Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This application relates generally to an electrical apparatus. More specifically, this application relates to thermal overstress protection for an electrical machine.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Circuit breakers are known to use two-layer or bimetallic strips wherein due to one metal having different expansive properties than the other metal, the combined bimetallic strip will bend in an arc for example and disconnect a circuit when heated by overload current.  
         [0003]     A problem with heat triggered devices such as bimetallic strips is that the degree of control may not be fast enough or responsive enough for practical operations. Thus, a structure that has improved performance properties and improved responsiveness to heating and cooling is desirable.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     An embodiment may comprise an electrical current overstress protection device for use with a power source and an overload protection switch comprising a main conductor member receiving current from the power source; a parallel conductor member connected to the main conductor member; and an area of localized increased electrical resistance located on the parallel conductor member and located proximate to the overload protection switch.  
         [0005]     An embodiment may also comprise an overcrank protection device for use with a power source, a starter motor and an overload protection switch comprising: a main conductor member for transferring current from the power source to the starter motor; a parallel conductor member connected with the main conductor member; an area of localized increased electrical resistance in comparison to the main conductor member located on the parallel conductor member and located in thermal contact with the overload protection switch;  
         [0006]     wherein the main conductor member and the parallel conductor are structurally integral with each other and both members are sub-sections of one metallic unit; and wherein the parallel conductor member is structurally orientated to be substantially parallel to the main conductor member.  
         [0007]     An embodiment may also comprise remotely locatable overcrank protection device for use with a power source, a starter motor and an overload protection switch comprising: a main conductor member for transferring current from the power source to the starter motor; a parallel conductor member located separately from the main conductor member and comprising at least one wire which is coiled around the overload protection switch thereby forming an area of localized increased electrical resistance in the parallel conductor member as compared to the main conductor member; and wherein the parallel connector is in thermal contact with the overload protection switch. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment with a parallel conductor.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment with a parallel conductor.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment with a parallel conductor.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment with a parallel conductor.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment with a parallel conductor.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an embodiment with a bi-metallic switch surrounded by a heating enclosure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a prior art embodiment having a bi-metallic switch and no parallel conductor. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , an exemplary embodiment having a parallel conductor member  10  is shown. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the parallel conductor member  10  is formed as an additional section of a flat blank conductor  11  when stamped or manufactured. In this embodiment, by bending the main conductor member  5  along bend lines  6 , the parallel conductor member is bent into place to become located substantially parallel to the main conductor member  5 . Cable  20  is connected to main conductor member  5  and the current flow is as shown. Thereafter, a bimetallic switch  12  is wedged into a frictional mounting between the two members as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The bimetallic switch is actuated from heat generated by electrical current traveling through the conductors. However, in the present embodiment, the parallel conductor member  10  creates a parallel electrical path to the existing current carrying conductor, i.e., main conducting member  5 , within the machine or apparatus. An advantage of this structure is that the parallel conductor member  10  heats up more rapidly and cools down in a more suitable time span than is achievable with any pre-existing surface or electrical conductor found within the existing machine or apparatus.  
         [0017]     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , for example, may be used as a device to protect an electrical machine or apparatus such as an automotive starting motor from thermal overstress. It may also be used for many other electrical applications. For example, a bimetallic switch  12  may be thermally coupled to a selected electrical conductor that is related or correlated to the region of the electrical machine or apparatus of thermal overstress concern. For example, this embodiment may be used as a protection for starter motors against overcranking and hence, thermal overstress. In fact, the present embodiment may replace many existing overcrank protection (OCP) devices. However, the invention has the potential for widespread use in many devices such as with consumer appliances including units which may use a bimetallic strip for electrical thermal overstress protection, i.e., a refrigerator.  
         [0018]     An advantageous feature of this embodiment is that it ‘artificially’ creates a “hot spot”  13  on the parallel conductor member  10  within the machine or apparatus that heats up more quickly and cools down more controllably when compared to existing standard shaped conductor surfaces. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , for example the hot spot  13  may be located at the tip of an arc section formed in the parallel conductor member  10 . In contrast, in  FIG. 7 , prior art conductor  70  is of standard rectangular shape with no structural hot spot of greater resistance, and is wedged between wire  71  and bimetallic strip  72 . Thus, the present embodiment with its hot spot  13  as shown in  FIG. 1-5 , provides a greater degree of safety from thermal overshoots and/or failure to engage/disengage at the appropriate temperature conditions than the standard device shown in  FIG. 7 . Also, by accomplishing this in a parallel electrical circuit, the existing machine or apparatus performance is not degraded by reducing the conductor cross section to create a hot spot  13 .  
         [0019]     The parallel conductor  10  can be configured in many ways, some examples of which are as described below.  
         [0020]     One configuration would be to provide an electrically conductive leg parallel to an existing conductor as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The size and shape of this parallel leg (parallel conductor member  10 ) would be such that it would heat up more quickly than the main conductor member  5  or existing electrical conductor. This is accomplished by having a variable cross sectional area to form the hot spot  13  of the parallel conductor member  10  in the direction of the current flow. By necking down the middle area, i.e., forming the cut-out arced region of hot spot  13 , between the two ends  14 , the overall resistance is lower than if the entire area was necked down or reduced. For a given applied voltage, this causes a higher current to flow through the parallel conductor. At the necked down region of the hot spot  13  the resistance will be significantly higher than art the ends  14 . This will cause a localized rapid heating effect. Many different shapes may be used for the hot spot so long as the result of creating a “hot spot” is achieved. A bimetallic switch  12  would be held in contact to this artificial hot spot. For example, in  FIG. 5  the stamping is made with a bow or bend that bias or clamps the bimetallic switch  12  to the hot spot  13 . By design, the parallel conductor member  14 , in conjunction with the bimetallic switch  12  itself, is also designed to cool down at the proper rate such that the switch does not re-engage until the electric machine or apparatus is sufficiently cooled.  
         [0021]     Another configuration of the concept, as shown in  FIG. 6 , would be to wrap the bimetallic switch with an electrical wire  60  to create a thermal blanket  61  around the switch. In such a configuration the bimetallic switch  12  could be located remotely from the starter motor or electrical apparatus. The only requirement would be that the current that flowed through the wire that surrounds the bi-metallic switch be correlated to the usage of the actual starter motor or apparatus itself. This configuration allows great freedom of design since the switch could be located at a position where more room may exist for the switch itself. It also allows the switch to be independent of the actual starter motor or apparatus design and thereby one switch may be used for multiple applications. This embodiment of a shaped and tailored conductor surface would also enable greater performance than the prior art shown in  FIG. 7 . It also possible to vary the width, length, and structure of the wire to increase or decrease resistance or to use multiple wires.  
         [0022]     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: h