US 11,899,078 B2
Method for estimating the ageing state of fuse elements and an electrical fuse maintenance system
Frederic Leroy, Lyons (FR); and David De Brito, Charvieu (FR)
Assigned to VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Apr. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,751.
Claims priority of application No. 21171869 (EP), filed on May 3, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0349959 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01R 31/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/74 (2020.01); H01H 85/30 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 31/74 (2020.01) [G01R 31/006 (2013.01); H01H 85/30 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for estimating the ageing state of fuse elements provided inside a vehicle fuse box, this method comprising steps that consist to:
a) measure and monitor the current flowing through each fuse element;
b) increment a counter each time the current flowing through the fuse element exceeds fuse rating, said counter corresponding to the number of current peaks supported by the fuse element;
c) extract from a pre-established model a threshold number of current peaks that the fuse element can withstand;
d) determining the ageing state of the fuse element as the quotient between the counter calculated at step b) and the threshold number extracted at step c), the fuse element being considered as worn out when said quotient reaches 100%.