U.S. patent application number 14/040144 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-03 for arc suppression system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Arc Suppression Technologies. The applicant listed for this patent is Arc Suppression Technologies. Invention is credited to Reinhold Henke.
Application Number | 20140091061 14/040144 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49304434 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140091061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Henke; Reinhold |
April 3, 2014 |
ARC SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
System and method for arc suppression. An electrical contact
includes a pair of contacts configured to couple a power source to
a load. An arc suppressor, coupled to the electrical contact,
includes a contact separation detector configured to output an
indication of a separation state of the pair of electrical contacts
and a contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation
detector, configured to provide an electrical bypass between the
pair of contacts based on the indication as provided by the contact
separation detector.
Inventors: |
Henke; Reinhold; (Plymouth,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arc Suppression Technologies |
Bloomington |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Arc Suppression
Technologies
Bloomington
MN
|
Family ID: |
49304434 |
Appl. No.: |
14/040144 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61707373 |
Sep 28, 2012 |
|
|
|
61788786 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
218/8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 9/542 20130101;
H01H 33/121 20130101; H01H 2071/048 20130101; G01R 31/50 20200101;
H01H 9/54 20130101; H01H 33/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
218/8 |
International
Class: |
H01H 33/12 20060101
H01H033/12 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a contact; an arc suppressor, coupled to
the contact, comprising: a contact separation detector configured
detect a contact separation of the contact; and a contact bypass
element that is triggered as the contact transitions from a closed
to an open state and an arc develops.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/707,373, "ARC SUPPRESSOR,"
filed Sep. 28, 2012, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety.
[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/788,786, "ARC SUPPRESSOR,"
filed Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0003] The present application relates generally to electrical
current contact arc suppression.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Electrical current contact arcing may have a deleterious
effects on electrical contact surfaces, such as of relays and
certain switches. Arcing may degrade and ultimately destroy the
contact surface over time and may result in premature component
failure, lower quality performance, and relatively frequent
preventative maintenance needs. Additionally, arcing in relays,
switches, and the like may result in the generation of
electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions. Electrical current
contact arcing may occur both in alternating current (AC) power and
in direct current (DC) power across the fields of consumer,
commercial, industrial, automotive, and military applications.
Because of its prevalence, there have literally been hundreds of
specific means developed to address the issue of electrical current
contact arcing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not
limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system including an arc suppressor,
in an example embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an arc
suppressor, in an example embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating an example
embodiment of an externally powered, high power two-port arc
suppressor system.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for making a system with an arc
suppressor, in an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Arc suppression devices that have been developed in the art
may be categorized according to three broad categories. Such
categories may include: the use of devices, the design of contacts,
and the use of discrete components.
[0011] With respect to the use of devices, various hybrid power
switching devices have been developed to address the effects of
contact current arc suppression. These devices typically rely on a
coil or other input information to infer the presence of an arc.
The use of an input triggered by the coil activation of a relay may
be problematic, as the timing of coil activation and contact
separation may vary over the operating life of the relay. The use
of an optical arc detection input may be problematic, as the arc
may occur so fast that the arc may be completed before an optical
signal may be both read and acted upon.
[0012] With respect to contact design, various types of contact
design have also been employed to combat the effects of contact
current arc suppression. Relatively larger contact surfaces, such
as may be typical of contactors, and/or contacts made of relatively
more durable metals may simply take longer for arcing to destroy
than may be the case with conventional contacts. Contacts have been
used in a gap environment, such as a vacuum or a liquid or gas
environment, that suppresses the arc. Magnets have been utilized to
magnetically suppress arcs by mitigating or "blowing out" the arc
after the arc has formed.
[0013] With respect to discrete components, current limiters,
voltage limiters and risetime limiters have been utilized to
attempt to address the effects of contact current arc suppression.
RC snubbers, for example, are a series combination of a resistor
and a capacitor in order to provide EMI suppression and voltage
risetime (dV/dt) reduction. Snubbers may limit some EMI from an
arc; however, snubbers may be of reduced or minimal effectiveness
in actually suppressing an arc. Voltage suppressors, such as a
metal oxide varistor (MOV), a transient voltage suppressor (TVS)
diode, and Zener diodes have also been utilized. Voltage
suppressors may address the over-voltages created by an inductive
load during certain stages of contact separation, but may not
actually suppress the arc.
[0014] Such previous efforts at arc suppression may lessen an
effect of an arc without fundamentally or significantly reducing
the arc itself. While snubbers may be commonly utilized to reduce
the EMI effect of an arc, snubbers may have little impact on
protecting the contacts against the physical effects of the arc.
Similarly, while contacts may be reinforced to improve their
resistance to the effects of arcing, reinforcement may merely delay
the physical impact of an arc while also failing to reduce other
effects and, at the same time, increase the size and cost of the
contact.
[0015] An arc suppressor has been developed that may interrupt, at
least in part, undesirable contact arcing and potentially protect,
at least in part, a contact from deleterious effects. The arc
suppressor may utilize a processor (the processor being any of a
variety of suitable electronic components, as disclosed herein) to
control the connection of a bypass across the contacts. A contact
separation detector may detect a condition indicative of a
separation of the contacts, such as a change in voltage and/or
current, as disclosed herein, and output an indication of the
contact separation. The indication may be output directly to the
bypass, in which case a processor may not necessarily be utilized,
or to the processor, which may connect the bypass over the
contacts. Connecting the bypass over the contacts may thereby
reduce the energy over the contacts until the conditions over or
between the contacts that may cause or lead to an arc have passed.
As such, the arc may not form in the first instance or may not form
past an initial, non-damaging level or "arclet", as disclosed
herein. The arc suppressor may significantly reduce electromagnetic
emissions resulting from contact arcing in contrast to alternative
methodologies, in various examples owing to the arc having been
extinguished or substantially reduced. The arc suppressor may be
relatively scalable to cover a range of applications from low power
to high power, from small size to large size, and from simple to
complex.
[0016] In various examples, the arc suppressor may monitor and
indicate the status of a contact. While the arc suppressor
disclosed herein will be discussed in particular with respect to
electrical contacts, it is to be recognized and understood that the
arc suppressor may be applicable with respect to other electrical
members between which an arc may form, such as fixed electrodes and
the like. In various examples, the arc suppressor may detect
electrical changes related, at least in part, to the contact, such
as contact voltage and current through an RC circuit coupled over
the contact. In various examples, the arc suppressor does not have
a significant power-on current pass through. The arc suppressor may
reduce overstress on a capacitor in the RC circuit relative to
other arc suppression technologies. In various examples, the arc
suppressor does not generate more current leakage than an RC
snubber known in the art.
[0017] In various examples, the arc suppressor does not singly rely
on current change detection or voltage change detection for bypass
element triggering. Rather, the arc suppressor may utilize or rely
upon both current change detection and voltage change detection. In
various examples, the arc suppressor may reduce, eliminate, or
substantially eliminate spurious oscillation.
[0018] In various examples, the arc suppressor may permit contacts
to be constructed relatively smaller and of relatively less exotic
material than contacts of alternative arc suppression technologies,
owing, for instance, to the reduced potential for damage to the
contacts from arcing over alternative arc suppression technologies.
Additionally, in various examples, the arc suppressor may allow
contacts to operate at a faster rate, at higher ambient
temperatures, and at higher duty cycles than contemporary contacts
designed to operate with alternative arc suppression technologies.
In various examples, the arc suppressor may be connectorizable and
contact agnostic, contactor agnostic, hook-up agnostic, load
agnostic, polarity agnostic, power agnostic, and device agnostic
(that is to say, the arc suppressor works on switch contacts, relay
contacts, and/or contactor contacts).
[0019] In various examples, the arc suppressor may be implementable
in semiconductor technology and be micro-miniaturizable. In various
examples, the arc suppressor may be integrated into a conventional
relay case or within the case of other electronic circuits or
devices. In various examples, the arc suppressor may be applied to
the regulation of electronic circuitry in ways that are not
necessarily limited to arc suppression circumstances, such as in
the detection of an arc without necessarily intending to suppress
the arc. In various examples, the arc suppressor switchably or
alternatively operates on DC and on AC power, and, in various
examples, on DC and AC power concurrently. In various examples, the
arc suppressor operates on DC or AC power. In various examples, the
arc suppressor operates on external power. In various examples, the
arc suppressor operates on internal power.
[0020] The arc suppressor may extend, at least in part, the life of
contacts used in switches, relays, and contactors, among other
potential circuits or components, used to switch either an
alternating current (AC) and/or a direct current (DC) source to a
load. The arc suppressor can, in various examples, suppress arcing,
suppress electromagnetic interference, suppress of the creation of
fine particles, suppress deleterious effects to the contact, extend
contact life, and improve contact performance.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system 100 including an arc
suppressor 102 as disclosed herein. While the arc suppressor 102
will be discussed herein with respect to electrical contacts, it is
to be recognized and understood that the arc suppressor 102 may be
equally applicable to any of a variety of components and
circumstances in which an arc may tend to form, such as physically
fixed electrodes and the like. The discussion of the arc suppressor
102 with respect to electrical contacts does not limit the
applicable scope of the arc suppressor 102 only to electrical
contacts.
[0022] The system 100 includes a power source 104, a contact 106,
and a load 108. The power source 104 may be an AC power source or a
DC power source. Sources for AC power may include generators,
alternators, transformers, and the like. The source for AC power
may be sinusoidal, non-sinusoidal, or phase controlled. An AC power
source may be utilized on a power grid (e.g., utility power, power
stations, transmission lines, etc.) as well as off the grid, such
as for rail power. Sources for DC power may include various types
of power storage, such as batteries, solar cells, fuel cells,
capacitor banks and thermopiles, dynamos, and power supplies. DC
power types may include direct, pulsating, variable, and
alternating (which may include superimposed AC, full wave
rectification and half wave rectification). DC power may be
associated with self-propelled applications, i.e., articles that
drive, fly, swim, crawl, dive, tunnel, dig, cut, etc.
[0023] The contact 106 may be a switch, relay, contactor, or other
contact. The contact 106 includes a pair of contacts, such as
electrodes, as illustrated herein. As noted above, the contact 106
may alternative be a static electrode or electrodes or other
component over which an arc may tend to form. The load 108 may be a
general purpose loads, such as consumer lighting, computers, data
transfer switches, etc. The load 108 may be a resistive load, such
as a resistor, heater, electroplating device, etc. The load 108 may
be a capacitive load, such as a capacitor, capacitor bank, power
supply, etc. The load 108 may be an inductive load, such as an
inductor, transformer, solenoid, etc. The load 108 may be a motor
load, such as a motor, compressor, fan, etc. The load 108 may be a
tungsten load, such as a tungsten lamp, infrared heater, industrial
light, etc. The load 108 may be a ballast load, such as a
fluorescent light, neon light, light emitting diode (LED), etc. The
load 108 may be a pilot duty load, such as a traffic light, signal
beacon, control circuit, etc.
[0024] In the illustrated example, connection between the power
source 104 and the contact 106 is via a non-switched contact
current node 110. Connection between the contact 106 and the arc
suppressor 102 is optionally via a wire connection 112 affixed to a
wire terminal 114 of the arc suppressor 102. Connection between the
contact 106 and the load 108 is optionally via a switched contact
current node 116. A second connection between the contact 106 and
the arc suppressor 102 is optionally via a wire connection 118
affixed to a wire terminal 120 of the arc suppressor 102.
Connection between the load 108 and the power source 104 is
optionally via a return wire connection 122. Thus, the arc
suppressor 102 is connected directly in parallel with the contact
106 to be protected.
[0025] The arc suppressor 102 may optionally be coupled to an
external power supply via a power supply connection 124. The arc
suppressor 102 may further optionally be coupled to an external
status monitor via a status monitor connection 126. It is
emphasized that, as with various components of the system 100,
while the power supply connection 124 and status monitor connection
126 are illustrated, such components are optional and may not be
included in various examples of the system 100.
Arc Suppressor Block Diagram
[0026] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example of an arc suppressor
system 198. The arc suppressor system 198 optionally includes some
or all of a contact separation detector 200, an indicator 202, a
processor 204, a contact bypass circuit 206, a component protection
circuit 208, a protection circuit 210, a connection termination
212, a power connection 214, and a power supply 216. The arc
suppressor system 198 may be enclosed in a case 218, such as a
relay case or case that may enclose the arc suppression system 198.
While the contact separation detector 200 disclosed herein may be
described with respect to contacts, it is to be understood that the
contact separation detector 200 may be applicable to detecting an
arc generally without respect to contact separation. Thus, in
examples in which the arc suppressor system 198 is utilized with
respect to components other than contacts, the contact separation
detector 200 may be understood as an arc detector or arc condition
detector.
[0027] The block diagram of the arc suppressor system 198 includes
elements of the arc suppressor system 198 generically and without
respect to specific voltage, current or power ratings. In various
specific implementations, the various blocks may be scaled
according to component ratings such as, but not limited to,
resistance, capacitance, inductance, voltage, current, power,
tolerance, and transformation ratio, to construct specific arc
suppressors.
[0028] The contact separation detector 200 may detect a condition
indicative of a separation of the contact 106, such as a change in
voltage and/or current, as disclosed herein. The condition
indicative of the separation of the contacts 106 may more generally
be a condition indicative of an arc or a formation of an arc, and
circumstances in which the contact separation detector 200 is
utilized without respect to contacts may produce a detection and an
indication of an arc or a condition indicative of an arc. The
contact separation detector 200 may, in various examples, output an
analog signal that, at relatively low values, indicates a
condition, such as a contact separation state, that may not
necessarily result in the bypass of the contacts 106. The contact
separation detector 200 may, in various examples, output an analog
signal that, at relatively higher values, indicates the formation
of an arc, as disclosed herein, that may result in bypassing the
contacts 106. The values of those indications may be dependent on
the circumstances in which the contact separation detector 200 is
applied and may be utilized by one or more of the indicator 202,
processor 204, and bypass 206 to variously indicate the separations
state of the contact 106, indicate an arc condition over the
contact 106, and/or bypass the contact 106, as appropriate.
[0029] The contact separation detector 200 may output an indication
of the contact separation. As illustrated, the indicator is
provided to the processor 204. However, in various examples, the
indicator may be provided, alternatively or additionally, to the
indicator 202 and/or to the contact bypass circuit 206 without
respect to the processor 204. On the basis of receiving the
indication, the processor 204 may output a trigger signal to engage
the electrical bypass of the contact bypass circuit 206 over the
contact 106. Alternatively, the contact bypass circuit 206 may
receive the indication directly from the contact separation
detector 200 and engage the bypass over the contact 106. By
bypassing the contact 106 during at least a portion of the time
during which the arc may form or tend to form over the contact 106,
the energy over the contact 106 may be reduced to levels that may
not produce an arc until the conditions within the contact 106 that
may cause an arc have passed or otherwise subsided.
[0030] The component protection circuit 208 and the protection
circuit 210 may provide protection for the various components
within the arc suppressor system 198. In various examples, the
component protection circuit 208 includes one or more of a
varistor, a transient voltage suppressor, and back-to-back Zener
diodes coupled in parallel with one or more of the contact
separation detector 200, the processor 204, and the contact bypass
circuit 206. In various examples, the protection circuit 210
includes one or more of a fuse, a resistor, a circuit breaker, and
a fusible link coupled in series with one or more of the contact
separation detector 200, the processor 204, the contact bypass
circuit 206, and the component protection circuit 208.
[0031] The connection termination 212 may be a component of the
contact 106 itself and may, in various examples, not be considered
a component of the arc suppressor system 198. In various
alternative examples, the arc suppressor system 198 may be
considered an integral component of the contact 106. The contact
termination 212 may be one or more of wire terminals, a pluggable
connector, a card-edge connector, and flying leads. The power
connection 214 and power supply 216 may optionally supply power to
the arc suppressor system 198 as a whole, such as to the processor
204. The power connection 214 may be any one or more of wire
terminals, a pluggable connector, a card-edge connector, flying
leads, and a power connector. The power supply 216 may be any one
or more of a battery, a capacitor, one or more voltage regulators,
and one or more power regulators.
[0032] The arc suppressor system 198 may be implemented according
to any of a variety of embodiments of some or all of the blocks
200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216. While specific
embodiments are presented in detail herein, it is to be understood
that alternative embodiments may be implemented. The particular
embodiments may be configured to provide desired performance
characteristics, such as for the circumstances in which the arc
suppressor system 198 is used. The particular embodiments disclosed
herein are for the purposes of example and illustration and are not
limiting on the implementations disclosed herein.
System Example
[0033] The arc suppressor system 198 may be configured for any of a
variety of applications and circumstances. In various examples, the
arc suppressor system 198 supports electric vehicle automobile
battery voltages, such as an automobile battery voltage of
approximately one thousand (1000) Volts DC. In various examples,
the arc suppressor supports hybrid electric automobile battery
voltages, such as a hybrid electric automobile battery voltage of
approximately five hundred (500) Volts DC. In various examples, the
arc suppressor supports various sizes and power capabilities to
support a change from a current automobile vehicle standard battery
voltage, such as a voltage of twelve (12) Volts DC, to a new
automotive vehicle standard battery voltage, such as approximately
forty-two (42) Volts DC. In various examples, the arc suppressor
supports various sizes and power capabilities to support the
electric vehicle automobile battery voltages, such as electric
vehicle automobile battery voltages of up to and in excess of
approximately one thousand (1000) Volts DC. In various examples,
the arc suppressor supports various sizes and power capabilities to
support hybrid electric automobile battery voltages, such as hybrid
electric automobile battery voltages of up to approximately five
hundred (500) Volts DC.
[0034] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic diagram illustrating an example
of an externally powered, high power two-port arc suppressor system
300. The arc suppressor 300, as illustrated, includes a contact
separation detector 302, an indicator 304, a processor 306, a
contact bypass circuit 308, a component protection circuit 310, a
protection circuit 312, a connection termination 314, an optional
power connection 316, and a power supply 318. The blocks 302-318
may be replaced with alternative components. While the discrete
components disclosed with respect to the arc suppressor 300 are
presented herein according to example values, it is to be
understood that alternative value components may be utilized to
provide alternative performance characteristics for the arc
suppressor 300.
[0035] In various examples, the arc suppressor 300 includes the
following components: a first capacitor 320 having a capacitance of
0.1 microFarads; a first resistor 322 having a resistance of one
hundred (100) Ohms; a Hall-effect sensor 324; a transmission line
driver 326; a system on a chip 328, such as may operate at
twenty-four (24) megahertz; a field effect transistor 330
configured to be coupled across a fifteen (15) Volt supply; a
second resistor 332 of fifteen (15) kiloOhms; a third resistor 334
of thirty-three kiloOhms; first, second, and third IGBTs 336, 338,
340 having a collector-emitter breakdown voltage of one thousand
seven hundred (1700) Volts, a current collector of two hundred
(200) Amperes, and a maximum power of one thousand forty (1040)
Watts; a bridge rectifier 342; a varistor 344 rated up to one
thousand (1000) Volts; and a fuse 346 of up to thirty (30) Amperes
and one thousand (1000) Volts. A case 348 may enclose the system
300. In the illustrated example and with the component values
listed, the arc suppressor 300 may support a one (1) megaWatt
contact 106 and applications of one thousand (1000) Volts DC across
the contact 106 and one thousand (1000) Amperes through the contact
106. A
[0036] The above example is non-limiting, and arc suppressor
systems may be developed according to the principles and topologies
disclosed herein to meet specifications across a range of
applications. Arc suppressors as disclosed herein may be fabricated
using a variety of technologies known in the art, including solid
state, ceramic, and thick film technologies. A family of arc
suppressor devices may be scaled from small size to large size, low
power to high power, low voltage to high voltage, low current to
high current.
[0037] It is to be understood that the arc suppressor examples
disclosed herein may be carried out by different equipment and
devices, and that various modifications, both as to the equipment
and operating procedures, may be accomplished without departing
from the scope of the arc suppressor itself.
[0038] The description of the various embodiments is merely
exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from
the gist of the examples and detailed description herein are
intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such
variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure.
Flowchart
[0039] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for making a system with an arc
suppressor. The flowchart may be applicable to the system 110, the
arc suppressor system 198, or to any other suitable circuit or
system.
[0040] At 400, an electrical contact is coupled to a contact
separation detector of an arc suppressor, the electrical contact
including a pair of contacts configured to couple a power source to
a load, the contact separation detector configured to output an
indication of a separation state of the pair of electrical
contacts. In an example, the electrical contact is an
electrode.
[0041] At 402, a contact bypass circuit of the arc suppressor is
coupled to the contact separation detector, wherein the contact
bypass circuit is configured to provide an electrical bypass
between the pair of contacts based on the indication as provided by
the contact separation detector.
[0042] At 404, the electrical contact and the arc suppressor are
enclosed in a case. In an example, the electrical contact is a
relay and wherein the case is a relay case.
[0043] At 406, the power source and the load are coupled to the
electrical contact. In an example, the power source is an
automotive battery and wherein the arc suppressor is configured to
prevent arcing over the pair of contacts at an automotive battery
voltage. In an example, the load comprises an electric
drivetrain.
[0044] At 408, a return connection is coupled between the power
source and the load.
[0045] At 410, a switch is coupled to the arc suppressor, wherein
the electrical contact is a component of the switch.
[0046] At 412, a connector is coupled to the arc suppressor,
wherein the electrical contact is a component of the connector.
Additional Examples
[0047] The description of the various embodiments is merely
exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from
the gist of the examples and detailed description herein are
intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such
variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit
and scope of the present disclosure.
[0048] In Example 1, a system includes an electrical contact
including a pair of contacts configured to couple a power source to
a load and an arc suppressor, coupled to the electrical contact.
The arc suppressor includes a contact separation detector
configured to output an indication of a separation state of the
pair of electrical contacts and a contact bypass circuit, coupled
to the contact separation detector, configured to provide an
electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the
indication as provided by the contact separation detector.
[0049] In Example 2, the system of Example 1 optionally further
includes a case configured to enclose the electrical contact and
the arc suppressor.
[0050] In Example 3, the system of any one or more of Examples 1
and 2 optionally further includes that the electrical contact is a
relay and wherein the case is a relay case.
[0051] In Example 4, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-3
optionally further includes the power source and the load.
[0052] In Example 5, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-4
optionally further includes that the power source is an automotive
battery and wherein the arc suppressor is configured to prevent
arcing over the pair of contacts at an automotive battery
voltage.
[0053] In Example 6, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-5
optionally further includes that the load comprises an electric
drivetrain.
[0054] In Example 7, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-6
optionally further includes a return connection between the power
source and the load.
[0055] In Example 8, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-7
optionally further includes a switch, wherein the electrical
contact is a component of the switch.
[0056] In Example 9, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-8
optionally further includes a connector, wherein the electrical
contact is a component of the connector.
[0057] In Example 10, the system of any one or more of Examples 1-9
optionally further includes that the electrical contact is an
electrode.
[0058] In Example 11, a method includes coupling an electrical
contact to a contact separation detector of an arc suppressor, the
electrical contact including a pair of contacts configured to
couple a power source to a load, the contact separation detector
configured to output an indication of a separation state of the
pair of electrical contacts and coupling a contact bypass circuit
of the arc suppressor to the contact separation detector, wherein
the contact bypass circuit is configured to provide an electrical
bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication as
provided by the contact separation detector.
[0059] In Example 12, the method of Example 11 optionally further
includes enclosing the electrical contact and the arc suppressor in
a case.
[0060] In Example 13, the method of any one or more of Examples 11
and 12 optionally further includes that the electrical contact is a
relay and wherein the case is a relay case.
[0061] In Example 14, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-13 optionally further includes coupling the power source and the
load to the electrical contact.
[0062] In Example 15, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-14 optionally further includes that the power source is an
automotive battery and wherein the arc suppressor is configured to
prevent arcing over the pair of contacts at an automotive battery
voltage.
[0063] In Example 16, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-15 optionally further includes that the load comprises an
electric drivetrain.
[0064] In Example 17, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-16 optionally further includes coupling a return connection
between the power source and the load.
[0065] In Example 18, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-17 optionally further includes coupling a switch to the arc
suppressor, wherein the electrical contact is a component of the
switch.
[0066] In Example 19, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-18 optionally further includes coupling a connector to the arc
suppressor, wherein the electrical contact is a component of the
connector.
[0067] In Example 20, the method of any one or more of Examples
11-19 optionally further includes that the electrical contact is an
electrode.
[0068] The above detailed description includes references to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed
description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific
embodiments. These embodiments are also referred to herein as
"examples." Such examples may include elements in addition to those
shown and described. However, the present inventor also
contemplates examples in which only those elements shown and
described are provided.
[0069] All publications, patents, and patent documents referred to
in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their
entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the
event of inconsistent usages between this document and those
documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the
incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to
that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the
usage in this document controls.
[0070] In this document, the terms "a" or "an" are used, as is
common in patent documents, to include one or more than one,
independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one" or
"one or more." In this document, the term "or" is used to refer to
a nonexclusive or, such that "A or B" includes "A but not B," "B
but not A," and "A and B," unless otherwise indicated. In the
appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as
the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising"
and "wherein." Also, in the following claims, the terms "including"
and "comprising" are open-ended, that is, a system, device,
article, or process that includes elements in addition to those
listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within
the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the
terms "first," "second," and "third," etc. are used merely as
labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on
their objects.
[0071] The above description is intended to be, and not
restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or
more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other.
Other embodiments may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in
the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is
provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b), to allow the
reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.
It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to
interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,
in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped
together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be
interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is
essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in
less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus,
the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed
Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate
embodiment.
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