EP0639844B1 - Device for electrical disconnection - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for the electrical separation of an accumulator from an electrical circuit connected by means of connecting lines to its positive and negative poles according to the preamble of claim 1 (FR-A-26 16 958).

Accumulators, i.e. batteries or electrical energy storage devices, are increasingly being used as replacements for combustion drives or at least to supplement them. Intensive work is being done on the use of batteries as an energy source for vehicles, so-called electric cars. In the event of accidents of any kind, there can inevitably be a short circuit between the negative and positive poles of the accumulator. In this case, considerable electrical energy and power can be released, so that there can be considerable consequential damage to people and materials. Accumulators work on the basis of lead, nickel cadmium, nickel hydride, sodium sulfur and the like. Short circuit currents can be between 2000 and 5000 A. Such short-circuit currents can cause devastating damage. The relevant safety regulations meanwhile also require the battery to be disconnected from the connected consumers in the event of a malfunction, at least in the event of an accident, so that the amounts of energy released cannot do any damage.

Since very high voltages and currents have to be switched off, mechanical or electromechanical switching units must in principle be very large, heavy and therefore complex to manufacture and expensive components. There is therefore a need for miniaturizable, as light as possible and economical devices for electrical separation to be produced. In addition, the devices should consist of parts that are as simple as possible to replace and, as far as possible, be made operational again after an explosion.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide a device for the electrical separation of a rechargeable battery from an electrical circuit which can be carried out simply and safely, without voluminous, heavy and expensive components.

As a technical solution to this problem, a device for the electrical separation of an accumulator from an electrical circuit connected with connecting lines to its positive and negative poles is specified, according to claim 1.

With the solution according to the invention, a safe electrical separation between the accumulator and the consumer circuit can now be ensured without the use of large, heavy and expensive components. Since both volume and weight have to be taken into account particularly when used in electric cars, the method according to the invention can be used there with particular advantage since the explosive charge required to detonate a connecting line can be very weak.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the connecting line connected to the positive pole of the accumulator is blown up. This will create Short-circuit currents safely excluded. It is advantageously stated that the explosive pulse is emitted on the basis of a parameter monitored by measurement when the parameter reaches a preset value. The method is advantageously carried out automatically.

For example, static or kinetic parameters can be used as monitored parameters, such as are detected by monitoring units already present in vehicles. For example, the monitoring unit of an airbag can deliver corresponding parameters which essentially represent acceleration parameters and, as a result of an accident, exceed the preset values and can thus cause an ignition pulse to be emitted. Temperature can also be used as a parameter to be monitored. For example, the heat released by the switching unit when the flow of current is too great, for example in the event of an overload or short circuit on the accumulator, can be used as parameters. Other acceleration or deceleration values are also suitable for parameter monitoring when using the device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention can be made very small. It is not susceptible to faults and can be manufactured inexpensively. Depending on the explosive used, the device according to the invention can be miniaturized. It is advantageously stated that the device for disconnecting is arranged on the connecting line in the region of the positive pole of the accumulator. It is advantageously stated that the device comprises a control device for the delivery of pulses. This control device can be used for parameter monitoring and ignition pulse delivery. The explosive charge, the detonator and the connections for activating the detonator are advantageously arranged in one housing.

It is advantageously stated that the device according to the invention has an electrically conductive bolt which is arranged in the connecting line on the positive pole of an accumulator. The explosive charge is advantageously arranged on the bolt. This ensures that a defined explosive effect is guaranteed by the use of predetermined separating and separating agents.

The device according to the invention can be miniaturized and is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. It can be used safely and easily. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be easily integrated into the electronics or electrics of an existing vehicle. By blowing up the connecting cable, short-circuit currents are completely avoided and consequential damage is excluded.

Due to the simple structure, consisting of two connecting pieces, which are electrically connected by an electrical contact element which can be displaced by the blasting or moved away by at least one of the connecting pieces, the separating element can be produced very economically. The arrangement of the explosive charge on one side of the contact element ensures that it is moved away from at least one of the connecting pieces.

It is stated that the connection pieces are pipe pieces which, according to a further proposal of the invention, are at least partially electrically conductive. It is therefore possible to use electrically conductive pipe pieces or pipe sleeves consisting, for example, of metal, but it is also possible to use plastic pipe pieces which are at least partially electrically conductive due to inclusions and / or linings. According to a further proposal of the invention, an insulating washer is arranged between the two pieces of pipe. This allows the pipe sections to be brought to a defined distance from one another and are nevertheless electrically insulated.

It is advantageously proposed that the contact element in the tube interior is used to bridge the insulating washer. This measure will Contact element inside the pipe as in a guide and the electrical connection is made by bridging the insulating washer between the two pieces of pipe.

It is advantageously proposed that the explosive charge be arranged on the end of one of the pipe sections opposite the insulating disk. In the event of an explosion, this measure has the effect that the contact element is moved away from this pipe section and in the direction of the other pipe section.

It is advantageously proposed that the contact element is a bolt. A bolt of different design can advantageously establish an electrical connection between the two pipe pieces or pipe sleeves serving as connecting pieces. According to an advantageous proposal, the outside diameter of the bolt essentially corresponds to the inside diameter of the pipe sections. It is advantageously stated that contact surfaces are arranged between the bolt and the tube pieces, which are formed in a particularly advantageous manner by contact lamellae. On the one hand, this guarantees a secure electrical connection, and on the other hand, if the bolt is securely seated in the contact position, the bolt can be easily moved by the explosion.

A compressed gas generator is advantageously used as the explosive charge. A vent hole is advantageously arranged on the pipe section provided with the explosive charge. In this way, after blasting and displacement of the bolt serving as the contact element, the excess pressure in the interior of the pipe section can be reduced. Since spark discharges take place in a known manner between the high-voltage or high-current-carrying connections, an insulation element is used between the explosive charge and the contact element according to a further proposal of the invention. When blasting has taken place, the insulation element is moved to the position of the contact element, so that spark is extinguished automatically. According to an advantageous proposal of the invention, the insulation element is a bolt.

Advantageously, a connection for the battery is arranged on one of the pipe sections, and advantageously a connection for a consumer on the other pipe section. It is of course known that circuits with accumulators are connected in such a way that a line leading from the positive pole is brought to the circuit directly or after a distributor, while the connection to the negative pole is established via a common ground rail, ground line or a ground region. In the area of the current-carrying line, the separating device can advantageously be arranged, the pipe section being fastened to the pole with the connection for the battery, while the connection for the consumer is, for example, a plug pin or threaded bolt to which the line leading to the circuit is connected.

It is advantageously proposed that the individual parts forming the separating device are arranged in a housing. In order to avoid damage to the battery, it is advisable to arrange the explosive charge on the pipe section facing away from the battery. The device according to the invention can be created in a simple and miniaturized design. It is economical and reliable. In particular, the device is also reusable, since after the connection pieces have been reconnected by the contact element and an explosive charge has been rearranged, the device is operational again. The simple exchange of an explosive charge is possible without much assembly effort.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Akkumulator/Verbraucherschaltkreises, in welchem eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung eingesetzt ist;

Figur 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Schaltvorrichtung und

Figur 3

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels für eine erfindungsgemäße Trennvorrichtung.

Further advantages and features of the invention result from the following description with reference to the figures. Show:

Figure 1

a schematic representation of an accumulator / consumer circuit, in which a device according to the invention is used;

Figure 2

a schematic representation of an embodiment of the switching device according to the invention and

Figure 3

is a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment for a separation device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the basic structure of a circuit 1, in which an accumulator 2 is arranged as an energy source. The accumulator 2 has a positive pole 3 and a negative pole 4, to which the connecting lines 5, 6 of the circuit 1 are connected. The connecting lines 5, 6 lead to a consumer circuit 7. The consumer or consumers of electrical energy are connected in the consumer circuit. The connecting line 5 can comprise a fuse 8 in a known manner.

The device 9 according to the invention for electrically separating the battery 2 from the connected circuit is arranged in the region of the positive pole 3 of the battery 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the separating device 9 is arranged in a housing 10, into which insulating bushings 11 lead. In the area of the insulating bushings 11, connecting bolts 12 are arranged. The connecting line 5 from the electrical circuit to the positive pole 3 of the accumulator 2 is connected to the connecting bolts 12. In the interior of the housing 10, the separating device 9 comprises a bolt 13, which represents a defined electrical conductor. If the separating device 9 is inserted via the connection bolts 12 into the connection line 5 from the positive pole 3 of the accumulator 2 to the consumer circuit 7, the electrical conduction of the electrical energy from the accumulator 2 to the consumer circuit 7 is ensured by the bolt 13. An explosive charge 14 is arranged on the bolt 13, on which in turn an igniter 15 is arranged. The igniter 15 has activation connections 16.

An ignition pulse is supplied to the igniter 15 via the activation connections 16, which causes the explosive charge 1 to explode in a manner known per se. The bolt 13 is then cut in a defined manner. Since the housing 10 is made of metal or an explosion-proof plastic, the explosion is harmless. Since the bolt 13 is severed in a defined manner by the ignition of the explosive charge 14, the electrical line is safely cut through from the positive pole 3 of the accumulator 2 to the consumer circuit 7.

Alternative embodiments are conceivable for the separating device 9. Depending on the explosive charge 14 used, the separating device 9 can, for example, act directly on a connecting line without an electrically conductive bolt 13 having to be placed in between. In this case, the separating device can be easily retrofitted by arranging the explosive charge on a line and enclosing the device in a housing. Retrofitting is of course also possible by separating the connecting line and connecting to an embodiment as shown.

The ignition pulse can be a pulse present directly in the other monitoring devices of the vehicle, it can also be emitted by a control circuit, not shown, which is provided specifically for operating the separating device 9 as a result of separate parameter monitoring.

The separating device 9 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a housing 10 which is essentially a cylindrical housing which is open at both ends and is additionally provided with slots on one side. In the housing 10, the connecting tube sleeves 17 and 18 are inserted, between which an insulating washer 19 is arranged. The connecting tube sleeves 17 and 18 are thus electrically insulated from one another. A battery connection 20 is arranged on the connecting tube sleeve 17 and extends through the cylindrical housing 10 at a slot provided for this purpose. A corresponding consumer connection 21 is arranged on the connecting tube sleeve 18, which in the exemplary embodiment is a connecting threaded bolt. The cylindrical housing 10 is closed at both ends by means of screw covers 22 and 23, the screw cover 22 having a through hole for pressure equalization, and the screw cover 23 having a through hole for the ignition connection of the detonating element. In addition, a vent hole 24 arranged between the two ends is provided in the connecting tube sleeve 18. Both connection tube sleeves are electrical by means of Contact pin 25 connected, which is provided for this purpose as contact surfaces at both ends with contact blades 26. In the exemplary embodiment shown, contact sockets 27 are also arranged at the contact points in the connecting tube sleeves. The connecting tube sleeves 17 and 18 are thus electrically connected to one another by means of the contact pin 25, so that a current flow from the battery connection 20 via the connecting tube sleeve 17, the contact socket 27, the contact plates 26, the contact pin 25, the contact plates 26, the contact socket 27, the connecting tube sleeve 18 up to the consumer connection 21 is possible. At the opposite end of the contact pin 25 of the connecting tube sleeve 18, the explosive element 28, consisting of explosive charge and detonator, is arranged. The connection 29 of the detonating element 28 projects through the screw cap 23 and can be connected to a corresponding ignition line. An insulating bolt 30, for example made of plastic, is arranged between the explosive element 28 and the contact bolt 25. If the electrical current flow between the battery connection 20 and the consumer connection 21 is to be interrupted, the detonating element 28 is ignited and causes the contact bolt 25 to be displaced in the opposite direction from the explosive charge until the contact bolt 25 has completely left the connecting tube sleeve 18. The air pressure building up in front of the contact pin in the feed direction can escape through the through hole in the screw cap 22. A spark discharge can easily occur between the contact sockets or contact surfaces. However, since the insulating bolt 30 has taken the place of the contact bolt due to the detonating element, the space for such a spark discharge is closed.

The separating device 9 can then easily be put back into the operating state by unscrewing the screw caps 22 and 23, replacing the detonating element 28 and pushing the contact bolts 25 or insulating bolts 30 back into their starting position. Then the screw caps 22 and 23 are screwed on again and the separating device 9 is again in its original operating state.

An extremely safe and, above all, reusable design of the separating device according to the invention can be realized with only a few parts.

Reference symbol list:

1

Circuit

2nd

accumulator

3rd

Positive pole

4th

Negative pole

5

Connecting cable

6

Connecting cable

7

Consumer circuit

8th

Fuse

9

Separator

10th

casing

11

Insulation bushing

12th

Connecting bolts

13

bolt

14

Explosive charge

15

Detonator

16

connections

17th

Connection tube sleeve

18th

Connection tube sleeve

19th

Insulating washer

20th

Battery connection

21

Consumer connection

22

Screw cap

23

Screw cap

24th

Vent hole

25th

Contact bolt

26

Contact blades

27

Contact socket

28

Blast element

29

Connection

30th

Insulating bolts

Claims (17)

1. Device for electrical isolation of a rechargeable battery (2) from an electrical circuit (7) which is connected by connecting leads (5, 6) to the positive and negative terminals (3, 4) of said rechargeable battery (2) and has at least one explosive element (28) which is arranged on at least one of the connecting leads (5, 6) which are connected to the positive and negative terminals (3, 4), and which device has at least one detonator (15) and connections (16) for detonator activation, at least one connecting lead (5, 6) having two tubular connecting pieces (17, 18) which are electrically insulated from one another and are electrically connected by means of a contact element (25) which can be moved by an explosion away from at least one of the connecting pieces (17, 18), and the explosive element (28) is arranged on one side of the contact element (25), characterized in that contact surfaces in the form of contact laminates (26) are arranged between the contact element (25) and the tubular connecting pieces (17, 18).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the device is arranged on the connecting lead (5) in the region of the positive terminal (3) of the rechargeable battery (2).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular pieces (17, 18) are at least partially electrically conductive.
4. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an insulating disc (19) is arranged between two tubular pieces (17, 18).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the contact element (25) is inserted into the interior of the tubular pieces (17, 18) such that it bridges the insulating disc (19).
6. Device according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the explosive charge (28) is arranged at the end of a tubular piece (17, 18) opposite the insulating disc (19).
7. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the contact element (25) is a contact bolt (25).
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the external diameter of the contact bolt (25) corresponds substantially to the internal diameter of the tubular connecting pieces (17, 18).
9. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an insulating element (30) is arranged between the contact element (25) and the explosive element (28).
10. Device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the insulating element (30) is an insulating bolt (30).
11. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the explosive element (28) is a compressed-gas generator.
12. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the tubular connecting pieces (17, 18) has a vent hole (24).
13. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a connection (20) for a battery is arranged on one of the tubular connecting pieces (17, 18).
14. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a connection (21) for a load is arranged on one of the tubular connecting pieces (17, 18).
15. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the individual elements of the device (9) are arranged in a housing (10).
16. Device according to Claim 15, characterized in that the housing (10) is produced from metal.
17. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 16, characterized by a control device for emitting a detonation pulse.

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