Pyrotechnic Circuit Breaker Piston Venting for Insulation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pyrotechnic circuit breakers for electric vehicles face issues of large dimensions and insufficient insulation resistance due to conductive deposits from combustion gases, leading to potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A pyrotechnic circuit breaker design with a piston featuring gas passages between its distal and proximal ends, allowing fluid communication and preventing gas compression, which enhances compactness and operating safety by maintaining piston stability and isolating combustion gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas passage is provided in the housing between the breaking chamber and the pyrotechnic chamber, then the combustion gases can be directed to the breaking chamber, but the device dimensions increase and insulation resistance decreases due to conductive deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The gas passage is integrated directly into the piston structure rather than being provided as a separate housing feature. The piston body itself forms the gas passage channel, merging the piston function with the gas flow guidance function, thereby eliminating the need for additional housing space and avoiding conductive deposit issues in separate passages
Solution Approach 2:
The gas passage function is extracted from the housing structure and transferred to the piston component. This relocation allows the gas flow path to be contained within the moving piston element, reducing the overall device volume and improving insulation by removing the passage from the stationary housing where deposits would accumulate
2Reliability
If the piston moves from idle to activated position, then the electrical conductor is interrupted, but the gases above the piston become compressed and may cause the piston to move backward
Solution Approach 1:
The gas passage acts as an intermediary channel that allows compressed gases to escape from the region above the piston to the breaking chamber. This mediator structure prevents pressure buildup that would otherwise push the piston backward, maintaining piston stability after activation
Solution Approach 2:
The gas passage is pre-configured within the piston structure to provide a ready escape route for gases before compression becomes problematic. When the piston moves to the activated position, the passage is already in place to immediately vent the compressed gases, preventing backward movement
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures stable piston positioning post-operation, reduces pressure peaks, and maintains insulation resistance, thereby improving safety and efficiency in interrupting high-current electric circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic actuator 40 arranged in the housing 10 to cause the piston 30 to move from the idle position to the activated position
Implementation Method 2
the piston comprises at least one gas passage, arranged between the distal end and the proximal end... fluid communication between the distal end and the proximal end limits or prevents the compression of the gases above the piston
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a pyrotechnic circuit breaker, comprising: a housing, an electrical conductor to be interrupted, a piston which is arranged in the housing to interrupt the electrical conductor and which can be moved between an idle position and an activated position in which the electrical conductor is interrupted, a pyrotechnic actuator arranged in the housing to cause the piston to move from the idle position to the activated position, the piston comprising a proximal end arranged on the side of the pyrotechnic actuator and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, wherein the piston comprises at least one gas passage arranged between the distal end and the proximal end.