Circuit breaking device

Abstract

The housing of the circuit breaking device is provided with: a resin conductor holding member which is penetrated by a cavity portion that extends in a predetermined direction and forms a part of an accommodation space, and which holds a conductor sheet such that a portion to be cut is located inside the cavity portion; and a reinforcing member that reinforces the conductor holding member, the reinforcing member being coupled to the conductor holding member so as to surround the periphery of the cavity portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker device. Background Art

[0002] In an electric circuit, a circuit breaker is sometimes provided, which urgently cuts off the conduction in the circuit by operating when an abnormality occurs in the equipment constituting the circuit or the system equipped with the circuit. As one solution, the following circuit breaker device has been proposed: by using energy imparted by an igniter or the like to move the emitter at high speed, the conductor piece (bus bar) forming part of the circuit is forcibly and physically cut off. In addition, in recent years, the importance of circuit breaker devices used in electric vehicles equipped with high-voltage power supplies has been increasing. As for the circuit breaker device, in order to ensure the electrical insulation performance after operation, the shell that holds the conductor piece is formed of a resin material.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: International Publication No. 2020 / 099486

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 6684170 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] In a circuit breaker device, if the resin casing holding the conductor piece is deformed or damaged by the impact generated when the radiator cuts through the conductor piece, it may affect the electrical insulation performance. Therefore, the casing is preferably stronger.

[0009] The technology disclosed herein has been developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technology capable of improving the strength of a case that holds a conductor piece in a circuit breaking device.

[0010] Solution to the problem (Solution 1)

[0011] To address the aforementioned issues, a circuit interrupting device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure employs the following configuration. Specifically, the circuit interrupting device comprises: a housing having an internal storage space extending in a predetermined direction; an igniter disposed in the housing; an emitter disposed in the storage space and, when the igniter is activated, being emitted along the storage space by receiving energy from the igniter; and a conductor sheet disposed in the housing so as to traverse the storage space and form a portion of an electrical circuit. The conductor sheet has a portion having a cutout portion formed to be cut out by the emitter when the igniter is activated, thereby interrupting the electrical circuit. The conductor sheet is disposed such that the cutout portion is located on a path of travel of the emitter within the storage space. The housing comprises: a resin conductor holding member extending through a cavity extending in the predetermined direction and forming a portion of the storage space; the conductor holding member holding the conductor sheet with the cutout portion located within the cavity; and a reinforcing member reinforcing the conductor holding member. The reinforcing member is coupled to the conductor holding member so as to surround the cavity.

[0012] (Scheme 2)

[0013] In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the reinforcing member may be made of metal.

[0014] (Scheme 3)

[0015] In the above-mentioned solution 1 or solution 2, the reinforcing member may be made of aluminum.

[0016] (Scheme 4)

[0017] In the above-mentioned solution 1 or 2, the reinforcing member may be formed of an iron-based material.

[0018] (Scheme 5)

[0019] In any one of the above-mentioned solutions 1 to 4, the reinforcing member may be integrally formed with the conductor holding member.

[0020] (Scheme 6)

[0021] In any one of the above-mentioned aspects 1 to 4, the reinforcing member, which is a separate body from the conductor holding member, may be fastened to the conductor holding member by a fastening member.

[0022] (Scheme 7)

[0023] In any one of the above-mentioned schemes 1 to 6, the shell may also have a shell component, which forms the accommodating space in cooperation with the conductor holding component by being installed on the conductor holding component, and the reinforcing component has an exposed portion exposed to the outside of the conductor holding component, and an installation hole is formed in the exposed portion for installing the shell component on the conductor holding component using a fastening component.

[0024] (Scheme 8)

[0025] In the seventh aspect, the mounting hole may be formed as a threaded hole, the fastening member may be formed as an external threaded member, and the case member may be fastened to the conductor holding member by screwing the threaded hole and the external threaded member together.

[0026] (Scheme 9)

[0027] In the above-mentioned solution 8, the mounting hole may be formed as a self-locking threaded hole with an anti-loosening structure.

[0028] (Scheme 10)

[0029] In any one of the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 9, the conductor holding member may include a pair of holding portions formed so as to sandwich the conductor sheet from the predetermined direction, and at least one reinforcing member may be provided on each of the pair of holding portions.

[0030] (Scheme 11)

[0031] In any one of the above-mentioned schemes 1 to 10, the shell may also have a shell component, which forms the accommodating space in cooperation with the conductor holding component by being installed on the conductor holding component, and in the shell component, a nut for installing the shell component on the conductor holding component using a bolt is integrally formed from a resin material.

[0032] Effects of the Invention

[0033] According to the present disclosure, in the circuit breaking device, the strength of the case holding the conductor piece can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1 It is an overall perspective view showing an initial state before operation of a circuit breaker device (hereinafter simply referred to as “breaker device”) according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The AA cross-sectional view is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the circuit breaker device in the embodiment in an initial state before operation.

[0036] Figure 3 It is a top view of the reinforcement frame of the embodiment.

[0037] Figure 4 It is a bottom view of the reinforcement frame of the embodiment.

[0038] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 BB cross-sectional view.

[0039] Figure 6 It is a top view of the conductor sheet according to the embodiment.

[0040] Figure 7 It is a top view of the conductor sheet assembly according to the embodiment.

[0041] Figure 8 It is a bottom view of the conductor sheet assembly according to the embodiment.

[0042] Figure 9 yes Figure 7 CC cross-sectional view.

[0043] Figure 10 It is a diagram showing an operating state of the circuit breaker device according to the embodiment.

[0044] Figure 11 It is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the circuit breaker device in the initial state before operation according to Modification 1 of the embodiment.

[0045] Figure 12 It is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of a circuit breaker device in a pre-operation initial state according to Modification 2 of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] <Implementation Method>

[0047] The following describes a circuit breaker device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the various components and their combinations described in the embodiments are merely examples, and additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications may be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments but only to the claims.

[0048] <Composition>

[0049] Figure 1 1 is an overall perspective view showing an initial state before operation of a circuit breaker device (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “breaker device”) 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The AA cross-sectional view is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the circuit breaker device 1 in the embodiment in the initial state before operation. Figure 1 and Figure 2The state of the circuit breaker device 1 before operation (referred to as the "initial state before operation") is shown in the figure. The circuit breaker device 1 is a device for preventing large losses by cutting off the circuit when a system abnormality occurs in a circuit included in an automobile, a home appliance, a solar power generation system, etc., or a battery (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) included in the circuit. Hereinafter, the direction along the accommodating space shown by the reference numeral 13 (i.e., the extension direction of the accommodating space 13 and an example of the "prescribed direction" of the present disclosure) is referred to as the "upper and lower directions (height directions)" of the circuit breaker device 1, the igniter side shown by the reference numeral 20 is set as the "upper side" of the upper and lower directions, and the bottom container side shown by the reference numeral 120 is set as the "lower side" of the upper and lower directions. In addition, the section along the upper and lower directions is referred to as the longitudinal section of the circuit breaker device 1, and the section in the direction perpendicular to the upper and lower directions is referred to as the cross-section of the circuit breaker device 1. In addition, the situation of visual confirmation along the upper and lower directions is referred to as "top view". Here, as Figure 2 As shown, in the circuit breaker device 1, the conductor piece indicated by reference numeral 50 crosses the accommodation space 13 in a manner perpendicular to the vertical direction. Hereinafter, the extending direction of the conductor piece 50 is referred to as the "width direction" of the circuit breaker device 1. Figure 2 However, in this specification, the vertical direction and the width direction of the circuit breaker device 1 are only used to indicate the relative positional relationship of the components of the circuit breaker device 1 for the convenience of explaining the embodiment.

[0050] like Figure 2 As shown, the circuit breaker device 1 includes a shell 10 as an outer shell member, an igniter 20, an emitter 40, a conductor sheet 50, a cooling member 60, and a fastening member 70. The shell 10 has a receiving space 13 as a space extending from a first end portion 11 on the upper end side toward a second end portion 12 on the lower end side. The emitter 40 is accommodated in the receiving space 13. The receiving space 13 is formed in a straight line (cylindrical in this example) so as to allow the emitter 40 to move, and extends in the up-down direction of the circuit breaker device 1. The circuit breaker device 1 uses the energy of the igniter 20 to launch the emitter 40 downward, and uses the emitter 40 to cut off a part of the conductor sheet 50, thereby cutting off the circuit. Here, Figure 2 The position of the projectile 40 before the circuit breaker device 1 is activated is referred to as the "initial position." Furthermore, the direction in which the projectile 40 is launched (downward in this example) is referred to as the "launching direction." The following describes the various components of the circuit breaker device 1.

[0051] [case]

[0052] The housing 10 is an outer shell member that houses the various components and elements that make up the circuit breaker device 1. The housing 10 includes a housing body 100 (an example of a "retaining member" in this disclosure), a top retainer 110 (an example of a "housing member" in this disclosure) located above the housing body 100, a bottom container 120 (an example of a "housing member" in this disclosure) located below the housing body 100, and a reinforcement frame 130 (an example of a "reinforcement member" in this disclosure) integrally formed with the housing body 100. The top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 are connected to the housing body 100 via fastening members 70, thereby forming a single-piece housing 10. Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 is embedded within the housing body 100.

[0053] [Case body]

[0054] The housing body 100 holds the conductor sheet 50. To ensure electrical insulation of the circuit breaker device 1, the housing body 100 is formed from an insulating resin material. Examples of the resin material used to form the housing body 100 include synthetic resins such as nylon (a type of polyamide synthetic resin), polycarbonate, polyamide, and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin. Alternatively, the housing body 100 can be formed from a fiber-reinforced resin, such as nylon with glass fiber added. However, the resin material used for the housing body 100 is not particularly limited.

[0055] The shell body 100 of this embodiment has a roughly prismatic shape extending in the up-down direction. Therefore, the axial direction of the shell body 100 is consistent with the up-down direction of the circuit breaker 1. However, the shape of the shell body 100 is not particularly limited. In addition, a cavity portion 106 (an example of a "cavity portion" of the present disclosure) is formed in the shell body 100 in a through-going manner along the up-down direction. The cavity portion 106 is a hole that passes through the shell body 100 in the up-down direction and forms a part of the accommodating space 13. In this embodiment, the shape of the cross section of the cavity portion 106 that is orthogonal to the up-down direction (emission direction) is a circular shape (refer to Figure 8 However, the cross-sectional shape of the cavity portion of the present disclosure is not particularly limited. The cavity portion may also have a rectangular cross-section, for example.

[0056] The housing body 100 has an upper surface 101 to which the top retainer 110 is fixed, and a lower surface 102 to which the bottom container 120 is fixed. A cylindrical upper wall 103 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100, rising upward from the upper surface 101. Furthermore, a cylindrical lower wall 104 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100, extending downward from the lower surface 102. In this embodiment, the upper wall 103 and the lower wall 104 have, for example, a square cylindrical shape, but may also have other shapes.

[0057] Here, a pair of conductor sheet holding holes 105A and 105B are formed in the housing body 100. The pair of conductor sheet holding holes 105A and 105B extend along a cross-sectional direction (i.e., the width direction) that is perpendicular to the vertical direction (axial direction) of the housing body 100. More specifically, the pair of conductor sheet holding holes 105A and 105B extend in a straight line along the width direction across the cavity 106 (accommodation space 13) of the housing body 100.

[0058] like Figure 2 As shown, the housing body 100 is divided into upper and lower parts by a pair of conductor sheet retaining holes 105A and 105B that traverse the housing body 100 in the width direction. The portion of the housing body 100 above the pair of conductor sheet retaining holes 105A and 105B is referred to as the upper retaining portion 100A, and the portion of the housing body 100 below the pair of conductor sheet retaining holes 105A and 105B is referred to as the lower retaining portion 100B. The combination of these portions is referred to as the pair of retaining portions 100A and 100B. The pair of retaining portions 100A and 100B is an example of a "pair of retaining portions" in the present disclosure.

[0059] [Top retainer]

[0060] The top retainer 110 is a member that is mounted on the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and cooperates with the housing body 100 to form the storage space 13. The top retainer 110 has a generally cylindrical shape with steps and extends in the vertical direction. The inner side of the top retainer 110 is cavity-shaped. The top retainer 110 is constructed to include 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 113. The small-diameter cylinder portion 112 and the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 are coaxially arranged, and the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 has a larger diameter (larger diameter) than the small-diameter cylinder portion 112. The upper end portion of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112 constitutes the first end portion 11 of the housing 10, and an opening portion 112A for mounting the igniter 20 is formed at this upper end portion.

[0061] Furthermore, the flange portion 111 of the top retainer 110 has a generally rectangular profile that fits within the inner side of the upper cylindrical wall 103 of the housing body 100. A through-hole is formed in the flange portion 111 for inserting the shaft portion of a bolt 701, described later. In this embodiment, the flange portion 111 is secured to the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 by the fastening member 70 while being positioned within the inner side of the upper cylindrical wall 103. It should be noted that the top retainer 110 may also be coupled to the housing body 100 with a sealant applied between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and the lower surface of the flange portion 111. This improves the airtightness of the storage space 13 formed within the housing 10. Alternatively, the airtightness of the accommodation space 13 may be improved by interposing an O-ring or a metal gasket between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and the flange portion 111 of the top holder 110 instead of or in addition to the sealant.

[0062] Furthermore, the cavity formed inside the top retainer 110 communicates with the cavity 106 of the housing body 100 located below, forming a portion of the storage space 13. The top retainer 110 constructed as described above can be formed from a suitable metal member, such as stainless steel or aluminum, which exhibits excellent strength and durability. However, the material forming the top retainer 110 is not particularly limited. The above-described shape of the top retainer 110 is merely an example; other shapes may also be employed.

[0063] [Bottom container]

[0064] The bottom container 120 is a component that is mounted on the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and cooperates with the housing body 100 to form the storage space 13. The bottom container 120 has a generally bottomed cylindrical shape and extends in the vertical direction. The interior of the bottom container 120 is hollow. The bottom container 120 is configured to include a cylindrical side wall portion 122 extending in the vertical direction, a bottom wall portion 123 that blocks the lower end of the side wall portion 122, and a flange portion 121 that extends outward from the upper end of the side wall portion 122. The bottom wall portion 123 constitutes the second end portion 12 of the housing 10.

[0065] The flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 has a roughly rectangular outline that fits within the lower cylindrical wall 104 of the housing body 100. A through-hole is formed in the flange portion 121 for inserting the shaft of a bolt 701, described later. In this embodiment, the flange portion 121 is secured to the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 by a fastening member 70 while positioned within the lower cylindrical wall 104. It should be noted that the bottom container 120 can also be attached to the housing body 100 with a sealant applied between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and the upper surface of the flange portion 121. This improves the airtightness of the storage space 13 formed within the housing 10. Alternatively, the airtightness of the storage space 13 can be improved by interposing an O-ring or metal gasket between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120, either in place of or in addition to the sealant.

[0066] In addition, the cavity portion formed on the inner side of the bottom container 120 is connected to the cavity portion 106 of the shell body 100 located above, forming a part of the storage space 13. The bottom container 120 constructed as described above can be formed by, for example, a suitable metal component such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. with excellent strength and durability. However, the material forming the bottom container 120 is not particularly limited. In addition, the bottom container 120 can also be a multi-layer structure. For example, in the bottom container 120, the outer part facing the outside can be formed by a suitable metal component such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. with excellent strength and durability, and the inner part facing the storage space 13 side can be formed by an insulating component such as synthetic resin. Of course, the entire bottom container 120 can also be formed by an insulating component. In addition, the above-mentioned scheme related to the shape of the bottom container 120 is an example, and other shapes can also be used.

[0067] As described above, the housing 10 of the embodiment is constructed to include an integrally mounted housing body 100, a top retainer 110, and a bottom container 120. A housing space 13 extending vertically from a first end 11 toward a second end 12 is formed inside the housing 10. The housing space 13 accommodates the igniter 20, the emitter 40, the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50, the cooling element 60, and the like, which will be described in detail below.

[0068] [Strengthening the framework]

[0069] The reinforcement frame 130 is a metal frame that is integrally connected to the housing body 100 to reinforce the strength of the housing body 100. Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, a reinforcement frame 130 is embedded in the housing body 100. More specifically, one reinforcement frame 130 is provided in each of the pair of holding portions 100A and 100B, which are vertically divided by a pair of conductor sheet holding holes 105A and 105B. Hereinafter, the reinforcement frame 130 provided in the upper holding portion 100A will be referred to as the upper reinforcement frame 130A, and the reinforcement frame 130 provided in the lower holding portion 100B will be referred to as the lower reinforcement frame 130B. In the description without distinguishing between the two, they will simply be referred to as the reinforcement frame 130.

[0070] The reinforcement frame 130 of this embodiment is made of aluminum. However, the reinforcement frame 130 can also be formed of a metal material other than aluminum, for example, stainless steel can also be used. From the perspective of improving the strength of the shell 10, it is preferred that the reinforcement frame 130 be made of metal. It should be noted that the material of the reinforcement member disclosed in the present invention is not particularly limited, and in addition to using metal materials, resin materials can also be used. As the resin material forming the reinforcement member, for example, fiber-reinforced resins such as carbon fiber-reinforced resins can also be used.

[0071] Figure 3 is a top view of the reinforcement frame 130 according to the embodiment, Figure 4 1 is a bottom view of the reinforcement frame 130 according to the embodiment. Figure 5 yes Figure 3 BB cross-sectional view. Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the reinforcement frame 130 is formed into a ring-shaped frame body that is continuous along the circumferential direction. It should be noted that in this specification, "ring-shaped" is not particularly limited as long as it is a closed shape that is continuous around the entire circumference in a manner that forms an opening, and includes a circular ring shape that forms a circular shape such as a perfect circle or an ellipse, and a polygonal ring shape that forms a polygonal shape such as a quadrilateral or a triangle. It should be noted that the shape of the reinforcement member disclosed in the present invention is not limited to a ring shape. The reinforcement member is not limited to a shape that is continuous around the entire circumference, and there may also be a part that is discontinuous, or a shape with a discontinuous portion or a discontinuous shape.

[0072] The reinforcing frame 130 has: a plate-shaped main body 131, which is roughly quadrilateral when viewed from above and is orthogonal to the up-down direction; a plurality of upper surface protrusions 132, provided on the upper surface 131a of the main body 131; and a plurality of lower surface protrusions 133, provided on the lower surface 131b of the main body 131. A through hole 134 is formed in the main body 131, which passes through the main body 131 in the up-down direction. In more detail, the through hole 134 passes through the upper surface 131a of the main body 131 to the lower surface 131b at the center position of the main body 131. Thus, the reinforcing frame 130 is formed in a ring shape with the through hole 134 as the opening. As shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the through hole 134 of this embodiment has a circular shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the up-down direction (emission direction). However, the shape of the through hole 134 is not particularly limited. The upper surface protrusion 132 is a portion protruding upward from the upper surface 131a, and is provided at each of the four corners of the main body 131. The lower surface protrusion 133 is a portion protruding downward from the lower surface 131b, and is provided at each of the four corners of the main body 131. The upper surface protrusion 132 and the lower surface protrusion 133 are examples of "exposed portions" disclosed herein. It should be noted that the shape of the exposed portion disclosed herein is not particularly limited and may not be convex. Here, a mounting hole 135 is formed in the main body 131, extending from the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132 to the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133. The mounting hole 135 is provided at each of the four corners of the main body 131. In this embodiment, the mounting hole 135 is formed as a through hole into which the shaft of the bolt 701 described later can be inserted. It should be noted that the mounting holes disclosed herein are not limited to through holes. Various options can be selected depending on the fastening component, such as threaded holes. Furthermore, the mounting holes can also be non-through holes. It should be noted that the above-described configuration regarding the shape of the reinforcement frame 130 is merely an example; other shapes may also be employed.

[0073] [Ignition]

[0074] like Figure 2 As shown, the igniter 20 is an electric igniter that includes an ignition portion 21 containing a primer and an igniter body 22 having a pair of conductive pins (not shown) connected to the ignition portion 21. During operation, the igniter 20 discharges combustion gas into the accommodating space 13. The igniter 20 is mounted on the housing 10 with a portion of the igniter 20 accommodated in the accommodating space 13 (more specifically, the cavity formed inside the small-diameter cylinder 112).

[0075] The igniter body 22 includes a generally cylindrical main body 221 extending vertically and housed within the small-diameter cylinder 112 of the top retainer 110; and a connector 222 located above the main body 221. The igniter body 22 is surrounded by, for example, insulating resin. The igniter body 22 is secured to the small-diameter cylinder 112 by, for example, press-fitting the main body 221 onto the inner circumference of the small-diameter cylinder 112. Furthermore, an O-ring 223 is embedded in the axially intermediate portion of the main body 221, which has a concave outer circumference compared to the rest of the body 221. The O-ring 223 is formed from, for example, rubber (e.g., silicone rubber) or synthetic resin and serves to enhance the airtightness between the inner circumference of the small-diameter cylinder 112 and the main body 221.

[0076] The connector portion 222 has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction and is disposed so as to protrude from the housing 10 through the opening 112A formed at the upper end of the small-diameter cylinder portion 112. Furthermore, a pair of conductive pins connected to the ignition unit 21 are disposed inside the connector portion 222. The connector portion 222 is configured to connect to a power supply connector (not shown). By connecting the connector portion 222 of the igniter 20 to the power supply connector, the pair of conductive pins are connected to the power supply. This allows the operating current to be supplied to the igniter 20.

[0077] The ignition portion 21 of the igniter 20 is arranged to face the storage space 13 of the housing 10 (more specifically, the cavity formed inside the large-diameter cylinder 113). The ignition portion 21 is configured, for example, to house a primer in an igniter cup. For example, the primer is housed in the igniter cup of the igniter 21 while in contact with a bridge wire (resistor) that connects the base ends of a pair of conductive pins. Examples of primers include ZPP (zirconium-potassium perchlorate), ZWPP (zirconium-tungsten-potassium perchlorate), THPP (titanium hydride-potassium perchlorate), and lead trinitroresorcinol. The lower surface of the igniter cup in the ignition portion 21, that is, the surface facing the emission direction, is formed as a crack surface 21A that cracks when the igniter 20 is in operation.

[0078] When the igniter 20 is operated and an operating current for igniting the primer is supplied from the power supply to the conductive pin, the bridge wire of the ignition portion 21 heats up, igniting and burning the primer within the igniter cup, generating combustion gas. As the primer within the igniter cup of the ignition portion 21 burns, the pressure within the cup rises, causing the cleavage surface 21A of the cup to cleave, and combustion gas is released from the cup into the storage space 13. More specifically, the combustion gas from the igniter cup is released toward the recessed portion 411 of the piston portion 41 (described later) of the projectile 40 disposed within the storage space 13.

[0079] [Emissive]

[0080] The projectile 40 is disposed in the housing space 13. When the igniter 20 is activated, the projectile is launched in the launch direction (downward in this example) along the housing space 13 by receiving energy from the igniter 20, thereby removing a portion of the conductor sheet 50. The projectile 40 is formed of an insulating member such as a synthetic resin and includes a piston portion 41 and a rod portion 42 connected to the piston portion 41.

[0081] The piston portion 41 has a generally cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, with an outer diameter that roughly corresponds to the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 of the top retainer 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. Furthermore, a cylindrical recessed portion 411, for example, is formed on the upper surface of the piston portion 41, that is, on the side opposite the firing direction. The igniter 21 is housed in this recessed portion 411. The bottom surface of the recessed portion 411 serves as a pressure-receiving surface 411A that receives energy received from the igniter 20 during operation. Furthermore, an annularly formed, reduced-diameter portion is formed in the axial middle portion of the piston portion 41, extending along the circumference of the piston portion 41. The portion has an outer circumferential surface that is recessed relative to the rest of the surface. An O-ring 43 is embedded in this reduced-diameter portion. The O-ring 43 is formed of, for example, rubber (e.g., silicone rubber) or a synthetic resin, and functions to enhance the airtightness between the inner circumference of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 and the piston portion 41.

[0082] The rod portion 42 of the launcher 40 is, for example, a rod-shaped component having an outer peripheral surface with a smaller diameter than the piston portion 41 and extending in the up-down direction, and the rod portion 42 is integrally connected to the lower end side of the piston portion 41. The lower end surface of the rod portion 42 (that is, the end surface on the launch direction side) is formed as a cut-off surface 421 for cutting off the cut-off portion 53 from the conductor piece 50 when the circuit breaker device 1 is working. It should be noted that the rod portion 42 in the present embodiment has a roughly cylindrical shape, but its shape is not particularly limited and can be changed according to the shape and size of the cut-off portion 53 that should be cut off from the conductor piece 50 when the circuit breaker device 1 is working. The rod portion 42 can also have, for example, a cylindrical shape, a prism or other columnar shape. It should be noted that in Figure 2 In the illustrated initial position of the projectile 40, the tip end portion of the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40, including the cutout surface 421, is positioned within the cavity portion (forming a portion of the accommodating space 13) of the housing body 100. The diameter of the rod portion 42 is, for example, slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the inner circumference of the housing body 100, and the outer circumference of the rod portion 42 is guided along the inner circumference when the projectile 40 is launched.

[0083] The projectile 40 constructed as described above will be described in detail later. The upper surface of the piston portion 41 including the pressure-receiving surface 411A receives energy from the igniter 20 when the igniter 20 is in operation, thereby causing the projectile 40 to be ejected from the igniter 20. Figure 2 The initial position shown is launched and moves at high speed along the accommodating space 13 toward the launching direction (downward direction). Figure 2 As shown, the piston portion 41 of the projectile 40 is housed inside the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 of the top retainer 110 and can slide in the axial direction along the inner wall surface of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113. It should be noted that the shape of the projectile 40 is not limited to the above-mentioned shape and can be appropriately changed according to the shape of the housing 10, etc.

[0084] [Conductor sheet]

[0085] Figure 6 This is a top view of the conductor piece 50 of the embodiment. The conductor piece 50 is a conductive metal body that constitutes a part of the components of the circuit breaker device 1 and forms a part of the circuit when the circuit breaker device 1 is installed in a predetermined circuit. The conductor piece 50 is sometimes called a bus bar. The conductor piece 50 can be formed of a metal such as copper (Cu). However, the conductor piece 50 can also be formed of a metal other than copper, or an alloy of copper and other metals. It should be noted that as examples of metals other than copper contained in the conductor piece 50, manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), aluminum (Al), brass, gold (Au), silver (Ag), duralumin, etc. can be given.

[0086] exist Figure 6 In one embodiment shown, the conductor sheet 50 is formed as a whole as an elongated flat plate. The conductor sheet 50 includes a first connection end 51, which serves as one end in the direction of its extension, and a second connection end 52, which serves as the other end. Furthermore, the conductor sheet 50 has a portion thereof with a cutout portion 53. The cutout portion 53 is located between the first and second connection ends 51, 52 (in this example, the middle portion). Connection holes 51A and 52A are provided in the first and second connection ends 51, 52, respectively. These connection holes 51A and 52A are used to connect to other conductors (e.g., leads) in the circuit. The cutout portion 53 is a portion that is forcibly and physically severed from the first and second connection ends 51, 52 by the rod 42 of the emitter 40 when an abnormality such as an overcurrent occurs in the circuit to which the circuit breaker device 1 is applied. The cutout portion 53 is formed so that the emitter 40, when launched by the igniter 20, cuts off the first and second connection ends, thereby interrupting the circuit. More specifically, the cutout portion 53 is formed so as to separate the conductor sheet 50 when cut from the conductor sheet 50. Notches (slits) 54 are formed at both ends of the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 to facilitate cutting and removing the cutout portion 53.

[0087] It should be noted that the conductor sheet 50 can be in various forms and its shape is not particularly limited. Figure 6 In the example shown, the surfaces of the first connection end 51, the second connection end 52, and the cutout portion 53 form the same plane, but this is not limiting. For example, the conductor sheet 50 may be connected with the cutout portion 53 perpendicular to or inclined relative to the first connection end 51 and the second connection end 52. Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the planar shape of the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50. Of course, there are no particular limitations on the shapes of the first connection end 51 and the second connection end 52 of the conductor sheet 50. Furthermore, the cutout 54 of the conductor sheet 50 may be omitted as appropriate.

[0088] The conductor piece 50 configured as described above is held by the housing body 100 while being inserted through a pair of conductor piece holding holes 105A and 105B formed in the housing body 100. Figure 6 In the example shown, the first connection end 51 of the conductor piece 50 is held in a state of being inserted into the conductor piece retaining hole 105A, and the second connection end 52 is held in a state of being inserted into the conductor piece retaining hole 105B. In addition, in this state, the cut-off portion 53 of the conductor piece 50 is positioned in the cavity portion (the storage space 13) of the shell body 100. Thus, the conductor piece 50 is provided in the shell 10 in such a manner as to cross the storage space 13 in the width direction. The conductor piece 50 attached to the shell body 100 is arranged in such a manner that the cut-off portion 53 is located on the forward path of the radiator 40 in the storage space 13 (that is, below the radiator 40), and is held in a posture orthogonal to the extension direction (radiation direction) of the storage space 13. The first connection end 51 and the second connection end 52 of the conductor piece 50 are exposed to the outside of the shell 10, and other conductors (leads, etc.) forming the circuit are connected to the connection holes 51A and 52A. It should be noted that Figure 6 Reference numeral L1 indicates the outer peripheral position of the rod portion 42 located above the conductor piece 50 when attached to the housing body 100 of the circuit breaker device 1. In this embodiment, the conductor piece 50 is arranged so that the outer peripheral position L1 of the rod portion 42 substantially coincides with the positions of the cutouts 54 located at both ends of the cutout portion 53. In this embodiment, for example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the accommodating space 13 is larger than that of the cutout portion 53, thus forming a gap on the sides of the cutout portion 53.

[0089] Here, if Figure 2As shown, before the circuit breaker device 1 (igniter 20) is operated, the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50, held by a pair of conductor sheet retaining holes 105A and 105B in the housing body 100, is positioned transversely across the housing space 13 of the housing 10. Hereinafter, within the housing space 13 of the housing 10, the region (space) where the emitter 40 is positioned across the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 is referred to as the "emitter initial placement region R1," and the region (space) on the side opposite the emitter 40 (i.e., the emission direction) is referred to as the "arc extinguishing region R2." It should be noted that, as described above, a gap is formed on the sides of the cutout portion 53, which is positioned transversely across the housing space 13. Therefore, the emitter initial placement region R1 and the arc extinguishing region R2 are not completely separated by the cutout portion 53 but are connected. However, depending on the shape and size of the cutout portion 53, the emitter initial placement region R1 and the arc extinguishing region R2 may also be completely separated by the cutout portion 53. The projectile initial placement region R1 accommodates the projectile 40, while the arc extinguishing region R2 accommodates the cooling member 60, which serves as an arc extinguishing member. The arc extinguishing region R2 is an area (space) for receiving the cutout portion 53 removed from the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 when the circuit breaker device 1 (igniter 20) is activated.

[0090] [Cooling parts]

[0091] The cooling member 60 is a cooling member for absorbing the arc generated when the emitter 40 cuts off the cut-off portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 and the heat energy of the cut-off portion 53 to cool the emitter 40, thereby suppressing the arc generated when the current is interrupted or extinguishing the generated arc. Figure 2 As shown, the cooling member 60 is disposed in the arc extinguishing region R2 in the accommodating space 13 .

[0092] The arc extinguishing region R2 of the circuit breaker device 1 is a space for accommodating the cutout portion 53 of the emitter 40, which is removed from the first and second connection ends 51 and 52 of the conductor piece 50. It also serves as a space for effectively extinguishing the arc generated when the cutout portion 53 is removed from the emitter 40. Furthermore, to effectively extinguish the arc generated when the cutout portion 53 is removed from the conductor piece 50, a cooling member 60 is disposed in the arc extinguishing region R2 as an arc extinguishing member.

[0093] As one embodiment, the cooling member 60 is solid. In addition, as one embodiment, the cooling member 60 is formed by a conformal body. The conformal body mentioned here refers to, for example, a material that maintains a fixed shape when no external force is applied, and maintains integrity (does not fall apart) even if deformation may occur when an external force is applied. For example, an object in which a fibrous body is formed into a desired shape can be exemplified as a conformal body. In the present embodiment, the cooling member 60 is formed by metal fibers as conformal bodies. Here, as metal fibers forming the cooling member 60, a scheme including at least one of steel wool and copper wool can be cited. The cooling member 60 may contain inorganic oxides such as zeolite, silica, and alumina. However, the above scheme of the cooling member 60 is an example and is not limited to these schemes.

[0094] The cooling member 60 is formed into a bowl shape and arranged along the inner wall and bottom of the bottom container 120 (arc extinguishing region R2 of the accommodating space 13 ). Alternatively, the cooling member 60 may be formed into a disk shape and arranged along the bottom of the bottom container 120 .

[0095] Furthermore, the cooling member 60 may also be a modified resin member that functions as an arc extinguishing member. When the igniter 20 is operating, the modified resin member is modified by the arc generated by the emitter 40 cutting off the cut-off portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 and the heat from the cut-off portion 53. This modification consumes heat energy, thereby contributing to the extinguishing (disappearance) of the arc. It should be noted that the modification of the modified resin member is primarily caused by the heat of the arc. However, in addition to this, the modification of the modified resin member is also affected by heat such as the heat generated when the cut-off portion 53 is cut off and the combustion heat of the explosive. This heat received from the ignition of the explosive until the arc is extinguished is referred to as heat associated with the operation of the igniter 20.

[0096] The modified resin part is a synthetic resin containing silicone. It should be noted that the modified resin part is not limited to silicone, and other resins such as polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, and nitrile rubber can also be used. In addition, as long as at least a part of the modified resin part is modified by heat, it can also be composed of a composite material containing glass, ceramic fillers, etc. Compared with other resin parts such as the shell 10 and the emitter 40, the modified resin part is composed of a modified material that is easily decomposed and volatilized by heat, and can effectively consume the heat of the arc through this modification. In addition, in the modified resin part of this embodiment, components such as silicon dioxide produced by thermal decomposition show high resistance values, and by scattering these components, it will help to improve the insulation after cutting.

[0097] The modified resin member is not limited to a solid member formed into a predetermined shape; a colloid-like material or a highly viscous liquid material may be applied to the wall surface of the storage space 13. Furthermore, the modified resin member may be fixed to the wall surface of the storage space 13 by applying a synthetic resin dissolved in an organic solvent such as toluene to the wall surface and then allowing the organic solvent to evaporate.

[0098] [Conductor sheet assembly]

[0099] In this embodiment, the housing body 100, the reinforcement frame 130 and the conductor sheet 50 are integrally formed by injection molding (more specifically, insert molding). Figure 2 As shown, the assembly composed of the case body 100 , the reinforcement frame 130 , and the conductor sheet 50 is referred to as a conductor sheet assembly 80 .

[0100] Figure 7 is a top view of a conductor sheet assembly 80 according to the embodiment. Figure 8 : is a bottom view of the conductor sheet assembly 80 of the embodiment. Figure 9 yes Figure 7 CC section view of Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the upper and lower reinforcing frames 130A, 130B are embedded within the housing body 100, such that the cavity 106 of the housing body 100 is positioned inside the through-hole 134. Therefore, the cavity 106 is surrounded by the reinforcing frames 130. In other words, the reinforcing frames 130 are provided around the outer periphery of the cavity 106, extending along the circumference of the cavity 106. In this embodiment, the reinforcing frames 130 are made of metal. Therefore, to ensure electrical insulation performance after the circuit breaker device 1 is operated, the reinforcing frames 130 are embedded within the housing body 100, such that they are not exposed from the pair of conductor sheet retaining holes 105A, 105B of the housing body 100 and the cavity 106. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0101] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown in FIG. 1 , the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132 of the upper side reinforcing frame 130A, which is the opening surface of the mounting hole 135 (the surface where the mounting hole 135 opens), is exposed from the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 to the outside of the housing body 100. That is, the upper side reinforcing frame 130A is embedded in the interior of the housing body 100 except for the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132. Similarly, as Figure 8As shown, the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133 of the lower side reinforcing frame 130B, which serves as the open end surface of the mounting hole 135, is exposed to the outside of the shell body 100 from the lower surface 102 of the shell body 100. That is, the lower side reinforcing frame 130B is buried inside the shell body 100 except for the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133. Moreover, the upper side reinforcing frame 130A and the lower side reinforcing frame 130B are arranged on the shell body 100 in such a manner that the mounting holes 135 thereof overlap with each other when viewed from above (in other words, when visually confirmed along the emission direction). That is, when viewed from above, the position of the mounting hole 135 of the upper side reinforcing frame 130A coincides with the position of the mounting hole 135 of the lower side reinforcing frame 130B. And, as Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the conductor sheet assembly 80 includes bolt insertion holes 801 extending from the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132 of the upper reinforcing frame 130A to the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133 of the lower reinforcing frame 130B. Bolt insertion holes 801 extend vertically through the upper reinforcing frame 130A, the housing body 100, and the lower reinforcing frame 130B, and are formed to allow the shaft of the bolt 701 to pass through. Bolt insertion holes 801 are partially formed by the mounting holes 135 of the upper reinforcing frame 130A and the mounting holes 135 of the lower reinforcing frame 130B.

[0102] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the reinforcement frame 130 is integrally formed with the housing body 100, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The reinforcement member of the present disclosure may be formed separately from the conductor retaining member. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reinforcement frame 130, except for a portion thereof, is embedded within the interior of the housing body 100, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The reinforcement member of the present disclosure may be completely embedded within the interior of the conductor retaining member, or it may be coupled to the conductor retaining member with a portion or all of it exposed on the surface of the conductor retaining member.

[0103] [Fasteners]

[0104] The fastening member 70 is a member for mounting the top holder 110 and the bottom container 120 to the housing body 100. Figure 2As shown, the fastening member 70 of this embodiment includes a bolt 701 located on the upper side and a nut 702 located on the lower side. The bolt 701 has a head 701a and a shaft 701b extending from the head 701a. The head 701a is positioned above the flange 111 of the top retainer 110. The shaft 701b is inserted through a through-hole formed in the flange 111 of the top retainer 110, a bolt insertion hole 801 formed in the conductor sheet assembly 80, and a through-hole formed in the flange 121 of the bottom container 120. The nut 702 is threadedly engaged with the shaft 701b of the bolt 701, which protrudes downward from the flange 121 of the bottom container 120. Thus, the flange portion 111 of the top retainer 110 is interposed between the head portion 701a of the bolt 701 and the housing body 100, and the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 is interposed between the nut 702 and the housing body 100. In this way, the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 are attached to the housing body 100.

[0105] It should be noted that the fastening member disclosed herein is not limited to a bolt and nut combination. For example, the mounting hole may be a threaded hole (internal thread), the fastening member may be an external threaded member, and the housing member may be fastened to the conductor holding member by screwing the threaded hole and the external threaded member together. This eliminates the need for a nut, thereby reducing the number of parts, simplifying manufacturing equipment, and reducing costs. Furthermore, when adopting the above-described solution, the reinforcing member may be formed into a self-locking nut by processing the mounting hole with a self-locking tap. Here, a "self-locking threaded hole" refers to a threaded hole with a structure that prevents loosening, such as against vibration, and a "self-locking nut" refers to a nut with a self-locking threaded hole. By forming the mounting hole into a self-locking threaded hole, the housing member can be more reliably fixed to the conductor holding member. Furthermore, for example, the mounting hole may be a through hole, the fastening member may be a rivet, and the housing member may be fastened to the conductor holding member by riveting the rivet inserted into the mounting hole.

[0106] Here, as described above, in the upper reinforcing frame 130A, the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132, which serves as the opening surface of the mounting hole 135, is exposed from the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 to the outside of the housing body 100. Therefore, the flange portion 111 of the top retainer 110, which is fastened to the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100, abuts against the top surface of the upper surface protrusion 132. Similarly, in the lower reinforcing frame 130B, the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133, which serves as the opening surface of the mounting hole 135, is exposed from the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 to the outside of the housing body 100. Therefore, the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120, which is fastened to the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100, abuts against the top surface of the lower surface protrusion 133. In this way, by fastening the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 to the shell body 100 while they are in contact with the reinforcing frame 130 , deformation (such as denting) of the resin shell body 100 due to the fastening force of the fastening member 70 is suppressed.

[0107] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the bolts 701 are inserted from the top into the bolt insertion holes 801 to fasten the components. However, the bolts 701 may also be inserted from the bottom into the bolt insertion holes 801 to fasten the components. In other words, the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 may be interposed between the head portion 701a of the bolt 701 and the housing body 100, and the flange portion 111 of the top retainer 110 may be interposed between the nut 702 and the housing body 100.

[0108] [action]

[0109] Next, the operation contents when the circuit breaker 1 is operated to cut off the circuit will be described. Figure 2 FIG. 1 shows an initial state before operation of the circuit breaker device 1. In this initial state, the emitter 40 of the circuit breaker device 1 is set to the following initial position: the piston portion 41 is positioned on the first end portion 11 side (the upper end side) of the accommodating space 13, and the cut surface 421 formed on the lower end of the rod portion 42 is positioned on the upper surface of the cut portion 53 of the conductor piece 50.

[0110] The circuit breaker device 1 of this embodiment further includes an abnormality sensing sensor (not shown) for sensing abnormal conditions in a device (such as a vehicle, power generation equipment, or power storage device) connected to the circuit to be interrupted, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the igniter 20. The abnormality sensing sensor can detect abnormal conditions based not only on the current flowing through the conductor piece 50 but also on the voltage or temperature of the conductor piece 50. Alternatively, the abnormality sensing sensor may be, for example, a shock sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a vibration sensor, capable of detecting abnormal conditions such as accidents or fires based on shock, temperature, acceleration, or vibration of a device such as a vehicle. The control unit of the circuit breaker device 1 is, for example, a computer capable of executing a predetermined control program to perform predetermined functions. The predetermined functions implemented by the control unit may also be implemented by corresponding hardware. Furthermore, when a large current flows through the conductor piece 50, which forms part of the circuit to which the circuit breaker device 1 is applied, the abnormal current is detected by the abnormality sensing sensor. Abnormality information related to the detected abnormal current is transferred from the abnormality sensing sensor to the control unit. For example, the control unit receives power from an external power source (not shown) connected to the conductive pin of the igniter 20 based on the current value detected by the abnormality sensing sensor, thereby operating the igniter 20. Here, the abnormal current may also refer to a current value exceeding a predetermined threshold value set to protect a specified circuit. It should be noted that the abnormality sensing sensor and control unit described above may not be included in the components of the circuit breaker device 1, for example, they may be included in a device different from the circuit breaker device 1. Furthermore, the abnormality sensing sensor and control unit described above are not essential components of the circuit breaker device 1.

[0111] For example, when an abnormal current sensor detects an abnormal current in a circuit, the control unit of circuit breaker device 1 activates igniter 20. Specifically, an operating current is supplied from an external power source (not shown) to the conductive pin of igniter 20, igniting and burning the explosive within ignition section 21, generating combustion gas. Subsequently, the pressure within ignition section 21 rises, causing cleavage surface 21A to cleave, and the combustion gas from the explosive is discharged from ignition section 21 into storage space 13.

[0112] Here, the ignition portion 21 of the igniter 20 is housed in the recessed portion 411 of the piston portion 41. The cleavage surface 21A of the ignition portion 21 faces the pressure-receiving surface 411A of the recessed portion 411 of the projectile 40. Therefore, combustion gas from the ignition portion 21 is discharged into the recessed portion 411, and the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas is transmitted to the upper surface of the piston portion 41, including the pressure-receiving surface 411A. As a result, the projectile 40 is launched in the launch direction (downward) along the storage space 13.

[0113] Figure 10 : is a diagram showing the operating state of the circuit breaker device 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 10 The upper part shows the working status of the circuit breaker 1. Figure 10 The lower section shows the state of the circuit breaker device 1 after operation. As described above, the projectile 40, receiving the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas from the explosive during operation of the igniter 20, is forcefully pressed downward, colliding with the cutout portion 53 of the conductor piece 50 located in the projectile's path. As a result, the cutout surface 421 formed on the lower end of the rod 42 shears the boundaries between the first and second connection ends 51, 52 of the conductor piece 50 and the cutout portion 53. As a result, the cutout portion 53 is removed from the conductor piece 50. It should be noted that the shape and size of the projectile 40 can be freely determined as long as it can move smoothly along the extension direction (axial direction) of the storage space 13 during operation of the igniter 20. For example, the outer diameter of the piston portion 41 in the projectile 40 can be set to be equal to the inner diameter of the large-diameter cylinder portion 113 in the top retainer 110.

[0114] And, as Figure 10 As shown in the lower section of FIG, the emitter 40 moves downward a predetermined distance along the extension direction (axial direction) of the storage space 13 until the lower end surface of the piston portion 41 contacts (collides with) the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100. Furthermore, in this state, the cut-off portion 53, which has been removed from the conductor sheet 50 by the rod portion 42 of the emitter 40, is accommodated within the arc extinguishing region R2 where the cooling member 60 is located. By removing the cut-off portion 53 from the conductor sheet 50, the first and second connection ends 51, 52 at the ends of the conductor sheet 50 become de-energized, forcibly interrupting the predetermined circuit to which the circuit breaker device 1 is applied.

[0115] The circuit breaker device 1 of the embodiment is provided with a cooling element 60 in the arc extinguishing region R2. Therefore, the cutout portion 53, which is contained in the arc extinguishing region R2, can be quickly cooled by the cooling element 60. Consequently, even if an arc is generated at the cut surface of the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 when the emitter 40 cuts the cutout portion 53 from the conductor sheet 50, which constitutes part of a predetermined circuit, the generated arc can be quickly and effectively extinguished.

[0116] [Function / Effect]

[0117] As described above, the circuit breaker device 1 of this embodiment includes: a housing 10 having an internal storage space 13 extending in a predetermined direction (in this example, the vertical direction); an igniter 20 disposed in the housing 10; an emitter 40 disposed in the storage space 13 and, when the igniter 20 is activated, emitted along the storage space 13 by receiving energy from the igniter 20; and a conductor sheet 50 disposed in the housing 10 so as to extend across the storage space 13 and forming a portion of an electrical circuit. Furthermore, the conductor sheet 50 has a portion thereof having a cutout portion 53 formed so as to be cut out by the emitter 40 when the igniter 20 is activated, thereby interrupting the electrical circuit. The conductor sheet 50 is disposed so that the cutout portion 53 is located along the path of the emitter 40 in the storage space 13. Furthermore, the housing 10 of the circuit breaker device 1 of this embodiment includes: a resin housing body 100 extending in the vertical direction and penetrating a cavity 106 forming a portion of the accommodating space 13; and a reinforcement frame 130 that reinforces the housing body 100 and holds the conductor sheet 50 such that the cutout portion 53 of the conductor sheet 50 is located within the cavity 106. Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 is coupled to the housing body 100 so as to surround the cavity 106.

[0118] In circuit interrupting devices, if the resin housing holding the conductor segments deforms or breaks due to the impact generated when the emitter cuts the segments, the electrical insulation performance of the device after operation could be affected. For example, when the conductor segments are cut, the resin in the housing cracks, and copper generated by evaporation from the conductor segments enters the cracks in the resin, potentially reducing insulation resistance. Furthermore, to minimize thermal deformation, a highly heat-resistant resin material is preferred. However, due to the impact resistance during conductor segment cutting, even highly heat-resistant resin materials may not be suitable for the housing, narrowing the range of resin materials available.

[0119] In contrast, in the circuit breaker device 1 of this embodiment, the reinforcement frame 130 is coupled to the housing body 100 so as to surround the cavity 106. Since the reinforcement frame 130 is arranged around the cavity 106, the housing body 100, which defines the cavity 106, is appropriately reinforced. This improves the strength of the housing 10. Consequently, deformation and damage to the housing body 100 caused by the impact of cutting the conductor piece 50 can be suppressed, thereby preventing a reduction in the electrical insulation performance of the circuit breaker device 1 after operation. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the reinforcement frame 130 is formed in a continuous ring shape so as to surround the cavity 106, the strength of the housing 10 can be further improved. The impact load acting on the housing body 100 when cutting the conductor piece 50 is higher near the conductor piece 50 (that is, near the pair of conductor piece retaining holes 105A and 105B). Therefore, it is preferable to arrange the reinforcement frame 130 near the conductor piece 50. Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 is preferably disposed at least in a region overlapping the conductor sheet 50 in a plan view (ie, when viewed along the radiation direction). This can appropriately suppress deformation and damage of the housing body 100 near the conductor sheet 50 .

[0120] Furthermore, according to the circuit breaker device 1 of this embodiment, by reinforcing the housing body 100, even materials with relatively low impact resistance can be used as the material for the housing body 100. For example, in a high-temperature environment, when the housing resin temperature is 175°C or higher during normal circuit power flow, nylon with a heat resistance of 200°C or higher can be used as the material for the housing body 100, instead of polycarbonate, which deforms at temperatures below 175°C.

[0121] Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 of this embodiment is made of metal, so that the housing body 100 made of resin can be reinforced more appropriately.

[0122] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by making the reinforcement frame 130 from aluminum, the strength of the housing 10 can be increased while suppressing an increase in the weight of the housing 10. However, the reinforcement member disclosed herein can also be formed from an iron-based material such as stainless steel or carbon steel. By using an iron-based material, the cost of the reinforcement member can be reduced. Examples of carbon steel materials used as reinforcement members include S25C.

[0123] Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 of this embodiment is integrally formed with the housing body 100 by injection molding. Thus, the housing body 100 and the reinforcement frame 130 are firmly coupled together, and the housing body 100 can be appropriately reinforced.

[0124] Furthermore, the housing 10 of this embodiment includes a top retainer 110 and a bottom container 120, which are attached to the housing body 100 and cooperate with the housing body 100 to form a storage space 13. Furthermore, the reinforcement frame 130 includes an upper surface protrusion 132 and a lower surface protrusion 133, which are exposed to the exterior of the housing body 100. These upper and lower surface protrusions 132 and 133 are formed with mounting holes 135 for mounting the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 to the housing body 100 using the fastening member 70. Thus, since the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 are fastened to the housing body 100 while in contact with the reinforcement frame 130, deformation (eg, denting) of the resin housing body 100 due to the fastening force of the fastening member 70 can be suppressed. It should be noted that the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 are examples of "housing components" in this disclosure, but the housing components of this disclosure are not limited thereto. The housing component may be, for example, only one of the top retainer 110 and the bottom container 120 , or may include other components.

[0125] Furthermore, the housing body 100 of this embodiment includes a pair of retaining portions 100A and 100B formed to clamp the conductor sheet 50 from a predetermined direction (in this example, the vertical direction). Each of the retaining portions 100A and 100B is provided with a reinforcing frame 130. Specifically, an upper reinforcing frame 130A is provided on the upper retaining portion 100A, and a lower reinforcing frame 130B is provided on the lower retaining portion 100B. Thus, by providing at least one reinforcing frame 130 on each of the retaining portions 100A and 100B, the conductor sheet 50 is clamped from above and below by the reinforcing frames 130. As a result, the housing body 100 can be more appropriately reinforced. It should be noted that in this disclosure, the number of reinforcing members is not particularly limited. A single reinforcing member may be provided, or three or more may be provided. For example, only one of the upper reinforcing frame 130A and the lower reinforcing frame 130B may be provided.

[0126] <Modification>

[0127] Hereinafter, a circuit breaker device according to a modified example of the embodiment will be described. Figures 1 to 10 The description will focus on the differences from the circuit breaker device 1 described above, and detailed description of the same points as the circuit breaker device 1 will be omitted.

[0128] [Variation 1]

[0129] Figure 11This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a circuit breaker device 1A according to Modification 1 of the embodiment, in its initial state before operation. The circuit breaker device 1A of Modification 1 differs from the aforementioned circuit breaker device 1 in that the upper and lower reinforcing frames 130A, 130B are not integrally formed with the housing body 100. Instead, the housing body 100 is clamped from above and below by the upper and lower reinforcing frames 130A, 130B. In Modification 1, the upper and lower reinforcing frames 130A, 130B are clamped between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and the flange 111 of the top retainer 110, and the lower and upper reinforcing frames 130B are clamped between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and the flange 121 of the bottom container 120. These components are then fastened together using fastening members 70. In other words, in Modification 1, the upper and lower reinforcing frames 130A, 130B, which are separate components from the housing body 100, are fastened to the housing body 100 using fastening members 70.

[0130] According to the circuit breaker device 1A of Modification 1, the housing body 100 is clamped from above and below by a pair of reinforcement frames 130, thereby appropriately reinforcing the housing body 100. Furthermore, in the circuit breaker device 1A of Modification 1, the upper reinforcement frame 130A is sandwiched between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and the flange 111 of the top retainer 110, and the lower reinforcement frame 130B is sandwiched between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and the flange 121 of the bottom container 120. Thus, the pair of reinforcement frames 130 function as gaskets. This improves the airtightness of the storage space 13. It should be noted that, as in the circuit breaker device 1A of Modification 1, the reinforcement member of the present disclosure does not need to be integrally formed with the conductor sheet retaining member.

[0131] [Variation 2]

[0132] Figure 12 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a circuit breaker device 1B according to Modification 2 of the embodiment, in its initial state before operation. The circuit breaker device 1B according to Modification 2 differs from the aforementioned circuit breaker device 1 in that the bottom container 120 of the housing 10 and the nut 702 of the fastening member 70 are integrally molded from a resin material. In Modification 2, when the bottom container 120 is not attached to the housing body 100 and the bolt 701 is not threadedly engaged with the nut 702, the bottom container 120 and the nut 702 are integrally molded from a resin material. Furthermore, in Modification 2, when the nut 702 is positioned on the outer surface of the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120, these outer surfaces are coated with a resin material. Figure 12Reference numeral 90 denotes a resin coating that integrates the bottom container 120 of the housing 10 with the nut 702 of the fastening member 70. According to the circuit breaker device 1B of Modification 2, since the bolt 701 is secured to the bottom container 120 by the resin coating 90, when attaching the bottom container 120 to the housing body 100, the bolt 701 need only be screwed into the fixed nut 702. This simplifies assembly of the housing 10. Furthermore, once the housing 10 is assembled, the nut 702 is less likely to loosen. Furthermore, the resin coating 90 covers the entire outer surface of the bottom container 120, thereby imparting electrical insulation properties to the bottom container 120. The material of the resin coating 90 is not particularly limited; for example, synthetic resins such as nylon, polycarbonate, polyamide, and ABS resin may be used. It should be noted that in Modification 2, the top retainer 110 of the housing 10 and the nut 702 may also be integrally molded from a resin material. That is, in the second modification, the nut for attaching the case member to the conductor holding member using the bolt may be integrally molded from a resin material.

[0133] While the embodiments of the circuit breaker device of the present disclosure have been described above, the various aspects disclosed in this specification may be combined with any other features disclosed in this specification.

[0134] Description of Reference Numerals

[0135] 1: Circuit breaker;

[0136] 10: Shell;

[0137] 13: Accommodation space;

[0138] 20: Ignition;

[0139] 40: Emitter;

[0140] 50: conductor sheet;

[0141] 53: resected part;

[0142] 60: cooling element;

[0143] 70: fastening member;

[0144] 100: housing body (an example of a conductor sheet holding member);

[0145] 110: top retainer (an example of a housing member);

[0146] 120: bottom container (an example of a housing member);

[0147] 130: Reinforced frame (an example of a reinforcing member).

Claims

1. A circuit breaker device comprising: The housing has a receiving space formed therein and extending in a predetermined direction; an igniter, disposed in the housing; a projectile, disposed in the accommodation space, and being launched along the accommodation space by receiving energy from the igniter when the igniter is in operation; as well as A conductor sheet is provided on the housing so as to cross the storage space and forms a part of the circuit. A portion of the conductor sheet has a cutout portion, the cutout portion being formed so as to be cut out by the projectile emitted by the operation of the igniter, thereby interrupting the circuit. The conductor sheet is arranged so that the cutout portion is located on a path of travel of the projectile in the storage space. The housing includes: a resin conductor holding member, which is penetrated by a cavity portion extending in the predetermined direction and forming a part of the accommodating space, the conductor holding member holding the conductor piece in a manner such that the cutout portion is located inside the cavity portion; and a reinforcing member for reinforcing the conductor holding member. The reinforcing member is coupled to the conductor holding member so as to surround the cavity.

2. The circuit breaker device according to claim 1, wherein: The reinforcing member is made of metal.

3. The circuit breaker device according to claim 2, wherein: The reinforcement member is made of aluminum.

4. The circuit breaker device according to claim 2, wherein: The reinforcing member is formed of an iron-based material.

5. The circuit breaking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The reinforcing member is integrally formed with the conductor holding member.

6. The circuit breaking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The reinforcing member, which is a separate body from the conductor holding member, is fastened to the conductor holding member by a fastening member.

7. The circuit breaking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The housing includes a housing member that is mounted on the conductor holding member to form the accommodation space in cooperation with the conductor holding member. The reinforcing member has an exposed portion exposed to the outside of the conductor holding member, The exposed portion has a mounting hole formed therein for mounting the housing member to the conductor holding member using a fastening member.

8. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 7, wherein: The mounting hole is formed as a threaded hole, The fastening member is formed as an external thread member, The case member is fastened to the conductor holding member by screwing the threaded hole and the external thread member.

9. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 8, wherein: The mounting hole is formed as a self-locking threaded hole with an anti-loosening structure.

10. The circuit breaking device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: The conductor holding member includes a pair of holding portions formed so as to sandwich the conductor piece from the predetermined direction. At least one of the reinforcing members is provided on each of the pair of holding portions.

11. The circuit interrupting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The housing includes a housing member that is mounted on the conductor holding member to form the accommodation space in cooperation with the conductor holding member. Nuts for attaching the case member to the conductor holding member using bolts are integrally molded from a resin material in the case member.

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