Self-cutoff cable

Abstract

The application provides a self-circuit breaking cable, which comprises a protective layer, a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel in the protective layer, and a plurality of groups of circuit breaking connecting sleeves arranged between the conductors and the protective layer, wherein the circuit breaking connecting sleeve comprises two sleeve bodies arranged coaxially and in parallel, and a separation assembly is arranged on the part of the opposite end surfaces of the sleeve bodies which is not passed through by the conductors, and the separation assembly pushes the two sleeve bodies away from each other after being heated; the conductor comprises a conductive section and a separation section, and the separation section is internally prepared from a low-toughness and easy-to-break material. The application can realize automatic disconnection of the cable in a high-temperature environment, avoid partial melting of the conductor wire to form a short circuit and further cause a battery to burn and explode, and provide more sufficient reaction time for personnel to escape, thereby greatly improving the safety performance of new energy vehicles, ships and other equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wire and cable technology, and more particularly to self-disconnecting cables. Background Technology

[0002] Cables are common devices for transmitting electrical energy or signals. They consist of one or more insulated conductors and an outer insulating protective layer, carrying electricity or information from one point to another. Modern cables typically consist of several or groups of conductors (each group containing at least two conductors) twisted together, with each group insulated from the others, often twisted around a central conductor, and the entire cable covered with a highly insulating outer layer. Cables are characterized by being internally energized and externally insulated.

[0003] Cables are classified in many different ways according to their function and application. The main types of wires and cables used in power systems include overhead bare wires, busbars, power cables (plastic-insulated cables, paper-insulated cables (mostly replaced by plastic-insulated power cables), rubber-sheathed cables, and overhead insulated cables), branch cables (replacing some busbars), magnet wires, and electrical equipment wires and cables for power equipment. Wires and cables used in information transmission systems mainly include telephone cables, television cables, electronic cables, radio frequency cables, fiber optic cables, data cables, magnet wires, power communication cables, or other composite cables.

[0004] With the development of new energy technologies, cables are widely used in solar and wind power generation projects, as well as in transportation vehicles such as electric vehicles and electric ships. For these energy-intensive devices, especially new energy vehicles like electric cars and ships, there are additional new demands on cables. For example, cables need to have high fire resistance, high reliability, and lightweight properties. However, current cables used in electric vehicles still have certain shortcomings. Electric vehicles have high-density batteries, and if a short circuit occurs in the internal cables due to high temperatures, it could trigger a rapid and violent combustion of the batteries, leading to significant injuries or fatalities. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a cable specifically designed for new energy vehicles that can automatically disconnect under high-temperature conditions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a self-disconnecting cable, which solves the problem that in the existing technology, when the internal cable of a new energy vehicle short-circuits due to high temperature and other factors, it may cause the battery to burn rapidly and violently, resulting in serious casualties. Therefore, there is a need for a cable that can disconnect itself under high temperature conditions.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a self-disconnecting cable includes a protective layer, a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel within the protective layer, and a plurality of sets of disconnecting connection sleeves arranged between the conductors and the protective layer. The disconnecting connection sleeves are intermittently arranged along the cable extension direction, and each set of disconnecting connection sleeves is sleeved in parallel outside all conductors in the same area. Each disconnecting connection sleeve includes two sleeve bodies arranged coaxially in parallel. The sleeve body is tightly connected to the outer wall of the conductor passing through the sleeve body. A separation component is provided on the portion of the opposite end face of the sleeve body that does not pass through the conductor. When heated, the separation component pushes the two sleeve bodies away from each other.

[0007] The conductor includes a conductive section and a separating section. The separating section is located inside the circuit-breaking connection sleeve. The separating section is made of a low-toughness, easily broken material, so that when the two sleeves move away from each other, the separating section will be pulled and break, thereby disconnecting the circuit connection.

[0008] Furthermore, a connecting frame is provided between the same group of circuit breaker connecting sleeves. The connecting frame is a rigid plastic structure. The connecting frame fills the radially adjacent empty area between the same group of circuit breaker connecting sleeves, connecting several sleeves located on the same side into an integral structure.

[0009] Furthermore, the separation assembly is disposed on the connecting frame of the two sleeves at opposite ends. The separation assembly includes an inner rod and an outer rod that are nested together. Both the inner rod and the outer rod are hollow sleeve structures, and the outer wall of the inner rod is in close sliding contact with the inner wall of the outer rod. The inner rod is filled with a thermosensitive expansion material. When the inner rod and the outer rod slide away from each other until they are no longer in contact, the separation section of the conductor breaks.

[0010] Furthermore, the two sleeves of the circuit breaker are provided with connectors on their opposite end faces. The connectors are made of elastic material. When the connectors are in an unstressed state, the separation components are in a non-separated state.

[0011] Furthermore, the interior of the sleeve is provided with a hollow area surrounding the conductor, and the hollow area is provided with a thermosensitive expansion material.

[0012] Furthermore, the inner wall of the hollowed-out area corresponding to the conductor side is a stretchable elastic structure.

[0013] Preferably, the thermosensitive expansion material is a thermosensitive expansion polymer, including expanded polystyrene, expanded polyamide, vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyvinylidene chloride.

[0014] Preferably, the conductive segment material of the conductor includes one of copper, aluminum, copper-aluminum alloy, or graphene composite material.

[0015] Preferably, the conductor separation segment material includes one of graphite, metallic graphite, and metal oxide-doped nano-graphite.

[0016] Furthermore, the outer surface of the protective layer is provided with a different colored indicator coating at the position corresponding to the circuit breaker connection sleeve.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] This invention incorporates a circuit-breaking connecting sleeve at the midpoint of the cable, dividing the cable into multiple segments. The connecting sleeve contains two sleeves positioned one behind the other, separated by a separation component that allows for thermal separation. Simultaneously, the conductor corresponding to the separated section of the connecting sleeve is made of a low-toughness, easily fractured material. Therefore, when the sleeves separate due to heat, the internal separated section is stretched, leading to its breakage and ultimately the cable disconnection. This method enables automatic cable disconnection in high-temperature environments, preventing partial melting of the conductors and the resulting short circuits, which could lead to battery combustion and explosions, and provides ample reaction time for personnel to escape. This significantly improves the safety performance of equipment such as new energy vehicles and ships. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the axial cross-section of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 AA section diagram.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a cable reel used in conjunction with the present invention.

[0022] In the above figures: 1. Protective layer; 2. Conductor; 3. Circuit breaker sleeve; 4. Separation assembly; 5. Thermosensitive expansion material; 6. Connecting frame; 7. Connector; 8. Baffle; 9. Roller; 21. Conductive section; 22. Separation section; 31. Sleeve body; 32. Hollowed-out area; 41. Inner rod; 42. Outer rod. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment of the invention proposes a self-breaking-circuit cable, including a protective layer 1, several conductors 2 arranged side-by-side within the protective layer 1, and several sets of circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3 arranged between the conductors 2 and the protective layer 1. The circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3 are intermittently arranged along the cable's extension direction, with adjacent sets of circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3 evenly distributed at equal intervals, and each set of circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3 is fitted side-by-side onto the outside of all conductors 2 in the same area. In this embodiment, four conductors 2 are arranged side-by-side in a cross shape inside the protective layer 1, thus each set has four circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3. It should be noted that the length of the circuit-breaking connecting sleeve 3 is 1.5-2.5 times the cable diameter, therefore it does not affect the cable's flexibility and bending effect. In addition, the outer surface of the protective layer 1 is provided with a different colored indicator coating corresponding to the positions of the circuit-breaking connecting sleeves 3. Therefore, during use, it can be ensured that the cut portion of the cable has a circuit-breaking connecting sleeve 3, thereby guaranteeing its high-temperature self-breaking-circuit function. In this embodiment, the protective layer 1 is made of PVC material, and a cross-linked polyethylene insulating material is also provided between the protective layer 1 and the conductors 2.

[0025] In this embodiment, the circuit breaker sleeve 3 includes two sleeves 31 arranged coaxially side by side. Each sleeve 31 is tightly connected to the outer wall of the conductor 2 passing through it. A separation component 4 is provided on the portion of the opposite end face of each sleeve 31 that does not pass through the conductor 2. When heated, the separation component 4 pushes the two sleeves 31 away from each other. Correspondingly, the conductor 2 includes a conductive section 21 and a separation section 22. The separation section 22 is located inside the circuit breaker sleeve 3 and is made of a low-toughness, easily fractured material. This material causes the separation section 22 to break when the two sleeves 31 move away from each other. Therefore, under high temperatures, the separation component 4 drives the sleeves 31 away from each other, thereby stretching the internal separation section 22 and causing it to break, resulting in the cable disconnection.

[0026] In a further embodiment, a connecting frame 6 is provided between the same group of circuit breaker connecting sleeves 3. The connecting frame 6 is a rigid plastic structure. The connecting frame 6 fills the radially adjacent empty areas between the same group of circuit breaker connecting sleeves 3, connecting several sleeves 31 located on the same side into a whole structure. Considering that the four conductors 2 are distributed in a cross shape in this embodiment, the connecting frame 6 is a square column structure. Its four edges are respectively connected to four parallel circuit breaker connecting sleeves 3, forming a stable whole structure, increasing the compressive strength of the location of the circuit breaker connecting sleeve 3, and preventing it from being damaged by external pressure on the cable.

[0027] In the specific design, the separation component 4 is mounted on the connecting frame 6 on the opposite end faces of the two sleeves 31. Since the connecting frame 6 is a square column in this embodiment, the separation component 4 is installed at the center of the connecting frame 6, without affecting the passage of the conductor 2. The separation component 4 includes an inner rod 41 and an outer rod 42 that are nested together. Both the inner rod 41 and the outer rod 42 are hollow sleeve structures, and the outer wall of the inner rod 41 is in close sliding contact with the inner wall of the outer rod 42. The inner rod 41 is filled with a thermosensitive expansion material 5. When the inner rod 41 and the outer rod 42 slide away from each other until they are no longer in contact, the separation section 22 of the conductor 2 breaks.

[0028] In addition, in this embodiment, the two sleeves 31 of the circuit breaker connecting sleeve 3 are provided with connectors 7 on their opposite end faces. The connectors 7 are made of elastic material, and when the connectors 7 are not under stress, the separation component 4 is not separated. In this embodiment, the connectors 7 are made of elastic silicone, which has strong flexibility and tensile strength, thereby keeping the two sleeves 31 tightly connected. This prevents the two sleeves 31 of the circuit breaker connecting sleeve 3 from separating under normal temperature conditions due to external pressure or other unexpected factors, thus avoiding a circuit break.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, in a further preferred embodiment, the interior of the sleeve 31 is provided with a hollowed-out area 32 surrounding the conductor 2, and the hollowed-out area 32 is provided with a thermosensitive expansion material 5. When heated, the thermosensitive expansion material 5 in the hollowed-out area 32 will also collide, thereby compressing the conductor 2 inside the sleeve 31, making the conductor 2 and the sleeve 31 more tightly bonded. This allows the separated section 22 of the conductor 2 to be better subjected to the tensile force of the sleeve 31 separating from each other and break, preventing the conductor 2 and the sleeve 31 from sliding against each other. Correspondingly, the inner wall of the hollowed-out area 32 on the side corresponding to the conductor 2 is a stretchable elastic structure, thus avoiding damage to the hollowed-out area 32 due to internal collisions and better maintaining its function.

[0030] Preferably, the thermosensitive expansion material 5 in this invention is a thermosensitive expansion polymer, including expanded polystyrene, expanded polyamide, vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyvinylidene chloride. In this embodiment, polyvinylidene chloride is preferably used as the thermosensitive expansion material 5. The conductive segment 21 of conductor 2 is made of one of copper, aluminum, copper-aluminum alloy, or graphene composite material. In this embodiment, copper is preferably used as the conductive segment 21 material, thus having better conductivity. The separating segment 22 of conductor 2 is made of one of graphite, metallic graphite, or metal oxide-doped nanographite. In this embodiment, metal oxide-doped nanographite is preferably used, and copper oxide-doped nanographite is even more preferably used, so that it has excellent conductivity while having a fracture function, without affecting the normal power transmission function of the cable.

[0031] To better disclose the technical solution of the present invention, a method for preparing copper oxide-doped nano-graphite is provided herein, the specific steps of which are as follows:

[0032] (1) An aqueous dispersion of nano-graphite powder with a concentration of 0.01–0.1 g / mL was prepared by ultrasonically dispersing the nano-graphite powder in a distilled aqueous solution:

[0033] (2) Dissolve copper sulfate in the nano-graphite powder dispersion obtained in the previous step, wherein the weight ratio of copper sulfate to nano-graphite powder is 0.1 to 0.4:1;

[0034] (3) Add sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to the mixture obtained in the previous step under stirring, wherein the molar ratio of alkali to copper ions is 3-6:1; control the reaction temperature at 15-85℃, react for 2-5 hours, then raise the temperature to 100℃ and continue aging for 12-24 hours, filter, wash with water and dry the obtained solid product at 120-150℃ to obtain the target product copper oxide doped nano-graphite.

[0035] Furthermore, considering that in the embodiments of the present invention, a relatively rigid circuit breaker sleeve 3 is embedded within a flexible cable, and that the conductor 2 separation section 22 inside the circuit breaker sleeve 3 is made of copper oxide-doped nano-graphite, which itself is a material with poor toughness and is easily broken, bending and winding the circuit breaker sleeve 3 when using a traditional cylindrical cable reel for storage may cause the conductor 2 separation section 22 inside to break directly, affecting the use of the product. Therefore, the following method is adopted... Figure 3 The special cable reel shown has round baffles 8 at both ends for easy movement and packaging. However, the central reel 9 has a square plate structure. By controlling the interval of the circuit breaker sleeve 3, the circuit breaker sleeve 3 is always in the flat area of ​​the square plate during each winding, so that the circuit breaker sleeve 3 will not bend during winding on the take-up reel.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-disconnecting cable, characterized in that: The cable includes a protective layer, several conductors arranged in parallel within the protective layer, and several sets of circuit breaker sleeves arranged between the conductors and the protective layer. The circuit breaker sleeves are intermittently arranged along the cable extension direction, and each set of circuit breaker sleeves is sleeved in parallel on the outside of all conductors in the same area. Each circuit breaker sleeve includes two sleeve bodies arranged coaxially in parallel. The sleeve body is tightly connected to the outer wall of the conductor passing through the sleeve body. The part of the opposite end face of the sleeve body that does not pass through the conductor is provided with a separation component. When heated, the separation component pushes the two sleeve bodies away from each other. The conductor includes a conductive section and a separating section. The separating section is located inside the circuit-breaking connection sleeve. The separating section is made of a low-toughness, easily broken material, so that when the two sleeves move away from each other, the separating section will be pulled and break, thereby disconnecting the circuit connection. The separation assembly is mounted on the connecting frame of the two sleeves at opposite ends. The separation assembly includes an inner rod and an outer rod that are nested together. Both the inner rod and the outer rod are hollow sleeve structures, and the outer wall of the inner rod is in close sliding contact with the inner wall of the outer rod. The inner rod is filled with a thermosensitive expansion material. When the inner rod and the outer rod slide away from each other until they lose contact, the separation section of the conductor breaks.

2. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A connecting frame is provided between the circuit breaker connecting sleeves in the same group. The connecting frame is a rigid plastic structure. The connecting frame fills the radially adjacent empty area between the circuit breaker connecting sleeves in the same group, connecting several sleeves located on the same side into an integral structure.

3. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The two sleeves of the circuit breaker are provided with connectors on their opposite end faces. The connectors are made of elastic material. When the connectors are in an unstressed state, the separation components are in an unseparated state.

4. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The sleeve has a hollowed-out area surrounding the conductor, and a thermosensitive expansion material is disposed in the hollowed-out area.

5. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The inner wall of the hollowed-out area corresponding to the conductor side is a stretchable elastic structure.

6. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 2 or 4, characterized in that: The thermosensitive expansion material is a thermosensitive expansion polymer, including expanded polystyrene, expanded polyamide, vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyvinylidene chloride.

7. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive segment material of the conductor includes one of copper, aluminum, copper-aluminum alloy, or graphene composite material.

8. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The conductor separation section material includes one of graphite, metallic graphite, and metal oxide-doped nano-graphite.

9. The self-disconnecting cable as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the protective layer is provided with a different colored indicator coating at the position corresponding to the circuit breaker connection sleeve.

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