Electrical circuit breaker

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of improving reliability of an electric circuit breaker device.SOLUTION: An electric circuit breaker device comprises: a housing 10 that includes an accommodation space extending in one direction therein; an igniter provided on the housing; a projectile 40 that moves by being released from one end side of the accommodation space by energy received from the igniter; and a conductor piece 50 provided on the housing. The housing has: a housing main body 100 that holds the conductor piece; and a top housing part on which the igniter is provided. The top housing part has an inner space communicated with the accommodation space in the housing main body to form one end at the igniter side of the accommodation space by being attached onto a first surface of the housing main body. The top housing part has: a surrounding wall provided in an extending direction of the accommodation space so as to demarcate an outer periphery of the accommodation space; a top side flange part extending from a contact part with the first surface on the surrounding wall to the outside of the top housing part along the first surface; and a rib part 115 extended from an outer end edge of the top side flange part in the extending direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric circuit breaker.

Background Art

[0002] In an electric circuit, there may be provided a breaker that operates when there is an abnormality in the equipment constituting the electric circuit or when there is an abnormality in the system on which the electric circuit is mounted, and that urgently cuts off conduction in the electric circuit. As one aspect, an electric circuit breaker has been proposed that moves a projectile at high speed by energy applied from an igniter or the like and forcibly and physically cuts a conductor piece forming a part of the electric circuit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In recent years, the importance of electric circuit breakers applied to electric vehicles equipped with a high-voltage power source has been increasing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An electrical circuit breaker, for example, comprises a housing containing a unidirectionally extending containment space as an outer shell member, an igniter provided in the housing, a projectile launched from one end of the containment space by energy received from the igniter and moving along the direction of extension of the containment space, and a conductive piece positioned to cross the space and cut by the projectile. The housing comprises a housing body that holds the conductive piece and an igniter-side housing portion on which the igniter is provided, with the igniter-side housing portion being mounted in contact with the first surface of the housing body. This igniter-side housing portion has an internal space that communicates with the containment space within the housing body and forms one end of the containment space on the igniter side, as well as a peripheral wall that demarcates the outer periphery of the containment space and is provided along the direction of extension of the containment space, and a flange portion that extends from the contact portion of the peripheral wall with the first surface to the outside of the igniter-side housing portion along the first surface.

[0005] In this type of electrical circuit breaker, when ignition of the igniter generates high-pressure gas and this energy is used to launch a projectile, the pressure at ignition can cause the flange to deform. When the flange deforms, a gap can form between the flange and the housing body, potentially causing high-pressure gas to leak. Therefore, it was desirable to suppress the deformation of the flange during ignition, prevent high-pressure gas leakage, and improve the reliability of the electrical circuit breaker.

[0006] The technology disclosed herein aims to provide a technology that improves the reliability of electrical circuit breakers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the electrical circuit breaker of this disclosure is As an outer shell component, it includes a housing that contains a dwelling space extending in one direction, An igniter provided in the housing, A projectile is disposed within the housing and is launched from one end of the containment space by energy received from the igniter, and moves along the extending direction of the containment space. A conductive piece provided in the housing and forming part of an electrical circuit, having a portion to be cut off by the projectile, the cut off portion crossing the housing space Conductor pieces arranged in such a manner, Equipped with, The housing comprises a housing body that holds the conductor piece and a top housing portion on which the igniter is provided. The housing body is provided such that the housing space penetrates from the first surface on the ignition side to the second surface located on the opposite side of the housing body from the first surface. The top housing portion is attached in a state in contact with the first surface of the housing body, and has an internal space that communicates with the housing space within the housing body and forms part of the housing space for housing the projectile before launch. The aforementioned top housing section A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A top flange portion extending outward from the contact portion with the first surface on the peripheral wall along the first surface to the outside of the top housing portion, It has a top rib portion that extends from the outer edge of the top flange portion along the extending direction.

[0008] The electrical circuit breaker may have the top rib portion extending from the outer edge of the top flange portion toward one side of the conductor along the extending direction.

[0009] The electrical circuit breaker may have a groove on the first surface of the housing body into which the top-side rib portion of the top housing portion fits.

[0010] The electrical circuit breaker may have the top rib portion extending from the outer edge of the top flange portion along the extending direction toward the opposite side of the conductor piece.

[0011] The aforementioned electrical circuit breaker is The aforementioned housing, Furthermore, it includes a bottom housing portion that is attached in contact with the second surface, communicates with the housing space within the housing body, and has an internal space that forms part of the housing space for receiving the cut-off portion after it has been cut off, The bottom housing portion is A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A bottom-side flange portion extending from the contact portion with the second surface on the peripheral wall to the outside of the bottom housing portion along the second surface, The bottom housing portion may also have a bottom-side rib portion that extends from the outer edge of the bottom housing portion toward one side of the conductor along the extending direction.

[0012] The electrical circuit breaker may have a groove on the second surface of the housing body into which the bottom-side rib portion of the bottom housing portion fits.

[0013] The aforementioned electrical circuit breaker has a housing that Furthermore, it includes a bottom housing portion that is attached in contact with the second surface, communicates with the housing space within the housing body, and has an internal space that forms part of the housing space for receiving the cut-off portion after it has been cut off, The bottom housing portion is A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A bottom-side flange portion extending from the contact portion with the second surface on the peripheral wall to the outside of the bottom housing portion along the second surface, The bottom housing portion may also have a bottom-side rib portion that extends from the outer edge of the bottom housing portion toward one side of the conductor along the extending direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] This disclosure provides a technology to improve the reliability of electrical circuit breakers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] It is a diagram for explaining the internal structure of the electric circuit breaker (hereinafter simply referred to as "breaker") 1 according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a top view of the upper housing body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 3 of the upper housing body. [Figure 5] It is a bottom view of the lower housing body. [Figure 6] It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C shown in FIG. 5 of the lower housing body. [Figure 7] It is a bottom view of the top holder. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D shown in FIG. 7 of the top holder. [Figure 9] It is a top view of the bottom container. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E shown in FIG. 9 of the bottom container. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining the operating condition of the breaker according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing a modification example of the rib portion.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the electric circuit breaker according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that each configuration and their combinations in the embodiment are examples, and within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure, addition, omission, substitution, and other changes of the configuration can be made as appropriate. The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiment, but is limited only by the claims.

[0017] <Configuration> Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of an electrical circuit interruption device (hereinafter simply referred to as "interruption device") 1 according to an embodiment, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line AA shown in Figure 1. The interruption device 1 is a device for preventing major damage by interrupting an electrical circuit in the event of an abnormality in an electrical circuit included in, for example, an automobile, a household electrical appliance, a solar power generation system, or a system including the battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) of said electrical circuit. In this specification, the cross-section along the height direction (the direction in which the accommodation space 13, described later, extends) shown in Figure 1 is called the longitudinal cross-section of the interruption device 1, and the cross-section in the direction perpendicular to the height direction is called the cross-sectional view of the interruption device 1. Figure 1 shows the state of the interruption device 1 before operation.

[0018] The interceptor 1 includes a housing 10, an igniter 20, a projectile 40, a conductive piece 50, a coolant material 60, etc. The housing 10, as an outer shell member, contains a housing space 13 that extends from the first end 11 at the upper end to the second end 12 at the lower end. This housing space 13 is a linearly formed space that allows the projectile 40 to move, and extends along the vertical direction of the interceptor 1. As shown in Figure 1, the projectile 40 is housed at the upper end of the housing space 13 formed inside the housing 10 in the vertical direction (extension direction). In this specification, the vertical direction is also referred to as the Y-axis direction, the left-right direction as the X-axis direction, and the depth direction as the Z-direction. However, in this specification, the vertical direction and XYZ direction of the interceptor 1 merely indicate the relative positional relationship of each element in the interceptor 1 for the convenience of describing the embodiments. For example, the orientation when installing the interceptor 1 is not limited to the direction shown in the figure.

[0019] [housing] The housing 10 includes a housing body 100, a top holder (top housing portion) 110, and a bottom container (bottom housing portion) 120. The top holder 110 and the bottom container 120 are attached to the housing body 100, thereby forming an integrated housing 10.

[0020] The housing body 100 is divided vertically at the boundary where the conductive piece 50 is arranged, and comprises an upper housing body 130 at the top and a lower housing body 140 at the bottom. In this embodiment, the upper part of the housing 10 including the upper housing body 130 and the top holder 110 is also referred to as the first housing, and the lower part of the housing 10 including the lower housing body 140 and the bottom container 120 is also referred to as the second housing. Note that the housing body is not limited to a divided configuration, and may be integrally formed from the upper end connected to the top holder 110 to the lower end connected to the bottom container 120.

[0021] The housing body 100, when the upper housing body 130 and the lower housing body 140 are combined, has, for example, a roughly rectangular prism shape. However, the shape of the housing body 100 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the housing body 100 is formed with a cavity that runs through it in the vertical direction, and this cavity forms part of the storage space 13. In addition, the housing body 100 has an upper surface (first surface) 101 to which the flange portion (top side flange portion) 111 of the top holder 110 is fixed, and a lower surface (second surface) 102 to which the flange portion (bottom side flange portion) 121 of the bottom container 120 is fixed. On the outer circumference of the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100, a cylindrical upper cylindrical wall 103 is erected extending upward from the upper surface 101. In this embodiment, the upper cylindrical wall 103 has, for example, a rectangular cylindrical shape, but it may have other shapes. Furthermore, a cylindrical lower wall 104 is provided vertically on the outer circumference of the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100, extending downward from the lower surface 102. In this embodiment, the lower wall 104 has, for example, a rectangular shape, but it may have other shapes.

[0022] Figure 3 is a top view of the upper housing body 130, Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the upper housing body 130 along line BB shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a bottom view of the lower housing body 140, and Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lower housing body 140 along line CC shown in Figure 5.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the upper housing body 130 has a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with a cavity 135 in its center. This cavity 135 forms part of the housing space 13 when the upper housing body 130 is combined with other components that make up the housing 10. Furthermore, on the upper surface 101 of the upper housing body 130, a groove 131 is provided on the inside of the upper cylindrical wall 103 into which the rib portion (top side rib portion) 115 of the top holder 110 is fitted. The width of the groove 131 in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction (Y direction) of the housing space 13 (Z direction or X direction in the example of Figure 3) is approximately the same as the thickness of the rib portion 115. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the groove 131 is formed as a bottomed groove provided along the Y direction from the upper surface 101 of the upper housing body 130, and its depth is formed to be the same as or longer than the length of the rib portion 115 in the Y direction.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the lower housing body 140 has a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with a cavity 145 in its center. This cavity 145 forms part of the housing space 13 when the lower housing body 140 is combined with other members that make up the housing 10. In addition, a rectangular cylindrical lower wall 104 is vertically attached to the outer edge of the lower surface 102 of the lower housing body 140, extending downward from the lower surface. Furthermore, on the lower surface 102 of the lower housing body 140, a groove 141 is provided inside the lower cylindrical wall 104 into which the rib portion (bottom side rib portion) 125 of the bottom container 120 is fitted. The width of the groove 141 in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction (Y direction) of the housing space 13 (Z direction or X direction in the example of Figure 5) is equal to the width of the rib portion It is formed to be approximately the same thickness as 115. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the groove 131 is formed as a bottomed groove provided along the Y direction from the lower surface 102 of the lower housing body 140, and its depth is formed to be the same as or longer than the length of the rib portion 125 in the Y direction.

[0025] [Top Holder] Next, the top holder 110 will be described. Figure 7 is a bottom view of the top holder 110, and Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the top holder 110 along the DD line shown in Figure 7. The top holder 110 is, for example, a cylinder member having a stepped cylindrical shape, and the inside is hollow. The top holder 110 is composed of a small-diameter cylinder portion 112 located on the upper side, a large-diameter cylinder portion 113 located on the lower side, a connecting portion 114 connecting them, and a flange portion 111 extending outward from the lower end of the large-diameter cylinder portion (circumferential wall) 113, i.e., the contact portion with the upper housing body 130. For example, the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 and the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 are arranged coaxially, and the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 has a diameter that is slightly larger than that of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112.

[0026] Furthermore, the contour of the flange portion 111 in the top holder 110 has a roughly rectangular shape that fits inside the upper cylindrical wall 103 of the housing body 100. The flange portion 111 is also provided with bolt holes 116 that penetrate vertically for fastening bolts. Rib portions 115 are provided on all four edges of the flange portion 111, extending toward the conductor piece 50 side along the direction of extension of the housing space (Y direction). The rib portion 115 is a flat plate formed longitudinally along the outer edge of the flange portion 111. The rib portion 115 can be formed by bending the four sides of the flange portion 111 downwards. The size of the rib portion 115 is not particularly limited, but for example, the length along the outer edge of the flange portion 111 (hereinafter also referred to as the rib length) may be 10 to 30 mm, and the length protruding downward from the lower surface of the flange portion 111 (hereinafter also referred to as the rib height) may be 1 to 10 mm.

[0027] The cavity formed inside the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 of the top holder 110 functions as a housing space for accommodating a part of the igniter 20, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, the cavity (internal space) formed inside the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 of the top holder 110 communicates with the cavity of the housing body 100 located below, forming part of the housing space 13. The top holder 110, configured as described above, can be made from a suitable metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum, which have excellent strength and durability. However, the material used to form the top holder 110 is not particularly limited. Also, the above-described shape of the top holder 110 is merely an example, and other shapes may be adopted.

[0028] [Bottom container] Next, the bottom container 120 will be described. Figure 9 is a top view of the bottom container 120, and Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottom container 120 along the EE line shown in Figure 9. The bottom container 120 has a generally bottomed cylindrical shape with a hollow interior and is composed of a side wall portion (circumferential wall) 122, a bottom wall portion 123 connected to the lower end of the side wall portion 122, a flange portion 121 connected to the upper end of the side wall portion 122, etc. The side wall portion 122 has, for example, a cylindrical shape, and the flange portion 121 extends outward from the upper end of the side wall portion 122, i.e., the contact portion with the lower housing body 140. The contour of the flange portion 121 in the bottom container 120 has a generally rectangular shape that fits inside the lower cylindrical wall 104 of the housing body 100. In addition, the flange portion 121 is provided with bolt holes 126 that pass through in the vertical direction for fastening bolts. Rib portions 125 are provided on all four edges of the flange portion 121, extending toward the conductor piece 50 along the direction of extension of the housing space (Y direction). The rib portions 125 are flat plates formed longitudinally along the outer edge of the flange portion 121. The rib portions 125 can be formed by bending the four sides of the flange portion 121 downwards. The size of the rib portions 125 is not particularly specified. While not limited to these, for example, the length along the outer edge of the flange portion 121 (hereinafter also referred to as the rib length) may be 10 to 30 mm, and the length protruding upward from the upper surface of the flange portion 121 (hereinafter also referred to as the rib height) may be 1 to 10 mm.

[0029] The above description of the shape of the bottom container 120 is merely an example, and other shapes may be adopted. Furthermore, the cavity (internal space) formed inside the bottom container 120 communicates with the housing body 100 located above it, forming part of the storage space 13. The bottom container 120, configured as described above, can be made from suitable metal materials such as stainless steel or aluminum, which have excellent strength and durability. However, the material used to form the bottom container 120 is not particularly limited. The bottom container 120 may also have a multi-layer structure. For example, the exterior of the bottom container 120 facing the outside may be made from suitable metal materials such as stainless steel or aluminum, which have excellent strength and durability, while the interior facing the storage space 13 may be made from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. Of course, the entire bottom container 120 may also be made from an insulating material.

[0030] As described above, the housing 10 in this embodiment is constructed by integrally assembling the top holder 110, the upper housing body 130, the lower housing body 140, and the bottom container 120 in the vertical direction. During this assembly process, the conductor piece 50 is positioned through the housing body 100. For example, the conductor piece 50 is fitted into the conductor piece holding portion 144 of the lower housing body 140, and the conductor piece is positioned so as to cross the cavity portion 145. In this state, the lower surface of the upper housing body 130 is abutted against the upper surface of the lower housing body 140 so that the bolt holes 142 of the lower housing body 140 and the bolt holes 132 of the upper housing are coaxial. Furthermore, the flange portion 111 of the top holder 110 is fitted inside the upper cylindrical wall 103 of the upper housing body 130, thereby positioning the top holder 110 on the upper housing body 130. At the same time, the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 is fitted inside the lower cylindrical wall 104 of the lower housing body 140, thereby positioning the bottom container 120 below the lower housing body 140. Then, bolts are passed through the bolt holes of the top holder 110, the upper housing body 130, the lower housing body 140, and the bottom container 120 to fasten each part together. Note that this fastening is not limited to bolts; other fastening means such as rivets may also be used.

[0031] Furthermore, the parts may be joined with sealant applied between the top holder 110 and the upper housing body 130, between the upper housing body 130 and the lower housing body 140 and the conductor piece 50, between the lower housing body 140 and the conductor piece 50, and between the lower housing body 140 and the bottom container 120. This improves the airtightness of the containment space 13 formed inside the housing 10. Alternatively, the airtightness of the containment space 13 may be improved by interposing packing or gaskets between the parts instead of sealant, or in combination with sealant. The containment space 13 houses the igniter 20, projectile 40, the cut-off portion 53 of the conductor piece 50, and the coolant material 60, which will be described in detail below.

[0032] [Igniter] Next, the igniter 20 will be described. The igniter 20 is an electric igniter comprising an ignition unit 21 containing an ignition charge and an igniter body 22 having a pair of conductive pins (not shown) connected to the ignition unit 21. The igniter body 22 is surrounded by, for example, an insulating resin. The tips of the pair of conductive pins in the igniter body 22 are exposed to the outside and are connected to the power supply when the shut-off device 1 is used.

[0033] The igniter body 22 comprises a roughly cylindrical body portion 221 housed inside the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 of the top holder 110, and a connector portion 222 located on the upper part of the body portion 221. The igniter body 22 is fixed to the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 by, for example, press-fitting the main body portion 221 into the inner circumferential surface of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112. In addition, a constricted portion, which is recessed on the outer circumferential surface compared to other parts, is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the main body portion 221 in the axial middle portion of the main body portion 221, and an O-ring 223 is fitted into this constricted portion. The O-ring 223 is made of, for example, rubber (e.g., silicone rubber) or synthetic resin, and functions to improve airtightness between the inner circumferential surface of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 and the main body portion 221.

[0034] The connector portion 222 in the igniter 20 is positioned to protrude to the outside through an opening 112A formed at the upper end of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112. The connector portion 222 has, for example, a cylindrical shape that covers the sides of the conductive pins and is configured to connect to the power supply side connector.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the ignition unit 21 of the igniter 20 is positioned to face the housing space 13 of the housing 10 (more specifically, the cavity formed inside the large-diameter cylinder portion 113). The ignition unit 21 is configured, for example, to house the igniter in an igniter cup. For example, the igniter is housed in the igniter cup of the igniter unit 21 in contact with a bridge wire (resistor) that is strung together to connect the base ends of a pair of conductive pins. Examples of igniters include ZPP (zirconium potassium perchlorate) and ZWPP (zirconium potassium perchlorate). Conium tungsten potassium perchlorate, THPP (titanium hydride potassium perchlorate), lead tricinate, etc. may also be used.

[0036] When the igniter 20 is activated, an operating current for igniting the igniter is supplied from the power source to the conductive pin. As a result, the bridge wire in the ignition unit 21 heats up, causing the igniter in the igniter cup to ignite and burn, generating combustion gas. Then, as the igniter burns in the igniter cup of the igniter unit 21, the pressure inside the igniter cup increases, causing the split surface 21A of the igniter cup to split, and the combustion gas is released from the igniter cup into the containment space 13. More specifically, the combustion gas from the igniter cup is released into the recess 411 of the piston portion 41 of the projectile 40, which will be described later, located in the containment space 13.

[0037] [Projectile] Next, the projectile 40 will be described. The projectile 40 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, and includes a piston portion 41 and a rod portion 42 connected to the piston portion 41. The piston portion 41 has a generally cylindrical shape and an outer diameter that roughly corresponds to the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 in the top holder 110. For example, the diameter of the piston portion 41 may be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113. The shape of the projectile 40 can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the housing 10, etc.

[0038] Furthermore, a cylindrical recess 411 is formed on the upper surface of the piston portion 41, and the ignition unit 21 is received in this recess 411. The bottom surface of the recess 411 is formed as a pressure receiving surface 411A that receives energy from the ignition unit 20 when the ignition unit 20 is in operation. In addition, a constricted portion, which is recessed on the outer circumference of the piston portion 41, is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the piston portion 41 in the axial middle portion, and an O-ring 43 is fitted into this constricted portion. The O-ring 43 is made of rubber (e.g., silicone rubber) or synthetic resin, and functions to improve airtightness between the inner circumferential surface of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 and the piston portion 41.

[0039] The rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 is, for example, a rod-shaped member having a smaller outer diameter than the piston portion 41, and is integrally connected to the lower end side of the piston portion 41. The lower end surface of the rod portion 42 is formed as a cutting surface 420 for cutting the portion to be cut 53 from the conductor piece 50 when the shutoff device 1 is activated. In this embodiment, the rod portion 42 has a generally cylindrical shape. However, its shape is not particularly limited and can be changed according to the shape and size of the portion to be cut off 53 from the conductor piece 50 when the shutoff device 1 is activated. The rod portion 42 may have a columnar shape, such as a cylinder or a rectangular prism. In the initial position of the projectile 40 shown in Figure 1, the tip-side region of the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40, including the cut surface 420, is located in the cavity of the housing body 100 (forming part of the containment space 13). The diameter of the rod portion 42 is, for example, slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the inner circumferential surface of the housing body 100, so that the outer surface of the rod portion 42 is guided along the inner circumferential surface when the projectile 40 is launched.

[0040] As described above, the projectile 40, when the igniter 20 is activated, receives energy from the igniter 20, and the upper surface of the piston portion 41, including the pressure receiving surface 411A, receives the pressure. This causes the projectile 40 to be launched from the initial position shown in Figure 1 and to move at high speed along the housing space 13 toward the second end 12 (downward). Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the piston portion 41 of the projectile 40 is housed inside the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 of the top holder 110 and is slidable in the axial direction along the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113. In this embodiment, the piston portion 41 of the projectile 40 is generally cylindrical, but its shape is not particularly limited. The external shape and size of the piston portion 41 can be appropriately chosen depending on the shape and size of the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113.

[0041] [Conducting piece] Next, the conductor piece 50 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the conductor piece 50 is fitted into the conductor piece holding portion 144 of the lower housing body 140 and is positioned to cross the housing space 13. The conductor piece 50 constitutes a part of the components of the circuit breaker 1 and is a conductive metal body that forms a part of the electrical circuit when the circuit breaker 1 is attached to a predetermined electrical circuit, and is sometimes called a bus bar. The conductor piece 50 is made of a metal such as copper (Cu), for example. Thus, it can be formed. However, the conductive piece 50 may be made of a metal other than copper, or it may be made of an alloy of copper and another metal. Examples of metals other than copper that can be included in the conductive piece 50 include manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), etc.

[0042] In one embodiment shown in Figure 2, the conductor piece 50 is formed as an elongated flat plate piece overall, and includes first connection ends 51 and second connection ends 52 at both ends, and a cut-off portion 53 located in the middle portion. Connection holes 51A and 52A are provided at the first connection ends 51 and second connection ends 52 of the conductor piece 50, respectively. These connection holes 51A and 52A are used to connect to other conductors (e.g., lead wires) in an electrical circuit. Note that in Figure 1, the connection holes 51A and 52A of the conductor piece 50 are not shown. The cut-off portion 53 of the conductor piece 50 is the part that is forcibly and physically cut by the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 and cut off from the first connection ends 51 and second connection ends 52 when an abnormality such as an overcurrent occurs in the electrical circuit to which the circuit breaker 1 is applied. Notches (slits) 54 are formed at both ends of the cut-off portion 53 of the conductor piece 50 to facilitate cutting and removal of the cut-off portion 53.

[0043] The conductor piece 50 is cut at a position where it overlaps with the inner surface (inner wall surface) of the inner wall 143 that defines the cavity 145 of the housing body 100, that is, at a position where it overlaps with the outer surface of the rod portion 42, and the portion to be cut off 53 is cut off. At the first connecting end 51 of the conductor piece 50, the boundary portion between the portion to be cut off 53 and the portion to be cut off 53 is defined as the first cutting edge portion 511, and at the second connecting end 52, the boundary portion between the portion to be cut off 53 and the portion to be cut off 53 is defined as the second cutting edge portion 521.

[0044] Here, the conductor piece 50 can take various forms, and its shape is not particularly limited. In the example shown in Figure 2, the surfaces of the first connecting end 51, the second connecting end 52, and the cut-off portion 53 form the same plane, but this is not limited to this. For example, the conductor piece 50 has a first connecting end 5 The portion to be cut 53 may be connected to the first and second connecting ends 52 in a perpendicular or inclined position. Furthermore, the planar shape of the portion to be cut 53 on the conductor piece 50 is not particularly limited. Of course, the shapes of the first connecting end 51 and the second connecting end 52 on the conductor piece 50 are also not particularly limited. Additionally, the notch 54 on the conductor piece 50 may be omitted as appropriate.

[0045] [Coolant material] Next, the coolant material 60 placed in the housing space 13 of the housing 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, before the operation of the shut-off device 1 (igniter 20), the portion to be cut off 53 of the conductor piece 50, which is held in the housing body 100, is positioned horizontally across the housing space 13 of the housing 10. Hereinafter, the area (space) in the housing space 13 of the housing 10 on the side of the portion to be cut off 53 of the conductor piece 50 where the projectile 40 is positioned will be called the "initial projectile placement area R1," and the area (space) on the opposite side of the projectile 40 will be called the "arc extinguishing area R2." As described above, since a gap is formed on the side of the portion to be cut off 53 which is positioned across the housing space 13, the initial projectile placement area R1 and the arc extinguishing area R2 are not completely isolated by the portion to be cut off 53, but are in communication with each other. Of course, depending on the shape and size of the portion to be cut off 53, the initial projectile placement area R1 and the arc extinguishing area R2 may be completely isolated by the portion to be cut off 53.

[0046] The arc extinguishing region R2 of the containment space 13 is a region (space) for receiving the cut portion 53 that is cut off by the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 fired when the shutoff device 1 (igniter 20) is activated. Coolant material 60 is placed in this arc extinguishing region R2 as an arc extinguishing material. The coolant material 60 is a coolant that absorbs the heat energy of the arc and the cut portion 53 generated when the projectile 40 cuts off the cut portion 53 of the conductor piece 50, thereby suppressing arc generation when the current is interrupted, or extinguishing (eliminating) the generated arc.

[0047] The arc extinguishing region R2 in the shutoff device 1 is a space for receiving the cut-off portion 53 that has been cut off from the first connecting end 51 and the second connecting end 52 of the conductor piece 50 by the projectile 40, and at the same time, it has significance as a space for effectively extinguishing the arc generated when the projectile 40 cuts off the cut-off portion 53. In order to effectively extinguish the arc generated when the cut-off portion 53 is cut off from the conductor piece 50, a coolant material 60 is placed in the arc extinguishing region R2 as an arc extinguishing material.

[0048] In one embodiment, the coolant material 60 is solid. In another embodiment, the coolant material 60 is formed from a shape-retaining material. A shape-retaining material, as used here, is a material that maintains a constant shape when no external force is applied, and can maintain its integrity (not fall apart) even if deformation occurs when an external force is applied. For example, a fibrous material formed into a desired shape can be exemplified as a shape-retaining material. In this embodiment, the coolant material 60 is formed from metal fibers that are shape-retaining materials. Here, the metal fibers forming the coolant material 60 may include at least one of steel wool and copper wool. However, the above embodiments of the coolant material 60 are examples and are not limited to these.

[0049] The coolant material 60 is, for example, formed into a roughly disc shape and placed at the bottom of the bottom container 120.

[0050] <Operation> Next, we will explain the operation of the circuit breaker 1 when it is activated to interrupt the electrical circuit. As shown above, Figure 1 shows the state of the circuit breaker 1 before activation (hereinafter also referred to as the "initial state before activation"). In this initial state before activation, the projectile 40 in the circuit breaker 1 has its piston portion 41 positioned on the first end 11 side (upper end side) of the housing space 13, and the lock The cut surface 420 formed at the lower end of the dove portion 42 is set to an initial position located on the upper surface of the cut portion 53 on the conductive piece 50.

[0051] Furthermore, the circuit breaker 1 according to this embodiment further includes an abnormality detection sensor (not shown) that detects abnormal conditions in a device (vehicle, power generation equipment, energy storage equipment, etc.) to which the electrical circuit to be interrupted is connected, and a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the igniter 20. The abnormality detection sensor may detect abnormal conditions based on voltage or the temperature of the conductor piece 50, in addition to the current flowing through the conductor piece 50. The abnormality detection sensor may also be, for example, an impact sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a vibration sensor, and may detect abnormal conditions such as accidents or fires based on impact, temperature, acceleration, or vibration in a device such as a vehicle. The control unit of the circuit breaker 1 is, for example, a computer that can perform predetermined functions by executing a predetermined control program. The predetermined functions of the control unit can also be realized by corresponding hardware. When an excessive current flows through the conductor piece 50 that forms part of the electrical circuit to which the circuit breaker 1 is applied, the abnormal current is detected by the abnormality detection sensor. The abnormal information regarding the detected abnormal current is passed from the abnormality detection sensor to the control unit. For example, the control unit receives power from an external power supply (not shown) connected to the conductive pins of the igniter 20 based on the current value detected by the abnormality detection sensor, and operates the igniter 20. Here, the abnormal current may be a current value that exceeds a predetermined threshold set for the protection of a predetermined electrical circuit. Note that the abnormality detection sensor and control unit described above do not have to be included as components of the tripping device 1, and may be included in a separate device, for example. Furthermore, the abnormality detection sensor and control unit are not essential components of the tripping device 1.

[0052] For example, when an abnormal current in an electrical circuit is detected by an abnormal current detection sensor, the control unit of the circuit breaker 1 activates the igniter 20. That is, an operating current is supplied to the conductive pins of the igniter 20 from an external power source (not shown), causing the igniter in the ignition unit 21 to ignite and burn, generating combustion gas. Then, due to the pressure rise inside the ignition unit 21, the crack surface 21A cracks open, and the combustion gas of the igniter is released from inside the ignition unit 21 into the containment space 13.

[0053] Here, the ignition unit 21 of the igniter 20 is received in the recess 411 of the piston unit 41, and the splitting surface 21A of the ignition unit 21 is positioned opposite the pressure-receiving surface 411A of the recess 411 in the projectile 40. As a result, the combustion gas from the ignition unit 21 is released into the recess 411, and the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas is transmitted to the upper surface of the piston unit 41, including the pressure-receiving surface 411A. Consequently, the projectile 40 moves downward in the containment space 13 along the extending direction (axial direction) of the containment space 13.

[0054] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the shut-off device 1 according to the embodiment. The upper part of Figure 11 shows the state of the shut-off device 1 during operation, and the lower part of Figure 11 shows the state of the shut-off device 1 after operation is complete. As described above, when the igniter 20 is activated, the projectile 40, which is subjected to the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas of the igniter, is forcefully pushed downward, and as a result, the cutting surface 420 formed on the lower end side of the rod portion 42 cuts through the boundaries between the first connecting end 51 and the second connecting end 52 of the conductor piece 50 and the portion to be cut 53 by shearing. As a result, the portion to be cut 53 is cut off from the conductor piece 50. The shape and dimensions of the projectile 40 can be freely determined as long as it can move smoothly along the extending direction (axial direction) of the housing space 13 when the igniter 20 is activated. For example, the outer diameter of the piston portion 41 of the projectile 40 may be set to the same dimension as the inner diameter of the large diameter cylinder portion 113 of the top holder 110.

[0055] Then, as shown in the lower part of Figure 11, the projectile 40 moves within the housing space 1 for a predetermined stroke until the lower end surface of the piston portion 41 contacts (collides with) the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100. It moves downward along the extending direction (axial direction) of 3. In this state, the cut portion 53 that has been cut off from the conductor piece 50 by the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 is received within the arc extinguishing region R2 where the coolant material 60 is located. As a result, the first connecting end 51 and the second connecting end 52 located at both ends of the conductor piece 50 become electrically closed, and the predetermined electrical circuit to which the circuit breaker 1 is applied is forcibly shut off.

[0056] <Variations of the rib section> In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the rib portions 115 and 125 extend from the edges of the flange portions 111 and 121 toward one side of the conductor along the direction of extension of the housing space 13. However, the rib portions are not limited to this and may extend toward the opposite side of the conductor piece. Figure 12 shows a modified example of the rib portions 115A and 125A. In this modified example, the rib portion (top side rib portion) 115A extends from the outer edge of the top side flange portion 111 toward the opposite side of the conductor piece 50 along the direction of extension of the housing space 13. For this reason, in this modified example, the upper surface 101 of the upper housing body 130 does not have a groove 131 into which the rib portion is fitted.

[0057] Furthermore, the rib portion (bottom-side rib portion) 125A extends from the outer edge of the bottom-side flange portion 121 along the direction of extension of the housing space 13 toward the opposite side from the conductor piece 50. For this reason, in this modified example, the lower surface 102 of the lower housing body 140 does not have a groove 141 into which the rib portion is fitted. The other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment described above.

[0058] <Effects and Effects> As described above, when the shut-off device 1 is activated, the igniter in the ignition unit 21 ignites and burns, and the combustion gas is released into the containment space 13, the pressure in the containment space 13 increases. At this time, if the flange portions 111 and 121, which are the contact points between the top holder 110 and the bottom container 120 and the housing body 100, become distorted, a gap may form between the top holder 110 and the bottom container 120 and the housing body 100, causing combustion gas to leak out. For this reason, in this embodiment, rib portions 115 and 125 are provided on the edges of the flange portions 111 and 121 to reinforce them and suppress distortion of the flange portions 111 and 121. As a result, the shut-off device 1 of this embodiment can prevent the leakage of combustion gas and improve reliability.

[0059] For example, Table 1 compares the magnitude of distortion after operation between the shut-off device 1 of this embodiment and a comparative example. In Table 1, samples No. 3 and No. 4 are the shut-off device 1 of this embodiment. In sample No. 3, the rib length of the rib portion 115 of the top holder 110 is 27 mm, the rib height of the rib portion 115 is 3 mm, and the spacing between the bolt holes for fastening bolts (hereinafter referred to as hole spacing) is 27.5 mm. In this case, the distortion in the Y direction of the flange portion 111 was 0.054 mm. In sample No. 4, the rib length of the top holder 110 is 20 mm, the rib height is 3 mm, and the hole spacing is 30 mm. In this case, the distortion in the Y direction of the flange portion 111 was 0.151 mm.

[0060] In contrast, Sample No. 1 is a conventional shut-off device without ribs, and the hole spacing of the top holder is 30 mm. In this case, the Y-direction distortion of the flange was 0.492 mm.

[0061] Sample No. 2 is a modified example (Figure 12) in which an upward-facing rib portion 115A is provided on the end edge of the flange portion 111, that is, the rib portion 115A is formed in the opposite direction in the Y direction compared to Samples No. 3 and No. 4. In Sample No. 2, the length of the upward-facing rib portion of the top holder is 27 mm, the height of the rib portion is 6 mm, and the hole spacing is 27.5 mm. In this case, the Y-direction distortion of the flange portion was 0.231 mm.

[0062] [Table 1]

[0063] Thus, when no rib portion was provided on the flange portion, the distortion of the flange portion was greatest. Furthermore, when the rib portion 115A was provided facing upward (No. 2), the distortion was smaller compared to when no rib portion was provided, but greater compared to samples No. 3 and No. 4. This is because, in the top holder, when an upward-facing rib portion 115A is provided, the pressure during operation acts in a direction that expands the rib portion 115A, whereas when a downward-facing rib portion 115 is provided as in samples No. 3 and No. 4, the pressure during operation acts in a direction that contracts the rib portion 115. Therefore, it is considered that a downward-facing rib portion 115 is more effective in suppressing the distortion of the flange portion 111. Similarly, in the bottom container 120, it is considered that an upward-facing rib portion 125 is more effective in suppressing the distortion of the flange portion 121 than when it is formed facing downward from the flange portion 121. Thus, according to this embodiment and its modifications, the distortion of the flange portion can be suppressed, and the reliability of the shut-off device 1 can be improved. Furthermore, by providing a configuration with rib portions 115 and 125 facing the conductor piece 50 side, as shown in Figures 1 to 10, distortion of the flange portions 111 and 121 can be effectively suppressed, further improving the reliability of the circuit breaker 1.

[0064] While embodiments of the electrical circuit breaker according to this disclosure have been described above, each embodiment disclosed herein can be combined with any other features disclosed herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1: Circuit breaker 10: Housing 100: Housing body 101: Top surface 102: Bottom surface 103: Upper cylinder wall 104: Lower cylinder wall 110: Top holder 111: Flange section 112: Small diameter cylinder section 112A: Opening 113: Large diameter cylinder section 114: Connection part 115,115A: Rib section 120: Bottom container 121: Flange section 122: Side wall section 123: Bottom wall 125, 125A: Rib section 13: Containment Space 130: Upper housing body 131: Groove 135: Cavity 140: Lower housing body 141: Groove 143: Inner wall 144: Conductor piece holder 145: Cavity 20: Igniter 40: Projectile 41: Piston section 411A: Pressure-receiving surface 42: Rod section 420: Resection plane 43: Ring 50: Conductor piece 60: Coolant material

Claims

1. As an outer shell component, it includes a housing that contains a dwelling space extending in one direction, An igniter provided in the housing, A projectile is disposed within the housing, is launched from one end of the containment space by energy received from the igniter, and moves along the extending direction of the containment space; A conductive piece provided in the housing and forming part of an electrical circuit, having a portion to be cut off by the projectile, and the conductive piece being arranged such that the portion to be cut off crosses the housing space, Equipped with, The housing comprises a housing body that holds the conductor piece and a top housing portion on which the igniter is provided. The housing body is provided such that the housing space penetrates from the first surface on the ignition side to the second surface located on the opposite side of the housing body from the first surface. The top housing portion is attached in a state in contact with the first surface of the housing body, and has an internal space that communicates with the housing space within the housing body and forms part of the housing space for housing the projectile before launch. The aforementioned top housing section A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A top flange portion extending outward from the contact portion with the first surface on the peripheral wall along the first surface to the outside of the top housing portion, It has a top rib portion that extends along the extending direction from the outer edge of the top flange portion, The top rib portion extends from the outer edge of the top flange portion toward one side of the conductor along the extending direction, The first surface of the housing body is provided with a groove into which the top rib portion of the top housing portion is fitted. Electrical circuit breaker.

2. The outer shell member comprises a housing that encloses a dwelling space extending in one direction, An igniter provided in the housing, The housing is located within the aforementioned housing and receives energy from the igniter, which in turn affects the containment space A projectile launched from one end and moving along the extending direction of the containment space, A conductive piece provided in the housing and forming part of an electrical circuit, having a portion to be cut off by the projectile, and the conductive piece being arranged such that the portion to be cut off crosses the housing space, Equipped with, The housing comprises a housing body that holds the conductor piece and a top housing portion on which the igniter is provided. The housing body is provided such that the housing space penetrates from the first surface on the ignition side to the second surface located on the opposite side of the housing body from the first surface. The top housing portion is attached in a state in contact with the first surface of the housing body, and has an internal space that communicates with the housing space within the housing body and forms part of the housing space for housing the projectile before launch. The aforementioned top housing section A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A top flange portion extending outward from the contact portion with the first surface on the peripheral wall along the first surface to the outside of the top housing portion, It has a top rib portion that extends along the extending direction from the outer edge of the top flange portion, The top rib portion extends from the outer edge of the top flange portion along the extending direction toward the opposite side of the conductor piece. Electrical circuit breaker.

3. The aforementioned housing, Furthermore, it includes a bottom housing portion that is attached in contact with the second surface, communicates with the housing space within the housing body, and has an internal space that forms part of the housing space for receiving the cut-off portion after it has been cut off, The bottom housing portion is A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A bottom-side flange portion extending from the contact portion with the second surface on the peripheral wall to the outside of the bottom housing portion along the second surface, The bottom housing portion has a bottom-side rib portion that extends from the outer edge of the bottom housing portion toward one side of the conductor along the extending direction, An electrical circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The electrical circuit breaker according to claim 3, wherein the second surface of the housing body is provided with a groove into which the bottom-side rib portion of the bottom housing portion fits.

5. The aforementioned housing, Furthermore, it includes a bottom housing portion that is attached in contact with the second surface, communicates with the housing space within the housing body, and has an internal space that forms part of the housing space for receiving the cut-off portion after it has been cut off, The bottom housing portion is A peripheral wall is provided that demarcates the outer periphery of the aforementioned accommodation space and extends along the direction of the accommodation space, A bottom-side flange portion extending from the contact portion with the second surface on the peripheral wall to the outside of the bottom housing portion along the second surface, The bottom housing portion has a bottom-side rib portion that extends from the outer edge of the bottom housing portion toward the opposite side of the conductor piece along the extending direction, An electrical circuit breaker according to claim 1 or 2.

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