A circuit breaker for an electric current, a battery module including such a device, and a motor vehicle equipped with such a module

Abstract

A circuit breaker for an electric current, said device comprising a movable member (2) provided with an electrical conductor (4), said device being configured to move said movable member (2) between a first position, said armed, allowing current to flow in the conductor (4), and a second position, said disarmed, cutting off said current flow, said device further comprising an actuator (12), configured to trigger a passage of the movable member (2) from the armed position to the disarmed position in the event of a fault on an electrical circuit in which said device is integrated, said device further comprising a reset member (36) having a manual actuation zone (38), configured for a passage of the movable member (2) from the disarmed position to the armed position, also causing a reset of the actuator (12), said actuation zone (38) forming a visual indicator of a disarmed state of said device.Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Interrupting device for an electric current, battery module comprising such a device and motor vehicle equipped with such a module

[0001] The invention relates to a current-cutting device for an electric current, a battery module comprising such a device, and a motor vehicle equipped with such a module. It will find particular application in the case of charging or discharging currents of high-voltage batteries to power an electric machine used to drive said vehicle, especially with direct current.

[0002] In this field, it is known to open a power circuit used for charging and discharging a battery using manual disconnect devices. These devices ensure that the current no longer flows, particularly during emergency response to an accident. Their limitation is that they do not trip automatically. It is also known, for example from EP2538429, that disconnect devices open the circuit in the event of shocks, but once activated, they require access to the battery modules in which they are installed for replacement. Another drawback is that they do not provide visual indicators of their activation, which is necessary to ensure that the current flow has indeed been interrupted.

[0003] The invention aims to overcome, at least in part, the aforementioned drawbacks and to this end proposes a switching device for an electric current, in particular direct current, said device comprising a movable member provided with an electrical conductor, said device being configured to allow passage of said movable member between a first position, called armed, allowing current to flow in the conductor, and a second position, called disarmed, preventing said current from flowing, said device further comprising an actuator, configured to trigger the passage of the movable member from the armed position to the disarmed position in the event of a fault on an electrical circuit in which said device is integrated, said device further comprising a reset member having a manual actuation zone,configured to move the moving part from the disarmed position to the armed position and to further trigger a re-arming of the actuator, said actuation zone forming a visual indicator of a disarmed state of said device.

[0004] Thanks to the moving part and the actuator, the triggering of the device according to the invention is automatic. Furthermore, the user receives confirmation of successful triggering via the visual indicator of the reset element. This reset element is also provided to be manual and is able to to re-engage the actuator via the moving part, the device is reset simply from the outside.

[0005] According to various additional features of the invention, which may be taken together or separately and which constitute so many embodiments of the invention: - said device is configured for a transition between the armed and disarmed positions of the moving part and / or the rearming part by a translation along an axis of movement, - said device is configured so that the translation of the resetting member causes the translation of the moving member, - said recocking mechanism includes a handle, - said actuator is configured to reset itself under the effect of the translation of said moving part, - said device includes a casing defining a housing for said moving part, - said dwelling also houses said actuator, - said casing has a passage for said recocking mechanism so that said recocking mechanism can be operated by a user in said disarmed position, - said device is configured so that said resetting mechanism is flush with said casing in the armed position, - said device comprises two fixed terminals for connection to said circuit, - said device further includes a fixed conduction bar, - said device is configured so that said conductor is in contact, on the one hand, with a first of said connection terminals and a first connection point of said strip and, on the other hand, with a second of said connection terminals and a second connection point of said strip, in the armed position, - said conductor includes at least one ring, - said ring is split so as to exhibit radial elasticity, - there are two of these rings, - said device is configured so that a first of said rings establishes a current flow between said first connection terminal and said first connection point of the strip, and that a second of said rings establishes a current flow between said second connection terminal and said second connection point of the strip, in the armed position, - said device includes a chamber allowing compression of a fluid during the transition from the disarmed position to the armed position, under the effect of the movement of said moving part, said device further comprising at least one channel connecting a zone, called the blow-off zone, to said compression chamber so as to direct a flow of said fluid towards said blow-off zone to interrupt an electric arc forming during the transition from the armed position to the disarmed position, - said fluid is air, - said channel and / or said chamber are formed in said housing, - said chamber is traversed by said resetting part, - said conductor includes an arc-initiation zone, - said arc-initiation zone is located near an exit end of said canal, in armed position - said priming zone is located at the level of that of said first and second ring furthest from said chamber.

[0006] The invention also relates to a battery module comprising the cut-off device described above.

[0007] Said module preferably includes at least one high-voltage battery for supplying electric current to an electric machine used to drive a motor vehicle.

[0008] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising such a battery module.

[0009] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent in the course of the detailed explanatory description that follows, of at least one embodiment of the invention given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, among which:

[0010] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, along an axial cross-sectional plane, a first example of a device conforming to the invention, in an armed position;

[0011] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, according to an axial cutting plane, the device of [Fig.1], in a disarmed position;

[0012] [Fig.3], schematically illustrates, according to an axial cutting plane, a second example of a device according to the invention, in a disarmed position.

[0013] The invention relates to a switching device for direct current. Such a device is intended, in particular, for switching off the charging and / or discharging current of a high-voltage battery supplying an electric machine used to drive a motor vehicle. "High voltage" means an electrical voltage greater than 100 V, for example, approximately 400 V.

[0014] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, said device comprises a movable member 2, equipped with an electrical conductor 4. Said moving member 2 here comprises an armature 3 carrying said electrical conductor 4. Said conductor 4 advantageously comprises at least one ring 9, 9'. Said ring 9, 9' is advantageously split so as to exhibit radial elasticity for good contact with the other conductive members.

[0015] Said device is configured to move said movable member 2 between a first position, called armed, allowing current to flow in said conductor 4, along a line shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1], and a second position, called disarmed, cutting off said current flow. Said disarmed position is illustrated in [Fig. 2], in which it can be seen that the current flow has been interrupted by the movement of the conductor 4.

[0016] The device herein comprises a housing 6 defining a compartment 8 for the movable part 2. The housing 6 has, for example, a cylindrical and / or parallelepiped shape. The device comprises two fixed connection terminals 7, 7' for the circuit. The connection terminals 7, 7' are located, for example, on the housing 6.

[0017] Preferably, said device is configured for a passage of the movable part 2 between the armed position and the disarmed position by a translation along a displacement axis 10. Said displacement axis 10 corresponds here to a longitudinal extension axis of the housing 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the movable part 2 is moved from left to right during the passage from the armed position to the disarmed position.

[0018] The device further comprises an actuator 12, configured to trigger a transition of the movable part 2 from the armed position to the disarmed position in the event of a fault in an electrical circuit in which the device is integrated. The triggering of the device according to the invention is thus automatic. Preferably, the housing 8 also accommodates the actuator 12.

[0019] By way of non-limiting example, according to a first embodiment, said actuator 12 comprises a fault current detector 14 and an elastic element 16. Said device is configured such that the fault current detector 14 maintains said elastic element 16 in a compressed state as long as no fault current is detected and releases said elastic element 16 in the opposite case. Said elastic element 16, once released, relaxes and causes the movable element 2 to move from the armed position to the disarmed position.

[0020] Said fault current detector comprises, for example, an electromagnet 18 connected to a drive shaft 22. Said drive shaft 22 is rotatable about said axis of displacement 10. Said elastic element 16 comprises a spring 28 and a movable support 30. Said spring 28 comprises a plurality of coils. One 32 of said coils, referred to as the first end coil, is connected to a first end of the The movable support 30. Said first coil 32 is also in contact with said movable member 2. Another 34 of said coils, called the second end coil, is in contact with a body 24 of the housing 6, in the cocked position. Said movable support 30 comprises at a second end, opposite its first end, a rod 20, retained in a groove 26 of the body 24 in the cocked position, which keeps the spring 28 compressed between the body 24 and the movable member 2.

[0021] In the event of the occurrence of a fault current, the drive shaft 22 is driven in rotation by said electromagnet 18 and dislodges the rod 20 from the groove 26. Said spring 28 and said movable support 30 are then free and the spring 28 relaxes by moving said movable body 2 from the armed position to the disarmed position.

[0022] The device further comprises a resetting element 36. This resetting element has a manual actuation zone 38, configured to move the movable part 2 from the disarmed position to the armed position, thereby also resetting the actuator 12. This actuation zone 38 also serves as a visual indicator of the disarmed state of the device. Thanks to this actuation zone 38, the user can thus reset the device externally and receive feedback on its successful activation.

[0023] The housing 6 here provides a passage 40 for the resetting mechanism 36 so that the resetting mechanism 36 can be operated by a user in the disarmed position. The resetting mechanism 36 includes, for example, a handle forming the manual actuation zone 38. The handle extends, for example, along the axis of movement 10. The actuator 12 and the handle of the resetting mechanism 36 are arranged on either side of the movable part 2, along the axis of movement 10.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, the user resets the device by moving the handle of the resetting member 36 from right to left. The moving member 2 then returns to the cocked position, and the spring 38 is compressed again while the rod 20 of the moving support 30 is housed in the groove 26. The current 5 can thus resume flow, as shown in [Fig. 1]. In this same figure, it can be seen that the device is configured so that the resetting member 36 is flush with the housing 6 in the cocked position. In other words, the resetting member 36 is only visible from a longitudinal end 42 of the handle and cannot be operated from the outside.

[0025] Said recocking member 36 is preferably movable in translation along said axis of movement 10. Said device is configured so that the translation of the recocking member 36 causes the translation of the movable member 2 from the disarmed position to the armed position and / or so that the translation of the movable member 2 causes the translation of the recocking member 36 from the armed position to the position disarmed. Said actuator 12 is configured to rearm itself under the effect of the translation of said moving part 2.

[0026] Alternatively or cumulatively with the foregoing, said device according to the invention is configured to limit the effects related to the formation of electric arcs when the circuit is opened. Indeed, when an electrical circuit is opened, an electric arc maintaining the flow of current tends to form between the parts of the circuit that are moved apart, and it is advantageous to try to limit such arcs in intensity and / or duration.

[0027] Thus, said cutting device comprises a conduction bar 50. Said conduction bar 50 is fixed. It is housed, for example, in said casing 6. Said bar 50 extends here parallel to said actuation axis 10.

[0028] The device is further configured so that the conductor 4 is in contact, on the one hand, with a first 7 of the connection terminals and a first connection point 52 of the busbar 50 and, on the other hand, with a second 7' of the connection terminals and a second connection point 52' of the busbar 50, in the armed position. This increases the contact interfaces of the conductive elements between the moving parts, namely the conductor 4, and the fixed parts, namely the connection terminals 7, 7' and the connection points 52, 52' of the connection busbar 50. Such a configuration makes it possible to limit the energy of the breaking arcs that may occur at the interfaces when the circuit is opened, particularly compared to a device comprising only two contact interfaces.

[0029] According to this aspect of the invention, said conductor comprises two said rings 9, 9'. Said device is then configured so that a first 9 of said rings establishes a current flow between said first connection terminal 7 and said first connection point 52 of the bar 50 and that a second 9' of said rings establishes a current flow between said second connection terminal 7' and said second connection point 52' of the bar 50.

[0030] Said rings 9, 9' are, for example, coaxial and / or centered on said axis of movement 10. They are spaced apart along said direction of movement 10. They are located here respectively at said connection terminals 7, 7' and / or at opposite longitudinal ends of said bar 50, said longitudinal ends forming said first and second connection points 52, 52'. In other words, an axial spacing of said connection terminals 7, 7' corresponds to an axial spacing of said rings 9, 9' and / or to a length of said bar 50. Said first and second connection points 52, 52' and said connection terminals 7, 7' are respectively diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of movement 10.

[0031] As illustrated in [Fig.3], according to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, said device comprises a chamber 100 allowing compression of a fluid during the transition from the disarmed position to the armed position, under the effect of the displacement of said movable member 2. Said fluid is advantageously air.

[0032] The device further comprises at least one channel 102 connecting a zone 104, referred to as the blowing zone, to the compression chamber 100 so as to direct a flow of the fluid towards the blowing zone 104 to interrupt the electric arc forming during the transition from the armed position to the disarmed position. The duration of electric arc formation is thus reduced.

[0033] Said chamber 100 and / or said channel 102 are formed here in said housing 6. Said channel 102 is oriented, for example, parallel to said axis of movement 10. Said chamber 100 is located at the longitudinal end of the moving member 2 opposite to that in contact with the actuator 12. Said actuator 12 has a different configuration here than that of Figures 1 and 2. It comprises an actuated ferrule 112 configured to alternately lock or release a finger 114 attached to said moving member 2. It further comprises an elastic element, not shown, configured to move said moving member 2 when said finger 114 is released. Said chamber 100 is traversed by said reset member 36.

[0034] In [Fig. 3], the device is shown in the disarmed position, and the volume of chamber 100 is at its maximum after the fluid has expanded. Channel 102 is open and connects chamber 100 to the blowing zone 104. In the armed position, the moving member 2 is moved to the left, and the fluid in chamber 100 is pressurized by a reduction in the volume of said chamber 100. Channel 102 is then closed by a wall of the moving member 2. During the transition from the armed to the disarmed position, an electric arc forms at the various interface zones between the rings 9, 9', on the one hand, and the terminals and connection points, which are not visible in this figure. Simultaneously, channel 102 opens to allow the compressed fluid to flow towards the blowing zone 104. The latter corresponds to at least one of the interface zones.

[0035] Preferably, said conductor 2 includes an arc starting zone 106. Although this is not shown in the figure, which corresponds to an unarmed position, it is understood that, in the armed position, said arc starting zone 106 is advantageously located near an outlet end 108 of said channel, opposite an inlet end 110, and more precisely at a portion of a circumference of said outlet end 108 that is flush with said arc starting zone 106. The blowing thus takes place at one foot of the arc and can therefore occur at the very beginning of its formation.

[0036] Said priming zone 106 is located, for example, at the level of that 9 of said The first and second rings furthest from said chamber 100. It is formed, in particular, by a pointed shape given to a lateral edge of said ring 9. The arc is thus blown at only one of the contact interfaces. It has indeed been observed that once the arc was blown at only one of said interfaces, this interrupted the arcs at the other(s) of said contact interface(s).

[0037] The invention also relates to a battery module, not illustrated, comprising said cut-off device.

[0038] Said module comprises at least one high-voltage battery for supplying electrical current to an electric machine used to drive a motor vehicle. A housing containing one or more electrical cells of said battery advantageously defines the casing of said disconnect device, at least for a portion thereof from which said reset member 36 protrudes to be accessible to the user, in the disarmed position of the moving member 2.

Claims

Claims

1. A device for cutting off an electric current, said device comprising a movable member (2) provided with an electric conductor (4), said device being configured to allow said movable member (2) to pass between a first position, called armed, allowing current to flow in the conductor (4), and a second position, called disarmed, preventing said current to flow, said device further comprising an actuator (12), configured to trigger the passage of the movable member (2) from the armed position to the disarmed position in the event of a fault on an electric circuit in which said device is integrated, said device further comprising a reset member (36) having a manual actuation zone (38),said actuation zone (38) forming a visual indicator of a disarmed state of said device and being configured to drive the movable member (2) from the disarmed position to the armed position and to cause a rearming of the actuator (12),.,

2. Device according to claim 1 configured for a passage between the armed position and the disarmed position by a translation of the movable member (2) and / or the resetting member (36) along a displacement axis (10).

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which said device comprises a casing (6) defining a housing (8) receiving said movable member (2) and / or said actuator (12).

4. Device according to the preceding claim in which said casing (6) has a passage (40) for said resetting member (36) so that said resetting member (36) can be actuated by a user in said disarmed position and is flush with said casing (6) in the armed position.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising two fixed connection terminals (7, 7') and a conduction strip (50), also fixed, said device being configured so that said conductor (4) is in contact, on the one hand, with a first (7) of said connection terminals and a first connection point (52) of said strip (50) and, on the other hand, with a second (7') of said connection terminals and a second connection point (52') of said strip (50), in the armed position.

6. Device according to the preceding claim in which said conductor (4) comprises two rings (9, 9'), said device being configured so that a first (9) of said rings establishes a flow of current between said first connection terminal (7) and said first connection point (52) of the strip (50) and that a second (9') of said rings establishes a flow of current between said second connection terminal (7') and said second connection point (52') of the strip (50).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a chamber (100) allowing compression of a fluid during the passage from the disarmed position to the armed position, under the effect of the movement of said movable member (2), said device further comprising at least one channel (102) connecting a zone (104), called a blowing zone, to said compression chamber (100) so as to direct a flow of said fluid towards said blowing zone (104) to cut an electric arc forming during the passage from the armed position to the disarmed position.

8. Device according to the preceding claim in which said conductor (4) comprises an arc striking zone (106) located near an output end (108) of said channel (102), in the armed position.

9. A battery module comprising a cut-off device according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a module according to the preceding claim.

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