DE102020104617B4 - Quick-disconnect switch for electrical currents at high voltages with a movable or deformable disconnecting element for disconnecting an isolating area - Google Patents

Abstract

Quick disconnect switch (1), in particular for disconnecting currents at high voltages (a) with a housing (2) which encompasses a contact unit (3) defining the current path through the quick disconnect switch (1), (b) the contact unit (3) having a first and a second connection contact (4, 5), a sabot (6) and a separating area (7), the sabot (6) at least partially delimiting a separating chamber (8) inside the housing (2), in which the separating area (7) and a movable or deformable separating element (9); (c) the separating chamber (8) being filled with an evaporable medium (10) in such a way that the separating region (7) is in contact with the evaporable medium (10). (d) wherein the sabot (6), the separating area (7), the movable or deformable separating element (9) and the evaporable medium (10) are designed in such a way that the separating area (7) can be separated by a movement or deformation of the separating element (9) can be separated into at least two parts, with an arc occurring between the two parts of the separating area (7) vaporizing the vaporizable medium (10), so that a gas pressure is created which acts on the sabot (6), the sabot (6) in the housing (2) is moved in a direction of movement from an initial position to an end position, wherein in the end position of the sabot (6) an insulating distance between the first and the second connection contact (4, 5) is reached.

Description

The present invention relates to a quick disconnect switch with a movable or deformable disconnect element (active element-based quick disconnect switch) for separating a disconnect area according to the features of claim 1, which is able to safely and permanently disconnect high electrical currents even at high voltages, without the disadvantages of conventional ones Quick-disconnect switches - such as gas development to the outside, or the presence of an isolating distance that is too short (which makes arc bridging easier) - to show.

Current active element-based quick-disconnect switches are mostly simply constructed devices with only a simply broken conducting element or contact unit, since they are often only used to disconnect currents at relatively low voltages (below 100 V). If such quick-disconnect switches are used for higher voltages from 100 V and currents up to 30 kA (e.g. to switch off circuits in electric cars), undesirable arcing can occur between the two separate electrical contacts. This often produces unwanted gases that have to escape from the quick-disconnect switch, since the arc is not extinguished before all the energy stored in the circuit inductance has been consumed by the arc. For this reason, conventional quick-disconnect switches either cannot be used for these applications or the disadvantages mentioned must be consciously accepted.

The quick disconnect switches mentioned are generally used for applications in which a relatively long opening time from the activation of the quick disconnect switch to the separation of the isolating area in the quick disconnect switch can be accepted. Normal opening times in such applications are in the millisecond range, in particular in the range from 500 μs to 600 μs. If shorter opening times, e.g. in the range from 20 µs to 80 µs, are required, the active element-based quick disconnect switches are not suitable. In this case, interrupting switching elements that can be triggered actively must be used, as they are, for example, in DE 10 2016 124 176 A1 are described, which, however, are much more complex to produce and therefore more expensive. The DE 20 2018 100 172 U1 also relates to such an interrupting contact element with a housing which encompasses a contact unit which defines the current path through the interrupting contact element and has a first and second connection contact and a disconnecting area, the contact unit being designed in such a way that current can be supplied to it via the first connection contact and from it can be removed via the second connection contact, or vice versa, the isolating area being designed in such a way that when it is separated, the current path between the first connection contact and the second connection contact is interrupted, the isolating area being arranged within a reaction chamber, characterized in that that in the reaction chamber there is a coating with a reactive material, the reactive material being designed in such a way that it dampens or extinguishes the arc under the influence of the arc.

The US 2006/0 049 027 A1 relates to a transfer switch comprising a housing and a metal strip enclosed in the housing with each end extending through the housing. A first contact is integrated into the metal strip. A second contact within the housing extends through the housing wall for a second electrical connection. The metal strip has a first section for severing and a second section with pivot hinge characteristics. The transfer switch includes an exothermic source near the first section which, when ignited, severes the metal strip in the first section and causes at least a segment of the severed metal strip to be driven about the second section, which includes the pivot hinge, whereupon the first electrical Contact is driven to connect the second electrical contact.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a quick disconnect switch that can be produced at low cost, which can be used in applications in which opening times in the millisecond range can be tolerated, but is still able to withstand currents of up to 30 kA at voltages from 100 V - as are used in circuits from electric cars - to be disconnected safely and permanently, without having the mentioned disadvantages of conventional active element-based quick-disconnect switches, in particular without showing an undesired development of gas. Furthermore, a significant increase in the isolating distance of the connecting element or the contact unit should be made possible.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a quick disconnect switch, in particular for disconnecting currents at high voltages, with a housing that encompasses a contact unit that defines the current path through the quick disconnect switch, the contact unit having a first and a second connection contact, a sabot and a disconnect area. wherein the sabot at least partially defines a separating chamber inside the housing, in which the separating rich and a movable or deformable separating element is arranged, the separating chamber being filled with an evaporable medium in such a way that the separating area is in contact with the evaporable medium, the sabot, the separating area, the movable or deformable separating element and the evaporable medium being designed in this way are that the separating area can be separated into at least two parts by a movement or deformation of the separating element, with an arc occurring between the two parts of the separating area vaporizing the vaporizable medium, so that a gas pressure is created which acts on the sabot, the sabot in the housing moving in one direction is moved from a starting position to an end position, wherein in the end position of the sabot an insulating distance between the first and the second connection contact is reached.

By increasing the insulation distance by moving the sabot, it is possible to provide a quick disconnect switch that can safely and permanently disconnect currents even with currents of up to 30 kA and voltages of 100 V or more.

In one embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, it is preferred that it has a third connection contact which, in the starting position of the sabot, is electrically connected neither to the first connection contact nor to the second connection contact, but in the end position of the sabot to one of the two first and second Connection contacts is electrically connected. The third terminal contact is electrically accessible from the outside of the housing. It is preferably located on the same side of the first connection contact of the contact unit in the direction of which the sabot is pushed inside the housing. The third connection contact is preferably designed as an electrically conductive rod which is guided by the housing and extends into the interior of the housing. If the sabot is moved into its end position, the sabot comes into contact with the electrically conductive rod of the third connection contact, and thus the first connection contact is electrically connected to the third connection contact. According to the invention, the third connection contact is also referred to as a bypass electrode. Such a bypass electrode can be used, for example, as a check for tripping the quick disconnect switch. Alternatively, the bypass electrode can also bring the following advantage: If the second connection contact in a circuit is directly connected to one polarity of a power source, the first connection contact in front of the load is connected to the other polarity of the power source and the third connection contact is connected behind the load to the connected to a different polarity of the power source, both the capacitance and the inductance of the load circuit can be discharged when switching the quick disconnect switch. In addition, if an arc forms between the first and second connection contact, the energy drawn from the power source is also distributed via the third connection contact, so that from the time the third connection contact makes contact with the first connection contact (it is burning at this point in time nor the arc between the first and the second, already mechanically separated connection contact) leads to a current distribution that severely disrupts the arc and as a result quickly extinguishes it. In this way, less energy is transferred into the vaporizable medium, and more vaporizable medium in solid or liquid form is available for the insulation between the first and the second connection contact after separation has taken place or after the arc has been extinguished.

In one embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, it is preferred that the disconnecting chamber is not completely filled with vaporizable medium. Nevertheless, the condition must be met that the separating area is in contact with the vaporizable medium, since otherwise it is not absolutely guaranteed that the arc can vaporize the vaporizable medium. This incomplete filling of the separating chamber with the evaporable medium is advantageous because the thermal expansion coefficients of the medium and the housing materials are generally very different and high forced stresses could therefore arise in the housing when the assembly is heated. In addition, the gas buffer present in this way reduces the extremely high pressure peaks that otherwise occur during the evaporation of the medium to values that can be controlled in terms of material.

The vaporizable medium can be liquid, gaseous, gel-like, foam-like or multi-fibrous. When the boiling or evaporation temperature is reached, the vaporizable medium preferably changes completely or partially into a gaseous state, and it can even be partially decomposed. It is also preferred that the evaporable medium has insulating properties, so that the arc can be extinguished after sufficient removal of the two separated parts of the separating area and then there is sufficient insulation between the separated contacts against an undesired flow of current. An oil, for example silicone oil, or a silane, for example hexasilane, with as few carbon atoms as possible is preferred as the liquid medium. Examples of powders or solids that can be used are sands, boric acid, boron oxides and/or salts of boric acid, each with or without preconditioning inside or outside the circuit breaker according to the invention at elevated temperatures.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that the contact unit has a compression area, which is arranged on a side of the sabot opposite the separating area. The upset area can have a cavity. In particular, the compression area can be hollow-cylindrical and preferably ring-shaped in cross-section. The hollow space enables the upset area to be upset more easily than if the upset area were of solid, rod-shaped design. A ring-shaped cross-section favors a uniform folding of the hollow cylinder wall during the upsetting process, seen over the circumference. The cavity is preferably filled with an evaporable medium. The hollow space is preferably in contact with the separating chamber in such a way that when the upsetting area is compressed, vaporizable medium is discharged from the hollow space into the separating chamber. This has the advantage that when the compression area is compressed, the vaporizable medium is also sprayed onto the arc as an extinguishing agent. This leads to a faster extinguishing of the arc.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the upsetting area can be designed in terms of material and geometry such that the wall of the upsetting area is folded, preferably in a meandering manner, as a result of the upsetting movement.

In one embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, it is preferred that the isolating area is in the form of a rod. In DE 10 2016 124 176 A1 are described and used in applications that require a faster turn off of the current.

In a further embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, the isolating area preferably has a predetermined breaking point in order to facilitate the separation of the isolating area into at least two parts by moving the piston element. The predetermined breaking point can be in the form of a hole, a groove, a partial cut or a notch. Such predetermined breaking points reduce the separation area to be separated without significantly increasing the electrical volume resistance. Such predetermined breaking points also serve to make the separation of the separation area calculable, to make it easier and to design it in a favorable manner. In one embodiment, the predetermined breaking point is designed as a bore in the separating area in such a way that the separating chamber is connected to the cavity of the compression area. In this way, when the separating area is separated at the predetermined breaking point, it can be ensured that vaporizable medium in the cavity exits into the separating chamber at the point where the arc is formed when the compression area is compressed.

Drilling has the advantage that weakening points are formed when the material is removed, where a fracture point in the material can occur particularly easily.

A groove as a predetermined breaking point is to be understood herein as a slit of a certain depth (which appears as a blind hole in cross section), but which also has a uniform thickness in cross section. A notch should be understood to mean a depression which is wider near the surface of the separation area than at a greater depth. Both are suitable frangible elements. Advantageously, notches allow entire sections of the separating area to be shifted radially. If only one groove is provided, in particular a narrow groove, the radial displacement can be made more difficult or impeded by tilting and canting.

In a further embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, the disconnecting element can be moved or deformed essentially perpendicularly to the flow direction of the electric current in the contact unit, or acts on the disconnecting area from this direction. “Essentially perpendicular” should also be understood to mean a deviation from the 90° angle by up to 30°. The movement or deformation of the piston element can preferably be controlled, for example by triggering an explosive charge.

An explosive charge is generally understood here as a substance that expands quickly and greatly when activated. A substance or mixture of substances can be used which can move the separating element in the direction of the separating area as a result of internal pressure. Gases or vapors can be generated in the process. Nitrocellulose powder or double base powder (these are mixtures of NC and NGL) are useful here, but above all the well-known ignition and ignition materials such as ZPP (zirconium potassium perchlorate), as used in commercial airbag igniters, or explosives such as silver azide, hexogen or octogen. So-called mini-detonators could also be used here, but are more likely to be used in interrupting switching elements in which a much faster separation of the isolating area is required. The advantage of using commercially available Airbag igniters is that they are cheaper than mini detonators and, above all, are already fully established and qualified in terms of technology. According to the invention it is therefore preferred that an explosive charge is used which is different from mini detonators.

The explosive charge is usually activated by an igniter or a detonator. The igniter can contain a hot wire or explosive wire or can be ignited by an electrical charge. A solid or liquid or other gaseous substance can also be admixed to a gas, in particular an oxidizing agent. Alternatively or additionally, an explosion can also be triggered passively, i. H. by the mere heating of an explosive.

So that the contact unit is not pushed out of the housing when the sabot moves at the end on the connection contact side, it has a flange inside the housing which is directly adjacent to the inside of the housing.

It is further preferred that the contact unit is manufactured in one piece, i.e. is present in one piece. In this case, all components such as connection contacts, compression area(s), sabot, separation area and flange(s) - if present - are made of one piece. The contact unit is formed from an electrically conductive material, preferably a metal, more preferably aluminum or copper.

The moveable or deformable separating element can be either a piston element or a bellows. The piston element is preferably guided by the housing and can be moved in the direction of the separation of the separation area. The expansion tank is preferably deformed in the direction of the separation area and in this way leads to its separation. Such an expansion vessel is in the patent application with the application number EP19201212.8 described and can also be used in the quick disconnect switches according to the invention.

In a further embodiment of the quick disconnect switch according to the invention, the contact unit preferably has a further sabot, which delimits the separating chamber on a side opposite the first sabot. Preferably, the contact unit then has a further compression area, which is arranged on a side of the further sabot opposite the separation area. In other words, it is preferred that the quick-disconnect switch is constructed mirror-symmetrically along the axis of the contact unit. The same configurations are preferred for the area of the contact unit that has the additional compression area and the additional sabot as in the configuration that only has one sabot and one compression area. Here, too, a fourth connection contact can be provided, which, like the third connection contact, can function as a bypass electrode, i.e. the fourth connection contact is not electrically connected to either the first connection contact or the second connection contact in the initial position of the further sabot, but is in the End position of the further sabot electrically connected to one of the two first and second connection contacts. The fourth terminal contact is electrically accessible from the outside of the housing. It is preferably located on the same side of the second connection contact of the contact unit in the direction of which the further sabot is pushed inside the housing. The fourth connection contact is preferably designed as an electrically conductive rod which is guided by the housing and extends into the interior of the housing. If the further sabot is moved into its end position, the sabot comes into contact with the electrically conductive rod of the fourth connection contact, and thus the second connection contact is electrically connected to the fourth connection contact. If such a switch contains both a third and a fourth connection contact, one of these two additional connection contacts can be used, for example, as a check for tripping the quick disconnect switch and the other for additional discharge of the load circuit and for additional weakening of the arc, as described above in Connection to the third connection contact is described.

The housing of the quick-disconnect switch according to the invention can be made of a material that withstands the internal pressure required for the displacement of the sabot due to the vaporization of the vaporizable material. Reinforced plastic or a metal can be used for this. All commercially available glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforced plastics can be used as the reinforced plastic. Possible metals are high-strength steels such as 1.2436, 1.4112, 1.4122, 1.4301, 1.4305 or 1.7522. Since the contact unit must be electrically conductive in order to function, a housing made of metal or plastics with good electrical conductivity must be insulated from the contact unit, otherwise the current would be routed via the housing and the circuit breaker could not disconnect. For this purpose, in particular, insulating layers are provided on the inner wall of the housing at the points at which contact with the contact unit takes place or can take place. The insulating layers preferably include or consist of a suitable insulating material, for example a suitable plastic. As Depending on the area of application of the assembly, plastic can be used for this, for example polyoxymethylene (POM), PA6 or PAI (Duratron or Torlon).

• 1 ist eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Schnelltrennschalters vor der Trennung des Trennbereichs.
• 2 ist eine Querschnittsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Schnelltrennschalters nach 1 nach der Trennung des Trennbereichs.
• 3 ist eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Schnelltrennschalters mit zwei Treibspiegeln vor der Trennung des Trennbereichs.
• 4 ist eine Querschnittsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Schnelltrennschalters nach 3 nach der Trennung des Trennbereichs.
• 5 ist eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Schnelltrennschalters mit einer Isolationsschicht vor der Trennung des Trennbereichs.
• 6 zeigt einen elektrischen Schaltkreis, in dem ein Schnelltrennschalter nach 1 eingesetzt wird, der einen dritten Anschlusskontakt als sogenannte Bypass-Elektrode zum schnelleren „Aushungern“ des Lichtbogens aufweist.

Further features, but also advantages of the invention, result from the drawings listed below and the associated descriptions. In the figures and in the associated descriptions, features of the invention are described in combination. However, these features can also be included in other combinations by an object according to the invention. Each disclosed feature is therefore also to be regarded as being disclosed in technically meaningful combinations with other features. Some of the illustrations are slightly simplified and schematic:

• 1 12 is a cross-sectional view of a quick disconnect switch according to the present invention prior to disconnection of the disconnect area.
• 2 Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the quick disconnect switch of the present invention 1 after the separation of the separation area.
• 3 Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a dual sabot quick-disconnect circuit breaker according to the present invention prior to separation of the disconnect region.
• 4 Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the quick disconnect switch of the present invention 3 after the separation of the separation area.
• 5 12 is a cross-sectional view of a quick-disconnect switch according to the invention with an insulating layer before the separation of the isolating region.
• 6 shows an electrical circuit in which a quick disconnect switch is used 1 is used, which has a third connection contact as a so-called bypass electrode for faster "starving" of the arc.

1 shows a quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention before the separation of the isolating area 7 in cross section. The quick-disconnect switch 1 has a housing 2 which encloses a contact unit 3 which is passed through the housing 1 . The contact unit 3 has a first connection contact 4 and a second connection contact 5, which are preferably arranged on two opposite sides on the outside of the housing 1. Via the connection contacts 4 and 5, an electrical current can be supplied to or removed from the contact unit. The contact unit 3 is made of a conductive material and is preferably made in one piece. The contact unit 3 also has a sabot 6 which is preferably arranged centrally in the contact unit 3 . The sabot 6 at least partially delimits a separating chamber 8 in the interior of the housing 2, or separates the interior of the housing 2 into two chambers, namely the separating chamber 8 and the compression chamber 19. In the separating chamber 8, a movable or deformable separating element 9 is additionally arranged. Furthermore, the separating chamber 8 is filled with an evaporable medium 10 which is in contact with the separating area 7 . The separating chamber 8 does not have to be completely filled with vaporizable medium 10, as long as it is ensured that in the event of the formation of the arc between the two separate ends of the separating region 7, these two ends are surrounded by vaporizable medium 10, so that the arc is surrounded by the vaporizable medium 10 leads and this can evaporate. The movable or deformable separating element 9 can preferably move or deform in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the contact unit 3 extends, so that the separating region 7 is separated into two parts. The formation of an arc between the two separate parts of the separating area 7 increases the gas pressure through evaporation of the vaporizable medium 10 in the separating chamber 8, so that the sabot 6 is pressed in its starting position and is moved in the direction of the connection contact 4 into its end position. This creates an insulating distance between the first connection contact 4 and the second connection contact 5. The movement of the sabot means that the compression area 11 in the compression chamber 19 is preferably folded in a meandering shape, since it is preferably present as a hollow cylinder. The cavity 12 in the compression area 11 is preferably also filled with vaporizable medium 10 and is preferably connected to the separating chamber 8. The connection between the cavity 12 and the separating chamber 8 is preferably established by a predetermined breaking point 13 designed as a bore in the separating area 7. The cavity 12 and the filling of it with vaporizable medium 10 and the connection between the cavity 12 and the separating chamber 8 make it possible that, in the event of separation at the predetermined breaking point 13, the change in volume of the cavity 12 caused by the compression of the compression area 11 allows the vaporizable medium 10 to escape is injected into the cavity 12 into the separating chamber 8, so that this vaporizable medium 10 is available both for extinguishing the arc and for increasing the internal pressure by vaporization in the arc. The movement or deformation of the separating element 9 is preferably triggered by an explosive charge 14 . 2 shows the quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention 1 in the state of separation of the separation area 7. As in Figs 1 and 2 shown, the quick-disconnect switch 1 according to the invention can have a third connection contact 20, which is preferably arranged on the side of the housing 2 into which the sabot 6 moves. The third connection Contact 20 is preferably designed as a rod guided by the housing 2, which extends so far into the interior of the housing 2 that the sabot 6, when moving from the starting position to the end position, creates an electrical connection between the first connection contact 4 and the third connection contact 20 manufactures. The third connection contact 20 designed as a rod is preferably a rod that can be compressed or bent. The third connection contact 20 is preferably not electrically connected to the housing 2 . Since the in the 1 and 2 If the quick disconnect switch 1 shown preferably has a housing 2 made of an electrically conductive material, it is necessary for the contact unit 3 to be insulated from the housing 2 on one of the two sides of the connection contacts 4 and 5 . For this purpose, the quick-disconnect switch 1 in 1 and 2 an insulating layer 18 on the parting area side, which, however, could alternatively also be present on the terminal contact on the side of the compression area. In 5 a quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention is shown, which also has a housing 2 made of an electrically conductive metal. In order to achieve good insulation between the contact unit 3 and the electrically conductive metal of the housing 2, the housing has an inner insulation layer 24 which extends over the entire inner surface of the housing and also enables insulation from the contact unit. Otherwise the in 5 Quick-disconnect switch 1 shown is essentially identical in construction to that in 1 shown quick-disconnect switch 1.

The connection contact or bypass electrode 20 can also be fitted in the cavity 12 in the case of larger assemblies. In this case, the locking screw 23 in the first connection contact 4 or second connection contact 5 is made from an insulating material and holds the connection contact 20 in position (not shown).

3 shows a quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention before the separation of the isolating area 7 in cross section. 4 shows the same quick disconnect switch 1 after the separation of the isolating area 7 in cross section. The left side of the quick disconnect switch 1 is identical to the left side of the quick disconnect switch 1 in the 1 and 2 . Here, with regard to the reference numerals used, the description of the 1 and 2 referred. Furthermore, the quick disconnect switch 1 in the 3 and 4 a contact unit 3, which has a further sabot 15, which delimits the separating chamber 8 on a side opposite the sabot 6. The contact unit 3 is therefore mirror-symmetrical, ie has a mirror plane which is perpendicular to the direction of extension of the contact unit 3 , the direction of extension running along the contact unit 3 from the first connection contact 4 to the second connection contact 5 . In other words, the contact unit 3 has a further compression area 16 which is arranged on a side of the further sabot 15 opposite the separating area 7 . The compression area 16 is preferably configured in exactly the same way as the compression area 11, ie it preferably also has a cavity 12 and is preferably designed as a hollow cylinder and ring-shaped in cross section. Cavity 12 in compression area 16 is preferably also filled with vaporizable medium 10 and is in contact with separating chamber 8 in such a way that vaporizable medium 10 is released from cavity 12 into separation chamber 8 when compression area 16 is compressed. All preferred features of the compression area 11 mentioned are preferably also implemented in the compression area 16 . If the explosive charge 14 is ignited, the separating element 9 moves in the direction of the separating region 7 and separates it from the sabots 6 and 15 at the predetermined breaking points 13 . The formation of an arc between the severed ends of the separating area 7 heats the evaporable medium 10 and creates a gas pressure in the separating chamber 8, which drives the sabot 6 in the direction of the connection contact 4 and the sabot 15 in the direction of the connection contact 5. In this way, a safety distance is created between the separated ends of the isolating area 7 and thus an insulating distance between the two connection contacts 4 and 5, as shown in FIG 4 shown. On one of the two sides of the contact unit 3, which are encompassed by the housing, the contact unit 3 is preferably insulated from the housing 2, at least in the case where the housing 2 consists of an electrically conductive material. In the in the 3 and 4 shown embodiment is realized on the side of the second connection contact 5. The quick disconnect switch 1 can also - as in the 3 and 4 shown - have a third connection contact 20 and/or a fourth connection contact 21 . The function of the connection contacts 20 and 21 has already been described above. The main advantage of two separation points in 3 or. 4 lies in the fact that the voltage of the power source to be switched off is now halved, more or less divided between the two separation points, and the switching or separation distance is also doubled.

5 shows the situation of 1 , but here with a fully executed inner insulation layer 24 of the compression chamber 19 and separating chamber 8 in order to prevent any arc from entering the housing 2.

6 shows an electrical circuit 22, in which a quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention 1 is used, which has a third connection contact 20 as a so-called bypass Electrode for faster "starving" of the arc. The switching circuit 22 has a current source Batt1, which has the internal resistance R1, the capacitance C3 and the inductance L2. The quick disconnect switch 1 is directly connected to the connection contact 5 with a first pole of the power source Batt1. The power loss through the wiring from power source Batt1 to the quick disconnect switch 1 is characterized by the loss resistance R3. The connection contact 4 is connected to the second pole of the power source Batt1 via a load circuit. The load circuit has a resistor R5, which indicates the loss of current due to the wiring from the power source Batt1 to the connection contact 4. The load circuit has a load resistance R2, an inductance L1 and a capacitance C2. The third electrode is connected directly to the second pole of the Batt1 power source. Terminals 4 and 5 are connected together through another circuit comprising a capacitor-resistor (RC) combination C1+R4, with capacitor C1 and resistor R4 connected in series. The RC combination is optional and serves as a so-called spark extinguishing combination for the switching contacts that open. If the circuit in the switching circuit 22 is interrupted by the switching of the quick disconnect switch 1, the energy stored in the consumer of the load circuit can cause an arc to form between the separated parts of the isolating area 7 of the quick disconnect switch 1. If the third connection contact 20 is connected to the other side of any load than the first connection contact 4, when the quick disconnect switch 1 according to the invention is switched, the energy stored in the load can be dissipated to ground through the resulting connection of the first connection contact 4 and the third connection contact 20. In this way, the resulting arc can be "starved out" so to speak, because the energy outside the separation point is then short-circuited. This means that the third connection contact 20 or the so-called bypass electrode is used as a short-circuit electrode in this case.

Reference List

1

quick disconnect switch

2

Housing

3

contact unit

4

first connection contact

5

second connection contact

6

sabot

7

separation area

8th

separation chamber

9

separator

10

vaporizable medium

11

compression area

12

cavity

13

predetermined breaking point

14

explosive charge

15

further sabot

16

further compression area

17

insulation layer on the compression area side

18

insulation layer on the separation area side

19

stuffer box

I

electric current

20

third connection contact (bypass electrode)

21

fourth connection contact (bypass electrode)

22

electrical circuit

23

Screw

24

inner insulation layer

Batt1

power source

R1

internal resistance of the power source

C3

capacity of the power source

L2

Inductance of the power source and wiring up to the quick disconnect switch

R3

Loss resistance of the wiring up to the quick disconnect switch

R2

load resistance

L1

Inductance of the load circuit including wiring up to the quick disconnect switch

C2

Capacity of the entire load circuit

R5

Loss resistance of the wiring up to the quick disconnect switch

C1+R4

Capacitor Resistor (RC) combination

Claims (11)

Quick disconnect switch (1), in particular for disconnecting currents at high voltages (a), with a housing (2) which encompasses a contact unit (3) defining the current path through the quick disconnect switch (1), (b) the contact unit (3) having a first and a second connection contact (4, 5), a sabot (6) and a separating area (7), the sabot (6) having a separating chamber (8) inside the housing ( 2) at least partially delimited in which the separating area (7) and a movable or deformable separating element (9) are arranged; (c) the separating chamber (8) being filled with an evaporable medium (10) in such a way that the separating area (7) is in contact with the evaporable medium (10), (d) the sabot (6), the separating area ( 7), the movable or deformable separating element (9) and the evaporable medium (10) are designed in such a way that the separating area (7) can be separated into at least two parts by moving or deforming the separating element (9), with one between the two Parts of the separating area (7) resulting arc vaporizes the vaporizable medium (10), so that a gas pressure is applied to the sabot (6), wherein the sabot (6) in the housing (2) is moved in a direction of movement from a starting position to an end position, wherein in the end position of the sabot (6) an insulating distance between the first and the second connection contact (4, 5) is reached. quick disconnect switch claim 1 , which has a third connection contact (20) which is electrically connected neither to the first connection contact (4) nor to the second connection contact (5) in the starting position of the sabot (6), but in the end position of the sabot (6) with a of the two connection contacts (4, 5) is electrically connected. Quick disconnect switch (1) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the contact unit (3) has a compression area (11) which is arranged on a side of the sabot (6) opposite the separating area (7). Quick disconnect switch (1) after claim 3 , wherein the compression area (11) has a cavity (12), in particular a hollow cylinder and is preferably annular in cross section. Quick disconnect switch (1) after claim 4 , wherein the cavity (12) is filled with vaporizable medium (10), the cavity (12) being in contact with the separating chamber (8) in such a way that when the compression area (11) is compressed, vaporizable medium (10) escapes from the cavity (12) is released into the separation chamber (8). Quick disconnect switch (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the separating area (7) is rod-shaped. Quick disconnect switch (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the separating area (7) has a predetermined breaking point (13) in order to facilitate the separation of the separating area (7) into at least two parts by movement or deformation of the separating element (9). Quick disconnect switch (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 , wherein the separating element (9) is movable or deformable essentially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the electric current in the contact unit (3). Quick disconnect switch (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the movement or deformation of the separating element (9) can be controlled, preferably by triggering an explosive charge (14). Quick disconnect switch (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the contact unit (3) has a further sabot (15) which delimits the separating chamber (8) on a side opposite the sabot (6). Quick disconnect switch (1) after claim 10 , wherein the contact unit (3) has a further upsetting area (16) which is arranged on a side of the further sabot (15) opposite the separating area (7).

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