Pyrotechnic disconnector

Abstract

The invention relates to a pyrotechnic disconnecting device suitable for disconnecting a current path of a high-voltage circuit, comprising a housing, two connection contacts arranged on the housing for the current path to be disconnected, an electrical connecting element arranged inside the housing which establishes the connection between the two connection contacts, a pyrotechnic device for separating the electrical connecting element into a first and second part at a separation point of the electrical connecting element, and the first part of the electrical connecting element having a piston-shaped form.so that, after the pyrotechnic device is triggered by the action of gas pressure on the piston-shaped element, the first part, together with the piston-shaped element, can be moved within the housing relative to the housing, and a gap can be created between the first and second parts of the electrical connecting element at the separation point. A channel is provided in the interior of the housing so that gases generated during and / or after the separation of the connecting element can be guided laterally past the piston-shaped element of the first part of the electrical connecting element. The housing has an opening between the interior and the environment, the opening being located on the side of the housing facing away from the separation point of the electrical connecting element with respect to the piston-shaped element, so that the gases generated during separation can be discharged from the housing through the opening.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pyrotechnic isolator for isolating high-voltage circuits, comprising a housing, two connection contacts arranged on the housing for the current path to be separated, an electrical connection element arranged in the interior of the housing which establishes the connection between the two connection contacts, and a pyrotechnic device for separating the electrical connection element into a first and a second part, wherein the first part of the electrical connection element is movable relative to the housing after the pyrotechnic device has been triggered, so that a distance can be created between the first and the second part of the electrical connection element.

[0002] Publication DE102014108244A1 discloses a safety device with an outlet opening in the housing. Gases can escape from the interior of the safety device through this outlet opening.

[0003] This state-of-the-art solution proves to be inadequate in practice.

[0004] It is therefore an object to improve the state of the art of a safety device according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that a process-safe discharge of the gases from the safety device can be achieved.

[0005] This problem is solved by the characterising part of claim 1.

[0006] Because the resulting gases are guided laterally past the piston-shaped part of the separated conductor before they leave the housing of the pyrotechnic separation device through the opening, the gases are cooled and a flow is generated past the piston-shaped part of the separated conductor.

[0007] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the opening is provided centrally in the region of the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0008] This allows a preferential flow of the extinguishing medium or the resulting gases to be generated in the extinguishing chamber, i.e. in the area of ​​the mechanical separation, which in turn leads to faster extinguishing of any arc that may occur.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, an extinguishing chamber is provided in the region of the separation point in the housing, which is suitable for extinguishing an arc occurring at the separation point.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the extinguishing chamber is designed to accommodate an extinguishing medium, for example a silicone oil.

[0011] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the extinguishing chamber has a front chamber and a rear chamber, wherein the front chamber is arranged around the separation point and the rear chamber has pocket-like formations in a peripheral region of the housing.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the rear space is arranged along the second part of the electrical connecting element with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing and is at least partially covered with respect to the second part of the electrical connecting element by an insulating cover, for example by a housing wall, over a length which corresponds to at least 1.5 times the thickness diameter of the housing wall, for example by folding in the housing.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the channel is closed when the connecting element is not separated and is opened after the separation of the connecting element by a displacement of the first part of the connecting element.

[0014] This allows for controlled opening of the channel. Such a channel can be created between the piston-shaped formation and / or a sealing part and / or the housing. It is also conceivable that the movement of the piston-shaped formation and / or a sealing part opens a channel in the housing or another component or insert. This allows generated gases to flow past the piston-shaped formation and to an opening behind the piston-shaped formation.

[0015] The invention is illustrated below with reference to several schematic, non-limiting drawings. They show: Fig. 1a first schematic view of the separating device at least partially in section in a first state in which the separating device does not separate Fig. 2 a second schematic view of the separating device at least partially in section in a second state in which the separating device separates Fig. 3 shows in schematic representations further possible details of exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0016] In Fig. 1 The separating device 1 is shown, for example, for separating a vehicle network from a high-voltage storage device. The separating device has a housing 17 and two power connections 2, 5.

[0017] In Fig. 11 shows a disconnecting device 1 for disconnecting an electrical circuit having two power connections 2, 5. The disconnecting device has a housing, which may be composed of multiple parts. For example, the housing 17 is provided in the manner of a capsule and / or sleeve, which is closed off on one side, for example, by a suitable cover. Suitable feedthroughs for the power connections 2, 5 are provided on the sides of the housing, which lead into the interior of the housing, i.e., the interior of the housing. An electrical connecting element 6, or disconnecting section, is positioned in the housing between the power connections. This disconnecting section 6 is mechanically disconnected when the disconnecting device is triggered, which is intended to stop the flow of current between the two power connections 2, 5.The separating section 6 is positioned in a first chamber 8, which is at least partially filled with an extinguishing medium, in particular silicone oil. The first chamber 8 is therefore also referred to as the extinguishing chamber.

[0018] A pyrotechnic device or element 9 is provided inside the separating section 6. This pyrotechnic device has suitable electrical connections 9 for triggering. An ignition pulse is transmitted through the electrical connections to the pyrotechnic device 9 for igniting the device. After the pyrotechnic device 9 is ignited, the separating section is separated, particularly by internal pressure. For this purpose, the separating section can also be suitably mechanically weakened at one point, for example, by providing a notch or similar.

[0019] A built-in part 22 is provided in the separating section, through which the pressure wave and / or pressure waves generated by the explosion of the ignited pyrotechnic element are directed to the separating section 6. According to a particular embodiment, the separating section 6 has a structural weakening in this area. According to a particular embodiment, the separating section 6 has corresponding weakenings in this area, for example, notches and / or a reduced effective diameter of the tubular separating section in this area.

[0020] After separating the separating section 6, the first part of the separating section or the electrical connecting element 6 is moved away from the second part of the electrical connecting element, which remains stationary connected to the second power connection 2 (indicated by arrows in Fig. 2shown schematically). The first part of the electrical connection element has a piston-shaped formation 3, which, together with the sealing part 16, is guided to the left along the inner contour of the cylindrical housing 17. The power connection 5, which is also cylindrical, is compressed accordingly. The compression can take place within the housing 17 or, as shown in Fig. 2outside the housing (not shown here). According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the compression can alternatively be functionally replaced by a suitable displacement mechanism. As can be seen in the drawings, suitable braking elements 4 are provided in a second chamber 7. These braking elements 4 are arranged on the inner surface of the housing 17 or on a sealing element of the power connection 5. According to another embodiment not shown, the braking elements 4 are arranged on the rear side of the piston-shaped formation 3. These braking elements 4 are intended to brake the piston-shaped formation 3 and / or the sealing part 16 in its movement after the separation of the separating section 6. This is intended to prevent a hard stop of the piston-shaped formation 3 and / or the sealing part 16 on the left side of the housing and / or on the left housing cover.

[0021] The brake elements 4 are designed as individual brake elements, but can also be connected according to another embodiment. The brake elements can be made of various materials, thermoplastic material being preferred. According to a special embodiment, the brake elements are deformable and thus absorb energy and dissipate the kinetic energy of the piston-shaped part 3 during braking.

[0022] As in Fig.1 As can be seen, a channel 18 is provided in the sealing part 16. This channel can be provided concentrically over the circumference or only over a part of the circumference, as in Fig. 1shown. Alternatively, the channel can also be implemented in the housing. Furthermore, an opening 19 is provided in the rear sealing part in the area of ​​the feedthrough of the power connection 5. The opening is arranged, for example, concentrically around the power connection 5. However, the opening can also be designed differently. The interior is connected to the environment through the opening 19. As shown in Fig. 2As can be seen, gases 21 produced after the separation of the separating section 6 can pass via the channel 18 behind the piston-shaped formation 3 of the first part of the separating section and subsequently leave the interior of the housing via the opening 19. The extinguishing chamber at the separation point has a front chamber arranged around the separation point and a peripheral rear chamber. The rear chamber is, for example, pocket-shaped and serves, for example, as an additional reservoir for extinguishing agent. Preferably, a flow is generated by the gas outlet, whereby extinguishing medium contained in the pockets 23 in the rear chamber, for example silicone oil, flows into the front region of the separating section and in this way assists in extinguishing any arc that has formed in the region of the separating section between the first and second parts of the separating section.In the example shown, the pockets 23 are formed by the housing, wherein the housing wall is guided axially into the interior, so that axial regions 20 are formed which partially cover the current conductor 2 and, together with other parts of the housing, form the pockets 23.

[0023] In Fig. 3 Further possible embodiments of the invention are shown. For the sake of clarity, only details of the alternative designs are shown. In conjunction with the Fig. 1 and 2 This ensures that the person skilled in the art can understand the system. For functionally similar parts, identical reference symbols have been chosen for better understanding.

[0024] In Fig. 3a an exemplary embodiment is shown in which the sealing part 16 after the separation of the electrical connection element in its movement with the first part of the electrical connection element and its illustrated piston-shaped formation 3, as is also the case in the Figures 1 and 2is shown, is stopped by a braking element 4. As a result, the first part of the electrical connection element with its piston-shaped formation 3 moves away from the sealing part 16. This opens the channel 18 between the piston-shaped formation 3 and the sealing part 16 and the housing 17. Through this channel, the resulting gases 23 can flow past the piston-shaped formation 3, as shown schematically in Fig. 3a is shown.

[0025] Fig. 3b differs from the other embodiments in that a step 24 is formed in the housing 17 or a housing part. If the assembly consisting of the first part of the connecting element with its piston-shaped formation 3 and the sealing part 16 slides along the housing, a channel opens between the sealing part 16 and the housing 17, whereby, as in Fig. 3cshown, the gases generated can pass through the piston-shaped formation 3 and thus flow to the opening in the housing (not shown). Figures 1 and 2 referred to.

Claims

1. Pyrotechnic isolating device suitable for isolating a current path of a high-voltage circuit, comprising a housing, two connection contacts arranged on the housing for the current path to be separated, an electrical connecting element arranged in the interior of the housing which establishes the connection between the two connection contacts, a pyrotechnic device for separating the electrical connecting element into a first and second part at a separation point of the electrical connecting element, and the first part of the electrical connecting element has a piston-shaped formation,so that the first part, after triggering of the pyrotechnic device, is movable together with the piston-shaped formation in the housing relative to the housing by the action of gas pressure on the piston-shaped formation and a distance can be created between the first and the second part of the electrical connecting element at the separation point, , characterized in that a channel is provided in the interior of the housing, so that gases generated during and / or after the separation of the connecting element can be guided laterally past the piston-shaped formation of the first part of the electrical connecting element through the channel, and the housing has an opening between the interior and the environment, wherein the opening is provided on the side of the housing facing away from the separation point of the electrical connecting element with respect to the piston-shaped formation, so that the gases generated during the separation can be discharged from the housing through the opening.

2. Pyrotechnic separator according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening is provided centrally in the area of ​​the longitudinal axis of the housing.

3. Pyrotechnic separator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the area of ​​the separation point in the housing, an extinguishing chamber is provided which is suitable for extinguishing an arc occurring at the separation point.

4. Pyrotechnic separator according to claim 3, characterized in that the extinguishing chamber is designed to accommodate an extinguishing medium, for example a silicone oil.

5. Pyrotechnic separator according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the extinguishing chamber has a front chamber and a rear chamber, wherein the front chamber is arranged around the separation point and the rear chamber has pocket-like formations of the interior in a peripheral region of the housing.

6. Pyrotechnic separator according to claim 5, characterized in thatthe rear space is arranged along the second part of the electrical connecting element with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing and is at least partially covered with respect to the second part of the electrical connecting element by an insulating cover, for example by the housing wall, over a length which corresponds to at least 1.5 times the thickness diameter of the housing wall, for example by folding in the housing.

7. Pyrotechnic separator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel is closed when the connecting element is not separated and is opened after the connecting element is separated by a displacement of the first part of the connecting element.

Images