Electric emergency switching device

Abstract

The utility model relates to an electric emergency switching device, which comprises an electrically insulated shell (2); an interrupted current path (3) comprising a first electrically conductive terminal having a first contact surface and a second electrically conductive terminal having a second contact surface; a movable connection element (5) comprising an insulating member (6) and an electrically conductive contact (7), the connection element being movable along a central axis (8) from a starting position (9), in which the contact is electrically disconnected from the current path, into a closed position (10), in which the current path is closed by electrically connecting the contact with the first and second contact surfaces; a pyrotechnic actuator (11); a combustion chamber (12) at least partially formed by a recess (13) in the insulating member, and an actuator for generating a pressurized gas in the combustion chamber in order to move the connecting element from the starting position into the closed position. The electrical emergency switching device can operate reliably in high voltage applications.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an electrical emergency switch device. Background Technology

[0002] Switching devices that operate using pyrotechnic techniques are generally known in the art and are often used to quickly disconnect electrical connections or to quickly generate short circuits to bypass failed electrical components.

[0003] For example, WO2024103096A1 discloses an electrical switching device designed for rapid simultaneous electrical closure of at least three conductors for high current and high voltage.

[0004] Additionally, EP3924991B1 discloses an electrically closed switch comprising a movable contact having a tapered profile, housed in an insulating material and actuated by a pyrotechnic mechanism, allowing for rapid and secure engagement between electrodes having flexible attachments.

[0005] To prevent material damage over lifespan in high-voltage environments, components need to have their partial discharge risk minimized, which could otherwise lead to electrical failures or negative changes in material properties. Therefore, for insulation separating high-voltage components from other critical components such as pyrotechnic actuators, it is important to substantially eliminate partial discharge, or for partial discharge to occur in such a way that it does not impair the insulation (partial discharge is generally considered to be less than 10 pC).

[0006] Currently, this is achieved by using additional external electronic circuitry or long insulation distances, both of which are disadvantageous because external electronic circuitry requires additional materials and manufacturing costs, and long insulation distances increase the installation space required for the switching device. Utility Model Content

[0007] Therefore, the objective of this application is to provide an electrical emergency switch device for reliable operation in high-voltage applications.

[0008] Another objective of this application is to provide an electric emergency switch device with a compact design.

[0009] Another objective of this application is to provide an easy-to-assemble electrical emergency switch device with a simple and / or inexpensive design.

[0010] The objective is achieved by an electrical emergency switch device, which includes:

[0011] Electrically insulating casing;

[0012] An interrupted current path, the current path including a first conductive terminal having a first contact surface and the current path including a second conductive terminal having a second contact surface;

[0013] A movable connecting element comprising an insulating member and at least one conductive contact portion, the movable connecting element being movable along a central axis from a starting position to a closed position, wherein in the starting position, the at least one contact portion is electrically disconnected from an interrupted current path, and in the closed position, the current path is closed by electrically connecting the at least one contact portion and the first and second contact surfaces; and

[0014] Actuators for pyrotechnics;

[0015] The electric emergency switch device is characterized in that it further includes a combustion chamber, which is at least partially formed by a recess in an insulating member, and the actuator of the pyrotechnic technology is configured to generate pressurized gas in the combustion chamber in order to move the movable connecting element from a starting position to a closed position.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this application, the electrical emergency switch device includes: an electrically insulating housing; a pyrotechnic actuator; and an interrupted current path. The interrupted current path includes a first conductive terminal having a first contact surface. Additionally, the interrupted current path includes a second conductive terminal having a second contact surface. Furthermore, a movable connecting element is provided, comprising an insulating member and at least one conductive contact portion, the movable connecting element being movable along a central axis from a starting position to a closed position. In the starting position, the at least one contact portion is electrically disconnected from the interrupted current path, while in the closed position, the current path is closed by electrically connecting the at least one contact portion and the first and second contact surfaces. Additionally, a combustion chamber is included, the combustion chamber being at least partially formed by a recess in the insulating member, and the pyrotechnic actuator is configured to generate pressurized gas in the combustion chamber to move the movable connecting element from the starting position to the closed position.

[0017] During the ignition of the actuator in pyrotechnics, conductive particles such as soot are typically released along with the generated pressurized gas. If these particles are not confined, the risk of partial discharge increases significantly, thus adversely affecting the lifespan of the electrical emergency switch. In this invention, the pressurized gas and any conductive material are thus confined within a combustion chamber, which is partially or completely formed by recesses in an insulating member. Additionally, other measures suitably sealing the combustion chamber to any high-voltage components (e.g., conductive terminals) are employed, such as... Figure 1 The use of the O-ring shown in the diagram can be employed. The at least one conductive contact can be as shown in... Figure 1The illustration shows a single component, but it is not limited to this diagram. Embodiments with multiple individual components are also possible. Another alternative could be to have a conductive coating or layer on the outside of the insulating member for contact surfaces that contact the conductive terminals.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an insulating layer is disposed between the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal. Further, the insulating layer is either perforated by the movable connecting element when the movable connecting element moves from a starting position to a closed position. Alternatively, the insulating layer includes an opening for the movable connecting element to pass through when the movable connecting element moves from a starting position to a closed position.

[0019] In the prior art, conductive terminals are typically electrically insulated from each other by large air gaps. However, by employing an insulating layer between the two terminals, the required air gap can be minimized, thus leading to a more compact design for the electrical emergency switch. An additional advantage of having the two conductive terminals relatively close to each other is electromagnetic force: for high-voltage applications, the current flowing in the current path is typically high once connected by a movable connecting element, which can result in significant electromagnetic forces acting on the conductive terminals and at least one conductive contact. The electromagnetic forces acting on these components can be design-dependent or even greater; for example, bending or misalignment in the conductive terminals can result in even higher forces. These electromagnetic forces can be detrimental to the lifespan and functionality of the device. Given functionality, it may be particularly critical whether electromagnetic forces cause contact displacement, especially with regard to initial switching operation.

[0020] When designing insulation layers, design principles that reduce the risk of partial discharge in high-voltage applications should always be taken into account. For example, any sharp angles, corners, and edges should be avoided and instead rounded or chamfered, and insulation distances and air gaps should preferably be as large as possible.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the pyrotechnic actuator has an open surface from which pressurized gas is released, and the open surface faces the movable connecting element and the combustion chamber. Further, a conductive sleeve is configured to contact the pyrotechnic actuator such that the conductive sleeve, the pyrotechnic actuator, and the open surface of the actuator are at similar potentials. Even if the conductive sleeve does not contact the pyrotechnic actuator, the conductive sleeve still provides shielding and contributes to the equalization of voltage distribution. Therefore, an embodiment in which the conductive sleeve does not contact, or only partially contacts, the pyrotechnic actuator is also contemplated.

[0022] The actuation / ignition of a pyrotechnic actuator can cause the opening surface to deform, creating sharp edges that increase the risk of partial discharge. To mitigate this risk, a conductive sleeve can be used that makes electrical contact with a portion of the opening surface and a portion of the pyrotechnic actuator to ensure that these components are at similar potentials. A preferred embodiment is that the conductive sleeve contacts the opening surface only in the circumferential region or edge region. "Contact" should not be misunderstood as the conductive sleeve in any way preventing the opening surface or the release of pressurized gas. For example, the conductive sleeve may be a cylindrical sleeve or tube in which the portion contacts the circumference of the opening surface. The conductive sleeve can be further positioned such that it partially extends into the combustion chamber. When designing the conductive sleeve, the design principles for reducing the risk of partial discharge in high-voltage applications, as mentioned above, should also be considered. The same considerations regarding the contact between the conductive sleeve and the pyrotechnic actuator, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, also apply here.

[0023] The meaning of "similar" potential is within 20% of the total voltage difference between high-voltage components (e.g., conductive terminals) and low-voltage components (e.g., pyrotechnic actuators). The sleeve can be any conductive covering that at least partially surrounds the pyrotechnic actuator, preferably a tubular or hollow cylinder.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the electrical emergency switch device is suitable for high-voltage operation in the range of 1kV to 20kV, wherein the maximum charge during a single partial discharge event does not exceed 10pC at the corresponding voltage level.

[0025] Suitability for high-voltage applications can be achieved, for example, by implementing different implementation methods and other measures known to those skilled in the art, such as avoiding any corners and sharp angles and replacing them with chamfers. Furthermore, the risk of partial discharge can be further minimized by increasing the insulation distance or air gap between other components and the high-voltage components. In the combustion chamber, it is possible to remove sharp edges or chamfers (rounding corners at angles ranging from 0 to 90°), depending on the geometry of the outer wall of the combustion chamber.

[0026] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the housing further includes a detachable inner housing element. This inner housing element can be attached to the housing via an insert mounting and includes mounting space for actuators and conductive sleeves for pyrotechnics, the mounting space being aligned with the central axis.

[0027] In the prior art, threaded connections are typically used, while the plug-in installation provided in this embodiment makes the assembly of the electrical emergency switch simple and inexpensive. Furthermore, the attachable and removable inner housing component further enhances ease of assembly.

[0028] According to a further specific embodiment, the inner housing element has a circumferential groove and the actuator of the pyrotechnics, and the conductive sleeve has complementary circumferential protrusions for insert mounting of the pyrotechnics actuator and the conductive sleeve into the inner housing element.

[0029] The technical advantage of this setup is that it further improves the ease of assembling the pyrotechnic actuators and conductive sleeves with the central axis.

[0030] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recess in the insulating member has a surface facing the combustion chamber, and the surface has a conductive coating.

[0031] The advantage of this implementation is that it reduces the risk of partial discharge. This technical feature can be used as a replacement for the conductive sleeve mentioned above, or in combination with the conductive sleeve.

[0032] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the movable connecting element is held in the starting position by means of an insulating shell disposed in or part of the housing and surrounding the movable connecting element.

[0033] The movable connecting element needs to be able to withstand environmental influences and reliably remain in its initial position to prevent unwanted contact with the current path and the conductive terminals.

[0034] In the prior art, the retention function of such a movable connecting element in the initial position is typically achieved by a locking tab or a screw-on / filler breakage element that bends or breaks as the connecting element moves from the initial position to the closed position. Furthermore, the retention function is often achieved by elements that have a large installation space and / or require a large air gap sufficient to prevent partial discharge.

[0035] Another embodiment of the present invention, as described, has the following advantages: the use of an insulating shell allows for a more compact design of the electrical emergency switch device because it reduces the risk of partial discharge and ensures sufficient leakage / creep distance. Together with the insulation layer described above, this allows for a design that is approximately 30% more compact than other designs available on the market or known in the prior art. The insulating shell can additionally be designed with chamfers and bevels to further reduce the risk of partial discharge. Other design considerations known to those skilled in the art for improving the partial discharge characteristics of the insulating shell, such as maximizing air gaps and insulation distances, can also be applied. The insulating shell can be a separate element or part of the housing. If the insulating shell is part of the housing, then the insulating shell can be machined, for example, from the insulating housing material itself, which has the advantage that no additional element is required. On the other hand, the insulating shell as a separate element has the advantage that the machining of the insulating shell itself is easier. In this case, this can be an additional advantage if the design of the housing and the design of the insulating shell allow for easy insert mounting of the insulating shell into the housing, for example, via a form-locking connection. Another consideration for the two options could be to design the insulation shell in such a way that it is easy to manufacture, for example, by simply turning it without making threads or milling it.

[0036] Furthermore, the insulating housing may have additional grooves in its insulating material, extending along a central axis from the end face of the insulating housing opposite to each conductive terminal toward the conductive terminal. Preferably, the grooves extend along the central axis at least as far as the open face of the pyrotechnic actuator, more preferably even further. The advantage of such grooves in the insulating housing is the improvement in insulation properties and the improved shielding against electric fields. Such grooves can also be considered in other components for protecting components in emergency switching devices.

[0037] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the movable connecting element and the insulating shell have complementary circumferential grooves, in which O-ring seals are provided, and the movable connecting element is held in the initial position via the O-ring seals.

[0038] The O-ring seal ensures a uniform force distribution around the circumference while allowing for easy assembly. Additionally, the movable connecting element can be easily released from the initial position when the pyrotechnic actuator is actuated / ignited.

[0039] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the insulating shell has a first end face facing the first and second conductive terminals and a second end face facing away from the first and second conductive terminals, and the complementary circumferential grooves of the insulating shell and the movable connecting element and the O-ring seal are located closer to the second end face of the insulating shell than to the first end face.

[0040] The advantage is that the risk of partial discharge is further minimized if the insulating shell is designed so that the holding point is as far away from the high-voltage area as possible, while still allowing for a compact installation space due to the insulating shell. Attached Figure Description

[0041] To better understand this invention, it will be explained in more detail in a non-limiting manner with the aid of the following drawings. The drawings are simplified exemplary schematic diagrams:

[0042] Figure 1 This illustration shows an embodiment of an electrical emergency switch device in the initial position according to the present invention.

[0043] Figure 2 This invention illustrates an embodiment of an electrical emergency switch device in the closed position according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0044] exist Figure 1 An embodiment of an electrical emergency switch device 1 is shown in the starting position 9. The described electrical emergency switch device 1 has an electrically insulated housing 2. The housing 2 is divided into three parts: a main housing 2a, an inner housing element 17, and a housing cover 2b. A first conductive terminal 3-1 and a second conductive terminal 3-2 are disposed in the main housing 2a, separated from each other by a gap in which an insulating layer 14 with an insulating layer opening 14a is assembled, thus forming an interrupted current path 3. The main housing 2a has suitable housing openings 20 for accommodating the terminals 3-1, 3-2. The first terminal 3-1 and the second terminal 3-2 are generally parallel to each other, but non-parallel embodiments are also conceivable. The orientation of the first and second conductive terminals 3-1, 3-2 is not limited to... Figure 1 The orientation displayed in the image.

[0045] Other embodiments are also possible, in which each terminal is rotated 90° relative to the housing. Generally, each terminal can have any orientation relative to each other or relative to the housing, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and can still fulfill the function of a movable connecting element that closes and interrupts the current path when the connecting element moves from the initial position to the closed position. The first conductive terminal 3-1 has a first contact surface 4-1, and the second conductive terminal 3-2 has a second contact surface 4-2.

[0046] Additionally, the electric emergency switch device 1 has a movable connecting element 5, which includes an insulating member 6 and a conductive contact portion 7. The contact portion 7 can be a separate element, such as in... Figure 1 As shown in the illustration, but not limited to this illustration, other alternatives are possible, as explained above. Additionally, the movable connecting element 5 can move along the central axis 8 from the initial position 9 to the closed position 10, which is... Figure 2 As shown in the diagram. In the initial position 9, contact 7 is electrically disconnected from the interrupted current path 3. In this case, "electrically disconnected" means that contact 7 is not in electrical contact with one of the contact surfaces 4-1, 4-2 of at least one conductive terminal 3-1, 3-2.

[0047] The inner housing element 17 is disposed within the main housing 2a in an attachable / detachable manner via an insert mounting. In this embodiment, during the final assembly of the electrical emergency switch device 1, the inner housing element can be further locked in position via a housing cover 2b, which can be connected to the main housing 2a via a threaded connection or any other feasible means known to those skilled in the art. Depending on the connection method, additional measures for improving insulation characteristics can be advantageously considered; for example, for threaded connections, an insulating sleeve around the screw can be considered.

[0048] The inner housing element 17 may have an additional purpose: it serves as a support for the pyrotechnic actuator 11 and the conductive sleeve 16, both of which can be mounted within the inner housing element 17 via a simple insert mounting. For example, the pyrotechnic actuator can be triggered by an electrical signal, and a corresponding electrical connection 11a is shown for this case. The pyrotechnic actuator 11 and the movable connecting element 5 can also be aligned with the central axis 8 via the inner housing element 17. The insulating member 6 has a recess 13 on the side facing the pyrotechnic actuator 11, which can completely or partially form the combustion chamber 12. If the recess 13 only partially forms the combustion chamber 12, the remaining portion of the combustion chamber 12 can be formed by a portion of the inner housing element 17. Figure 1 In this case, the conductive sleeve 16 extends partially into the combustion chamber 12. To properly seal the combustion chamber from the environment, a suitable seal 23, such as an O-ring seal, can be used.

[0049] The movable connecting element 5 is held in the starting position via an insulating shell 18, the insulating shell having a first end face 21 facing the first and second conductive terminals 3-1, 3-2, and the insulating shell in Figure 1The insulating shell 18 is positioned on the first conductive terminal 3-1, and the insulating shell has a second end face 22 facing away from the first and second conductive terminals 3-1 and 3-2. Both the insulating shell 18 and the movable connecting element 5 have circumferential grooves in which the O-ring seal 19 is positioned closer to the second end face 22 than to the first end face 21. The movable connecting element 5 is held in the initial position 9 via the O-ring seal 19.

[0050] exist Figure 2 The diagram shows the electrical emergency switch device 1 and its connection to the circuit breaker. Figure 1 The same embodiment is used, but the movable connecting element 5 moves from its starting position 9 to its closed position 10. If the pyrotechnic actuator 11 is triggered / ignited, pressurized gas is released from the open face 15 of the pyrotechnic actuator 11 into the combustion chamber 12, which moves the movable connecting element 5 to the closed position 10. The term "open face" 15 should not be misunderstood as meaning that the open face is always "open". In most applications of the pyrotechnic actuator 11, the open face 15 breaks open due to pressurized gas after the pyrotechnic actuator 11 is triggered / ignited. In the closed position 10, the conductive contact 7 is in electrical contact with the contact faces 4-1, 4-2 of the first and second conductive terminals 3-1, 3-2, thus creating a short circuit. The insulating layer 14 has an insulating layer opening 14a through which the movable connecting element 5 moves along its path from the starting position to the closed position 10.

[0051] One possible method for assembling the disclosed electrical emergency switch device is as follows:

[0052] 1) Provide a housing, the housing comprising a main housing, a housing cover and an inner housing element.

[0053] 2) Install the insulating shell and movable connecting elements in the main housing.

[0054] 3) The pyrotechnic actuator and conductive sleeve are installed in the inner housing component via an insert mounting.

[0055] 4) The inner housing components are installed in the main housing in alignment with the central axis via insert mounting.

[0056] 5) Install a first conductive terminal having a first contact surface, an insulating layer, and a second conductive terminal having a second contact surface.

[0057] 6) Connect the housing cover to the main housing to further lock the inner housing components in place, preferably by means of a threaded connection together with the housing cover and at least one of the conductive terminals, particularly preferably by means of a threaded connection together with the housing cover and the conductive terminal furthest from the housing cover.

[0058] Other methods or assembly sequences of the disclosed electrical emergency switch device may also be used, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An electrical emergency switch device, comprising: Electrically insulating casing (2); The interrupted current path (3) includes a first conductive terminal (3-1) having a first contact surface (4-1) and a second conductive terminal (3-2) having a second contact surface (4-2). A movable connecting element (5) comprising an insulating member (6) and at least one conductive contact (7), the movable connecting element (5) being movable along a central axis (8) from a starting position (9) to a closed position (10), in the starting position being electrically disconnected from an interrupted current path (3), and in the closed position being closed by electrically connecting the at least one contact (7) and the first and second contact surfaces (4-1, 4-2); and Actuator for pyrotechnics (11); The electric emergency switch device is characterized in that it further includes a combustion chamber (12) formed at least partially by a recess (13) in an insulating member (6), and the pyrotechnic actuator (11) is configured to generate pressurized gas in the combustion chamber (12) to move the movable connecting element (5) from the starting position (9) to the closed position (10).

2. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pyrotechnic actuator (11) has an opening surface (15) from which pressurized gas is released and the opening surface faces the movable connecting element (5) and the combustion chamber (12). A conductive sleeve (16) is configured to contact the pyrotechnic actuator (11) such that the conductive sleeve (16), the pyrotechnic actuator (11), and the opening surface (15) of the actuator are at similar potentials.

3. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, An insulating layer (14) is disposed between a first conductive terminal (3-1) and a second conductive terminal (3-2). The insulating layer (14) is either perforated by the movable connecting element (5) when the movable connecting element moves from the starting position (9) to the closed position (10), or the insulating layer (14) includes an opening (14a) for the movable connecting element (5) to pass through when the movable connecting element moves from the starting position (9) to the closed position (10).

4. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical emergency switch (1) is suitable for high-voltage operation in the range of 1kV to 20kV, wherein the maximum charge during a single partial discharge event does not exceed 10pC at the corresponding voltage level.

5. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The insulating housing (2) also includes a removable inner housing element (17) which can be attached to the insulating housing (2) via a plug-in mounting and includes mounting space aligned with the central axis (8) for actuators (11) and conductive sleeves (16) for pyrotechnics.

6. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner housing element (17) has a circumferential groove and the pyrotechnic actuator (11), and the conductive sleeve (16) has complementary circumferential protrusions for insert mounting of the pyrotechnic actuator (11) and the conductive sleeve (16) into the inner housing element (17).

7. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The recess (13) in the insulating member (6) has a surface facing the combustion chamber, and the surface has a conductive coating.

8. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The movable connecting element (5) is held in the starting position (9) via an insulating shell (18) disposed in or as part of the housing (2) and surrounding the movable connecting element (5).

9. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The movable connecting element (5) and the insulating shell (18) have complementary circumferential grooves in which O-ring seals (19) are provided, and the movable connecting element (5) is held in the starting position (9) via the O-ring seals (19).

10. The electrical emergency switch device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The insulating shell (18) has a first end face (21) facing the first and second conductive terminals (3-1, 3-2) and a second end face (22) facing away from the first and second conductive terminals (3-1, 3-2), and the complementary circumferential grooves of the insulating shell (18) and the movable connecting element (5) and the position of the O-ring seal (19) are closer to the second end face (22) of the insulating shell than to the first end face (21).

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