US Patent:
20130181732, Jul 18, 2013
Inventors:
Greg Szleszynski - Troy MI, US
Adrian Dobre - West Bloomfield MI, US
Teofil Barjuca - West Bloomfield MI, US
Ryutaro Mine - Farmington Hills MI, US
Jim Beach - Plymouth MI, US
Adam Wehner - South Lyon MI, US
Tim Balogh - Waterford MI, US
Assignee:
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. - Franklin TN
International Classification:
G01R 31/00
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods of preventing freezing of relays in electrical components operated in specific atmospheric conditions. One such method described herein comprises monitoring a temperature of a relay with a thermocouple located on a contact of the relay while monitoring ambient temperature within the relay. Operation of the electrical component is simulated in a sub-zero temperature and high humidity condition. A freeze potential of the relay is determined by plotting a temperature cross-over curve, wherein both the ambient temperature and the contact temperature are plotted during the operation and cool down period. If the high freeze potential is determined, one or both of the relay and the electrical component are modified with a modification configured to decrease the high freeze potential.