 5 is supplied with a current from a low-voltage battery 6 having a terminal voltage of, for example, 12 v. The emergency stop switch 7 is connected in a circuit including the battery 6 and the relay 5.

When the relay 5 is supplied with current from the battery 6, the switch 4 remains closed, and the battery electrode 3 is connected to the battery 2. If the emergency stop switch 7 is activated by the user of the boat in an emergency situation, the circuit containing the battery 6 and the relay 5 is interrupted and the relay 5 is isolated from the battery 6. This causes the switch 4 to open automatically and switch the battery electrode 2 out of the supply. Thus, all the consumers connected to the battery electrodes 3 are also disconnected.

Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Like parts are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

The battery electrode 3 can then be isolated from the battery cell 2 by means of the switch 4. The switch 4 is activated via a relay 5. The central emergency stop control unit 22 with the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv is now provided in the circuit comprising the low voltage battery 6, the emergency stop switch 7 and the relay 5. When the emergency stop switch 7 is activated, the time delay member Ts has a short delay (compared to the interruption of the power supply of the relay 11) of, for example, 100ms to interrupt the flow of current or the power supply of the relay 5. For example, the time delay members Ts and Tv are implemented as capacitors.

The electric drive 8 is connected to the battery electrode 3. The electric drive 8 includes an electric motor M and a motor controller 9. The motor controller 9 is supplied by the voltage battery 6. The electric motor M is supplied with electric power from the lithium ion battery 1 and can be interrupted by means of a switch 10 in the connection line between the battery poles 3 and the electric motor M. The switch 10 is connected via a relay 11.

The relay 11 is connected in series with the low-voltage battery 6, the emergency stop switch 7, and the time delay member Tv. When the emergency stop switch 7 is activated, the time delay member Tv interrupts the flow of current of the relay 11 or the power supply with an adjustable time delay.

When the emergency stop switch 7 is open, the relay 5 and the relay 11 are isolated from the voltage battery 6 with a time delay that can be adjusted via the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv. Preferably, the time delay of the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv is adjustable such that after the emergency stop switch 7 is opened, first the relay 11 is isolated from the power source 6 and the switch 10 is opened. The relay 5 is then switched to be isolated from the supply, with the result that the switch 4 is also open and the battery electrode 3 of the battery unit 2 is electrically isolated.

In the embodiment according to fig. 2, in the case of an electric motor M, each consumer is first isolated from the battery pole 3 before the battery pole 3 is isolated from the battery cell 2. In this way, the load of the switch 4 for isolating the battery electrode 3 from the battery cell 2 is reduced.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the embodiment according to fig. 2, in this case no central emergency stop control unit is provided, but separate control units 23, 9 for the lithium-ion battery 1 and the electric motor M are provided. The control unit 23 for the lithium ion battery 1 is provided with a time delay member Ts; the motor controller 9 has a time delay means Tv. Once the emergency stop switch 7 has been activated, the flow of current to the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv is interrupted simultaneously. However, the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 are still connected to the low voltage battery 6.

Activation of the emergency stop switch 7 activates the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv, which then acts on the control unit 23 or the motor controller 9 with a regulated or provided time constant. A brief delay is thus formed externally between the closing of the electric motor M and the opening of the switch 4 by means of the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv in the control unit 23 or in the motor controller 9. The time constant of the time delay member Tv is smaller than the time constant of the time delay member Ts, with the result that the electric motor M is first switched off via the motor controller 9, and then the switch 4 is opened via the relay 5 and isolates the battery electrode 3 from the battery 2.

Fig. 4 shows a variation of the embodiment of fig. 3, which incorporates an additional security feature. In this case, a capacitor 24 is provided as an energy buffer in the power supply for the control unit 23 and for the motor controller 9. As in the case of the embodiment according to fig. 3, when the emergency stop switch 7 is activated, the time delay member Ts and the time delay member Tv are isolated from the low-voltage battery 6 and the electric motor M is turned off with a corresponding time delay, and the switch 4 is opened with a corresponding time delay in order to isolate the battery electrode 3 from the battery cell 2.

In contrast to fig. 3, the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 are also isolated from the low voltage battery 6 when the emergency stop switch 7 is activated. However, the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 are still connected to the capacitor 24. The capacitor 24 ensures the power supply of the motor controller 9 and the control unit 23 until the electric motor M is switched off and the switch 4 is opened. After the capacitor 24 is discharged, the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 are also isolated from the battery.

Thus, it is ensured in the embodiment according to fig. 4 that even in the unlikely case that the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 cannot operate normally when the emergency stop switch 7 is activated, once the capacitor 24 has been discharged, the control unit 23 and the motor controller 9 are isolated from the supply and, correspondingly, the electric motor M is switched off and the battery pole 3 is isolated from the battery unit 2.

Fig. 5 shows another variant of the invention, which can be used, for example, in the case of an electric outboard drive of a ship. In this example, a control unit 13 is provided in the outboard drive housing 12, the control unit 13 reacting to a magnetic field that is affected or disturbed by the activation of the emergency stop switch. When the emergency stop switch is activated, the magnet 14 is brought into the vicinity of the control unit 13. The magnetic field 15 of the magnet 14 interferes with the control unit 13 and the signal to the latter to interrupt the electrical connection between the battery 2 and the battery pole 3, the switch 4 should be opened via the emergency stop controller 16. Of course, this embodiment may be combined with any of the exemplary embodiments according to fig. 1-4.

It is also possible to introduce the magnetic field by activating the emergency stop switch. These changes or formations of the magnetic field are determined by the control unit, interpreted as an emergency opening signal and transmitted to the switch 4, which switch 4 then interrupts the current-conducting connection between the battery unit 2 and the battery pole 3.

Fig. 6 shows a variant of the embodiment in fig. 5. In this case, two sensors 17a, 17b are provided which can detect the presence of the magnetic field 15 of the magnet 14. The two sensors 17a, 17b are logically connected to each other so that the emergency stop control 16 is deactivated only in case none of the sensors 17a, 17b shows a (register) magnetic field. In this case, the switch 4 remains closed and the battery electrode 3 is connected to the battery cell 2. As soon as one or both of the sensors 17a, 17b detects the magnetic field 15, the emergency stop control is activated and the battery pole 3 is switched out of isolation from the supply.

In the case of outboard drive, the tiller is used to control the direction and speed of the propulsion force. For this purpose, a specific setpoint speed or a specific propulsion is predetermined, for example, by means of an accelerator throttle on the tiller. The set point value is transmitted via a control signal to a control unit and to an electric drive or motor in order to rotate the electric drive or motor more or less slowly.

With outboard drive of the electric motor, tiller and control unit, there is a risk that water or moisture enters the control unit via the connection between tiller and control unit and damages sensitive electronics. Preferably, in the case of such outboard drive, the tiller and the control unit are magnetically coupled with respect to a signal transmitted therebetween.

An embodiment of this type is shown in fig. 7. The control unit 9 is arranged in a housing 12 and is embodied waterproof. The signal transmission between the tiller 18 and the control unit 19 takes place electromagnetically, as a result of which cable bushings from the tiller 18 to the control unit 19 in the housing 12 are avoided. Thereby, the waterproofness of the housing 12 is ensured and, therefore, is not negatively affected by the connection connecting the tiller 18 and the control unit 19. For this purpose, the tiller and the control unit are equipped with, for example, a magnet 20 and a corresponding receiver 21 ensuring signal transmission.

The magnet 20 has a dual function: the magnet 20 turns together with the twist grip 18 of the tiller and transmits its position to the control unit 19 via the sensor 21. Thereby transmitting the set point speed and propulsion to the control unit 19 via the twist grip 18. In addition, by moving the magnet 20, the emergency stop function is activated. In this case, the emergency stop switch is embodied such that, when it is activated, the magnet 20 is moved away from its position with respect to the sensor 21. The control unit 19 interrupts the disappearance or absence of the magnetic field 15 in case of an emergency stop and introduces suitable steps, in particular isolating the battery electrodes from the battery cells.

Claims (15)

1. A ship with an electric drive (M) and an electric storage (1), the electric storage (1) having at least one storage element (2) and positive and negative electrodes (3), wherein the electrodes (3) are in current-conducting connection with the storage element (2), and wherein an isolating means (4) for isolating the current-conducting connection is provided between at least one of the electrodes (3) and the storage element (2), characterized in that: an emergency stop switch (7) is provided, the emergency stop switch (7) being directly activatable by a user of the vessel and being operatively connected to the isolation device (4).

2. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein: the electrical storage (1) is implemented as a high voltage source having a terminal voltage of more than 60 volts, more than 100 volts or more than 200 volts.

3. Vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein: the boat is provided with outboard drive, and is characterized in that: the emergency stop switch (7) is provided on the outboard drive housing or on the outboard drive tiller.

4. A ship according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: one or more electrical consumers (8) connected to the electrodes (3) of the electrical storage (1), and characterized in that: providing one or more of the electrical consumers (8) with an isolating element (10) for isolating a current-conducting connection between the respective consumer (8) and at least one of the electrodes (3), wherein the one or more isolating elements (10) for isolating a current-conducting connection between the respective consumer (8) and at least one of the electrodes (3) are operatively connected to an emergency stop switch (7).

5. The vessel according to claim 4, wherein: the isolation element (10) is provided with a time delay unit.

6. A ship according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: an electrical consumer (8) is connected to the electrode (3) of the electrical storage (1), wherein the consumer (8) has its own control unit (9), and characterized in that: the control unit (9) of the consumer (8) is operatively connected to the emergency stop switch (7).

7. A ship according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: -an electrical consumer (8) is connected to the electrode (3) of the electrical storage (1), wherein the consumer (8) has its own control unit (9), the control unit (9) being connected to a power source (6), and characterized in that: the power supply (6) of the control unit (9) is operatively connected to the emergency stop switch (7).

8. A ship according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: the emergency stop switch (7) is implemented as a solenoid switch.

9. A ship according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: a plurality of sensors (17a, 17b) are provided to detect activation of the emergency stop switch (7).

10. A method for isolating an electrical consumer (8) from an electrical storage (1), wherein the electrical storage (1) has at least one storage element (2) and positive and negative electrodes (3), and wherein the electrodes (3) are in current-conducting connection with the storage element (2) and the electrical consumer (8) is connected to the electrodes (3), characterized in that: the current-conducting connection between the storage element (2) and at least one of the electrodes (3) is interrupted by means of an emergency stop switch (7).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein: -providing an isolating means (4) to isolate the current conducting connection between at least one of the electrodes (3) and the memory element (2), characterized in that: -electrically activating the isolating means (4), and characterized in that: -interrupting the electrically activated supply voltage for the isolating means (4) by means of the emergency stop switch (7).

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: one or more electrical consumers (8) connected to the electrodes (3) of the electrical storage (1), and characterized in that: -interrupting the electrical connection between at least one of said consumers (8) and at least one of said electrodes (3) when said emergency stop switch (7) is activated.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein: -first interrupting the electrical connection between at least one of the consumers (8) and at least one of the electrodes (3), and then-interrupting the current conducting connection between the memory element (2) and at least one of the electrodes (3).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein: -the consumer (8) and/or the isolation device (4) are connected to a control unit (9, 23), wherein the control unit (9, 23) is connected to a power supply (6), and characterized in that: when the emergency stop switch (7) is activated, the current-conducting connection between the storage element (2) and at least one of the electrodes (3) and optionally the electrical connection between at least one of the consumers (8) and at least one of the electrodes (3) is first interrupted, and the control unit (9, 23) is then isolated from the power supply (6).

15. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that: the emergency stop switch (7) having a magnet (20) whose position can be changed and a sensor for detecting the magnetic field of the magnet (20), and is characterized in that: -providing a motor controller (19), the motor controller (19) relating a specific position of the magnet (20) to a specific set point value for controlling the motor, and the motor controller (19) interrupting the current conducting connection between the storage element (2) and at least one of the electrodes (3) when the magnet (20) is moved away from its position.