Pyrotechnic separating system for connections, in particular mechanically joined connections

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (1) for separating a connection (7), in particular a mechanically joined connection (7), between two components (3, 5), in particular a motor-vehicle door hinge and a motor-vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, comprising a housing (21), which is to be fastened to one of the components, a pyrotechnic drive, which is arranged on or in the housing, and an acceleration part (29), which can be driven by the drive and is assigned to the connection in such a way that, when the drive is activated, the acceleration part is accelerated towards the connection in order to break it, in particular destroy it.

Description

[0001] Pyrotechnic separation system for mechanically joined joints

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for separating a connection, in particular a mechanically joined connection, between two components. The present invention also relates to a method for separating a connection, in particular a mechanically joined connection, between two components. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a connection, in particular a mechanically joined connection, between two components using a system according to the invention.

[0003] Demand for armored or bullet-resistant vehicle variants has increased significantly in recent years. Manufacturers and / or upgraders or retrofitters of such special protection vehicles face the challenge of achieving the desired level of protection for the occupants while also enabling emergency opening and thus access to the vehicle's interior in an emergency.

[0004] Various approaches currently exist for such emergency openings, such as electro-hydraulic window lifts, hatches in roof and / or trunk compartments, and pyrotechnic explosive or separating screws. For example, destructive methods are used to separate mechanically joined connections in emergency situations, thus ensuring emergency exit or emergency opening. The mechanical connection is made via a screw, such as that known from WO 2006069643 A1, which has a standardized dimension and is structurally adapted to the needs of emergency opening or emergency blasting. Due to their design, however, these cannot withstand the same high mechanical stresses as standard DIN screws of the same size. There are also so-called explosive screws, in which the screw is split pyrotechnically.Such an explosive screw is known, for example, from DE 199 61 854 C1. It has a concentric bore in the screw shaft containing a pyrotechnic charge that is ignited, for example, by electrical initiation. The charge triggers a pyrotechnic gas expansion, the pressure of which cuts the screw shaft from the inside and thus breaks the entire connection created by the screw. One disadvantage of such a system is the formation of splinters, which is dangerous for the surrounding area or for the occupants inside the vehicle. A further disadvantage is the sometimes dangerous handling of such a system during the actual assembly process, as there is a latent risk to the worker.

[0005] The state of the art in emergency exits also includes non-destructive mechanisms that pose less of a threat to occupants or the surrounding area. For example, hydraulic or electromechanical actuators can be used to open windows. However, these systems have proven to be disadvantageous, especially in critical emergency situations, as electromechanical or hydraulic actuation cannot generally be fully guaranteed under such risky circumstances.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2011 116 424 A1 discloses a locking device for a side door of a motor vehicle. This locking device features a pyrotechnic actuator that is activated in the event of a side impact and accelerates a piston to actuate the door lock. However, the system of DE 10 2011 116 424 A1 is not suitable for armored vehicles with increased occupant protection or for the emergency situations that arise in such vehicles.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular to provide a more reliable and safer system for separating a joined connection and / or for providing an emergency opening.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for the particularly irreversible separation of a particularly mechanically joined connection between two components or parts, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, or a battery housing of a particularly electrically powered motor vehicle and a vehicle body part, such as the vehicle underbody. The system can be designed such that it can be retrofitted to an existing connection, so that the regular assembly of the connection is not impeded, but a reliable, subsequent separation of the connection can nevertheless take place.

[0010] The system according to the invention comprises a housing to be attached to one of the components. The attachment to the component can also be achieved indirectly, for example, by attaching it to a connecting part that creates the connection, such as a screw or rivet. The housing can be designed to be pressure- and / or gas-tight.

[0011] Furthermore, the system according to the invention comprises a pyrotechnic drive arranged on or in the housing and an acceleration part, such as a piston or a plunger, which can be driven by the drive and is assigned to the connection in such a way that, upon activation of the drive, the acceleration part is accelerated towards the connection in order to break, in particular destroy, the connection. The pyrotechnic drive can, for example, be designed in such a way that the acceleration is achieved by utilizing the pyrotechnic effect of the pyrotechnic drive. In particular, the system according to the invention utilizes the pyrotechnic effect to provide the acceleration part with a drive or acceleration force, by means of which the acceleration part can be greatly accelerated in order to break, in particular destroy, the connection.

[0012] For example, the pyrotechnic drive may comprise an ignition element, for example an electrical, a mechanical or an electromechanical ignition element, which may be initiated, for example, by a current pulse in order to trigger a chain reaction for the ultimate acceleration of the acceleration part.

[0013] The system according to the invention can also be referred to as a pyrotechnic separation system.

[0014] A core idea of ​​the present invention is to separate a particularly mechanically joined connection, particularly by applying a high force, in a particularly destructive manner. The system according to the invention is designed such that it can be subsequently mounted on the connection to be separated or separated without impairing the load-bearing capacity of the connection. Furthermore, the system is flexibly applicable and, in particular, adaptable to a wide variety of connections, so that it is not necessary to modify or intervene in the joined connection. In other words, the system is a separate unit from the connection to be separated, such as a screw connection, which can be handled independently of the connection, wherein, in particular, the connection to be separated functions completely without the system. This ensures, among other things, that if the connection to be separated is damaged, the separation, in particular unlocking, can still be carried out reliably.A further advantage is that the system does not unintentionally impair the connection. It has been found that, in the case of a separating and / or explosive screw, the actual screw cross-section is not continuous, which impairs the strength of the screw connection. Thus, the connection to be separated is significantly more resistant, particularly to forces and loads acting transversely to the direction of the connection. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pyrotechnic drive is directly coupled to the acceleration part; in particular, no force transmission means are arranged between the pyrotechnic drive and the acceleration part. In particular, this allows the pyrotechnic drive to operate the acceleration part without any transmission.According to an alternative embodiment, the pyrotechnic drive can be coupled to the acceleration part by means of a gear for preferably transmission-free transmission of a drive force generated by the pyrotechnic drive to the acceleration part. For example, a transmission gear can be interposed between the pyrotechnic drive and the acceleration part to increase or decrease the drive force generated by the pyrotechnic drive. Any transmission, such as a transmission gear, can be used.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pyrotechnic drive comprises a preferably pressure-, liquid-, and / or gas-tight chamber in which the acceleration part is accommodated at least in axial sections and which is divided by the acceleration part into a pyrotechnic chamber containing pyrotechnic material and an expansion chamber. In an exemplary further development, upon activation of the pyrotechnic drive, the acceleration part is guided by the chamber in a pressure-, liquid-, and / or gas-tight manner.

[0016] The choice of pyrotechnic material or pyrotechnic composition or pyrotechnic substance depends in particular on the field of application (the desired pyrotechnic energy conversion) as well as on the dimensions of the chamber and the type of acceleration part used. In the pyrotechnic separation system according to the invention, the pyrotechnic material accommodated in the chamber is designed and / or controllable in such a way that it only unfolds its pyrotechnic effect when a predetermined operating state is reached and / or only converts pyrotechnically when the predetermined operating state is reached, which can be adjusted by selecting the specific material of the pyrotechnic material. In particular, the pyrotechnic material should be adjusted in such a way that during its conversion orUpon ignition, such a large pyrotechnic conversion takes place, releasing a sufficient amount of energy, particularly thermal energy, that the accelerating element can separate the connection. It has been shown that the pyrotechnic separation device according to the invention makes it possible to create an immediate, particularly destructive, separation of the connection to be separated, for example, in an emergency situation, to enable an emergency opening of a motor vehicle door or the abrupt removal of an electric battery from the motor vehicle chassis.

[0017] The following materials, substances, and mixtures can be used for a preferred pyrotechnic material, although it is clear that the individual materials mentioned can also be used in combination with one another or individually. Suitable pyrotechnic materials are described, for example, in publication EP 1 890 986 B1, which is based on the international patent application WO 2006 / 128910 and the German patent applications DE 10 2005 025 746 and DE 10 2006 013 622, which are incorporated by reference into the disclosure of the present invention.

[0018] For example, the chamber completely accommodates the acceleration part in an initial state, i.e. before activation of the pyrotechnic drive. The axial direction is understood to be the longitudinal direction of the chamber and / or an actuation or acceleration direction of the acceleration part in which the acceleration part is operated or accelerated upon activation of the pyrotechnic drive. In a further development, when the pyrotechnic drive is activated, the housing guides the acceleration part, in particular at least the axial section of the acceleration part accommodated in the chamber, in a pressure-tight, liquid-tight and / or gas-tight manner, in particular without the gases expanding during the implementation of the pyrotechnic drive leaving the chamber. For this purpose, the acceleration part can be sealed from the inside of the chamber, in particular with at least one seal, such as an O-ring seal.

[0019] In a further development of the system according to the invention, the acceleration part executes an axial relative movement with respect to the chamber upon implementation of the pyrotechnic drive. This means that, upon activation, the pyrotechnic drive causes the acceleration part to execute an axial relative movement in order to be accelerated in the direction of the connection to be separated in order to separate, in particular to destroy, this connection as a result of the acceleration energy received. The driving force generated by the pyrotechnic drive is thus converted into a movement of the acceleration part, whereby the acceleration part experiences kinetic energy sufficient to separate the connection. In particular, the implementation of the pyrotechnic material located in the chamber leads to the operation, in particular driving, of the acceleration part, in particular due to a gas expansion accompanying the implementation of the pyrotechnic material.

[0020] In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pyrotechnic chamber is at least 50%, in particular at least 60%, 70%, or at least 80%, filled with the pyrotechnic material. Alternatively or additionally, the expansion chamber can be free of pyrotechnic material. The volume area in the pyrotechnic chamber and / or the expansion chamber free of pyrotechnic material can be filled with gas, such as air, for example. The volume ratio between the coverage of the pyrotechnic material and the free gas space in the pyrotechnic chamber can be used to adjust the gas pressure curve resulting from the conversion of the pyrotechnic material.

[0021] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the acceleration part is assigned to the connection, in particular arranged in the chamber, in such a way that the acceleration direction is oriented parallel, in particular coaxially, to a longitudinal axis, such as a screw center axis, of a connection component, such as a screw, of the connection. If the connection to be severed is a screw connection, the acceleration part can be assigned directly to the screw, arranged coaxially to its center axis and / or in contact, for example, with a screw head or an opposite end on the screw shaft of the screw. This enables a particularly compact system with reliable force transmission from the acceleration part to the connection to be severed.In another exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the acceleration part and the chamber are designed, in particular dimensioned, in relation to one another such that the acceleration part remains submerged in the housing after activation by the pyrotechnic drive. In other words, the acceleration part does not protrude from the housing after activation and the resulting relative movement with respect to the housing. This represents a relevant safety aspect for the system, as it prevents the highly accelerated acceleration part from striking surrounding components or even persons, thereby damaging or injuring them.

[0022] According to an exemplary development of the system according to the invention, the housing has a stop, in particular a radial projection, for the acceleration part, in particular for limiting a relative movement of the acceleration part and the housing. The stop can be arranged on an inner side of the chamber, in particular in the region of the expansion chamber, and can catch the acceleration part, in particular abruptly decelerate it and bring it to a standstill. To achieve the above-mentioned safety level, a distance from the stop to a housing underside, in the direction of which the acceleration part has moved, can be greater than a length of the acceleration part starting from the stop in the direction of the housing underside.

[0023] In an exemplary further development, the acceleration part is designed as a type of piston or plunger. The acceleration part can, for example, be T-shaped in cross-section and / or have a substantially disc-shaped guide section, which is designed, on the one hand, to slide along the inside of a chamber, in particular in a tightly sliding manner, and also to absorb the compressive force resulting from the pyrotechnic gas expansion from the pyrotechnic drive. The acceleration part further has an applicator, which is manufactured, in particular, in one piece with the guide part, which has a significantly smaller cross-section than the disc-shaped guide part and can, for example, be designed to fit a dimension of the connection to be separated, such as a screw diameter.In a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the pyrotechnic drive comprises pyrotechnic material, and the acceleration part and the pyrotechnic material are enclosed in such a way that unwanted and / or unintentional access from the outside is excluded. This prevents unwanted and / or unintentional incorrect activations or manipulations of the system. In particular, the system thus ensures that the pyrotechnic components of the system are inaccessible from the outside, so that they cannot be exploded, thereby preventing unwanted activation of the system or initiation of the pyrotechnic drive.

[0024] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the system further comprises an adapter, in particular designed according to the invention, for mounting the system to a connecting component that implements the connection, such as a screw. For example, the adapter is manufactured in one piece with the housing. The adapter can, for example, be designed to enable the system to be mounted, in particular subsequently, to a mechanically joined connection between two components, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, or a motor vehicle battery housing of an electrically powered motor vehicle and a motor vehicle body part, using a standard fastening component, such as a screw.The adapter can have an interface on the fastening component side, such as an internal thread, and an interface on the system side, such as an external thread. For example, if the connection is made by a screw connection, the adapter can be designed as a type of counter-stop or counter-nut. This means that the system can be easily and subsequently screwed onto the screw connection that needs to be separated. The first step is to screw the system housing onto the external thread of the adapter from the outside. The entire system, including the adapter, is then connected to the screw connection via the additional fastening interface to the fastening component, namely the internal thread. Alternatively, the adapter can already be used to fasten the two components that are to be connected together, namely by the adapter acting as a nut, like a counter-bearing.The connection of the system with the connection to be separated is then made via the adapter, to which the system is realized via the threaded connection between the housing and the adapter outside.

[0025] In a further exemplary embodiment, the acceleration part is made of a high-strength and / or dimensionally stable material, such as hardened steel.

[0026] In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the housing is designed, in particular dimensioned and / or the material is selected such that it can withstand an internal pressure, in particular in the chamber, of at least 3,000 bar.

[0027] In another exemplary embodiment, the pyrotechnic drive can be triggered mechanically, electrically, electromechanically, thermally, and / or optically. For example, primers such as electric, electromechanical, or mechanical primers initiated by a firing pin are possible. Furthermore, the system can be designed for a trigger temperature at which a reaction occurs that initiates the pyrotechnic gas expansion. Optical initiation, for example, using a laser, is also possible.

[0028] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a method is provided for separating a particularly mechanically joined connection between two components, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, in particular by means of a system designed according to one of the preceding aspects and / or exemplary embodiments.

[0029] According to the invention, a mechanically joined connection, in particular, can be safely and easily assembled by applying a high force, particularly in a destructive manner. This does not affect the connection to be separated or released, and it is not necessary to modify or intervene in the joined connection.

[0030] In the system according to the invention, an acceleration part assigned to the connection is pyrotechnically accelerated in such a way that it is accelerated and moved, in particular guided, towards the connection in order to release the connection, in particular to destroy it.

[0031] In an exemplary development of the method according to the invention, a method for operating a system according to the invention is provided.

[0032] According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, an adapter is provided for mounting a system according to the invention to a mechanically joined connection of two components, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a motor vehicle pillar, to be realized via a standard fastening component, such as a screw.

[0033] By means of the adapter, it is possible to create an interface between the system according to the invention and the connection to be separated without having to change the basic concept of the system or having to access the connection.

[0034] In an exemplary development of the adapter according to the invention, it comprises a fastening component-side interface, such as an internal thread, in particular for screwing the adapter onto the fastening component designed as a screw, and a system-side interface, such as an external thread, for screwing the system onto the adapter. This ensures particularly simple assembly of the system and the adapter. Furthermore, it is possible for the adapter to be pre-assembled with the system and screwed onto the screw as a complete unit. Furthermore, due to its internal thread, the adapter can also serve as a nut or counterbearing for the screw connection realized by means of the screw.According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can be combined with the preceding aspects and exemplary embodiments, a joined connection, in particular a mechanically joined connection, is provided between two components, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, or a battery housing of a motor vehicle, in particular an electrically powered motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle body part. The joined connection comprises a system designed according to the invention attached to one of the components.

[0035] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for designing a system, in particular designed according to the invention, for separating a particularly mechanically joined connection between two components, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, or a battery housing of a particularly electrically powered motor vehicle and a motor vehicle body part, with respect to the connection to be separated. In the method according to the invention, a force defining the load limit of the connection is determined. Based on the determined force, a pressure necessary to apply the determined force is calculated according to the formula F = px A, where F stands for the force F resulting from a pressure p acting on an effective area A. Furthermore, a quantity of pyrotechnic material for generating the calculated pressure is determined, in particular experimentally or using empirical values.This allows the system to be tailored to the requirements and ensures reliable activation of the system, for example for the emergency opening of a vehicle door.

[0036] Preferred embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

[0037] In the following, further properties, features and advantages of the invention will become clear by describing preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an adapter according to the invention on a joined connection in particular according to the invention in a sectional view;

[0038] Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention, which is mounted on a joined connection in particular according to the invention;

[0039] Figures 3, 4 further operating states of the system from Figure 2;

[0040] Figure 5 shows the system from Figure 4 in isolated representation;

[0041] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the system of Figure 2;

[0042] Figure 7 is a detailed view of an acceleration part of the system of Figure 2;

[0043] Figures 8, 9 show further exemplary embodiments of the system from Figure 2 in detailed view; and

[0044] Figures 10 to 12 show further exemplary embodiments of systems according to the invention in sectional representation.

[0045] With reference to Figures 1 to 7, a first exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention, which is generally provided with the reference numeral 1, for separating a particularly mechanically joined connection between two components 3, 5 is explained using an exemplary embodiment of an adapter according to the invention, which is generally provided with the reference numeral 10. The connection 7 to be separated is exemplified in all exemplary embodiments by a screw connection, although it is clear that other connections, such as a welded connection or a riveted connection, could also be considered as the connection 7 to be separated instead. Figure 1 shows the screw connection 7 for connecting two components 3, 5, such as a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle chassis, and a door hinge or a battery housing of an electric battery of an electrically powered motor vehicle.The adapter piece 10 makes it possible for the screw connection 7 to be realized using a standard screw 9 that can withstand high loads, and the adapter piece 10 also serves as a counterbearing or nut for fastening, in particular screwing, the components 3, 5 together. For this purpose, the adapter has an internal thread 13 on a cylinder section 11 for screwing with a thread of the screw 9.

[0046] A flange section 15 of the adapter 10, made in one piece with the cylinder section 11, lies flat against one of the components 3, 5 for fastening the components 3, 5 to one another. Depending on the diameter of the screw 9, the cylinder section 11 can be dimensioned accordingly, which also extends, according to the exemplary embodiment in Figure 1, into the opening 17 of one of the components 3, 5 through which the screw 9 projects. Alternatively, the adapter 10 could also be welded to one of the components 3, 5 instead of screwed. On an outer side of the cylinder section 11, the adapter 10 has an external thread 19 for easy screwing to a housing 21 (Figure 2) of the system 1. This makes it possible to establish the connection 7 without any impairment and only subsequently to mount the system 1 according to the invention to the connection 7, which is then intended to separate the system.

[0047] Figures 2 to 4 show a first exemplary embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention in the assembled state on the connection 7 by means of the adapter 10. According to Figures 2 to 4, the system 1 has a preferably pressure-, liquid- and / or gas-tight chamber 23 within the housing 21, which is essentially hollow-cylindrical in shape and has a through-opening for the screw connection 9 as well as the adapter 10 on its underside 25 facing the adapter 10 or the connection 7. Furthermore, the housing comprises a fastening section 27 for connecting to the external thread 19 of the adapter 10. Within the chamber 23, a piston orA plunger-shaped acceleration part 29 is arranged, which is part of a pyrotechnic drive and is designed to be accelerated by the pyrotechnic drive, so that it is moved towards the screw 9 in order to release it from the threaded engagement with the adapter 10 in order to separate the connection. The acceleration part 29 comprises an applicator 31 assigned to the screw connection 9, which has substantially the same outer diameter as the screw shaft, and a guide section 33 formed integrally therewith, which is substantially disc-shaped and can, in particular, slide tightly and smoothly along an inner side of the chamber 23 when the acceleration part 29 is driven or actuated by the pyrotechnic drive.The acceleration part 29 divides the chamber 23 into a pyrotechnic chamber 35 arranged above the acceleration part 29, in which pyrotechnic material 37 of the pyrotechnic drive is arranged, and an expansion chamber 39 arranged below the guide section 33, into which the acceleration part 29 moves and which is substantially free of pyrotechnic material.

[0048] Another part of the pyrotechnic drive is arranged on a top side 41 of the housing. An ignition element 45, such as an electrical, electromechanical, or mechanical primer cap, is arranged in an opening 43 on the top side of the housing 21. The ignition element is housed, for example, in a recess 47 of a screw plug 49 that is screwed to the housing 21. An electrically initiated primer cap 45 is shown schematically in Figures 2 to 4, with the electrical contacts indicated by reference numeral 51.

[0049] In the event of an emergency situation, for example, if the door of the motor vehicle has to be forcibly opened in an accident situation, the pyrotechnic drive can be activated via the electrical contacts 51, for example by a current pulse, whereby an ignition jet 53, for example in the form of a flame, is generated, which ignites the pyrotechnic material 37. This creates a large quantity of high-pressure gases in a very short time. This pyrotechnic gas expansion creates a very high pressure in the area of ​​the pyrotechnic chamber 35, which is compensated or reduced by the acceleration part 29 following the formula F=p*A, where F stands for the acceleration force in Newton, which results from a force acting on an effective area A in mm 2 acting pressure p in bar, is accelerated in the direction of the screw connection 9 to be separated (compare Figure 3 transitioning to Figure 4).

[0050] Because the effective cross-sectional area of ​​the applicator section 31 is significantly reduced compared to the guide section 33, which absorbs the compressive force of the pyrotechnic gas expansion, the resulting pressure on the screw 9 is significantly increased. Thus, by activating the pyrotechnic drive to accelerate the acceleration part 29, it is possible to separate the screw 9 from the connection 7, in particular by destroying the threads, either on the screw and / or on the counter thread.

[0051] To catch the rapidly accelerating acceleration part 29 and prevent further movement, the housing 21 includes a radial projection 55 on the inside, i.e., within the chamber 23, against which the acceleration part 29 strikes after actuation and separation of the connection 7 (Figure 4). As can be seen in Figure 4, the screw 9 is released from the threaded engagement with the adapter 10 and can be caught by a catch mechanism to prevent the rapidly accelerating screw 9 from injuring occupants or damaging other components.

[0052] Figure 5 shows the system in an isolated view after its activation, with the adapter 10 hidden, corresponding to the state in Figure 4. Figure 6 shows the system 1, the applicator 10 and the joined connection 7 in an exploded view before their assembly.

[0053] Figure 7 shows a detailed view of the acceleration part 29. On a radially outward-facing guide surface 57 facing the inner wall of the housing, the acceleration part has two circumferential grooves 59, each for a seal 61, such as an O-ring seal, to ensure the seal between the expansion chamber 39 and the pyrotechnic chamber 35, so that no pressure loss occurs during pyrotechnic gas expansion and the full effect of the pyrotechnic drive is available to accelerate the acceleration part 29.

[0054] Figures 8 and 9 show further exemplary embodiments of igniters of systems 1 according to the invention. Figure 8 illustrates the fastening of the electrical primer cap 45 in the opening 43 in the housing 21. The fastening of the primer cap and its securing in the opening 43 is achieved by the locking screw 49, which is screwed to the housing 21 and has a flange or contact section 63 on the outside, which faces the top side 41 of the housing 21 and serves to seal it off from the environment. The locking screw 49 is screwed in until the primer cap 45 is firmly clamped in the opening 43, without the contact section 63 resting flat on the top side 41, thus ensuring that the primer cap 45 is not loose in the opening 43 and thus leaks.

[0055] Another possibility for securing the electric primer cap 45 within the opening 43 in the housing 21 is to allow material to protrude from the housing 21 and, after inserting the primer cap 45, to then reshape the material so that it protrudes over the primer cap 45 and supports it to the rear. This is schematically indicated in Figure 9 by a flanged section 65.

[0056] What is common to all embodiments is that an ignition channel bore 67 is provided on an underside of the opening 43, which enables the ignition of the pyrotechnic material 37 by the ignition jet 53.

[0057] Figures 10 to 12 depict further exemplary embodiments of systems 1 according to the invention, realized by means of a mechanically joined connection 7 using a screw 9. The embodiments of Figures 10 to 12 differ from the preceding embodiments in particular in that the adapter 10 has been omitted.

[0058] In the embodiment according to Figure 10, the housing 21 assumes the function of the adapter 10. For this purpose, the housing 21 comprises, on the one hand, a circumferential, radially outwardly projecting flange or contact and / or fastening section 69, via which the housing 21 is fastened, in particular screwed, to one of the components 3, 5 (reference numeral 71). The connection to the screw 9 is again made via its external thread 77, with the internal thread 13 being integrated into the housing 21 at its fastening section 27 instead of on the adapter 10.

[0059] The embodiment of Figure 11 differs from the preceding embodiments in that the housing is fastened to one of the components 3, 5, in particular to component 3, by means of a welded connection 73. Furthermore, the embodiment differs from the preceding embodiments in that the screw connection 7 is implemented such that an additional nut 75 is arranged inside the chamber 23 and against which the screw 9 of the connection 7 to be separated is clamped. This embodiment is selected such that a classic screw connection, consisting of screw 9 and nut 75, which is to be separated, can be retrofitted with system 1 particularly efficiently. The screw connection itself implementing the connection 7 consists of classic standard parts.

[0060] The embodiment according to Figure 12 essentially represents a combination of embodiments 10 and 11, wherein the screw connection is implemented analogously to Figure 11 and the housing 21 is connected to the components 3, 5 to be separated by means of screw connections 71, analogously to the embodiment according to Figure 10. In contrast to the previous embodiments, the housing 21 is significantly more solid and has a significantly greater wall thickness.

[0061] The features disclosed in the above description, the figures, and the claims may be important both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments. List of reference symbols

[0062] 1 system

[0063] 3, 5 component

[0064] 7 Connection

[0065] 9 Screw

[0066] 10 adapters

[0067] 11 Fastening section

[0068] 13 threads

[0069] 15 Flange section

[0070] 17 passage

[0071] 19 threads

[0072] 21 housings

[0073] 23 Chamber

[0074] 25 Bottom

[0075] 27 threads

[0076] 29 Acceleration part

[0077] 31 Applicator

[0078] 33 Guide Section

[0079] 35 Pyrotechnics chamber

[0080] 37 pyrotechnic material

[0081] 39 Expansion chamber

[0082] 41 Top

[0083] 43 Opening

[0084] 45 percussion caps

[0085] 47 recess

[0086] 49 Locking screw

[0087] 51 electrical contact

[0088] 53 Ignition jet

[0089] 55 Radial projection

[0090] 57 Guide surface

[0091] 59 groove

[0092] 61 Seal Flange section Flaring section Ignition channel bore Screw Weld seam Nut External thread

Claims

CLAIMS 1. System (1) for separating a particularly mechanically joined connection (7) between two components (3, 5), in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, comprising: - a housing to be attached to one of the components (3, 5); - a pyrotechnic drive arranged on or in the housing; and - an acceleration part (29) which can be driven by the drive, such as a piston or a plunger, which is assigned to the connection (7) in such a way that when the drive is activated, the acceleration part (29) is accelerated towards the connection (7) in order to cancel, in particular destroy, the connection.

2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic drive is coupled to the acceleration part (29) directly or by means of a gear for preferably transmission-free transmission of a drive force generated by the pyrotechnic drive to the acceleration part (29).

3. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pyrotechnic drive comprises a preferably pressure-, liquid- and / or gas-tight chamber (23) in which the acceleration part (29) is accommodated at least in axial sections and which leads from the acceleration part (29) into a pyrotechnic chamber (35) with pyrotechnic material and a Expansion chamber (39), wherein, particularly upon activation of the pyrotechnic drive, the acceleration part (29) is guided in a pressure-tight, liquid-tight and / or gas-tight manner by the chamber (23).

4. System (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pyrotechnic chamber (35) is at least 50%, in particular at least 60%, 70% or at least 80%, covered with the pyrotechnic material and / or wherein the expansion chamber (39) is free of pyrotechnic material.

5. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the acceleration part (29) is assigned to the connection (7), in particular arranged in the chamber, in such a way that the acceleration direction is parallel, in particular coaxial, to a longitudinal axis, such as a screw center axis, a connecting component, such as a screw, which is oriented towards the connection (7).

6. System (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the acceleration part (29) and the chamber are designed, in particular dimensioned, with respect to one another in such a way that the acceleration part (29) remains sunk in the housing after actuation by means of the pyrotechnic drive.

7. System (1) according to claim 6, wherein the housing has a stop, in particular a radial projection, for the acceleration part (29), in particular for limiting a relative movement of the acceleration part (29) and the housing.

8. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pyrotechnic drive comprises pyrotechnic material and the acceleration part (29) and the pyrotechnic material are housed in such a way that unwanted access from the outside is excluded.

9. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an adapter designed according to one of claims 13 or 14 for mounting the system to a fastening component implementing the connection (7), such as a screw, wherein in particular the adapter is made in one piece with the housing.

10. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is designed to withstand an internal pressure of at least 3,000 bar.

11. Method for separating a connection (7) between two components (3, 5), in particular a mechanically joined connection, in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, in particular by means of a system designed according to one of the preceding claims, in which an acceleration part (29) assigned to the connection (7) is pyrotechnically accelerated in such a way that it is accelerated towards the connection (7) in order to cancel, in particular destroy, it.

12. Method according to claim 11 for operating a system designed according to one of claims 1 to 10.

13. Adapter for mounting a system designed according to one of claims 1 to 10 to a mechanically joined connection (7) of two components (3, 5), in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, to be realized via a standard fastening component, such as a screw.

14. Adapter according to claim 13, comprising a fastening component-side interface, such as an internal thread, and a system-side interface, such as an external thread.

15. Joined connection, in particular mechanically joined connection, of two components (3, 5), in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, comprising a system attached to one of the components (3, 5) and designed according to one of claims 1 to 10.

16. Method for designing a system, in particular designed according to one of claims 1 to 10, for separating a particularly mechanically joined connection (7) between two components (3, 5), in particular a motor vehicle door hinge and a motor vehicle body part, such as a vehicle pillar, with respect to the connection to be separated, in which a) a force defining the load limit of the connection (7) is determined, b) a pressure p necessary to apply the determined force F is calculated according to the formula F = p*A, where F stands for the force resulting from a pressure p acting on an effective area A, and c) in particular experimentally or by means of empirical values, an amount of pyrotechnic material for generating the calculated pressure is determined.

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