Electrical connection switching member

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connecting switch for the targeted short-circuiting of an electrical circuit with energies of up to 100 kJ. Compared to previous connecting switches or relays, it requires less space, is significantly smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective to manufacture, requires less activatable material when actively triggered, and yet switches reliably, quickly, and without contact bounce. The switching principle is well suited for circuits with operating voltages up to 10 kV. Furthermore, the time between actuation of the electrical connecting switch and short-circuiting of the circuit can be reduced to as little as 40 µsec, making it two orders of magnitude faster than switching with, for example, a relay.

[0002] Electrical connecting switches for closing circuits are used, for example, to remove electrical energy from a vehicle subsystem after a motor vehicle accident. For example, inverters in electric vehicles still have capacitively stored energy even after they have been switched off. This energy must be removed from the system as quickly as possible after an accident and after the vehicle battery is disconnected—for example, converted into heat to prevent a fire or explosion. Electrical interrupting switches with a so-called center electrode, as described in DE 10 2016 124 176 A1, can be used for this purpose.

[0003] However, this is different for vehicles with fuel cells, as the energy to be dissipated from the system is significantly higher. The problem with fuel cells is that although the hydrogen and oxygen supply can be interrupted after an accident, there is still sufficient reactive fuel in the fuel cell itself to generate the aforementioned high energies. At such high energies, the aforementioned switches with the aforementioned center electrode are no longer suitable.

[0004] Therefore, the state of the art provides so-called pyro switches, in which a contact piece is moved by means of an igniter in one direction from a starting position to an end position, whereby in the end position two connecting contacts are connected to each other, through which the maximum short-circuit current then flows. As shown here in the Fig. 4A und 4B as well as Fig. 5A und 5B As can be seen, such connecting contacts can be formed by two conductor elements arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the contact piece, which are then bridged by the contact piece, similar to the so-called balancing switch described in DE 10 2014 110 825 A1, only with the opposite effect. DE 10 2010 010 669 A1 shows an electrical connecting switching element in which the contact piece is connected to only one of the two electrical connecting contacts before switching. After switching, the contact piece sits in a receiving device provided for it, whereby a connection is established between the two electrical connecting contacts via the electrically conductive contact piece.

[0005] Another state-of-the-art solution is to provide a relay contact similar to a contact spring, as shown here in the Fig. 6A und 6B The contact spring design according to Fig. 6A und 6B has the disadvantage of only a limited current carrying capacity, also the contact is only touching and not welding, thus not long-term stable, the designs of the state of the art according to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 They have the disadvantage that the contact piece must be subjected to a relatively high force to connect the two terminal contacts in order to ensure secure contact or welding of both contacts after the piston movement. Furthermore, these assemblies require a relatively large amount of space and are heavy.

[0006] WO 2018 / 115644 A1 and WO 96 / 19816 A1 each disclose an electrical connecting switching element according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an electrical connecting switching element which, in the smallest possible installation space and using the least possible activatable material (ignition material or detonation material), is capable of quickly and safely dissipating energies of up to 100 kJ from a system and of safely maintaining the short circuit.

[0008] The stated object is achieved according to the invention by an electrical connecting switching element of patent claim 1. Subclaims 2 to 10 show further embodiments of the present invention.

[0009] The electrical connecting switching element according to the invention has two electrically conductive contact elements and an electrically conductive contact piece for connecting the contact elements. The contact piece or piston is movable along a movement path, whereby the connecting switching element can be transferred from an electrically separated state to an electrically connected state. In the separated state, the contact piece is not electrically connected to either contact element and, in the connected state, is electrically connected to both contact elements. The contact elements are designed such that, in the connected state, the contact elements engage around the contact piece from opposite sides. In this way, the two contact elements can be arranged together in a compact design, so that the space requirement of the connecting switching element according to the invention is smaller than that of prior art connecting switching elements.

[0010] In one embodiment, it is preferred that the contact elements are arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the contact piece's movement path. This allows the contact piece to move between the contact elements and electrically connect them simultaneously. This allows the connecting switching element according to the invention to be switched at high speed.

[0011] The contact elements are preferably arranged parallel to one another in a plane, with the plane being arranged obliquely or perpendicularly to the path of movement of the contact piece. A substantially vertical arrangement is preferred according to the invention, as this is easier to implement from a structural point of view.

[0012] In one embodiment, it is preferred that the contact elements are geometrically identical. In this case, it is preferred that the contact elements are designed such that they can be transferred into one another when rotated by 180° along an imaginary central axis. The central axis here preferably corresponds to the axis of the contact piece's path of movement. The contact elements can each be partially circular, whereby they can excellently engage around a round or cylindrical contact piece. However, the contact elements can also be clamp-like or sliding. The latter shapes can also easily engage around a round or cylindrical contact piece. However, it is also conceivable for the contact piece to have a base area other than a circle, for example a square, rectangle, pentagon, or hexagon. The contact piece can also be conical, wedge-shaped, or plate-like.In the latter cases, it is preferred that the two contact elements are mirror-symmetrical to one another. The two contact elements thus together form a receiving structure for the contact piece. It is preferred that this receiving structure expands upon receiving the contact piece such that, after braking or retraction of the contact piece, a stable, constant contact pressure is present on the contact elements. This contact pressure can be so high that the contact elements even weld tightly to the contact piece at the contact surfaces. The contact piece can be scored or even deformed to ensure good electrical contact. Depending on the material used for the contact elements, the current via the two electrical connection contacts of the connecting switching element according to the invention can be reduced. The electrical connection contacts are connected to the contact elements.The connecting contact and contact element preferably form a unit and are preferably formed in one piece. The contact elements are preferably made of copper or stainless steel; the contact piece can also be a metallized non-conductor or one coated with a more or less electrically conductive layer, for example, an electrically conductive coated ceramic or an electrically conductive coated plastic.

[0013] In one embodiment of the connecting switching element according to the invention, a slotted conical tube made of a highly electrically conductive material is used instead of a solid contact piece. This conical tube expands when the piston retracts and contacts the two now fixed contact elements, thereby electrically connecting them. The former gap between the contact elements and the first housing can be reduced to zero; the required elastic / plastic element is the slotted conical tube. If potential separation between the piston or ignition and the contact elements is desired, the piston can be made entirely of plastic.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the contact piece contacts both contact elements essentially simultaneously during the transition from the separated state to the connected state. This ensures a simple design and fast switching of the connecting switching element. It is preferred that the contact piece contacts the two contact elements with a maximum time offset of less than 0.2 ms.

[0015] The connecting switching element according to the invention comprises a holding device. This holding device is preferably designed as a housing for the contact elements. The contact elements are preferably attached to the holding device via the connecting contacts. The holding device has an interior boundary within which the contact elements are arranged. The holding device preferably surrounds the electrical contact elements in such a way that their position relative to one another is essentially secured both in the connected and in the separated state of the connecting switching element. This means that the contact elements can only move to a limited extent when the contact piece is received between them.According to the invention, a gap is provided between the boundary of the holding device and the contact elements, allowing the aforementioned receiving structure to expand slightly when receiving the contact piece, up to the maximum limit of the holding structure. This prevents overstretching of the contact elements, ensuring secure contact with the contact piece.

[0016] Furthermore, it is preferred that the contact piece be moved along its path of movement by means of an activatable drive. The activatable drive can be an igniter, a gas generator, or a detonator, as known in the prior art. The activatable drive is preferably controllable and is triggered, for example, when an electrical circuit is to be deliberately short-circuited.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the activatable drive can move a piston guided by a housing, with the aid of which the contact piece is moved along its path of movement. Here, too, the activatable drive is preferably located within the housing. The piston can be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces. If the piston is designed in multiple pieces, it is preferred that it is designed telescopically and can be extended out of the housing along the direction of movement of the contact piece. The advantages of a telescopic design of the piston for driving the contact piece are: (1) faster short-circuiting or connecting of the two connection contacts, since with a two-part telescope, for example, as in the Fig. 9A und 9B shown below, each telescopic segment only has to travel half the distance compared to a single-piece piston, and each telescopic segment extends simultaneously; (2) with a fixed travel distance for the contact piece, which results, for example, from the high voltage to be switched, the assembly can be built accordingly shorter. For a piston with two telescopic segments (as in Fig. 9A und 9B (shown) the piston can be shortened by the length of one telescopic segment and thus placed at a greater distance from the contact elements. However, telescopic pistons with more than two telescopic segments can also be used.

[0018] The present invention will now be described with the aid of the following figures, in which the Fig. 4A und 4B bis 6A und 6B Embodiments are prior art. In the embodiments according to the invention, all features shown in one embodiment can also be transferred to the other embodiments, unless technically impossible: Fig. 1 shows in the middle the section of an assembled electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top and a view along section AA being shown at the bottom. Fig. 2A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top. Fig. 2B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 2A in the electrically connected state. Here, after the assembly was triggered, the contact piece was pressed between the two contact elements. Fig. 3A shows a schematic side view of another electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB shown at the top. Fig. 3B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 3A in the electrically connected state. Compared to the view in Fig. 2B Here, the contact piece is not pressed between the contact elements, but rather is shot in, because the piston is held back here. Fig. 4A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element not according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, in which two contact elements arranged parallel to one another are contacted sequentially by a contact piece. The switching principle shown here is state of the art. Fig. 4B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 4A in the electrically connected state. Fig. 5A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element not according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, in which two contact elements arranged parallel to one another are contacted sequentially by a temporarily freely floating contact piece. The switching principle shown here is state of the art. Fig. 5B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 5A in the electrically connected state. Fig. 6A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element not according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, in which two relay-like contact elements are connected to each other by the movement of the contact piece. Compared to a normal relay, only the electromagnet is replaced by a pyrotechnic force element. Fig. 6B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 6A in the electrically connected state. Fig. 7A shows a plan view along the imaginary central axis of two circular electrical contact elements with electrical connection contacts. Fig. 7B shows a plan view along the imaginary central axis of two clamp-like electrical contact elements with electrical connection contacts. Fig. 7C shows a plan view along the imaginary central axis of two sliding electrical contact elements with electrical connection contacts. Fig. 8A shows a plan view along the imaginary central axis of two circular electrical contact elements with electrical connection contacts; opposite Fig. 7A However, the connecting contacts are bent at an angle. Fig. 8B shows a top view of the two contact elements according to Fig. 7A und 7B rotated by 90° so that the connection holes of the two contact elements are visible. Fig. 8C again shows a top view of the two contact elements after Fig. 7A und 7B rotated by 90° so that the connection holes of the two contact elements are visible. Fig. 8B However, here the two connection holes of the contact elements are shifted from the center line of the contact elements in order to be able to reposition the entire assembly. Fig. 9A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top, with the piston pushing the contact element being of telescopic design. Fig. 9B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 9A in the electrically connected state. Here, after the assembly was triggered, the contact piece was pressed between the two contact elements. Fig. 10 shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top, wherein the contact elements are mirror-symmetrical to one another for receiving a wedge-shaped or plate-like contact piece. Fig. 11A shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top, with the slotted conical tube inserted and not resting against the contact elements. Fig. 11B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 11A in the electrically connected state. Here, after the assembly was triggered, the slotted conical tube was expanded by the retracting piston and pressed between the two contact elements.

[0019] The Fig. 1 shows in the middle the section of an assembled electrical connecting switching element 1 according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state. The connecting switching element 1 has a first housing 6, which also serves as a holding device for the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b, and a second housing 10. The first housing 6 preferably houses the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b, which are preferably connected to the electrical connection contacts 8a and 8b connected thereto. The electrical contact elements 2a and 2b and the connection contacts 8a and 8b are preferably formed in one piece. The connection contacts 8a and 8b are held by the first housing 6 and in this way indirectly hold the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b in the first housing 6 in the desired arrangement or position.The connecting contacts 8a and 8b preferably have holes 9 to which the entire connecting switching element 1 can be screwed or fastened. This allows the entire assembly to be screwed to so-called busbars. The holes 9 of the electrical connecting contacts 8a and 8b can be offset as required by the desired installation position of the connecting switching element 1 between or on the busbars to be short-circuited. As can be seen from the upper illustration of the . Fig. 1 As can be seen, which represents a section BB through the connecting switching element 1, the contact elements 2a and 2b are circular or partially circular around an imaginary central axis 5. The contact elements 2a and 2b are designed such that they do not touch each other and can accommodate a contact piece 3 in their center, which is electrically conductive and electrically connects the contact elements 2a and 2b to each other when the connecting switching element 1 is connected. In this way, a current can flow from the electrical connection contact 8a to the electrical connection contact 8b, or vice versa. As shown in Fig. 1 As shown, the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b in the connected state of the connecting switching element 1 touch the preferably cylindrical contact piece 3 from two opposite sides 4a and 4b (reference numerals in Fig. 1 not shown, but in the Fig. 2B and 3B). The first housing 6 preferably has fastening holes 17, which can be used to attach an upper cover 19 with the screws 21, or to firmly connect the first housing (holding device for the electrical contact elements) 6 to the second housing 10. The second housing 10 preferably has, in the unconnected state of the connecting switching element 1, the contact piece 3, which is preferably connected to the piston 11. The contact piece 3 can have a hole on the side facing away from the first housing 6, in which a nipple of the piston 11 can be accommodated, ie the contact piece 3 can be plugged onto the piston 11 via this nipple. Furthermore, the connecting switching element 1 according to the invention preferably has an activatable drive 7, which in Fig. 1 in non-triggered form. The activatable drive 7 is preferably located on the side of the piston 11 opposite the contact piece 3. In this way, when the activatable drive 7 is triggered, the contact piece 3 can be moved along an axis 5 and preferably comes to a standstill between the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b. For the latter, so-called emergency stop elements 16 (reference numerals in the Fig. 2B and 3Bshown) or the upper cover 19. The upper cover 19 can furthermore have a sensor screw 22, with the aid of which it can be determined whether the connecting switching element 1 is in the electrically connected or electrically unconnected state. A sealing film 26 can be provided between the upper cover 19 and the first housing 6 to seal the interior of the connecting switching element 1. After the activatable drive 7 has been triggered, the piston 11 is guided inside the second housing 10. Furthermore, the piston 11 preferably has, on the side facing away from the contact piece 3, a preferably cylindrical cavity open on one side, in which the activatable drive 7 is arranged. A piston seal 12 arranged on the piston 11 between its outer side and the inside of the second housing 10 can seal the interior of the connecting switching element 1.A cable inlet 25 for electrical cables or pyrotechnic transmission lines (TLX, shock tube, etc.) can be provided on the underside, via which the activatable drive 7 can be activated. As shown in the . Fig. 1 As shown, a potting part can also be provided, with which the interior of the second housing 10 is closed at the bottom in conjunction with a closure and support 23 of the activatable drive. On the bottom of the second housing 10, there is preferably a lower cover 20, which can have a cable opening in its center. The section AA through the lower cover 20 is shown in the figure below in the Fig. 1 shown. The lower cover 20 can have one or more fastening holes 17. The lower cover 20 can be screwed to the second housing 10 via these holes using cover screws 21. A sealing film 26 can be provided between the lower cover 20 and the second housing 10. The housing 10 can be integral with the housing 6. In other embodiments, all parts 20, 10, 6 and 19 can be injection-molded in one piece, with or without inserts such as sensor 22, closure 23 including piston 11, drive 7 and contact piece 3. The second housing 10 and the first housing 6 are generally made of an electrically non-conductive plastic; if electrically conductive materials are used here, the contact elements must be stripped on all sides.When the contact piece 3 is retracted, the insulation of the contact elements 2a and 2b would be scraped, torn, or ripped off at the contact points, thereby electrically connecting the two contact elements 2a and 2b again. The contact piece 3 can be made of metal or of a non-conductor coated with an electrically conductive material, such as ceramic or plastic.

[0020] Fig. 2A and Fig. 3A show schematic side views of an electrical connecting switching element according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state below, wherein a view according to section BB is shown at the top. Fig. 2B and Fig. 3B each show a schematic side view of a connecting switching element according to Fig. 2A or Fig. 3A in the electrically connected state. The reference symbols with the same numbers as in Fig. 1 can be referred to mutually. If the activatable drive 7 is triggered, the piston 11 is driven by the gas pressure generated inside the second housing 10. The piston seal 12 is intended to ensure efficient driving of the piston 11 by preventing gas losses. The piston seal 12 can also be designed to be self-sealing, i.e., when pressure is applied, the piston 11 bulges at the rear edge so that a seal can be created between the piston 11 and the second housing 10. In this case, the piston seal 12 can be dispensed with entirely. The piston 11 converts the gas pressure generated by the activatable drive 7 into force, which accelerates the contact piece 3 and, after the first contact with the contact elements 2a and 2b, is pressed between them with force ( Fig. 2A , the contact piece 3 always remains connected to the piston 11) or shot in ( Fig. 3A , the contact piece 3 detaches from the piston 11 before retracting into the contact elements 2A and 2B. The piston 11 can be made of metal or of an electrically insulating material. In the latter case, the ignition circuit and the second housing 10 can be electrically insulated from the main circuit via the electrical connection contacts 8a and 8b. If the piston 11 is made of an electrically insulating material, an insulation adapter 18, as in Fig. 3A und 3B shown, can be omitted if the ignition circuit is to be separated from the main circuit. Fig. 2B and 3B the activatable drive 13 is in its triggered form.

[0021] In the Fig. 2B and 3BIn the upper images with section BB you can see how the contact piece 3 is enclosed by the partially circular bent contact elements 2a and 2b from two opposite sides 4a and 4b. In other words, the incoming contact piece 3 is received by the receiving structure formed from the contact elements 2a and 2b, so that good electrical contact is established between this receiving structure and the contact piece 3; in extreme cases, all three components are welded together at the contact points. Since the contact elements 2a and 2b do not lie directly against the limit 15 of the holding device, they can move in the direction of the limit 15 when the contact piece 3 is retracted, or the receiving structure formed thereby can expand, without the material being plastically deformed, so that a stable and constant contact pressure is present after the deceleration or retraction of the contact piece 3.The contact piece 3 can be applied or even deformed to ensure good electrical contact. Depending on the material used, the current flowing between the contact elements 2a and 2b can be greatly reduced, and the electrical resistance present here also allows a high amount of energy to be converted into heat within the assembly. Copper and stainless steel are therefore preferred materials for the contact elements 2a and 2b. The holding device 6 for the electrical contact elements 2a and 2b (first housing) secures the position of the contact elements 2a and 2b relative to one another and relative to the incoming contact piece 3. At the same time, the holding device 6, with the limiter 15, prevents the receiving structure formed by the contact elements 2a and 2b from being stretched too far when the contact piece 3 is retracted, thus preventing the receiving structure from being plastically deformed.

[0022] In the Fig. 2A und 2B In the embodiment of a connecting switching element 1 according to the invention shown, the contact piece 3 is merely retracted or pressed in between the contact elements 2a and 2b, since it does not detach from the piston 11, because the latter can preferably be moved in the second housing 10 so far that the contact piece can be fully pressed in between the two contact elements 2a and 2b. Fig. 3A und 3B An embodiment is shown in which the second housing 10 has so-called stop elements 14 for the piston 11, so that the piston 11 stops at the end of its movement. In this embodiment, it is preferred that the contact piece 3 is inserted between the two contact elements 2a and 2b, preferably by a short distance of free flight.

[0023] Fig. 4A und 4B , as well as Fig. 5A und 5B each show an embodiment according to the prior art, in which, by triggering the activatable drive 7, a piston 11 within a housing 10 moves a contact piece 3 between two recesses of two parallel contact elements 2a and 2b, thereby enabling a current flow I via the electrical connection contacts 8a and 8b. The disadvantage of this embodiment is that the contact elements 2a and 2b are relatively far apart from one another and therefore cannot be arranged in such a space-saving manner as in the embodiments according to the invention. Furthermore, the contacting of the contact elements 2a and 2b does not occur simultaneously, but one after the other, so that the bridging of the electrical connection contacts 8a and 8b cannot take place as quickly as is the case with the connecting switching element 1 according to the invention.Even in designs in which contact piece 3 is already seated in contact element 8b or electrically connected to it (not shown), contact piece 3 first moves toward contact element 8b after the connecting switching element is activated. Particularly with contact element 8b, it must then be ensured that contact piece 3 securely connects to contact element 8a after moving into contact element 8b or makes secure contact with it. Therefore, contact piece 3 must be able to slide unhindered through contact element 8b before making contact with contact element 8a. Fig. 4A und 4B an embodiment is shown in which the contact piece 3 is still seated on the piston 11 in the fully retracted state between the contact elements 2a and 2b, ie the contact piece 3 is not pressed freely into the contact elements 2a and 2b, but guided by the piston 11. In contrast, the Fig. 5A und 5B An embodiment in which the housing 10 has stop elements 14 for the piston 11, so that the contact piece 3 cannot be guided by the piston 3 to the contact elements 2a and 2b, but rather moves freely to the contact elements 2a and 2b by an impulse applied by the activatable drive 7 and is thus shot into them. Here, too, the contact elements 8a and 8b are contacted one after the other by the contact piece 3 or are welded to it shortly before the contact piece 3 stops.

[0024] In the Fig. 6A und 6B an embodiment is shown in which there are two contact elements 2a and 2b designed as parallel contact springs, wherein the triggering of the activatable drive 7 causes the piston 11 to press the contact piece 3 onto the contact spring 2b, which is then pressed all the way to the contact spring 2a, so that the contact springs 2a and 2b are connected to one another, whereby a current I can flow from the electrical connection contact 8a to the electrical connection contact 8b. This embodiment also has the disadvantage of requiring more space compared to the embodiments according to the invention. Furthermore, there is only touching contact, no pressing, no cutting, and above all no welding of the relay-like contacts, as is the case with the inventive design of the contact elements 2a and 2b.Compared to a normal relay, only the electromagnet is replaced by a pyrotechnic force element - and here too the contact springs 2a and 2b are only touched or pressed one after the other by the contact piece 3 and not practically simultaneously as in the switching principle according to the invention according to the . Fig. 1 bis 3 .

[0025] Fig. 7A bis 7C show different shapes of a pair of contact elements 2a and 2b, which connect to the electrical connection contacts or are formed integrally with them. Fig. 7A shows an embodiment in which the contact elements 2a and 2b are partially circular. Here, the contact or subsequent welding to the contact piece 3 is circular to flat. Fig. 7B shows an alternative embodiment of a pair of contact elements 2a and 2b, which are designed like clamps. When using a cylindrical contact piece 3, contacting of the driven contact piece 3 occurs only four times in a linear manner. Fig. 7C shows another alternative embodiment of a pair of contact elements 2a and 2b, which are designed to be sliding. When using a cylindrical contact piece 3, the contacting of the driven contact piece 3 occurs only twice in a linear fashion. For all embodiments of the contact units, the contact piece 3 can also be polygonal or multi-faceted on the outside instead of cylindrical, for example, to facilitate welding with the contact elements 2a and 2b due to the increased pressure that then occurs at the edges of the contact piece 3 when moving into the contact elements 2a and 2b.

[0026] Fig. 8A shows a plan view along the imaginary central axis 5 of two circular electrical contact elements 2a and 2b with electrical connection contacts 8a and 8b. Opposite Fig. 7A However, here the connection contacts 8a and 8b are bent at an angle in order to be able to change the position of the connecting switching element relative to the screwing points accordingly. Fig. 8B shows the top view of the two contact elements 2a and 2b after Fig. 7 rotated by 90°, so that you can now see the connection holes 9 of the two contact elements 2a and 2b. Fig. 8C shows again the top view of the two contact elements 2a and 2b after Fig. 7 rotated by 90° so that the connection holes 9 of the two contact elements 2a and 2b are visible; opposite Fig. 8B However, here the two connection holes 9 of the contact elements 2a and 2b are shifted from the center line of the contact elements 2a and 2b in order to be able to position the entire connecting switching element differently.

[0027] Fig. 9A shows below a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element 1 according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, wherein at the top a view according to section BB is shown. Fig. 9B shows a schematic side view of a connecting switching element 1 according to Fig. 9A in the electrically connected state. The reference symbols with the same numbers as in the Fig. 1 , Fig. 2A und Fig. 2B can be referred to mutually. Fig. 9A und Fig. 9B The connecting switching element 1 shown is essentially identical to that shown in the Fig. 2A und 2B shown connecting switching element 1, with the exception of the piston 11, which is in the Fig. 9A und 9B has a telescopic structure.

[0028] Fig. 10 shows a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element 1 according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top. In contrast to the clamp-like contact elements 2a and 2b of the Fig. 2A The contact elements 2a and 2b of the connecting switching element shown are in Fig. 10 The reference symbols with the same numbers as in the Fig. 1 , Fig. 2A und Fig. 2B can be referred to mutually. The housing 6 can - as in Fig. 10 shown - the same shape as in Fig. 2A with the same inner boundaries 15 for the holding device. As in Fig. 10 As shown above, the contact elements 2a and 2b can have two mirror-symmetrical surfaces, which can be parallel or inclined to each other. If the surfaces are parallel to each other, a plate-like contact piece 3, for example, can be accommodated between them (not shown). Fig. 10 shown). If the surfaces are inclined to each other, the contact piece 3 is preferably wedge-shaped (as in Fig. 10 shown below). If the contact elements 2a and 2b have the appropriate shape (a wedge-shaped cylinder interrupted by a slit on the sides), the contact piece 3 can also be conical.

[0029] Fig. 11A und Fig. 11B show a schematic side view of an electrical connecting switching element 1 according to the invention in the electrically unconnected state, with a view along section BB being shown at the top. Fig. 11A und Fig. 11B In the embodiment of a connecting switching element 1 according to the invention shown, instead of a solid contact piece 3, a slotted conical tube 27 is used, which widens when the piston 11 is retracted ( Fig. 11B ), which in this case contacts the two contact elements 2a and 2b, which are now firmly in contact with the first housing 6, thereby electrically connecting them. The previous gap between the contact elements 2a and 2b and the first housing 6 can be reduced to zero; the required elastic / plastic element is the slotted conical tube 27. If potential separation between the piston 11 or ignition and the contact elements 2a and 2b is desired, the piston 11 can be made entirely of plastic. List of reference symbols:

[0030] 1 Connecting switching element 2a, 2b Electrical contact elements 3 Contact piece 4a, 4b Opposite sides of the contact piece 5 Axis of the contact piece's movement path / imaginary central axis 6 Holding device for the electrical contact elements (first housing) 7 Actuable drive before its activation 8a, 8b Electrical connection contacts 9 (Connection) hole 10 Second housing 11 Piston 12 Piston seal 13 Actuable drive after its activation 14 Stop element for piston 15 Limitation of the holding device 16 Emergency stop element for the contact piece 17 Mounting holes 18 Insulation adapter 19 Upper cover 20 Lower cover 21 Cover screws 22 Sensor screw 23 Closure and support of the actuable drive 24 Potting part 25 Cable inlet for the actuable drive 26 Sealing foil 27 Slotted conical tube I Electric current

Claims

1. Electrical connection switching element (1) with two electrically conductive contact elements (2a, 2b) and an electrically conductive contact piece (3) for connecting the contact elements (2a, 2b), wherein the contact piece (3) or a piston (11) is movable along a path of movement and the connection switching element (1) can thereby be transferred from an electrically disconnected state to an electrically connected state, wherein the contact piece (3) is not electrically connected to any of the contact elements (2a, 2b) in the disconnected state and is electrically connected to both contact elements (2a, 2b) in the connected state, wherein the contact elements (2a, 2b) are designed such that together they form a receiving structure for the contact piece (3), so that in the connected state the contact elements (2a, 2b) engage around the contact piece (3) from opposite sides (4a, 4b), characterized in that the connection switching element (1) has a holding device (6) which has a boundary (15) on the inside, within which the contact elements (2a, 2b) are arranged, there being a gap between the boundary (15) and the contact elements (2a, 2b) in an electrically disconnected state.

2. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the contact elements (2a, 2b) are arranged on opposite sides (4a, 4b) of the axis (5) of the movement path of the contact piece (3).

3. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact elements (2a, 2b) are arranged in a plane parallel to one another, wherein the plane is arranged obliquely or perpendicularly to the path of movement of the contact piece (3).

4. Connection switching element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact elements (2a, 2b) are geometrically identical.

5. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 4, wherein the contact elements (2a, 2b) are designed such that they can be transferred into one another when they are rotated through 180° along an imaginary center axis (5), wherein the center axis corresponds to the axis of the movement path of the contact piece.

6. Connection switching element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contact piece (3) touches both contact elements (2a, 2b) substantially simultaneously during the transfer from the disconnected state to the connected state.

7. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 6, wherein the contact piece (3) contacts the two contact elements (2a, 2b) with a maximum time offset of less than 0.2 ms.

8. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 7, wherein the holding device (6) surrounds the electrical contact elements (2a, 2b) in such a way that their position relative to one another is substantially secured both in the connected and in the disconnected state of the connecting switching element (1).

9. Connection switching element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the contact piece (3) is moved along its path of movement with the aid of an activatable drive (7).

10. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 9, wherein the activatable drive (7) moves a piston (11) guided by a housing, with the aid of which the contact piece (3) is moved along its path of movement.

11. Connection switching element (1) according to claim 10, wherein the piston (11) can be extended telescopically out of the housing (10) along the direction of movement of the contact piece (3).

12. Connection switching element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the contact piece (3) is a slotted conical tube (27) which is widened after the piston (3) is retracted and thereby bears against the contact elements (2a and 2b) and electrically connects them to one another.

13. Connection switching element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electrical connection contacts (8a) and (8b) are straight or angled.