Cutting device

Abstract

A cutting device (1) is provided with: an igniter (10) capable of generating gas; a pusher (60) located below the igniter (10); a conductor (50) having a separation part (51) located below the pusher (60) and a holding part (52) connected to the separation part (51); a lower case (30) which is made of metal and is positioned below the separation part (51); an insulating member (110) located inside the lower case (30) and below the separation section (51); and a resin member (40) at least partially located inside the lower case (30) and holding the holding portion (52), the pusher (60) being configured so as to receive the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter (10) and separate the separation portion (51) from the conductor (50), the resin member (40) and the insulating member (110) covering the inner surface of the lower case (30), an end portion (113) of the insulating member (110) overlapping an end portion (43a) of the resin member (40), and the insulating member (110) covering the inner surface of the lower case (30). The lower end (43b) of the end portion (43a) of the resin member (40) is positioned below the upper end (113a) of the end portion (113) of the insulating member (110).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cutting device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a cutting device that is used in connection with an electric circuit. Patent Document 1 discloses a cutting device in which a reinforcement frame is arranged inside an outer casing (housing) of the cutting device.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2018 / 003594 Summary of the Invention

[0006] In electric circuits of electric vehicles and the like, the importance of a disconnection device capable of disconnecting the circuit more reliably has increased from the viewpoint of preventing serious damage in advance.

[0007] The cutting device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an igniter, which is capable of generating gas; a propeller, which is located below the igniter; a conductor, which has a separation portion located below the propeller and a holding portion connected to the separation portion; a cover member, which is located below the separation portion and is made of metal; an insulating member, which is located inside the cover member and below the separation portion; and a resin member, which is at least partially located inside the cover member and holds the holding portion, the propeller is configured to withstand the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter and separate the separation portion from the conductor, the resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member, the end of the insulating member overlaps with the end of the resin member, and the lower end of the end of the resin member is located below the upper end of the end of the insulating member.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a cutting device capable of improving insulation performance can be realized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1A This is a front view showing the cutting device according to the first embodiment.

[0010] Figure 1B It is a perspective view showing the cutting device according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2A This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device according to the first embodiment before the cutting operation.

[0012] Figure 2B This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device of the first embodiment after the cutting operation.

[0013] Figure 3A This is a perspective view of the insulating member according to the first embodiment as viewed from above.

[0014] Figure 3B This is a front view showing the insulating member according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3C This is a perspective view of the insulating member according to the first embodiment as viewed from below.

[0016] Figure 4A This is a perspective view of the lower casing of Embodiment 1 as viewed from above.

[0017] Figure 4B This is a front view showing the lower casing of Embodiment 1.

[0018] Figure 4C This is a perspective view of the lower casing of Embodiment 1 as viewed from below.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device according to the second embodiment before the cutting operation.

[0020] Figure 6A This is a perspective view of the insulating member according to the second embodiment as viewed from above.

[0021] Figure 6B This is a front view showing an insulating member according to the second embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6C This is a perspective view of the insulating member according to the second embodiment as viewed from below.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a cutting device according to a modified example of the second embodiment before the cutting operation.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a front view showing an insulating member according to a modified example of the second embodiment.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device according to the third embodiment before the cutting operation.

[0026] Figure 10A This is a perspective view of the insulating member according to the third embodiment as viewed from above.

[0027] Figure 10B This is an exploded perspective view of the insulating member according to the third embodiment as viewed from above.

[0028] Figure 11 This is a flowchart showing a manufacturing process of a cutting device according to an embodiment and the like. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The cutting device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an igniter, which is capable of generating gas; a propeller, which is located below the igniter; a conductor, which has a separation portion located below the propeller and a holding portion connected to the separation portion; a cover member, which is located below the separation portion and is made of metal; an insulating member, which is located inside the cover member and below the separation portion; and a resin member, which is at least partially located inside the cover member and holds the holding portion, the propeller is configured to withstand the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter and separate the separation portion from the conductor, the resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member, the end of the insulating member overlaps with the end of the resin member, and the lower end of the end of the resin member is located below the upper end of the end of the insulating member.

[0030] As a result, the ends of the insulating member and the resin member are arranged so that they overlap. Therefore, the arc or the conductive gas generated by the arc (hereinafter referred to as "conductive gas, etc.") is cooled as it flows between the ends of the insulating member and the resin member, reducing the conductivity of the conductive gas, etc. This reduces the risk of the current, which was previously cut off by the pusher in the separating portion, being re-conducted through the cover member due to contact between the conductive gas, etc. and the metal cover member. Therefore, by preventing re-conduction, the insulation performance of the disconnecting device can be improved.

[0031] Furthermore, for example, the end portion of the insulating member may be located between the end portion of the resin member and the cover member.

[0032] Thus, by positioning the end of the insulating member between the end of the resin member and the cover member, the arc's creepage distance from the cut surface of the separation section to the cover member is extended, making arc extinguishing easier. Furthermore, the high-temperature conductive gas generated during the cutting operation causes the resin member to move (or deform) outward (radially outward) of the cutting device, further reducing the gap between the insulating member and the resin member, effectively reducing the conductivity of the conductive gas, etc. Consequently, the cutting device can more reliably prevent re-conduction.

[0033] Furthermore, for example, the end portion of the resin member may be located between the end portion of the insulating member and the cover member.

[0034] Thus, by positioning the end of the resin component between the end of the insulating component and the cover component, the surface distance of the arc from the cut surface of the separation portion to the cover component can be extended, making it easier to extinguish the arc, thereby more reliably preventing re-conduction.

[0035] Furthermore, for example, the cover member may include a convex portion located below the insulating member, and the convex portion may protrude upward and be pressed by the pusher.

[0036] Thus, the convex portion of the cover member is located below the insulating member (that is, the insulating member is located between the separator and the cover member), so that the arc generation path can be extended, and as a result, restimulation can be more reliably prevented.

[0037] Furthermore, for example, a gap may be provided between the cover member and the insulating member, and the gap may be located below the insulating member.

[0038] Thus, the insulating member can move downward by an amount corresponding to the gap when pressed by the pusher, thereby preventing the insulating member from being damaged by the pressure from the pusher. Therefore, from the perspective of preventing damage to the insulating member, the insulation performance of the cutting device can be improved.

[0039] In addition, for example, a gap may be provided between the cover member and the insulating member, the insulating member having a first portion covering the top of the protrusion of the cover member and a second portion located below the first portion, the second portion covering the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the gap being located between the bottom of the cover member and the lower surface of the second portion.

[0040] Thus, when the protrusion is pressed by the pusher, the insulating member can move downward by an amount corresponding to the gap, thereby preventing the insulating member from being damaged by the pressure from the pusher. Therefore, from the perspective of preventing damage to the insulating member, the insulation performance of the cutting device can be improved.

[0041] In addition, for example, the insulating member may have a first member covering the top of the protrusion of the cover member and a second member arranged to overlap partially with the first member, the second member covering the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the first member and the second member are separate.

[0042] Thus, since the insulating member is composed of two members, the stress applied to the insulating member when the protrusion is pressed by the pusher can be dispersed, thereby suppressing the insulating member from being damaged. Therefore, from the perspective of suppressing the insulating member from being damaged, the insulation performance of the cutting device can be improved.

[0043] In addition, for example, the resin component may include: an embedded portion, in which the retaining portion is embedded; a first cylindrical portion, in which the propulsion member is arranged; and a second cylindrical portion, which is located below the first cylindrical portion, the diameter of the second cylindrical portion is larger than the diameter of the first cylindrical portion, and the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating component.

[0044] Thus, the insulating member covers the inner surface of the cover member, and thus it is possible to suppress re-conduction while maintaining the size of the space for arc extension (while suppressing an increase in the size of the interrupter device).

[0045] In addition, each embodiment described below represents a general or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, components, component placement and connection methods, steps (processes), and the order of steps (processes) shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In addition, components of the following embodiments that are not described in the independent claims are described as arbitrary components.

[0046] In addition, each figure is a schematic diagram and does not necessarily illustrate the figure strictly. Therefore, for example, the scales in each figure are not necessarily the same. In addition, in each figure, the same reference numerals are used for substantially the same structure, and repeated descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0047] In addition, in this specification and the accompanying drawings, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis illustrate the three axes of a right-handed three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. In each embodiment, the Z-axis direction is set as the moving direction of the pusher, the Y-axis direction is set as the direction in which the conductor extends, and the X-axis direction is set as the width direction of the conductor. In addition, in this specification, "front view" means the situation of observing from the positive side of the X-axis toward the negative side of the X-axis, "top view" means the situation of observing from the positive side of the Z-axis toward the negative side of the Z-axis, "cross-section" means the situation of observing the cut surface of the cutting device obtained by cutting through a surface parallel to the Z-axis, and the side means the direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. In addition, in this specification, the Z-axis direction is also recorded as the up-down direction. However, in this specification, the up-down direction of the cutting device is only for the convenience of explaining each embodiment and indicating the relative positional relationship of each element in the cutting device. For example, in this specification, terms such as "above" and "below" do not refer to the upper direction (vertically above) and the lower direction (vertically below) in absolute spatial cognition, but are used as terms defined by the relative positional relationship based on the moving direction of the pusher. In addition, the orientation when the cutting device is installed is not limited to the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0048] In addition, in this specification, terms such as equal and orthogonal that indicate the relationship between elements, terms such as circle that indicate the shape of an element, and numerical values ​​and numerical ranges are not expressions with strict meanings, but also include substantially equivalent ranges, such as expressions including differences of approximately a few percent (or approximately 10%).

[0049] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” do not indicate the number or order of components, but are used to distinguish components of the same type to avoid confusion.

[0050] (Implementation Method 1)

[0051] Below, refer to Figures 1A to 4C The structure of the cutting device of this embodiment will be described. Figure 1A It is a front view which shows the cutting device 1 of this embodiment. Figure 1B It is a perspective view showing the cutting device 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2A It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device 1 of this embodiment before the cutting operation. Figure 2B It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device 1 of this embodiment after the cutting operation. Figure 1B It is designed to be viewed from below Figure 1A The cutting device 1 shown is a perspective view obtained by rotating the cutting device 1 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis.

[0052] In addition, in a stereogram, when the three axes of a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system are written on paper, if there are axes that are in the same direction, only one of the axes is shown. Figure 1B Since the direction of the X axis and the direction of the Z axis are the same on the paper, only the Z axis is shown in the figure.

[0053] like Figures 1A to 2B As shown, the disconnecting device 1 includes an igniter 10, an upper housing 20, a lower housing 30, a resin member 40, a conductor 50, a pusher 60, a protective portion 80, elastic members 90, 92, 94, and 96, and an insulating member 110. The disconnecting device 1 is mounted on an object having an electrical circuit and is used to prevent further damage from the abnormality by operating and disconnecting the circuit when an abnormality occurs in the circuit or system within the object. For example, the disconnecting device 1 is mounted on a vehicle, an example of an object, and is connected between an electric motor and a battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) used to drive the motor. In the event of an emergency, such as an abnormality or accident, the disconnecting device disconnects the electric motor and the battery. Furthermore, the object may be an object other than a vehicle, such as, but not limited to, a home appliance or a solar power generation system.

[0054] The igniter 10 holds explosive powder inside and has a cover 11 positioned between the explosive powder and the propeller 60. The cover 11 is located within a recess 61 and is capable of generating gas. For example, the igniter 10 is an electronic igniter comprising an explosive powder portion and a conductive pin. The explosive powder portion contains ignition powder, and the conductive pin is used to energize the explosive powder portion. During operation, an operating current is supplied from an external power source to the conductive pin to ignite the ignition powder, causing the ignition powder to ignite and burn, generating gas (combustion gas). Furthermore, the recess 61 allows for a more compact cutting device 1.

[0055] Igniter 10 is fixed to upper small-diameter portion 21 of upper housing 20 .

[0056] The upper housing 20 and lower housing 30 form the outer shell of the cutting device 1 and house the igniter 10, the resin member 40, a portion of the conductor 50, the pusher 60, the protective portion 80, the elastic members 92, 94, and 96, and the insulating member 110. A vertically extending space 70 is formed within the upper housing 20 and lower housing 30. Space 70 is a cylindrical space formed to allow movement of the pusher 60. The pusher 60 is housed on the upper end (positive Z-axis side) of space 70 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0057] The upper housing 20 and lower housing 30 are each formed of a metal such as stainless steel (SUS), but may also be formed of other metals such as aluminum. For example, the upper housing 20 and lower housing 30 are made of metal. Furthermore, at least the lower housing 30 only needs to be made of metal; the upper housing 20 may also be made of resin, for example.

[0058] The upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 have cylindrical outer shapes, but are not limited to these shapes. Furthermore, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are directly connected and fixed together by welding or other means. The lower housing 30 is an example of a cover member. Furthermore, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are examples of housings.

[0059] The upper housing 20 is, for example, a cylindrical member with a stepped shape, the interior of which is hollow. The upper housing 20 includes a small-diameter portion 21 located at the top, a large-diameter portion 23 located at the bottom, and a connecting portion 22 connecting the small-diameter portion 21 and the large-diameter portion 23. The small-diameter portion 21, the connecting portion 22, and the large-diameter portion 23 are integrally formed. The small-diameter portion 21 and the large-diameter portion 23 are coaxially arranged, with the large-diameter portion 23 having a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion 21.

[0060] The lower housing 30 is located below the separator 51 and is a hollow, bottomed cylindrical member with an upwardly projecting convex portion 30a. Specifically, the lower housing 30 includes the convex portion 30a, a bottom portion 33, and a sidewall portion 34. The convex portion 30a, bottom portion 33, and sidewall portion 34 are integrally formed.

[0061] In this specification, "integrally formed" means at least one of each structural part being formed of the same material, being formed at the same time, and being the same object (single object).

[0062] The protrusion 30a is located below the separation portion 51 and protrudes upward within the space 70. The protrusion 30a is connected to one end of the bottom portion 33 and protrudes upward (toward the positive Z-axis side) from the bottom portion 33 within the space 70. The protrusion 30a is configured to be pressed downward by the insulating member 110, which contacts the pusher 60 that has moved downward due to the gas generated by the igniter 10. In other words, the protrusion 30a functions to absorb the impact (stress) from the pusher 60 by being pressed and deformed by the pusher 60. Furthermore, the protrusion 30a is located below the insulating member 110.

[0063] Furthermore, the convex portion 30a forming the concave portion of the lower housing 30 when the cutting device 1 is viewed from the negative Z-axis side toward the positive Z-axis side is exposed when viewed from the outside of the cutting device 1. In this embodiment, the convex portion 30a has a shape that tapers toward the top in the space 70, but the shape is not limited to this.

[0064] The bottom portion 33 connects the convex portion 30a and the side wall portion 34. In other words, the convex portion 30a and the side wall portion 34 are connected via the bottom portion 33. The outer surface and the inner surface of the bottom portion 33 are inclined upward from the convex portion 30a toward the side wall portion 34.

[0065] The side wall portion 34 is formed to be connected to the other end of the bottom portion 33 and to extend upward from the bottom portion 33. The side wall portion 34 has a cylindrical shape, and in this embodiment, a circular cylindrical shape. The side wall portion 34 is coaxially arranged with the small diameter portion 21 and the large diameter portion 23. For example, the diameter of the side wall portion 34 is equal to the diameter of the large diameter portion 23.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the thicknesses of the convex portion 30 a , the bottom portion 33 , and the side wall portion 34 are the same, but may be different from each other, for example.

[0067] The resin member 40 is at least partially located within the lower housing 30 and covers a portion of the conductor 50 (specifically, the retaining portion 52). The resin member 40 can also be said to retain the retaining portion 52. Furthermore, the resin member 40 is part of the component forming the space 70. The resin member 40 includes an embedded portion 41, a first cylindrical portion 42, and a second cylindrical portion 43.

[0068] The embedded portion 41 is the portion of the resin member 40 in which the conductor 50 is embedded (specifically, the retaining portion 52). For example, the embedded portion 41 is partially exposed from the housing. A through-hole is formed in the embedded portion 41 for arranging the conductor 50 (specifically, the retaining portion 52). The embedded portion 41 constitutes a portion of the first cylindrical portion 42.

[0069] The first cylindrical portion 42 is the portion of the resin member 40 disposed within the housing. When the shutoff operation is not in progress (when gas is not being generated by the igniter 10), the pusher 60 is disposed within it. In other words, the first cylindrical portion 42 is located between the housing and the pusher 60. The inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 42 is smaller than that of the second cylindrical portion 43.

[0070] The second cylindrical portion 43 is a portion of the resin member 40 that is disposed within the housing and is located below the first cylindrical portion 42. The diameter of the second cylindrical portion 43 is larger than that of the first cylindrical portion 42. For example, the inner diameter d2 of the second cylindrical portion 43 (see Figure 2A ) is larger than the inner diameter d1 of the first cylindrical portion 42 (refer to Figure 2A ) is larger. This increases the volume of the lower side of space 70. This suppresses the increase in pressure within the housing caused by the gas generated by igniter 10 and the movement of thruster 60 caused by this gas, thereby suppressing deformation of cutting device 1. Furthermore, the inner diameter d2 of second cylindrical portion 43 is smaller than the inner diameter d3 of insulating member 110. In other words, the inner diameter increases in the order of first cylindrical portion 42, second cylindrical portion 43, insulating member 110, and lower housing 30.

[0071] The second cylindrical portion 43 has an end portion 43a on the lower side. The end portion 43a is disposed in the lower housing 30, for example, below the elastic member 96. The end portion 43a is formed into a tapered shape with an inner diameter increasing downward, for example, but the shape of the end portion 43a is not limited to a tapered shape.

[0072] Thus, the pusher 60 moves in the space 70 formed by the first cylindrical portion 42 and the second cylindrical portion 43. In addition, the first cylindrical portion 42 and the second cylindrical portion 43 are not limited to having different inner diameters, and the inner diameters may be the same.

[0073] The conductor 50 is a conductive metal member partially located inside the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30. When the disconnect device 1 is installed in a predetermined circuit, the conductor 50 forms part of that circuit and is also called a bus bar. The conductor 50 is a flat plate-shaped member held by the resin member 40 and extending across the interiors of the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30. The conductor 50 has a separating portion 51 and a retaining portion 52.

[0074] The separation portion 51 is a portion of the conductor 50 that is separated by the pusher 60 that receives the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter 10 , and is located below the pusher 60 in the initial position.

[0075] The retaining portion 52 is the portion of the conductor 50 that is connected to the separating portion 51 and is retained by the resin member 40. The retaining portion 52 is the portion that does not overlap with the pusher 60 when viewed from above, for example, the portion that overlaps with the resin member 40 when viewed from above and the portion located outside the housing. The retaining portion 52 remains retained by the resin member 40 even after the separating portion 51 is cut.

[0076] The conductor 50 can be formed of a metal such as copper (Cu). However, the conductor 50 may be formed of a metal other than copper or an alloy of copper and another metal. For example, the conductor 50 may contain manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), or the like.

[0077] The pusher 60 is located below the igniter 10 and is configured to be movable downward. When a system abnormality occurs, it moves downward to cut off the conductor 50 and urgently cut off the conduction in the circuit. In this way, the pusher 60 is configured to withstand the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter 10 and separate the separation portion 51 from the conductor 50. In this way, the pusher 60 is configured to be located at the first position between the separation portion 51 and the igniter 10 (see Figure 2A ), from the first position toward the second position (refer to Figure 2B The second position is, for example, the position of the pusher 60 when the pusher 60 moves downward together with the separator 51 and the separator 51 contacts the convex portion 30a.

[0078] The pusher 60 is formed of an insulating member such as a synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the pusher 60 is formed of nylon. The pusher 60 has a cylindrical shape and an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 21 of the upper shell 20. In addition, the pusher 60 has a recess 61, and the igniter 10 is arranged inside the recess 61. The shape of the pusher 60 is not limited to the above content and can be appropriately changed according to the shapes of the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 30. The recess 61 is the upper portion of the pusher 60, or the portion with a recess facing downward.

[0079] The recessed portion 61 includes a first portion 62 and a second portion 63. When viewed from above, the first portion 62 has a larger diameter (e.g., inner diameter) than the first cylindrical portion 81 of the protective portion 80. The second portion 63 is located below the first portion 62 and has a larger diameter (e.g., inner diameter) than the second cylindrical portion 82. When viewed from above, the diameter of the first portion 62 is larger than that of the second portion 63. For example, when viewed in cross section, the inner wall of the first portion 62 has a tapered shape, with the diameter decreasing toward the second portion 63. However, the inner wall may also have a stepped shape, with the diameter decreasing in stages.

[0080] The protection portion 80 is a component for suppressing the following situation: when the igniter 10 generates gas, the pusher 60 is Figure 2B Specifically, the protection portion 80 is a member that serves as a barrier to the situation where the opening portion 11a is widely opened, thereby preventing the opening portion 11a opened by the igniter 10 from coming into contact with the pusher 60 and causing damage to the recessed portion 61 of the pusher 60.

[0081] Protective portion 80 is provided in the housing (e.g., upper housing 20) or igniter 10 and has a portion located within recess 61. In this embodiment, protective portion 80 is provided in the housing (specifically, small-diameter portion 21). Protective portion 80 is secured to small-diameter portion 21 by welding, for example, but the securing method is not limited thereto.

[0082] like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , the protection portion 80 includes a first cylindrical portion 81 and a second cylindrical portion 82. The first cylindrical portion 81 and the second cylindrical portion 82 are integrally formed.

[0083] The first cylindrical portion 81 is a cylindrical portion that surrounds the lateral sides of the igniter 10 and has a shape that conforms to the igniter 10. In this embodiment, when viewed in cross-section, the first cylindrical portion 81 is formed into a stepped shape (e.g., a two-step shape) in which the diameter (e.g., inner diameter) gradually decreases as it goes downward. The shape of the first cylindrical portion 81 is not limited to this; for example, the first cylindrical portion 81 may have a tapered shape in which the diameter decreases as it goes downward, or may have other shapes.

[0084] At least a portion of the first cylindrical portion 81 may be in contact with the igniter 10. At the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 81, the second cylindrical portion 82 is arranged.

[0085] The first cylindrical portion 81 also has a flange portion 83 at its upper portion. The flange portion 83 is an annular portion (e.g., a plate-shaped member) that protrudes outward from the upper end of the first cylindrical portion 81 when viewed from above, and is secured to the small-diameter portion 21 by welding or the like. For example, at least a portion of the flange portion 83 is positioned between the first portion 62 and the small-diameter portion 21. Thus, the first cylindrical portion 81 has a portion connected to the housing and is secured to the housing.

[0086] The second cylindrical portion 82 is an annular portion located below the first cylindrical portion 81 and having a smaller diameter (e.g., inner diameter) than the first cylindrical portion 81. The second cylindrical portion 82 projects linearly from the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 81 toward the negative Z-axis side and contacts the cover portion 11 when gas is generated. The lower end of the second cylindrical portion 82 (the end on the negative Z-axis side, e.g., the lowermost end) is located below (on the negative Z-axis side) the lower end of the cover portion 11 (the end on the negative Z-axis side, e.g., the lowermost end) when gas is not being generated.

[0087] The protection portion 80 is formed of metal such as stainless steel (SUS), but may be formed of other metals such as aluminum, or may be formed of resin (eg, a resin different from that of the pusher 60 ).

[0088] like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown in FIG, etc., the elastic members 90, 92, 94, and 96 are elastic members such as rubber and are O-rings formed in an annular shape. The elastic members 90, 92, 94, and 96 are arranged in a pressed state (deformed state).

[0089] Elastic member 90 is disposed in a space formed between fixing member 100, igniter 10, and small-diameter portion 21. Fixing member 100 is used to fix igniter 10 disposed in recess 61. Elastic member 90 is in contact with fixing member 100, igniter 10, and small-diameter portion 21, respectively, and is, for example, pressed by fixing member 100, igniter 10, and small-diameter portion 21, respectively.

[0090] The elastic member 92 is located between the housing and the pusher 60 and is configured to be pressed by the housing and to press the outer side surface of the pusher 60. In addition, the elastic member 92 is arranged along the outer side surface of the pusher 60. In this embodiment, the elastic member 92 is arranged in the space formed between the housing (e.g., the connecting portion 22), the pusher 60, and the resin member 40 to prevent the internal space of the recess 61 from being spatially connected to the space outside the internal space (e.g., the space between the pusher 60 and the resin member 40). The elastic member 92 prevents the gas generated by the igniter 10 from leaking from the internal space of the recess 61 to the external space. As a result, it is possible to prevent the gas generated by the igniter 10 from escaping from the internal space of the recess 61, causing the pressure of the gas in the recess 61 to drop.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the elastic member 92 is in contact with (eg, surface contact with) the housing, the pusher 60 , and the resin member 40 , and is pressed by, for example, the housing, the pusher 60 , and the resin member 40 .

[0092] like Figure 2A As shown, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 92 when pressed is triangular, but the shape is not limited thereto. Furthermore, as long as the internal space of the recess 61 and the conductor 50 can be spatially separated after pressing, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 92 when not pressed is not particularly limited and may be circular, polygonal (e.g., quadrilateral), or elliptical.

[0093] In this specification, “pressing” includes not only a case where one member presses another member, but also a case where the one member or the other member is pressed by a rebound force generated by elastic deformation of the other member.

[0094] Elastic member 94 is positioned above conductor 50, in the space formed between a circumferential recess formed in resin member 40 and the housing (e.g., large-diameter portion 23). This prevents the space above conductor 50 from being spatially connected to the external space. In this embodiment, elastic member 94 is positioned between resin member 40 and large-diameter portion 23, making contact therewith, and is, for example, pressed by both.

[0095] Elastic member 96 is positioned below conductor 50, in the space defined between a circumferential recess formed in resin member 40 and lower housing 30 (e.g., sidewall 34). This prevents the space below conductor 50 from being spatially connected to the external space. In this embodiment, elastic member 96 is positioned between and in contact with resin member 40 and sidewall 34, for example, being pressed by both.

[0096] Furthermore, the elastic members 94 and 96 are not limited to being arranged in the circumferential recess without a gap, and a gap may be formed in at least one of the vertical directions.

[0097] The insulating member 110 is an insulating member located within the lower housing 30 and below the separator 51. The insulating member 110 preferably has a shape that conforms to the shape of the lower housing 30. For example, if the lower housing 30 has an inclined portion (such as the bottom 33), the insulating member 110 preferably also has an inclined portion (such as the partially inclined portion of the second portion 112). In this embodiment, the insulating member 110 is formed as a layer with a constant thickness along the inner surface of the lower housing 30. Alternatively, the insulating member 110 may be thinner than the thickness of the lower housing 30.

[0098] The insulating member 110 includes a first portion 111 and a second portion 112 .

[0099] The first portion 111 is a portion of the insulating member 110 that has a shape that conforms to the convex portion 30a and covers the inner surface of the convex portion 30a. For example, the first portion 111 is provided to cover the top of the convex portion 30a. In this embodiment, the first portion 111 is provided to contact the inner surface of the convex portion 30a.

[0100] The second portion 112 is located below the first portion 111 and covers the inner surface of the bottom 33. In this embodiment, the second portion 112 is configured not to contact the bottom 33 before the cutting operation. As a result, a gap 72 (see FIG. 1 ) is provided between the insulating member 110 and the lower housing 30 (e.g., the bottom 33) (between the lower surface of the second portion 112 and the bottom 33) that is located below the insulating member 110. Figure 2A ). The gap 72 is an example of a clearance.

[0101] By providing the gap 72, the insulating member 110 can move (deform) toward the gap 72 when the protrusion 30a is deformed, thereby preventing the insulating member 110 from being damaged by stress. In addition, the second portion 112 also covers a portion of the inner surface of the side wall portion 34. When the portion of the second portion 112 provided along the inner surface of the side wall portion 34 is defined as the end portion 113, Figure 2A In the example, the inner diameter d3 of the insulating member 110 is the distance in the Y-axis direction between the radially opposing end portions 113 .

[0102] The size of the gap 72 can be determined in accordance with the size of the assumed deformation of the convex portion 30 a by making the height (length in the Z-axis direction) of the convex portion 30 a larger than the height of the convex shape of the insulating member 110 .

[0103] The first portion 111 and the second portion 112 are integrally formed. The insulating member 110 is formed of, for example, an insulating resin (eg, a synthetic resin). For example, the insulating member 110 is formed by molding the resin.

[0104] Alternatively, the insulating member 110 may be formed by coating the inner surface of the lower housing 30 with an insulating material. For example, the insulating member 110 may be formed by coating the inner surface of the lower housing 30 with an insulating material so as to cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30. In this case, the insulating member 110 and the lower housing 30 are integrally formed.

[0105] like Figure 2A and Figure 2BAs shown, the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 cover the inner surface of the lower shell 30 before and after the cutting action. The resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 may also cover the inner surface of the lower shell 30 in a manner such that the inner surface of the lower shell 30 is not exposed. In addition, the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 partially overlap when viewed in the radial direction. Specifically, the end 113 of the insulating member 110 overlaps with the end 43a of the resin member 40 in the radial direction. More specifically, the lower end 43b of the end 43a of the resin member 40 is located below the upper end 113a of the end 113 of the insulating member 110. The lower end 43b is located below the upper end 113a along the circumferential direction. In addition, since the end 113 is located at a position closer to the outside than the end 43a, the end 113 is located between the end 43a and the lower shell 30.

[0106] The end portion 113 and the end portion 43a overlap in the Z-axis direction by, for example, 1 mm or more, more preferably 3 mm or more, and even more preferably 5 mm or more. 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm are lengths in the Z-axis direction.

[0107] In addition, a gap 74 is provided between the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a. The gap 74 may be provided over the entire circumference or partially therein. The gap 74 is a narrow space that allows the high-temperature conductive gas generated by the arc during the cutting operation to cool the conductive gas during its passage. The width of the gap 74 (the distance between the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a, Figure 2A In the example, the length in the Y-axis direction) is 1 mm or less, for example, 0.5 mm or less. The width of gap 74 is the average value of the distance between end 113 and end 43a in the circumferential direction, but may also be a maximum value, minimum value, mode value, median value, etc.

[0108] This cools the high-temperature conductive gas as it flows into the gap 74, thereby reducing its conductivity. Since the conductivity of the conductive gas flowing out of the gap 74 is reduced, even if the conductive gas contacts the lower housing 30, it is possible to prevent the conductor 50 from becoming conductive again.

[0109] In addition, it is not necessary to provide the gap 74. That is, the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a may be in contact with each other over the entire circumference.

[0110] Here, further reference Figures 3A to 4C The structures of the insulating member 110 and the lower case 30 will be described. Figure 3A This is a perspective view of the insulating member 110 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. Figure 3B It is a front view showing the insulating member 110 according to this embodiment. Figure 3CThis is a perspective view of the insulating member 110 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. Figure 3A It is designed to be viewed from above Figure 3B The insulating member 110 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the insulating member 110 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis. Figure 3C It is designed to be viewed from below Figure 3B The insulating member 110 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the insulating member 110 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis.

[0111] like Figure 3A to Figure 3C As shown, first portion 111 of insulating member 110 is a hollow, bottomless, truncated conical member. Second portion 112 includes end 113 and an inclined portion connecting end 113 to first portion 111. The inclined portion has a tapered shape with an increasing inner diameter toward end 113. End 113 is a bottomless cylindrical member extending in the Z-axis direction.

[0112] Figure 4A This is a perspective view of the lower case 30 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. Figure 4B It is a front view showing the lower case 30 of this embodiment. Figure 4C This is a perspective view of the lower case 30 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. Figure 4A It is designed to be viewed from above Figure 4B The lower housing 30 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the lower housing 30 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis. Figure 4C It is designed to be viewed from below Figure 4B The lower housing 30 shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the lower housing 30 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis.

[0113] like Figures 4A to 4C As shown, the protrusion 30a of the lower shell 30 is a hollow, bottomless truncated conical member. The bottom 33 is a cone whose inner diameter increases as it goes toward the side wall portion 34. The side wall portion 34 is a bottomless cylindrical member extending in the Z-axis direction. The length of the side wall portion 34 in the Z-axis direction is longer than the length of the end portion 113 in the Z-axis direction. In addition, the inner diameter of the side wall portion 34 is larger than the inner diameter d3 of the end portion 113. The side wall portion 34 is configured to cover the end portion 113 from the outside. The fixing portion 35 is a portion for fixing the upper shell 20 and the lower shell 30 together, and is provided to protrude upward from the side wall portion 34. The fixing portion 35 is joined to a fixing portion (not shown) provided to protrude downward in the upper shell 20 by welding or the like.

[0114] As described above, the cutting device 1 has a structure in which the inner surface of the lower case 30 is not exposed and parts of the insulating resin members (the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 ) overlap when viewed in the radial direction.

[0115] (Implementation Method 2)

[0116] Below, refer to Figures 5 to 6C The structure of the cutting device of this embodiment will be described. Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device 2 of this embodiment before the cutting operation. Figure 6A This is a perspective view of the insulating member 210 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. Figure 6B It is a front view showing the insulating member 210 of this embodiment. Figure 6C This is a perspective view of the insulating member 210 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. Figure 6A It is designed to be viewed from above Figure 6B The insulating member 210 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the insulating member 210 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis. Figure 6C It is designed to be viewed from below Figure 6B The insulating member 210 is a perspective view obtained by rotating the insulating member 210 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis.

[0117] The following description will focus on the differences from Embodiment 1, and the description of the same or similar contents as Embodiment 1 will be omitted or simplified. The cutting device 2 of this embodiment differs from the cutting device 1 of Embodiment 1 in that the lower housing 230 does not have the protrusion 30a and has a flat bottom surface.

[0118] like Figure 5 As shown, the cutting device 2 includes a lower case 230 instead of the lower case 30 of the cutting device 1 , and includes an insulating member 210 instead of the insulating member 110 .

[0119] The lower housing 230 includes a plate-shaped portion 230a, a bottom portion 33, and a side wall portion 34. The plate-shaped portion 230a, the bottom portion 33, and the side wall portion 34 are integrally formed.

[0120] The plate-shaped portion 230a is a flat plate-shaped member, and in this embodiment, is disk-shaped. The inner surface of the plate-shaped portion 230a is flat.

[0121] like Figures 5 to 6C As shown, the insulating member 210 has a shape that follows the shape of the lower case 230. The insulating member 210 has a first portion 211 and a second portion 112.

[0122] The first portion 211 is disposed opposite the plate-like portion 230a and covers the inner surface of the plate-like portion 230a. The first portion 211 is a flat plate-shaped member, and in this embodiment, is disc-shaped. In this embodiment, the first portion 211 does not contact the plate-like portion 230a before the cutting operation, but is disposed at a predetermined distance therefrom.

[0123] The second portion 212 is located above the first portion 211 and covers the inner surface of the bottom portion 33 and a portion of the inner surface of the side wall portion 34. In this embodiment, the second portion 112 is configured not to contact the bottom portion 33 before the cutting operation.

[0124] Thus, a gap 74 is provided between the insulating member 210 and the lower case 230 .

[0125] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is described in which the end 113 of the insulating member 210 is radially disposed between the end 43a of the resin member 40 and the lower housing 230. However, the end of the resin member may also be disposed between the end of the insulating member and the lower housing. A cutting device having such a structure will be described in the following modified example.

[0126] (Variation of Embodiment 2)

[0127] Below, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The structure of the cutting device according to this modification will be described. Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device 2a of this modification before the cutting operation. Figure 8 1 is a front view showing an insulating member 210 a according to this modification.

[0128] like Figure 7 As shown, the cutting device 2a includes an insulating member 210a in place of the insulating member 210 of the cutting device 2, and includes a resin member 40 having an end 243a in place of the end 43a. As described above, the cutting device 2a is configured such that the end 243a of the resin member 40 is located between the end 213a of the insulating member 210a and the lower housing 230.

[0129] The end portion 243 a has an inclined surface whose outer surface contacts the lower housing 230 and whose inner surface is inclined.

[0130] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the insulating member 210a has a shape that follows the shape of the lower case 230 and the end portion 243a. The insulating member 210a has a first portion 211 and a second portion 212a.

[0131] The second portion 212a is located above the first portion 211 and covers the inner surface of the bottom 33 and the inner surface (inclined surface) of the end portion 243a. In this embodiment, the second portion 212a is configured so that it does not contact the bottom 33 before the cutting operation, while the end portion 213a contacts the inner surface of the end portion 243a. The end portion 213a has a shape that conforms to the inner surface of the end portion 243a and contacts the inner surface of the end portion 243a over the entire circumference. The end portion 213a has a tapered shape, with the inner diameter decreasing as it goes upward.

[0132] As described above, the cutting device 2a has a structure in which the inner surface of the lower shell 230 is not exposed, and parts of the insulating resin members (resin member 40 and insulating member 210a) are overlapped in the order of insulating member 210a and resin member 40 in the circumferential outward direction.

[0133] (Implementation Method 3)

[0134] Below, refer to Figures 9 to 10B The structure of the cutting device of this embodiment will be described. Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the cutting device 3 of this embodiment before the cutting operation. Figure 10A This is a perspective view of the insulating member 310 according to this embodiment as viewed from above. Figure 10B This is an exploded perspective view of the insulating member 310 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above.

[0135] The following description focuses on differences from Embodiment 1, and descriptions of the same or similar contents as Embodiment 1 are omitted or simplified. The cutting device 3 of this embodiment differs from the cutting device 1 of Embodiment 1 in that the insulating member 310 is composed of multiple members.

[0136] like Figure 9 As shown, the cutting device 3 includes an insulating member 310 instead of the insulating member 110 of the cutting device 1 .

[0137] like Figures 9 to 10B As shown, the insulating member 310 includes a first member 320 and a second member 330. The first member 320 and the second member 330 are separate. Separate here means that, in the installed state, the first member 320 and the second member 330 are physically separated. Separate can also mean that the first member 320 and the second member 330 are separate components and not fixed together. Separate can also mean that the first member 320 and the second member 330 are manufactured separately during the manufacturing process.

[0138] The first member 320 covers the convex portion 30a of the lower housing 30. For example, the first member 320 covers the top of the convex portion 30a. The first member 320 has a shape that conforms to the convex portion 30a, and its cross-sectional shape is a U-shaped shape rotated 180 degrees. The ends of the first member 320 are free ends and can deform under the stress of the pusher 60.

[0139] The second member 330 covers the bottom 33 of the lower housing 30. The second member 330 covers the bottom 33, the sidewall 34, and a portion of the protrusion 30a. The second member 330 has a shape that mainly follows the bottom 33 and the sidewall 34, and has a cross-sectional shape having two U-shaped portions.

[0140] The second member 330 is arranged to partially overlap the first member 320 when viewed in the radial direction. Thus, even when the insulating member 310 is composed of the separate first and second members 320 and 330, exposure of the inner surface of the lower housing 230 can be suppressed.

[0141] The second member 330 does not contact the first member 320 in the overlapping portion. In other words, a gap 76 is provided between the first and second members 320. Like gap 74, gap 76 is a narrow space that allows the high-temperature conductive gas generated by the arc during the interruption operation to cool during its passage. Furthermore, since the second member 330 does not contact the first member 320, the stress exerted on the first member 320 by the pusher 60 is prevented from being transferred to the second member 330. This prevents damage to the second member 330 due to the stress from the pusher 60.

[0142] The second member 330 has an end portion 113 , and the end portion 113 constitutes an end portion of the insulating member 310 .

[0143] like Figure 10A and Figure 10B As shown, the first member 320 and the second member 330 are detachably mounted. The first member 320 is simply placed on the second member 330. In other words, the first member 320 is simply placed on the second member 330 so as to cover the opening 331 formed at the top of the portion of the second member 330 that protrudes toward the interior space.

[0144] (Manufacturing method of cutting device)

[0145] Next, refer to Figure 11 A method for manufacturing the cutting device of each embodiment configured as described above will be described. Figure 11 1 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the cutting device 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 111 shows a manufacturing process of the cutting device 1 according to the first embodiment, and the same is true for the cutting devices 2, 2a, and 3 according to the other embodiments and modifications.

[0146] like Figure 11 As shown, the resin or metal upper housing 20 is manufactured by resin molding or metal molding (S10), the metal lower housing 30 is manufactured by metal molding (S20), and the insulating member 110 is manufactured by resin molding (S30). The order of steps S10 to S30 may be reversed, and at least two steps may be performed simultaneously.

[0147] Next, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are fixed together (S40). For example, with the igniter 10, resin member 40, conductor 50, pusher 60, protective portion 80, elastic members 90, 92, 94, 96, and insulating member 110 housed within, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are joined together by welding or the like. At this point, with the insulating member 110 housed so as to cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are joined together without any gaps. Thus, the aforementioned cutting device 1 is manufactured.

[0148] (Other Implementation Methods)

[0149] While one or more cutting devices have been described above based on various embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications of the present embodiments, as conceived by those skilled in the art, and configurations that combine components from different embodiments are also encompassed within the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0150] The order of the steps in the above-described method for manufacturing a cutting device may be reversed. Furthermore, the steps in the method for manufacturing a cutting device described in the above embodiments may be performed in a single step or in separate steps. Furthermore, the intention to perform steps in a single step includes situations where each step is performed using a single device, each step is performed continuously, or each step is performed in the same location. Furthermore, the intention to perform steps in separate steps includes situations where each step is performed using different devices, each step is performed at different times (e.g., different days), or each step is performed in different locations.

[0151] Industrial applicability

[0152] The present disclosure is useful for a cutting device disposed in an electric circuit or the like.

[0153] Description of Reference Numerals

[0154] 1, 2, 2a, 3, cutting device; 10, igniter; 11, cover; 11a, opening; 20, upper shell; 21, small diameter portion; 22, connecting portion; 23, large diameter portion; 30, 230, lower shell (cover member); 30a, protrusion; 33, bottom; 34, side wall; 35, fixing portion; 40, resin member; 41, embedded portion; 42, 81, first barrel; 43, 82, second barrel; 43a, 113, 213a, 243a, end portion; 43b, lower end; 50, conductor; 51, separation portion; 52, holding part; 60, pushing member; 61, recess; 62, 111, 211, first part; 63, 112, 212, 212a, second part; 70, space; 72, gap (gap); 74, 76, gap; 80, protective part; 83, flange part; 90, 92, 94, 96, elastic member; 100, fixing member; 110, 210, 210a, 310, insulating member; 113a, upper end; 230a, plate-shaped part; 320, first member; 330, second member; 331, opening; d1, d2, d3, inner diameter.

Claims

1. A cutting device, wherein: The cutting device has: an igniter capable of generating gas; a propulsion member located below the igniter; a conductor having a separation portion located below the propulsion member and a holding portion connected to the separation portion; a cover member located below the separation portion and made of metal; an insulating member located inside the cover member and below the separating portion; as well as a resin member at least partially located inside the cover member and holding the holding portion, The pusher is configured to separate the separation portion from the conductor by receiving the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter. The resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member, The end portion of the insulating member overlaps with the end portion of the resin member, A lower end of the end portion of the resin member is located below an upper end of the end portion of the insulating member.

2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein: The end portion of the insulating member is located between the end portion of the resin member and the cover member.

3. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein: The end portion of the resin member is located between the end portion of the insulating member and the cover member.

4. The cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The cover member has a convex portion located below the insulating member, The convex portion protrudes upward and can be pressed by the pusher.

5. The cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein A gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member, The gap is located below the insulating member.

6. The cutting device according to claim 4, wherein: A gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member, The insulating member has: a first portion covering a top portion of the convex portion of the cover member; and The second part is located below the first part, The second portion covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, The gap is located between the bottom portion of the cover member and the lower surface of the second portion.

7. The cutting device according to claim 4, wherein: The insulating member has: a first member that covers the top of the convex portion of the cover member; and a second member arranged to overlap a portion of the first member; The second member covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, The first member and the second member are separate bodies.

8. The cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The resin member has: an embedded portion in which the retaining portion is embedded; a first cylindrical portion, wherein the propulsion member is disposed inside the first cylindrical portion; as well as The second cylindrical portion is located below the first cylindrical portion and has a diameter larger than that of the first cylindrical portion. The inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating member.

Images