US 12,461,156 B2
Detecting welded relay contacts using spanner voltage measurement
David Elmiger, Hitzkirch (CH); Kyle B. Adkins, Oak Creek, WI (US); Andrew E. Carlson, Franklin, WI (US); and David M. Messersmith, Kenosha, WI (US)
Assigned to Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed by Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/338,960.
Prior Publication US 2024/0426915 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. G01R 31/327 (2006.01); H01H 47/00 (2006.01); H01H 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 31/3278 (2013.01) [H01H 47/002 (2013.01); H01H 2047/003 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a relay system, comprising a plurality of relays, wherein each respective relay of the plurality of relays comprises a double-break relay and has a first contact on an input side of the respective relay, the input side coupled to a corresponding phase of a multi-phase power source that differs relative to each phase coupled to each other relay of the plurality of relays, a second contact on a load side of the respective relay coupled to a load, a spanner configured to close the first and second contacts of the respective relay when activated by a close signal, and wherein the load side of the respective relay is coupled to the load side of each other relay of the plurality of relays; and
a controller, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a weld detection check;
wherein, to perform the weld detection check, the instructions direct the one or more processors to:
measure a voltage between a spanner of a first relay of the plurality of relays and an input side of a second relay of the plurality of relays, resulting in a measured voltage; and
based on the measured voltage, determine whether an electrical weld exists on the first contact of the first relay.