Blocking device

Abstract

To provide a cutoff device that can improve the insulation performance.SOLUTION: A cutoff device 1 includes an igniter 10 that generates gas, a pusher 60 located below the igniter 10, a conductor 50 having a separation portion 51 located below the pusher 60 and a holding portion 52 connected to the separation portion 51, a lower housing 30 that is located below the separation portion 51 and is made of metal, an insulating member 110 that is located inside the lower housing 30 and below the separation portion 51, and a resin member 40 whose at least a portion is located inside the lower housing 30 and holds the holding portion 52, and the pusher 60 is configured to separate the separation portion 51 from the conductor 50 under pressure of the gas generated by the igniter 10, and the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30, an end 113 of the insulating member 110 overlaps with an end 43a of the resin member 40, and a lower end 43b of the end 43a of the resin member 40 is located below an upper end 113a of the end 113 of the insulating member 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a circuit breaker.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a circuit breaker used by being connected to an electric circuit is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit breaker in which a reinforcing frame is disposed inside a housing of the circuit breaker.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in an electric circuit such as an electric vehicle, from the viewpoint of preventing large damage in advance, the importance of a circuit breaker that can more reliably cut off the electric circuit is increasing.

[0005] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a circuit breaker capable of improving insulation performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A cutoff device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a igniter that generates gas, a pusher located below the igniter, a separation part located below the pusher, and a holding part connected to the separation part. The conductor has a cover member that is located below the separation part and is made of metal, an insulating member that is inside the cover member and is located below the separation part, and a resin member that at least partially is located inside the cover member and holds the holding part. The pusher is configured to separate the separation part from the conductor by receiving the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter. The resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member. An end of the insulating member overlaps an end of the resin member, and a lower end of the end of the resin member is located below an upper end of the end of the insulating member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a cutoff device that can improve insulation performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Fig. 1A

Fig. 1B

Fig. 2A

Fig. 2B

Fig. 3A

Fig. 3B

Fig. 3C

Fig. 4A

Fig. 4B

Fig. 4C

Fig. 5

Fig. 6A

Fig. 6B

Fig. 6C

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10A

Fig. 10B

Fig. 11

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0009] The cutoff device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a igniter that generates gas, a pusher located below the igniter, a separation part located below the pusher, and a conductor having a holding part connected to the separation part, a cover member located below the separation part and made of metal, an insulating member located inside the cover member and below the separation part, and a resin member at least partially located inside the cover member and holding the holding part. The pusher is configured to separate the separation part from the conductor under the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter. The resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member. The end of the insulating member overlaps with the end of the resin member, and the lower end of the end of the resin member is located below the upper end of the end of the insulating member.

[0010] Thereby, since the end of the insulating member and the end of the resin member are arranged to overlap each other, when an arc or conductive gas generated by the arc (hereinafter also referred to as conductive gas or the like) flows between the end of the insulating member and the end of the resin member, it is cooled, and the conductivity of the conductive gas or the like can be reduced. That is, it is possible to suppress the current blocked by the separation of the separation part by the pusher from being re-conducted through the cover member when the conductive gas or the like contacts the metal cover member. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing re-conduction, the insulation performance of the cutoff device can be improved.

[0011] Further, for example, the end of the insulating member may be located between the end of the resin member and the cover member.

[0012] As a result, since the end of the insulating member is between the end of the resin member and the cover member, the creepage distance of the arc from the cut surface of the separation part to the cover member can be extended, making it easier to extinguish the arc. Also, since the resin member moves (or deforms) outward (radially outward) of the cutoff device by the high-temperature conductive gas generated during the cutoff operation, the gap between the insulating member and the resin member can be made smaller, and the conductivity of the conductive gas or the like can be effectively reduced. Therefore, the cutoff device can more reliably prevent re-conduction.

[0013] Also, for example, the end of the resin member may be located between the end of the insulating member and the cover member.

[0014] As a result, since the end of the resin member is between the end of the insulating member and the cover member, the creepage distance of the arc from the cut surface of the separation part to the cover member can be extended, making it easier to extinguish the arc, so re-conduction can be more reliably prevented.

[0015] Also, for example, the cover member may have a convex portion located below the insulating member, and the convex portion may protrude upward and be pressed by the pusher.

[0016] As a result, since the convex portion of the cover member is located below the insulating member (that is, the insulating member is located between the separation part and the cover member), the path where the arc occurs can be extended, and as a result, re-conduction can be more reliably prevented.

[0017] Also, for example, a gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member, and the gap may be located below the insulating member.

[0018] As a result, when the insulating member is pressed by the pusher, it can move downward by the amount of the gap, so that it is possible to prevent the insulating member from being damaged due to the pressing force from the pusher. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing the insulating member from being damaged, the insulation performance of the interrupting device can be improved.

[0019] Also, for example, a gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member. The insulating member has a first portion that covers the top of the convex portion of the cover member and a second portion that is located below the first portion. The second portion covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the gap may be located between the bottom of the cover member and the lower surface of the second portion.

[0020] As a result, when the insulating member is pressed by the convex portion by the pusher, it can move downward by the amount of the gap, so that it is possible to prevent the insulating member from being damaged due to the pressing force from the pusher. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing the insulating member from being damaged, the insulation performance of the interrupting device can be improved.

[0021] Also, for example, the insulating member has a first member that covers the top of the convex portion of the cover member and a second member that is arranged so as to overlap a part of the first member. The second member covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the first member and the second member may be separate bodies.

[0022] As a result, since the insulating member is composed of two members, when the convex portion is pressed by the pusher, the stress applied to the insulating member can be dispersed, so that it is possible to prevent the insulating member from being damaged. Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing the insulating member from being damaged, the insulation performance of the interrupting device can be improved.

[0023] Further, for example, the resin member includes an embedding portion in which the holding portion is embedded, a first cylindrical portion in which the pusher is disposed inside, and a second cylindrical portion that is located below the first cylindrical portion and has a larger diameter than the first cylindrical portion. The inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion may be smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating member.

[0024] As a result, since the insulating member covers the inner surface of the cover member, it is possible to suppress re-conduction while maintaining the size of the space in which the arc extends (while suppressing the increase in size of the interrupting device).

[0025] Note that each of the embodiments described below shows comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps (processes), orders of steps (processes), etc. shown in each of the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in the independent claims are described as optional components.

[0026] Also, each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily drawn precisely. Therefore, for example, scales etc. do not necessarily match in each figure. Also, in each figure, substantially the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0027] In the present specification and drawings, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis represent the three axes of a right-handed three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. In each embodiment and the like, the Z-axis direction is the moving direction of the pusher, the Y-axis direction is the direction in which the conductor extends, and the X-axis direction is the width direction of the conductor. Further, in the present specification, "front view" means looking from the positive X-axis side toward the negative X-axis side, "top view" means looking from the positive Z-axis side toward the negative Z-axis side, "cross-sectional view" means looking at the cross-section of the cutoff device cut by a plane passing through the Z-axis and parallel to the Z-axis, and "side" means a direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction. Also, in the present specification, the Z-axis direction is also described as the vertical direction. However, in the present specification, the vertical direction of the cutoff device only indicates the relative positional relationship of each element in the cutoff device for the convenience of explaining each embodiment and the like. For example, in the present specification, the terms "above" and "below" do not refer to the upward (vertically upward) and downward (vertically downward) directions in absolute spatial recognition, but are used as terms defined by the relative positional relationship based on the moving direction of the pusher. Also, the posture when installing the cutoff device is not limited to the direction shown in the drawings.

[0028] Further, in the present specification, terms indicating the relationship between elements such as equal and orthogonal, terms indicating the shape of elements such as a circle, as well as numerical values and numerical ranges are not expressions representing only a strict meaning, but are expressions meaning that they include substantially equivalent ranges, for example, a difference of about several percent (or about 10%).

[0029] Also, in the present specification, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" do not mean the number or order of components unless otherwise specified, but are used for the purpose of avoiding confusion and distinguishing between components of the same type.

[0030] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the configuration of the cutoff device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 4C. FIG. 1A is a front view showing the cutoff device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the cutoff device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cutoff device 1 according to the present embodiment before the cutoff operation. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cutoff device 1 according to the present embodiment after the cutoff operation. FIG. 1B is a view obtained by rotating the cutoff device 1 with the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis in order to view the cutoff device 1 shown in FIG. 1A from below.

[0031] In the perspective view, when there are axes that have the same direction when the three axes of the three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system are described on the paper surface, only one of the axes is shown. For example, in FIG. 1B, since the directions of the X-axis and the Z-axis are the same on the paper surface, only the Z-axis is shown.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 2B, the cutoff device 1 includes an igniter 10, an upper housing 20, a lower housing 30, a resin member 40, a conductor 50, a pusher 60, a protection part 80, elastic members 90, 92, 94, 96, and an insulating member 110. The cutoff device 1 is mounted on an object having an electric circuit, and operates in the event of an abnormality in the electric circuit, system, etc. inside the object to cut off the electric circuit, thereby preventing the damage caused by the abnormality from becoming large. The cutoff device 1 is mounted, for example, on a vehicle which is an example of the object, and is connected between a motor and a battery for driving the motor (for example, a lithium ion battery), and cuts off the electrical connection between the motor and the battery for driving the motor in an emergency such as an abnormality or an accident. Note that the object may be other than a vehicle, and examples include, but are not particularly limited to, home appliances, a solar power generation system, etc.

[0033] The igniter 10 holds gunpowder inside, has a lid portion 11 provided between the gunpowder and the pusher 60, is disposed within the recess 61, and generates gas. For example, the igniter 10 is an electric igniter having a gunpowder portion with ignition powder and a conductive pin for energizing the gunpowder portion. During operation, an operating current for igniting the ignition powder is supplied to the conductive pin from an external power source, thereby igniting and burning the ignition powder to generate gas (combustion gas). Note that by forming the recess 61, the cutoff device 1 can be miniaturized.

[0034] The igniter 10 is fixed to the small-diameter portion 21 above the upper housing 20.

[0035] The upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are members that constitute the outer shell of the cutoff device 1, and house the igniter 10, a part of the resin member 40 and the conductor 50, the pusher 60, the protection portion 80, the elastic members 92, 94, 96, and the insulating member 110. Further, a space 70 extending in the vertical direction is formed inside the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30. The space 70 is a cylindrical space formed so that the pusher 60 can move. The pusher 60 is housed on the upper end side (Z-axis plus side) in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the space 70.

[0036] The upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are each formed of a metal such as stainless steel (SUS), but may be formed of other metals such as aluminum. For example, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are made of metal. Note that at least the lower housing 30 may be made of metal, and the upper housing 20 may be made of resin, for example.

[0037] Further, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 have a cylindrical outer shape, but the shape is not limited thereto. Also, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are directly connected and fixed by, for example, welding or the like. The lower housing 30 is an example of a cover member. Also, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are examples of housings.

[0038] The upper housing 20 is, for example, a cylindrical member having a stepped shape, with a hollow inside. The upper housing 20 has a small-diameter portion 21 located above, a large-diameter portion 23 located below, and a connecting portion 22 connecting these. The small-diameter portion 21, the connecting portion 22, and the large-diameter portion 23 are integrally formed. The small-diameter portion 21 and the large-diameter portion 23 are coaxially arranged, and the large-diameter portion 23 has a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion 21.

[0039] The lower housing 30 is located below the separation portion 51 and is a member having a bottomed cylindrical shape with a hollow inside, and has a convex portion 30a protruding upward. Specifically, the lower housing 30 has a convex portion 30a, a bottom portion 33, and a side wall portion 34. The convex portion 30a, the bottom portion 33, and the side wall portion 34 are integrally formed.

[0040] In this specification, integrally formed means that at least one of the following holds: each component is formed of the same material, formed simultaneously, and is the same object (single object).

[0041] The convex portion 30a is located below the separation portion 51 and is configured to protrude upward in the space 70. The convex portion 30a is connected to one end of the bottom portion 33 and protrudes upward (Z-axis plus side) from the bottom portion 33 in the space 70. The convex portion 30a is configured to be pressed by an insulating member 110 in contact with a pusher 60 that has moved downward due to the gas generated by the igniter 10 and deformed downward. That is, the convex portion 30a has a function of absorbing the impact (stress) from the pusher 60 by being pressed and deformed by the pusher 60. Also, the convex portion 30a is located below the insulating member 110.

[0042] Also, when the cutoff device 1 is viewed from the Z-axis minus side toward the Z-axis plus side, the convex portion 30a forming the recess of the lower housing 30 is exposed when viewed from the outside of the cutoff device 1. In the present embodiment, the convex portion 30a has a tapered shape as it goes upward in the space 70, but the shape is not limited to this.

[0043] The bottom 33 connects the convex portion 30a and the side wall portion 34. In other words, the convex portion 30a and the side wall portion 34 are connected via the bottom 33. The outer surface and the inner surface of the bottom 33 are each inclined upward from the convex portion 30a toward the side wall portion 34.

[0044] The side wall portion 34 is connected to the other end of the bottom 33 and is formed to extend upward from the bottom 33. The side wall portion 34 has a cylindrical shape and has a cylindrical shape in the present embodiment. The side wall portion 34 is arranged coaxially with the small-diameter portion 21 and the large-diameter portion 23. The side wall portion 34 has, for example, the same diameter as the large-diameter portion 23.

[0045] The thicknesses of the convex portion 30a, the bottom 33, and the side wall portion 34 are the same in the present embodiment, but may be different from each other, for example.

[0046] The resin member 40 is a member that at least partially locates inside the lower housing 30 and covers a part of the conductor 50 (specifically, the holding portion 52). It can also be said that the resin member 40 holds the holding portion 52. Further, the resin member 40 is a part of the component that forms the space 70. The resin member 40 has a buried portion 41, a first cylindrical portion 42, and a second cylindrical portion 43.

[0047] The buried portion 41 is the portion of the resin member 40 in which the conductor 50 (specifically, the holding portion 52) is buried. The buried portion 41 has, for example, a part exposed from the housing. A through hole in which the conductor 50 (specifically, the holding portion 52) is arranged is formed in the buried portion 41. The buried portion 41 constitutes a part of the first cylindrical portion 42.

[0048] The first cylindrical portion 42 is the portion of the resin member 40 arranged inside the housing, and the pusher 60 is arranged inside when the blocking operation is not performed (when gas is not generated by the igniter 10). That is, the first cylindrical portion 42 is located between the housing and the pusher 60. The first cylindrical portion 42 has a smaller inner diameter than the second cylindrical portion 43.

[0049] The second cylindrical portion 43 is the portion of the resin member 40 that is disposed inside the housing and is located below the first cylindrical portion 42. The second cylindrical portion 43 has a larger diameter than the first cylindrical portion 42. For example, the inner diameter d2 (see FIG. 2A) of the second cylindrical portion 43 is larger than the inner diameter d1 (see FIG. 2A) of the first cylindrical portion 42. Thereby, the volume on the lower side in the space 70 can be enlarged. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the pressure inside the housing due to the gas generated by the igniter 10 and the downward movement of the pusher 60 thereby, and it is possible to suppress deformation of the cutoff device 1. Note that the inner diameter d2 of the second cylindrical portion 43 is smaller than the inner diameter d3 of the insulating member 110. That is, the inner diameters increase in the order of the first cylindrical portion 42, the second cylindrical portion 43, the insulating member 110, and the lower housing 30.

[0050] The second cylindrical portion 43 has an end portion 43a on the lower side. The end portion 43a is disposed inside the lower housing 30 and is, for example, a portion below the elastic member 96. The end portion 43a is formed in a tapered shape in which the inner diameter increases downward, for example, but the shape of the end portion 43a is not limited to being tapered.

[0051] In this way, the pusher 60 moves within the space 70 formed by the first cylindrical portion 42 and the second cylindrical portion 43. Note that the first cylindrical portion 42 and the second cylindrical portion 43 are not limited to having different inner diameters, and may have the same inner diameter.

[0052] The conductor 50 is a conductive metal body, a part of which is located inside the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30. Further, the conductor 50 forms a part of the electrical circuit when the cutoff device 1 is attached to a predetermined electrical circuit and is also referred to as a bus bar. The conductor 50 is a flat plate-like member that is held by the resin member 40 and is disposed so as to cross inside the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30. The conductor 50 has a separation portion 51 and a holding portion 52.

[0053] The separation portion 51 is the portion of the conductor 50 that is separated by the pusher 60 that has received the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter 10 and is located below the pusher 60 in the initial position.

[0054] The holding portion 52 is a part of the conductor 50 that is connected to the separating portion 51 and is held by the resin member 40. The holding portion 52 is a portion that does not overlap with the pusher 60 in a top view, for example, a portion that overlaps with the resin member 40 and a portion located outside the housing in a top view. The holding portion 52 maintains the state of being held by the resin member 40 even after the separating portion 51 is separated.

[0055] The conductor 50 can be formed of a metal such as copper (Cu), for example. However, the conductor 50 may be formed of a metal other than copper or may be formed of an alloy of copper and another metal. For example, the conductor 50 may be configured to contain manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), etc.

[0056] The pusher 60 is located below the igniter 10 and is arranged to be movable downward. When an abnormality occurs in the system or the like, it moves downward to cut the conductor 50 and emergently cut off the conduction in the electric circuit. In this way, the pusher 60 is configured to separate the separating portion 51 from the conductor 50 by receiving the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter 10. In this way, the pusher 60 is arranged at the first position (see FIG. 2A) between the separating portion 51 and the igniter 10, and breaks the separating portion 51 from the first position and moves toward the second position (see FIG. 2B) located below the first position. The second position is, for example, the position of the pusher 60 when the pusher 60 moves downward together with the separating portion 51 and the separating portion 51 comes into contact with the convex portion 30a.

[0057] The pusher 60 is formed of an insulating member such as synthetic resin, for example. In the present embodiment, the pusher 60 is formed of nylon. The pusher 60 has a cylindrical shape and an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 21 of the upper housing 20. Further, the pusher 60 has a concave portion 61, and the igniter 10 is arranged inside the concave portion 61. Note that the shape of the pusher 60 is not limited to the above and can be appropriately changed according to the shapes of the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30, etc. The concave portion 61 is an upper portion of the pusher 60 and is a portion provided with a recess toward the lower side.

[0058] In a top view, the concave portion 61 has a first portion 62 with a larger diameter (e.g., inner diameter) than the first cylindrical portion 81 of the protection portion 80, and a second portion 63 that is located below the first portion 62 and has a larger diameter (e.g., inner diameter) than the second cylindrical portion 82. In a top view, the diameter of the first portion 62 is larger than the diameter of the second portion 63. For example, in a cross-sectional view, the inner wall of the first portion 62 is tapered such that the diameter decreases toward the second portion 63, but it may be stepped, for example, such that the diameter decreases stepwise.

[0059] The protection portion 80 is a component for suppressing the push member 60 from being damaged by the opening 11a (see FIG. 2B) of the lid portion 11 of the igniter 10 when the igniter 10 generates gas. Specifically, the protection portion 80 serves as a barrier against the opening 11a being overly opened, thereby suppressing the opening 11a opened by the igniter 10 generating gas from contacting the push member 60 and damaging the concave portion 61 of the push member 60.

[0060] The protection portion 80 is provided on the housing (e.g., the upper housing 20) or the igniter 10 and has a portion located inside the concave portion 61. In the present embodiment, the protection portion 80 is provided on the housing (specifically, the small-diameter portion 21). The protection portion 80 is fixed to the small-diameter portion 21 by welding, for example, but the fixing method is not limited to this.

[0061] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the protection portion 80 has a first cylindrical portion 81 and a second cylindrical portion 82. The first cylindrical portion 81 and the second cylindrical portion 82 are integrally formed.

[0062] The first cylindrical portion 81 is a cylindrical portion that surrounds the side of the igniter 10 and has a shape along the igniter 10. In the present embodiment, the first cylindrical portion 81 is formed in a stepped shape (e.g., a two-step stepped shape) such that the diameter (e.g., inner diameter) decreases stepwise downward in a cross-sectional view. Note that the shape of the first cylindrical portion 81 is not limited to this, and for example, the first cylindrical portion 81 may be tapered such that the diameter decreases downward, or may have another shape.

[0063] The first cylindrical portion 81 may be in contact with at least a part of the igniter 10. A second cylindrical portion 82 is disposed at the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 81.

[0064] Further, the first cylindrical portion 81 has a flange portion 83 at the upper side. The flange portion 83 is an annular portion (for example, a plate-like member) formed to protrude outward in a top view from the upper end of the first cylindrical portion 81, and is fixed to the small-diameter portion 21 by welding or the like. The flange portion 83 is disposed, for example, at least partly between the first portion 62 and the small-diameter portion 21. In this way, the first cylindrical portion 81 has a portion connected to the housing and is fixed to the housing.

[0065] The second cylindrical portion 82 is located below the first cylindrical portion 81 and is an annular portion having a smaller diameter (for example, inner diameter) than the first cylindrical portion 81. The second cylindrical portion 82 protrudes linearly from the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 81 toward the minus Z-axis side and is a portion that contacts the lid portion 11 when gas is generated. The lower end of the second cylindrical portion 82 (the end on the minus Z-axis side, for example, the lowermost end) is located below (on the minus Z-axis side) the lower end of the lid portion 11 (the end on the minus Z-axis side, for example, the lowermost end) in a state where no gas is generated.

[0066] The protection portion 80 is formed of, for example, a metal such as stainless steel (SUS), but may be formed of other metals such as aluminum, or may be formed of a resin (for example, a resin different from the pusher 60).

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the elastic members 90, 92, 94, and 96 are members having elasticity such as rubber and are O-rings formed in an annular shape. Each of the elastic members 90, 92, 94, and 96 is disposed in a pressed state (a deformed state).

[0068] The elastic member 90 is disposed in the space formed between the fixing member 100 for fixing the igniter 10 disposed in the concave portion 61, the igniter 10, and the small-diameter portion 21. The elastic member 90 is in contact with each of the fixing member 100, the igniter 10, and the small-diameter portion 21, and is, for example, pressed by each of the fixing member 100, the igniter 10, and the small-diameter portion 21.

[0069] The elastic member 92 is located between the housing and the pusher 60, is pressed by the housing, and is provided so as to press the outer surface of the pusher 60. Further, the elastic member 92 is disposed along the outer surface of the pusher 60. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 92 is disposed in the space formed between the housing (for example, the connecting portion 22), the pusher 60, and the resin member 40 in order to suppress the spatial connection between the internal space of the concave portion 61 and the space outside the internal space (for example, the space between the pusher 60 and the resin member 40). The elastic member 92 suppresses the gas generated by the igniter 10 from leaking from the internal space of the concave portion 61 to the external space. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the gas generated by the igniter 10 from escaping from the internal space of the concave portion 61 and the pressure of the gas in the concave portion 61 from decreasing.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the elastic member 92 is in contact with (for example, surface contact) the housing, the pusher 60, and the resin member 40, and is, for example, pressed by each of the housing, the pusher 60, and the resin member 40.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 2A, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 92 when pressed is triangular, but it is not limited thereto. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 92 when not pressed is not particularly limited as long as the internal space of the concave portion 61 and the conductor 50 can be spatially separated after pressing, and may be circular, polygonal (for example, square), or elliptical.

[0072] In the present specification, "pressing" includes not only one member pressing the other member but also the other member pressing the one member or another member by the repulsive force generated by the elastic deformation of the other member.

[0073] The elastic member 94 is disposed in a space formed between a circumferential recess formed in the resin member 40 and the housing (for example, the large-diameter portion 23) above the conductor 50 in order to suppress spatial connection between the space above the conductor 50 and the external space. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 94 is in contact with the resin member 40 and the large-diameter portion 23, respectively, and is pressed by the resin member 40 and the large-diameter portion 23, respectively.

[0074] The elastic member 96 is disposed in a space formed between a circumferential recess formed in the resin member 40 and the lower housing 30 (for example, the side wall portion 34) below the conductor 50 in order to suppress spatial connection between the space below the conductor 50 and the external space. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 96 is in contact with the resin member 40 and the side wall portion 34, respectively, and is pressed by the resin member 40 and the side wall portion 34, respectively.

[0075] Note that the elastic members 94 and 96 are not limited to being disposed in the circumferential recess without a gap, and a gap may be formed in at least one of the vertical directions.

[0076] The insulating member 110 is a member having insulating properties located inside the lower housing 30 and below the separation portion 51. The shape of the insulating member 110 preferably has a shape following the shape of the lower housing 30. For example, when the lower housing 30 has an inclined portion (for example, the bottom portion 33), it is preferable that the insulating member 110 also has an inclined portion (for example, a part of the second portion 112 that is inclined). In the present embodiment, the insulating member 110 is provided in a layer having a certain thickness along the inner surface of the lower housing 30. Further, the thickness of the insulating member 110 may be thinner than the thickness of the lower housing 30, for example.

[0077] The insulating member 110 has a first portion 111 and a second portion 112.

[0078] The first part 111 is a part of the insulating member 110 that has a shape along the convex portion 30a and covers the inner surface of the convex portion 30a. The first part 111 is provided, for example, so as to cover the top of the convex portion 30a. In the present embodiment, the first part 111 is provided so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the convex portion 30a.

[0079] The second part 112 is located below the first part 111 and covers the inner surface of the bottom portion 33. In the present embodiment, the second part 112 is provided without being in contact with the bottom portion 33 before the cutoff operation. As a result, a gap 72 (see FIG. 2A) that is located below the insulating member 110 is provided between the insulating member 110 and the lower housing 30 (for example, the bottom portion 33) (between the lower surface of the second part 112 and the bottom portion 33). The gap 72 is an example of a gap.

[0080] By providing the gap 72, when the convex portion 30a is deformed, the insulating member 110 can move (deform) into the gap 72, so that it is possible to suppress the insulating member 110 from being damaged by stress. Further, the second part 112 further covers a part of the inner surface of the side wall portion 34. When a portion provided along the inner surface of the side wall portion 34 in the second part 112 is defined as an end portion 113, in the example of FIG. 2A, the inner diameter d3 of the insulating member 110 is the distance in the Y-axis direction between the end portions 113 facing each other in the radial direction.

[0081] Note that the size of the gap 72 may be determined in accordance with the assumed size when the convex portion 30a is deformed, such as by providing the height (length in the Z-axis direction) of the convex portion 30a to be larger than the height of the convex shape of the insulating member 110.

[0082] The first part 111 and the second part 112 are integrally formed. Further, the insulating member 110 is formed of, for example, a resin having insulating properties (for example, a synthetic resin). For example, the insulating member 110 is formed by molding a resin.

[0083] Note that the insulating member 110 may be realized by coating the inner surface of the lower housing 30 with an insulating material. For example, the insulating member 110 may be formed by coating the inner surface of the lower housing 30 with an insulating material so as to cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30. In that case, the insulating member 110 and the lower housing 30 are provided integrally.

[0084] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30 before and after the cutoff operation. The resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 may cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30 so that the inner surface of the lower housing 30 is not exposed, for example. Also, a part of the resin member 40 and the insulating member 110 overlaps in the radial direction. Specifically, an end portion 113 of the insulating member 110 and an end portion 43a of the resin member 40 overlap in the radial direction. More specifically, a lower end 43b of the end portion 43a of the resin member 40 is located below an upper end 113a of the end portion 113 of the insulating member 110. The lower end 43b is located below the upper end 113a along the circumferential direction. Also, since the end portion 113 is provided outside the end portion 43a, the end portion 113 is located between the end portion 43a and the lower housing 30.

[0085] Note that the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a overlap, for example, by 1 mm or more in the Z-axis direction, more preferably by 3 mm or more, and even more preferably by 5 mm or more. 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm are lengths in the Z-axis direction.

[0086] Also, a gap 74 is provided between the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a. The gap 74 may be provided throughout the circumferential direction or may be provided in a part of the circumferential direction. The gap 74 is a narrow gap capable of cooling the conductive gas when the high-temperature conductive gas generated by the arc during the cutoff operation passes through. The width of the gap 74 (the distance between the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a, which is the length in the Y-axis direction in the example of FIG. 2A) is 1 mm or less, for example, 0.5 mm or less. The width of the gap 74 is the average value of the distances between the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a in the circumferential direction, but may be the maximum value, the minimum value, the mode value, the median value, etc.

[0087] As a result, when the high-temperature conductive gas flows into the gap 74, the conductive gas is cooled, so that the conductivity of the conductive gas can be reduced. Since the conductive gas flowing out of the gap 74 has a reduced conductivity, even if the conductive gas comes into contact with the lower housing 30, the re-conduction of the conductor 50 is suppressed.

[0088] Note that the gap 74 may not be provided. That is, the end portion 113 and the end portion 43a may be in contact with each other over the entire circumferential direction.

[0089] Here, the configurations of the insulating member 110 and the lower housing 30 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4C. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the insulating member 110 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 3B is a front view showing the insulating member 110 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing the insulating member 110 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. FIG. 3A is a view obtained by rotating the insulating member 110 about the Y-axis direction as a rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the insulating member 110 shown in FIG. 3B as viewed from above, and FIG. 3C is a view obtained by rotating the insulating member 110 about the Y-axis direction as a rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the insulating member 110 shown in FIG. 3B as viewed from below.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the first portion 111 of the insulating member 110 is a hollow, bottomless frustum-shaped member. The second portion 112 has an end portion 113 and a portion that inclines so as to connect the end portion 113 and the first portion 111. The inclined portion is tapered such that the inner diameter increases toward the end portion 113. The end portion 113 is a bottomless cylindrical member extending in the Z-axis direction.

[0091] FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing the lower housing 30 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 4B is a front view showing the lower housing 30 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing the lower housing 30 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. FIG. 4A is a view obtained by rotating the lower housing 30 about the Y-axis direction as a rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the lower housing 30 shown in FIG. 4B as viewed from above, and FIG. 4C is a view obtained by rotating the lower housing 30 about the Y-axis direction as a rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the lower housing 30 shown in FIG. 4B as viewed from below.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the convex portion 30a of the lower housing 30 is a hollow and bottomless frustum-shaped member. The bottom portion 33 is tapered such that the inner diameter increases toward the side wall portion 34. The side wall portion 34 is a bottomless cylindrical member extending in the Z-axis direction. The length of the side wall portion 34 in the Z-axis direction is longer than the length of the end portion 113 in the Z-axis direction. Further, the inner diameter of the side wall portion 34 is larger than the inner diameter d3 of the end portion 113. The side wall portion 34 is configured to cover the end portion 113 from the outside. The fixing portion 35 is a portion for fixing the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30, and is provided so as to protrude upward from the side wall portion 34. The fixing portion 35 is joined to a fixing portion (not shown) provided so as to protrude downward in the upper housing 20 by welding or the like.

[0093] As described above, the cutoff device 1 has a configuration in which the inner surface of the lower housing 30 is not exposed, and a part of the resin members (resin member 40 and insulating member 110) having insulating properties overlaps when viewed in the radial direction.

[0094] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, the configuration of the cutoff device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6C. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cutoff device 2 before the cutoff operation according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the insulating member 210 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 6B is a front view showing the insulating member 210 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6C is a perspective view showing the insulating member 210 according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. FIG. 6A is a view obtained by rotating the insulating member 210 about the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the insulating member 210 shown in FIG. 6B as viewed from above, and FIG. 6C is a view obtained by rotating the insulating member 210 about the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis in order to obtain a perspective view of the insulating member 210 shown in FIG. 6B as viewed from below.

[0095] Note that hereinafter, the description will focus on the differences from Embodiment 1, and the description of the same or similar contents as those in Embodiment 1 will be omitted or simplified. The cutoff device 2 according to the present embodiment is different from the cutoff device 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that the lower housing 230 does not have the convex portion 30a and the bottom surface is flat.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 5, the cutoff device 2 includes a lower housing 230 in place of the lower housing 30 of the cutoff device 1, and an insulating member 210 in place of the insulating member 110.

[0097] The lower housing 230 has a plate-like portion 230a, a bottom portion 33, and a side wall portion 34. The plate-like portion 230a, the bottom portion 33, and the side wall portion 34 are integrally formed.

[0098] The plate-like portion 230a is a flat plate-like member, and is a disk shape in the present embodiment. The inner surface of the plate-like portion 230a is flat.

[0099] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 6C, the insulating member 210 has a shape along the shape of the lower housing 230. The insulating member 210 has a first portion 211 and a second portion 112.

[0100] The first part 211 is provided opposite to the plate-like part 230a and covers the inner surface of the plate-like part 230a. The first part 211 is a flat plate-like member and is disc-shaped in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the first part 211 is provided at a predetermined interval without contacting the plate-like part 230a before the blocking operation.

[0101] The second part 212 is located above the first part 211 and covers the inner surface of the bottom 33 and a part of the inner surface of the side wall part 34. In the present embodiment, the second part 112 is provided without contacting the bottom 33 before the blocking operation.

[0102] Thereby, a gap 74 is provided between the insulating member 210 and the lower housing 230.

[0103] In the present embodiment, an example in which the end portion 113 of the insulating member 210 is disposed between the end portion 43a of the resin member 40 and the lower housing 230 in the radial direction has been described. However, the end portion of the resin member may be disposed between the end portion of the insulating member and the lower housing. A cutoff device having such a configuration will be described in the following modification examples.

[0104] (Modification Example of Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, the configuration of the cutoff device according to this modification example will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cutoff device 2a according to this modification example before the cutoff operation. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the insulating member 210a according to this modification example.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 7, the cutoff device 2a includes an insulating member 210a instead of the insulating member 210 of the cutoff device 2 and a resin member 40 having an end portion 243a instead of the end portion 43a. As described above, the cutoff device 2a is configured such that the end portion 243a of the resin member 40 is located between the end portion 213a of the insulating member 210a and the lower housing 230.

[0106] The end portion 243a has an inclined surface whose outer surface contacts the lower housing 230 and whose inner surface is inclined.

[0107] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insulating member 210a has a shape that follows the shapes of the lower housing 230 and the end portion 243a. The insulating member 210a has a first portion 211 and a second portion 212a.

[0108] The second portion 212a is located above the first portion 211 and covers the inner surface of the bottom portion 33 and the inner surface (inclined surface) of the end portion 243a. In the present embodiment, the second portion 212a is provided so as not to contact the bottom portion 33 and the end portion 213a contacts the inner surface of the end portion 243a before the cutoff operation. The end portion 213a has a shape that follows the shape of the inner surface of the end portion 243a and contacts the inner surface of the end portion 243a over the entire circumferential direction. The end portion 213a has a tapered shape in which the inner diameter decreases as it goes upward.

[0109] As described above, the cutoff device 2a has a configuration in which the inner surface of the lower housing 230 is not exposed, and a part of resin members (resin member 40 and insulating member 210a) having insulating properties overlaps in the order of the insulating member 210a and the resin member 40 in the direction toward the outer side in the circumferential direction.

[0110] (Embodiment 3) Hereinafter, the configuration of the cutoff device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10B. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cutoff device 3 according to the present embodiment before the cutoff operation. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing the insulating member 310 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 10B is an exploded perspective view showing the insulating member 310 according to the present embodiment as viewed from above.

[0111] In the following, the description will focus on the differences from Embodiment 1, and the description of the same or similar content as in Embodiment 1 will be omitted or simplified. The cutoff device 3 according to the present embodiment is different from the cutoff device 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that the insulating member 310 is composed of a plurality of members.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 9, the cutoff device 3 includes an insulating member 310 instead of the insulating member 110 of the cutoff device 1.

[0113] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 10B, the insulating member 310 has a first member 320 and a second member 330. The first member 320 and the second member 330 are separate bodies. Here, the separate bodies mean that in the installed state, the first member 320 and the second member 330 are physically separated. The separate bodies may mean that the first member 320 and the second member 330, which are separate members, are not fixed. Also, the separate bodies may mean that in the manufacturing process, the first member 320 and the second member 330 are manufactured separately.

[0114] The first member 320 covers the convex portion 30a of the lower housing 30. The first member 320 covers, for example, the top of the convex portion 30a. The first member 320 has a shape along the convex portion 30a, and the cross-sectional shape is a shape obtained by rotating a U-shaped cross-section by 180 degrees. The end of the first member 320 is a free end and can be deformed by the stress from the pusher 60.

[0115] The second member 330 covers the bottom 33 of the lower housing 30. The second member 330 covers the bottom 33, a part of the side wall portion 34, and the convex portion 30a. The second member 330 mainly has a shape along the bottom 33 and the side wall portion 34, and the cross-sectional shape is a shape having two U-shaped portions.

[0116] The second member 330 is arranged so as to overlap a part of the first member 320 when viewed in the radial direction. Thereby, even when the insulating member 310 is composed of the first member 320 and the second member 330 which are separate bodies, it is possible to suppress the exposure of the inner surface of the lower housing 230.

[0117] The second member 330 is not in contact with the first member 320 at the overlapping portion. In other words, a gap 76 is provided between the first member 320 and the second member 330. Similar to the gap 74, the gap 76 is a narrow gap capable of cooling the conductive gas while the high-temperature conductive gas generated by the arc during the interruption operation passes through. Also, since the second member 330 is not in contact with the first member 320, it is possible to suppress the stress received by the first member 320 from the pusher 60 from being transmitted to the second member 330. That is, it is possible to suppress the second member 330 from being damaged due to the stress from the pusher 60.

[0118] The second member 330 has an end portion 113, and the end portion 113 constitutes the end portion of the insulating member 310.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the first member 320 and the second member 330 are detachable. The first member 320, for example, is merely placed on the second member 330. In other words, the first member 320 is merely placed on the second member 330 so as to cover an opening 331 formed at the top of a portion where the second member 330 protrudes toward the internal space.

[0120] (Method for manufacturing the interrupting device) Subsequently, a method for manufacturing an interrupting device according to each of the above-described embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of the interrupting device 1 according to Embodiment 1. Although FIG. 11 shows the manufacturing process of the interrupting device 1 according to Embodiment 1, the same applies to the interrupting devices 2, 2a, and 3 according to other embodiments and modifications.

[0121] As shown in FIG. 11, an upper housing 20 made of resin or metal is produced by resin molding, metal molding, or the like (S10), a lower housing 30 made of metal is produced by metal molding or the like (S20), and an insulating member 110 is produced by resin molding or the like (S30). Note that the order of steps S10 to S30 may be changed, or at least two of them may be performed simultaneously.

[0122] Next, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are fixed (S40). For example, with the igniter 10, the resin member 40, the conductor 50, the pusher 60, the protective part 80, the elastic members 90, 92, 94, 96, and the insulating member 110 accommodated inside, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are joined by welding or the like. At this time, with the insulating member 110 accommodated so as to cover the inner surface of the lower housing 30, the upper housing 20 and the lower housing 30 are joined without a gap. Thereby, the above-described cutoff device 1 is manufactured.

[0123] (Other Embodiments) As described above, the cutoff device according to one or more aspects has been described based on each embodiment and the like. However, the present disclosure is not limited to each of these embodiments and the like. As long as the gist of the present disclosure is not deviated from, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art applied to this embodiment, or forms constructed by combining components in different embodiments may also be included in the present disclosure.

[0124] The order of each step in the manufacturing method of the cutoff device described above may be interchanged. Further, each step in the manufacturing method of the cutoff device described in the above embodiment may be implemented in one step or in separate steps. Note that implementing in one step means that each step is implemented using one device, each step is implemented continuously, or each step is implemented at the same location. Also, separate steps mean that each step is implemented using separate devices, each step is implemented at different times (for example, different days), or each step is implemented at different locations.

Industrial Applicability

[0125] The present disclosure is useful for a cutoff device disposed in an electric circuit or the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0126] 1, 2, 2a, 3 Cutoff device 10 Igniter 11 Lid part 11a Opening 20 Upper housing 21 Small-diameter part 22 Connection part 23 Large-diameter part 30, 230 Lower housing (cover member) 30a Protrusion 33 Bottom part 34 Side wall part 35 Fixing part 40 Resin member 41 Embedded part 42, 81 First cylindrical part 43, 82 Second cylindrical part 43a, 113, 213a, 243a End part 43b Lower end 50 Conductor 51 Separation part 52 Holding part 60 Pusher 61 Concave part 62, 111, 211 First part 63, 112, 212, 212a Second part 70 Space 72 Gap (clearance) 74, 76 Gap 80 Protection part 83 Flange part 90, 92, 94, 96 Elastic member 100 Fixing member 110, 210, 210a, 310 Insulating member 113a Upper end 230a Plate-like part 320 First member 330 Second member 331 Opening d1, d2, d3 Inner diameter

Claims

1. An igniter that generates gas, A pusher located below the igniter, A separator located below the pusher, and a conductor having a holding part connected to the separator, A cover member located below the separator and made of metal, An insulating member located inside the cover member and below the separator, And a resin member at least partially located inside the cover member and holding the holding part, The pusher is configured to separate the separator from the conductor by receiving the pressure of the gas generated by the igniter, The resin member and the insulating member cover the inner surface of the cover member, The end of the insulating member overlaps with the end of the resin member, The lower end of the end of the resin member is located below the upper end of the end of the insulating member A cutoff device.

2. The end of the insulating member is located between the end of the resin member and the cover member The cutoff device according to claim 1.

3. The end of the resin member is located between the end of the insulating member and the cover member The cutoff device according to claim 1.

4. The cover member has a convex portion located below the insulating member, The convex portion protrudes upward and is pressed by the pusher The cutoff device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member, The gap is located below the insulating member The cutoff device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A gap is provided between the cover member and the insulating member, The insulating member has a first part covering the top of the convex part of the cover member, and a second part located below the first part, and the second part covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the gap is located between the bottom of the cover member and the lower surface of the second part The cutoff device according to claim 4.

7. The insulating member has a first member covering the top of the convex part of the cover member, and a second member arranged to overlap a part of the first member, and the second member covers the inner surface of the bottom of the cover member, and the first member and the second member are separate bodies The cutoff device according to claim 4.

8. The resin member has an embedding part where the holding part is embedded, a first cylindrical part where the pusher is arranged inside, and a second cylindrical part located below the first cylindrical part and having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical part, and the inner diameter of the second cylindrical part is smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating member The cutoff device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The resin member has an embedding part where the holding part is embedded, a first cylindrical part where the pusher is arranged inside, and a second cylindrical part located below the first cylindrical part and having a larger diameter than the first cylindrical part, and the inner diameter of the second cylindrical part is smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating member The cutoff device according to claim 6.

10. The resin member has a buried portion in which the holding portion is buried, a first cylindrical portion in which the pusher is disposed inside, and a second cylindrical portion that is located below the first cylindrical portion and has a larger diameter than the first cylindrical portion, and the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the insulating member The cutoff device according to claim 7.

Images