EP1017078B1 - Pyrotechnically operated electrical switch - Google Patents

Pyrotechnically operated electrical switch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1017078B1
EP1017078B1 EP99403071A EP99403071A EP1017078B1 EP 1017078 B1 EP1017078 B1 EP 1017078B1 EP 99403071 A EP99403071 A EP 99403071A EP 99403071 A EP99403071 A EP 99403071A EP 1017078 B1 EP1017078 B1 EP 1017078B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston
electrical
contactor according
electrical contact
hollow body
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EP99403071A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1017078A1 (en
Inventor
Christian Forys
Bernard Lallemant
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Pyroalliance SA
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Pyroalliance SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current

Definitions

  • the technical field of the invention is that of electrical contactors, especially those used in electric motors with batteries and used to propel automobiles or space vehicles such as satellites.
  • the present invention relates more particularly to an electric contactor with pyrotechnic operation allowing, in case of anomaly, to open the electrical circuit upstream of the defective battery element and to close a branch circuit, so as to isolate the defective battery element while ensuring the continuity of the electrical circuit.
  • This type of contactor intervenes to prevent an electric motor from systematically failing in case of malfunction of one of its battery elements.
  • a first type of contactor is described in US Pat. No. 3,885,223. It is a pyrotechnic electric switch having in one of its chambers a flat section tube. When this contactor has not yet operated, it closes a circuit via the outer surface of the tube casing, at the two points farthest from the flattened closed section. In the operating phase, the combustion gases invade the tube and generate a pressure such that the tube will deform and acquire a circular section.
  • the electric contactor described in the European patent EP 0 665 566 is also pyrotechnic operation. It involves a gas generator whose function is to move a conductive part in contact with another conductive part to separate them to interrupt the electric current.
  • Electrical contactors which may fall within the scope of electric motors with batteries and which have the dual function of opening an electrical circuit and closing another almost simultaneously, must have two characteristics sought by the a person skilled in the art: they must, on the one hand, act in an extremely short time and, on the other hand, be non-dissipative, that is to say that the resistance of the active circuit and particularly, the resistance of the contacts must be reduced at least to avoid, as much as possible, energy dissipation by Joule effect, while the resistance of the inactivated circuit is infinite.
  • DE 197 12 387 shows a device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the object of the present invention relates to an electric contactor according to claim 1.
  • the hollow body is an elongate tube.
  • the electrical contact points are located in the side wall of the downstream part of the tube.
  • the electrical contact points are constituted by conductive pads.
  • the three studs are fixed, aligned and regularly spaced, and the piston is translated in the downstream part when it is subjected to the pressure of the combustion gases from the pyrotechnic initiation device.
  • the conductive part of the piston is constituted by a wafer remaining constantly in contact with at least two studs during its displacement and which, at a given instant of said displacement, is momentarily connected to the three studs.
  • the opening of the first circuit takes place while the electric current is already flowing in the second circuit to avoid, during a brief delay, simultaneous opening of both electrical circuits.
  • the downstream portion of the tube has a conical free end allowing the piston set in motion by the combustion gases to terminate its stroke by hooping in said conical end. In this way, the piston remains frozen in this position without risk of return to the downstream part.
  • the pyrotechnic initiation device is screwed into the upstream portion of the elongate tube.
  • each conductive pad is inserted into an insulating structure attached to the wall of the downstream part of the tube.
  • each conductive pad is inserted into an insulating hollow screw screwed into the wall of the downstream part of the elongated tube.
  • each pad and the plate are made of copper-based material.
  • the hollow body is made of light alloy based on aluminum.
  • the pyrotechnic initiation device is constructed from a hot-wire initiator of the type used in the major automobile series.
  • the pyrotechnic charge of said initiator is constituted by an oxyreducing ignition composition.
  • the contactor according to the invention has the advantage of being light, of simple design and reduced size.
  • the parts involved in the operation of the contactor mechanism are subjected to moderate friction forces. Also, their movement requires only a small amount of pyrotechnic material at the initiator, and their mechanical strength can be ensured by a realization of light material.
  • the contactor when it is in the switching phase, constantly ensures the flow of electric current in one or the other of the two electrical circuits thus avoiding a total and momentary cut that could cause unwanted parasitic phenomena with consequences unpredictable on the circuit.
  • Another advantage provided by the invention is the non-dissipative nature of the contactor resulting in the absence of energy dissipation Joule effect.
  • the enlarged cylindrical portion 11 has a threaded bore and has at one of its ends a circular face 12 having an opening in its center.
  • the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 is in the form of a screw having an enlarged hexagonal head 13 and a threaded cylindrical body and is constructed from a hot-wire initiator commonly used in the large automobile series and comprising a pyrotechnic charge generator. gases such as those consisting, for example, of an oxidation-reducing ignition composition.
  • the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 is screwed until the head 13 comes into abutment against the circular face 12.
  • a circular seal wedged between the body of the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 and the inner wall of the upstream part of the body hollow 2 ensures a good seal of said upstream portion 11 with respect to the ambient environment.
  • the substantially cylindrical downstream portion has a projecting rectangular flat portion 14, acting as a platform and having three identical threads, aligned along the axis of the hollow body 2 and regularly spaced, said threads communicating the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 with the outside of the contactor 1.
  • Three hollow screws 10, 30, 40 insulating, and threaded on their outer cylindrical surface are screwed into the threads and are intended to receive and hold firmly cylindrical conductive studs 5, 6, 7 each terminating in an enlarged cylindrical flat head 15 , 25, 35 of greater diameter than the diameter of the bores of said hollow screws 10, 30, 40.
  • the downstream part of the hollow body 2 which delimits a substantially cylindrical space, encloses a piston 4 monoblock comprising two cylindrical end portions of diameter slightly less than that of said cylindrical space and one of which, the closest to the pyrotechnic initiation device 3, has at its periphery and wedged against the inner wall of the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 two parallel seals, 16, 17, and an intermediate portion of regular section, reduced in the form of a circle segment, partially occupying the downstream part and thus providing a free space 18 in said downstream part.
  • the piston 4 is made of insulating material.
  • the intermediate portion of the piston 4 has in its central portion a surface recess at the bottom of which is hollowed a rectilinear groove along the axis of the downstream portion, in which is slid a conductive piece integral. Said part makes it possible to distinguish a parallelepipedic conducting plate 8 of rectangular shape and a conductive base 19. Said base 19 which is also parallelepipedic and of rectangular shape has a length less than that of the plate 8 and is located in the central zone of said plate 8 on its largest axis, perpendicular to it.
  • the one-piece conductive part has a T-shaped section and, on either side of this length, the section of said single piece becomes that of the wafer 8 which is rectangular.
  • the one-piece conductive part is placed in the intermediate portion of the piston 4 so that the plate 8 occupies the recess and the base 19 is found in the groove.
  • the height of the plate 8 corresponds to the depth of the recess, thus ensuring continuity between the surface of the intermediate portion of the piston 4 and that of the wafer 8.
  • the height of the base 19 is less than the depth of the groove, the width of the wafer 8 being smaller than the diameter of the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 and the wafer 8 abuts on the other hand and other than its length against the intermediate portion of the piston 4, the one-piece conductive part is isolated from the hollow body 2.
  • the conductive pads 5, 6, 7 and the conductive plate are protected copper.
  • the free end 9 of the downstream part has a convergent conical shape resulting in a gradual narrowing of the diameter as it approaches the outlet of said downstream part.
  • the two ends of the piston 4 each comprise a flat circular face and the length of said piston 4 is less than that of the downstream part. It is separated from the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 by a free space 20 which serves as a gas expansion chamber when the initiation device 3 is triggered.
  • the operating principle of the contactor 1 according to the invention follows the following steps.
  • a sensor which is external to the contactor 1, detects an abnormal voltage in the circuit, ie a voltage outside the limits of the range of values for which it has been programmed, and sends an electrical pulse to the device.
  • pyrotechnic initiation 3 causing it to be fired.
  • the gases of combustion expands in the free space 20 provided for this purpose just upstream of the piston 4, and when the forces on the piston 4 due to the gas pressure are sufficiently large and exceed the resistant friction forces, said piston 4 is set in movement and will slide in the downstream portion of the hollow body 2.
  • the conductive plate 8 is in contact with the first two conductive pads 5, 6 at their cylindrical flat heads 15 , Closing the charging / discharging circuit of the battery.
  • the conductive plate 8 comes, in a first step, in contact with the flat cylindrical head 35 of the third stud 7 while said plate 8 is still in contact with the first 5, then, in a second step, continues its course by maintaining the contact between the second stud 6 and the third stud 7 but disconnecting from the first stud 5.
  • the piston 4 ends its displacement by hooping in the conical end 9 of the downstream part without emerging from it, in a position corresponding to the disconnection of the first stud 5 and the connection of the second stud 6 with the third stud 7.
  • the contactor 1 proposes a transient phase for which the two circuits are momentarily closed before the opening of the first circuit.
  • the connection phase between the second pad 6 and the third pad 7 is not preceded by a prior phase of total and momentary interruption of the electric current to avoid unwanted parasitic phenomena.
  • the heads 15, 25, 35 of the three conductive pads 5, 6, 7 are aligned. and permanently in contact with the intermediate portion of the piston 4, either at the level of the conductive plate 8 or at the level of the piston 4 itself. It should be noted that such a device operates in less than five milliseconds since the application time of the nominal firing current.

Abstract

The gas combustion pyrotechnic electrical contactor has a pyrotechnic initiator (3) driving a piston (4). The piston is inside a tube (2) with three contact electrodes (5,6,7). Prior to initiation a conductor surface (8) connects two of the contact electrodes (5,6) together. Movement of the piston following initiation provides contact between all three contacts at a given instant, providing the switch response.

Description

Le domaine technique de l'invention est celui des contacteurs électriques, notamment ceux utilisés dans les moteurs à énergie électrique comportant des batteries et servant à propulser des automobiles ou des véhicules spatiaux tels que les satellites.The technical field of the invention is that of electrical contactors, especially those used in electric motors with batteries and used to propel automobiles or space vehicles such as satellites.

La présente invention se rapporte plus spécialement à un contacteur électrique à fonctionnement pyrotechnique permettant, en cas d'anomalie, d'ouvrir le circuit électrique en amont de l'élément de batterie défectueux et de fermer un circuit de dérivation, de façon à isoler l'élément de batterie défectueux tout en assurant la continuité du circuit électrique. Ce type de contacteur intervient pour éviter à un moteur électrique de tomber systématiquement en panne en cas de mauvais fonctionnement de l'un de ses éléments de batterie.The present invention relates more particularly to an electric contactor with pyrotechnic operation allowing, in case of anomaly, to open the electrical circuit upstream of the defective battery element and to close a branch circuit, so as to isolate the defective battery element while ensuring the continuity of the electrical circuit. This type of contactor intervenes to prevent an electric motor from systematically failing in case of malfunction of one of its battery elements.

Plusieurs sortes de contacteurs électriques à fonctionnement pyrotechnique ont déjà fait l'objet de brevets.Several types of pyrotechnic electric contactors have already been patented.

Un premier type de contacteur est décrit dans le brevet américain US 3 885 223. Il s'agit d'un contacteur électrique à fonctionnement pyrotechnique doté dans l'une de ses chambres d'un tube à section aplatie. Lorsque ce contacteur n'a pas encore fonctionné, il ferme un circuit par l'intermédiaire de la surface externe de l'enveloppe du tube, au niveau des deux points les plus éloignés de la section fermée aplatie. En phase de fonctionnement, les gaz de combustion envahissent le tube et génèrent une pression telle que le tube va se déformer et acquérir une section circulaire.A first type of contactor is described in US Pat. No. 3,885,223. It is a pyrotechnic electric switch having in one of its chambers a flat section tube. When this contactor has not yet operated, it closes a circuit via the outer surface of the tube casing, at the two points farthest from the flattened closed section. In the operating phase, the combustion gases invade the tube and generate a pressure such that the tube will deform and acquire a circular section.

Ainsi dans la direction où le tube s'est rétracté radialement les contacts électriques initiaux se sont rompus et, à l'inverse, dans la direction où il s'est expansé radialement deux nouveaux contacts électriques, diamétralement opposés, ont été établis.Thus in the direction where the tube has retracted radially the initial electrical contacts have broken and, conversely, in the direction where it has expanded radially two new electrical contacts, diametrically opposed, have been established.

Le contacteur électrique décrit dans le brevet européen EP O 665 566 est également à fonctionnement pyrotechnique. Il fait intervenir un générateur de gaz dont la fonction est de déplacer une pièce conductrice au contact d'une autre pièce conductrice afin de les séparer pour interrompre le courant électrique.The electric contactor described in the European patent EP 0 665 566 is also pyrotechnic operation. It involves a gas generator whose function is to move a conductive part in contact with another conductive part to separate them to interrupt the electric current.

Les contacteurs électriques pouvant entrer dans le champ d'application des moteurs électriques munis de batteries et qui ont la double fonction d'ouvrir un circuit électrique et d'en fermer un autre de façon quasi-simultanée, doivent posséder deux caractéristiques recherchées par l'homme du métier : ils doivent, d'une part, agir dans un temps extrêmement bref et, d'autre part, être non dissipatifs, c'est à dire que la résistance du circuit actif et particulièrement, la résistance des contacts doit être réduite au minimum pour éviter, autant que possible, la dissipation d'énergie par effet Joule, tandis que la résistance du circuit inactivé est infinie.Electrical contactors which may fall within the scope of electric motors with batteries and which have the dual function of opening an electrical circuit and closing another almost simultaneously, must have two characteristics sought by the a person skilled in the art: they must, on the one hand, act in an extremely short time and, on the other hand, be non-dissipative, that is to say that the resistance of the active circuit and particularly, the resistance of the contacts must be reduced at least to avoid, as much as possible, energy dissipation by Joule effect, while the resistance of the inactivated circuit is infinite.

Le contacteur selon l'invention répond à cette double exigence. Le document DE 197 12 387 montre un dispositif selon le préambule de la revendication 1.The contactor according to the invention meets this dual requirement. DE 197 12 387 shows a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

L'objet de la présente invention concerne un contacteur électrique selon la revendication 1.The object of the present invention relates to an electric contactor according to claim 1.

Avantageusement, le corps creux est un tube allongé. De façon préférentielle, les points de contact électrique sont situés dans la paroi latérale de la partie aval du tube.Advantageously, the hollow body is an elongate tube. Preferably, the electrical contact points are located in the side wall of the downstream part of the tube.

De façon avantageuse, les points de contact électrique sont constitués par des plots conducteurs. Préférentiellement, les trois plots sont fixes, alignés et régulièrement espacés, et le piston subit un mouvement de translation dans la partie aval lorsqu'il est soumis à la pression des gaz de combustion issus du dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique.Advantageously, the electrical contact points are constituted by conductive pads. Preferably, the three studs are fixed, aligned and regularly spaced, and the piston is translated in the downstream part when it is subjected to the pressure of the combustion gases from the pyrotechnic initiation device.

Avantageusement, la partie conductrice du piston est constituée par une plaquette demeurant constamment au contact d'au moins deux plots pendant son déplacement et qui, à un instant donné dudit déplacement, est momentanément connecté aux trois plots.
Ainsi, l'ouverture du premier circuit s'effectue alors que le courant électrique circule déjà dans le deuxième circuit permettant d'éviter, pendant un bref délai, l'ouverture simultanée des deux circuits électriques.Advantageously, the conductive part of the piston is constituted by a wafer remaining constantly in contact with at least two studs during its displacement and which, at a given instant of said displacement, is momentarily connected to the three studs.
Thus, the opening of the first circuit takes place while the electric current is already flowing in the second circuit to avoid, during a brief delay, simultaneous opening of both electrical circuits.

En effet, une interruption momentanée du courant électrique pourrait entraîner des phénomènes parasites indésirables comme, par exemple, une remise à zéro intempestive des organes fonctionnels alimentés.Indeed, a momentary interruption of the electric current could cause unwanted parasitic phenomena such as, for example, an untimely resetting of the powered functional organs.

De façon préférentielle, la partie aval du tube possède une extrémité libre conique permettant au piston mis en mouvement par les gaz de combustion de terminer sa course en se frettant dans ladite extrémité conique. De cette manière, le piston reste figé dans cette position sans risque de retour dans la partie aval.Preferably, the downstream portion of the tube has a conical free end allowing the piston set in motion by the combustion gases to terminate its stroke by hooping in said conical end. In this way, the piston remains frozen in this position without risk of return to the downstream part.

De façon avantageuse, le dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique est vissé dans la partie amont du tube allongé.Advantageously, the pyrotechnic initiation device is screwed into the upstream portion of the elongate tube.

Préférentiellement, chaque plot conducteur est inséré dans une structure isolante rapportée dans la paroi de la partie aval du tube.Preferably, each conductive pad is inserted into an insulating structure attached to the wall of the downstream part of the tube.

De façon préférentielle, chaque plot conducteur est inséré dans une vis creuse isolante vissée dans la paroi de la partie aval du tube allongé.Preferably, each conductive pad is inserted into an insulating hollow screw screwed into the wall of the downstream part of the elongated tube.

Avantageusement, chaque plot ainsi que la plaquette sont en matériau à base de cuivre.Advantageously, each pad and the plate are made of copper-based material.

Selon un mode de réalisation préférée de l'invention, le corps creux est en alliage léger à base d'aluminium.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is made of light alloy based on aluminum.

De façon préférentielle, le dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique est bâti à partir d'un initiateur à fil chaud du type de ceux utilisés dans la grande série automobile. De façon avantageuse, la charge pyrotechnique dudit initiateur est constituée par une composition d'allumage oxyréductrice.Preferably, the pyrotechnic initiation device is constructed from a hot-wire initiator of the type used in the major automobile series. Advantageously, the pyrotechnic charge of said initiator is constituted by an oxyreducing ignition composition.

Le contacteur selon l'invention présente l'avantage d'être léger, de conception simple et d'encombrement réduit.The contactor according to the invention has the advantage of being light, of simple design and reduced size.

Les pièces impliquées dans le fonctionnement du mécanisme du contacteur sont soumises à des efforts modérés de frottement. Aussi, leur déplacement ne requiert qu'une faible quantité de matière pyrotechnique au niveau de l'initiateur, et leur tenue mécanique peut être assurée par une réalisation en matériau léger.The parts involved in the operation of the contactor mechanism are subjected to moderate friction forces. Also, their movement requires only a small amount of pyrotechnic material at the initiator, and their mechanical strength can be ensured by a realization of light material.

De plus, lorsqu'il est en phase de commutation, le contacteur assure en permanence la circulation du courant électrique dans l'un ou l'autre des deux circuits électriques évitant ainsi une coupure totale et momentanée qui pourrait entraîner des phénomènes parasites indésirables aux conséquences imprévisibles sur le circuit.In addition, when it is in the switching phase, the contactor constantly ensures the flow of electric current in one or the other of the two electrical circuits thus avoiding a total and momentary cut that could cause unwanted parasitic phenomena with consequences unpredictable on the circuit.

Enfin, un autre avantage procuré par l'invention est le caractère non dissipatif du contacteur se traduisant par l'absence de dissipation énergétique par effet Joule.Finally, another advantage provided by the invention is the non-dissipative nature of the contactor resulting in the absence of energy dissipation Joule effect.

On donne ci-après une description détaillée d'un mode de réalisation préférée d'un contacteur selon l'invention en se référant aux figures 1, 2 et 3.

  • La figure 1 est une coupe longitudinale d'un contacteur selon l'invention n'ayant pas encore fonctionné.
  • La figure 2 est une coupe transversale selon le plan II-II d'un contacteur selon l'invention.
  • La figure 3 est une coupe longitudinale du contacteur qui est représenté à la figure 1 et qui a effectué la commutation.

En se référant à la figure 1, un contacteur 1 électrique selon l'invention est constitué par un corps creux 2 fait dans un alliage léger à base d'aluminium et présentant une partie aval sensiblement cylindrique prolongée par une partie amont cylindrique élargie 11, les deux parties étant dans le prolongement l'une de l'autre et en communication entre elles.The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a contactor according to the invention with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
  • Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a contactor according to the invention has not yet worked.
  • Figure 2 is a cross section along the plane II-II of a contactor according to the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the switch which is shown in Figure 1 and which performed the switching.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electric contactor 1 according to the invention consists of a hollow body 2 made of a light alloy based on aluminum and having a substantially cylindrical downstream portion extended by an enlarged cylindrical upstream portion 11, the two parts being in the extension of one another and in communication with each other.

La partie cylindrique élargie 11 présente un alésage fileté et possède à l'une de ses extrémités une face circulaire 12 ayant une ouverture en son centre. Le dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3 a la forme d'une vis possédant une tête hexagonale élargie 13 et un corps cylindrique fileté et est bâti à partir d'un initiateur à fil chaud couramment utilisé dans la grande série automobile et comprenant une charge pyrotechnique génératrice de gaz comme celles constituées, par exemple, d'une composition d'allumage oxydoréductrice. Le dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3 est vissé jusqu'à ce que la tête 13 vienne en butée contre la face circulaire 12. Un joint circulaire coincé entre le corps du dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3 et la paroi interne de la partie amont du corps creux 2 assure une bonne étanchéité de ladite partie amont 11 vis à vis du milieu ambiant.The enlarged cylindrical portion 11 has a threaded bore and has at one of its ends a circular face 12 having an opening in its center. The pyrotechnic initiation device 3 is in the form of a screw having an enlarged hexagonal head 13 and a threaded cylindrical body and is constructed from a hot-wire initiator commonly used in the large automobile series and comprising a pyrotechnic charge generator. gases such as those consisting, for example, of an oxidation-reducing ignition composition. The pyrotechnic initiation device 3 is screwed until the head 13 comes into abutment against the circular face 12. A circular seal wedged between the body of the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 and the inner wall of the upstream part of the body hollow 2 ensures a good seal of said upstream portion 11 with respect to the ambient environment.

La partie aval sensiblement cylindrique possède une partie plate saillante, de forme rectangulaire 14, faisant office de plate-forme et comportant trois taraudages, identiques, alignés suivant l'axe du corps creux 2 et régulièrement espacés, lesdits taraudages faisant communiquer la partie aval du corps creux 2 avec l'extérieur du contacteur 1.
Trois vis creuses 10, 30, 40 isolantes, et filetées sur leur surface cylindrique externe sont vissées dans les taraudages et sont destinées à recevoir et à maintenir fermement des plots cylindriques conducteur 5, 6, 7 se terminant chacun par une tête plate cylindrique élargie 15, 25, 35 de diamètre supérieur au diamètre des alésages desdites vis creuses 10, 30, 40.The substantially cylindrical downstream portion has a projecting rectangular flat portion 14, acting as a platform and having three identical threads, aligned along the axis of the hollow body 2 and regularly spaced, said threads communicating the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 with the outside of the contactor 1.
Three hollow screws 10, 30, 40 insulating, and threaded on their outer cylindrical surface are screwed into the threads and are intended to receive and hold firmly cylindrical conductive studs 5, 6, 7 each terminating in an enlarged cylindrical flat head 15 , 25, 35 of greater diameter than the diameter of the bores of said hollow screws 10, 30, 40.

La partie aval du corps creux 2, qui délimite un espace sensiblement cylindrique, renferme un piston 4 monobloc comportant deux parties extrêmes cylindriques de diamètre légèrement inférieur à celui dudit espace cylindrique et dont l'une, la plus proche du dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3, possède à sa périphérie et coincés contre la paroi interne de la partie aval du corps creux 2 deux joints d'étanchéité parallèles, 16, 17, et une partie intermédiaire de section régulière, réduite, en forme de segment de cercle, occupant partiellement la partie aval et ménageant donc un espace libre 18 dans ladite partie aval. Le piston 4 est réalisé en matériau isolant.The downstream part of the hollow body 2, which delimits a substantially cylindrical space, encloses a piston 4 monoblock comprising two cylindrical end portions of diameter slightly less than that of said cylindrical space and one of which, the closest to the pyrotechnic initiation device 3, has at its periphery and wedged against the inner wall of the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 two parallel seals, 16, 17, and an intermediate portion of regular section, reduced in the form of a circle segment, partially occupying the downstream part and thus providing a free space 18 in said downstream part. The piston 4 is made of insulating material.

En se référant aux figures 1 et 2, la partie intermédiaire du piston 4 possède dans sa partie centrale un évidement superficiel au fond duquel est creusée une rainure rectiligne suivant l'axe de la partie aval, dans laquelle vient se glisser une pièce conductrice monobloc. Ladite pièce permet de distinguer une plaquette 8 conductrice parallélépipèdique de forme rectangulaire et une base 19 conductrice. Ladite base 19 qui est également parallélépipédique et de forme rectangulaire possède une longueur inférieure à celle de la plaquette 8 et se situe dans la zone centrale de ladite plaquette 8 sur son plus grand axe, perpendiculairement à celle-ci. Autrement dit, sur toute la longueur de la base 19 la pièce conductrice monobloc une section en forme de T et, de part et d'autre de cette longueur, la section de ladite pièce monobloc devient celle de la plaquette 8 qui est rectangulaire.
La pièce conductrice monobloc est placée dans la partie intermédiaire du piston 4 de manière à ce que la plaquette 8 occupe l'évidement et la base 19 se retrouve dans la rainure.Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the intermediate portion of the piston 4 has in its central portion a surface recess at the bottom of which is hollowed a rectilinear groove along the axis of the downstream portion, in which is slid a conductive piece integral. Said part makes it possible to distinguish a parallelepipedic conducting plate 8 of rectangular shape and a conductive base 19. Said base 19 which is also parallelepipedic and of rectangular shape has a length less than that of the plate 8 and is located in the central zone of said plate 8 on its largest axis, perpendicular to it. In other words, over the entire length of the base 19 the one-piece conductive part has a T-shaped section and, on either side of this length, the section of said single piece becomes that of the wafer 8 which is rectangular.
The one-piece conductive part is placed in the intermediate portion of the piston 4 so that the plate 8 occupies the recess and the base 19 is found in the groove.

La hauteur de la plaquette 8 correspond à la profondeur de l'évidement, assurant ainsi une continuité entre la surface de la partie intermédiaire du piston 4 et celle de la plaquette 8. La hauteur de la base 19 étant inférieure à la profondeur de la rainure, la largeur de la plaquette 8 étant inférieure au diamètre de la partie aval du corps creux 2 et la plaquette 8 venant en butée de part et d'autre de sa longueur contre la partie intermédiaire du piston 4, la pièce conductrice monobloc se trouve isolée du corps creux 2.The height of the plate 8 corresponds to the depth of the recess, thus ensuring continuity between the surface of the intermediate portion of the piston 4 and that of the wafer 8. The height of the base 19 is less than the depth of the groove, the width of the wafer 8 being smaller than the diameter of the downstream portion of the hollow body 2 and the wafer 8 abuts on the other hand and other than its length against the intermediate portion of the piston 4, the one-piece conductive part is isolated from the hollow body 2.

Les différents éléments intervenant dans la partie aval sont agencés de sorte que les têtes plates cylindriques 15, 25, 35 de chaque plot 5, 6, 7 émergent des alésages des vis creuses 10, 30, 40, dans l'espace libre 18 de la partie aval et viennent au contact soit de la partie intermédiaire du piston 4 soit de la plaquette conductrice 8 qui sont en continuité l'une de l'autre.The various elements intervening in the downstream part are arranged so that the cylindrical flat heads 15, 25, 35 of each stud 5, 6, 7 emerge from the holes of the hollow screws 10, 30, 40, in the free space 18 of the downstream portion and come into contact with either the intermediate portion of the piston 4 or the conductive plate 8 which are in continuity with one another.

Les plots conducteurs 5, 6, 7 ainsi que la plaquette conductrice sont en cuivre protégé.The conductive pads 5, 6, 7 and the conductive plate are protected copper.

L'extrémité libre 9 de la partie aval a une forme conique convergente se traduisant par un rétrécissement progressif du diamètre lorsque l'on se rapproche de la sortie de ladite partie aval.The free end 9 of the downstream part has a convergent conical shape resulting in a gradual narrowing of the diameter as it approaches the outlet of said downstream part.

Les deux extrémités du piston 4 comportent chacune une face circulaire plane et la longueur dudit piston 4 est inférieure à celle de la partie aval. I1 est séparé du dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3 par un espace libre 20 qui sert de chambre d'expansion des gaz lorsque le dispositif d'initiation 3 est déclenché.The two ends of the piston 4 each comprise a flat circular face and the length of said piston 4 is less than that of the downstream part. It is separated from the pyrotechnic initiation device 3 by a free space 20 which serves as a gas expansion chamber when the initiation device 3 is triggered.

Le principe de fonctionnement du contacteur 1 selon l'invention suit les étapes suivantes.The operating principle of the contactor 1 according to the invention follows the following steps.

Un senseur, qui est extérieur au contacteur 1, détecte une tension anormale dans le circuit, c'est à dire une tension en dehors des limites de la plage de valeurs pour laquelle il a été programmé, et envoie une impulsion électrique au dispositif d'initiation pyrotechnique 3 provoquant sa mise à feu. Les gaz de combustion s'expansent dans l'espace libre 20 prévu à cet effet juste en amont du piston 4, et lorsque les efforts sur le piston 4 dus à la pression gazeuse sont suffisamment importants et dépassent les efforts résistants de frottement, ledit piston 4 est mis en mouvement et va coulisser dans la partie aval du corps creux 2. Lorsque le piston 4 n'a pas encore amorcé sa course, la plaquette conductrice 8 est au contact des deux premiers plots conducteurs 5, 6 au niveau de leurs têtes plates cylindriques 15, 25 fermant le circuit de charge/ décharge de la batterie. Une fois que le piston 4 a commencé à se translater dans la partie aval, la plaquette conductrice 8 vient, dans un premier temps, au contact de la tête cylindrique plate 35 du troisième plot 7 alors que ladite plaquette 8 est toujours au contact du premier plot 5, puis, dans un deuxième temps, poursuit sa course en maintenant le contact entre le deuxième plot 6 et le troisième plot 7 mais en se déconnectant du premier plot 5. En se référant à la figure 3, le piston 4 termine son déplacement en se frettant dans l'extrémité conique 9 de la partie aval sans émerger de celle-ci, dans une position correspondant à la déconnexion du premier plot 5 et à la connexion du deuxième plot 6 avec le troisième plot 7.
De cette manière, le contacteur 1 selon l'invention propose une phase transitoire pour laquelle les deux circuits sont momentanément fermés avant l'ouverture du premier circuit. Ainsi la phase de connexion entre le deuxième plot 6 et le troisième plot 7 n'est pas précédée d'une phase préalable de coupure totale et momentanée du courant électrique afin d'éviter certains phénomènes parasites indésirables.A sensor, which is external to the contactor 1, detects an abnormal voltage in the circuit, ie a voltage outside the limits of the range of values for which it has been programmed, and sends an electrical pulse to the device. pyrotechnic initiation 3 causing it to be fired. The gases of combustion expands in the free space 20 provided for this purpose just upstream of the piston 4, and when the forces on the piston 4 due to the gas pressure are sufficiently large and exceed the resistant friction forces, said piston 4 is set in movement and will slide in the downstream portion of the hollow body 2. When the piston 4 has not yet begun its stroke, the conductive plate 8 is in contact with the first two conductive pads 5, 6 at their cylindrical flat heads 15 , Closing the charging / discharging circuit of the battery. Once the piston 4 has begun to translate in the downstream part, the conductive plate 8 comes, in a first step, in contact with the flat cylindrical head 35 of the third stud 7 while said plate 8 is still in contact with the first 5, then, in a second step, continues its course by maintaining the contact between the second stud 6 and the third stud 7 but disconnecting from the first stud 5. Referring to Figure 3, the piston 4 ends its displacement by hooping in the conical end 9 of the downstream part without emerging from it, in a position corresponding to the disconnection of the first stud 5 and the connection of the second stud 6 with the third stud 7.
In this way, the contactor 1 according to the invention proposes a transient phase for which the two circuits are momentarily closed before the opening of the first circuit. Thus the connection phase between the second pad 6 and the third pad 7 is not preceded by a prior phase of total and momentary interruption of the electric current to avoid unwanted parasitic phenomena.

Lors de la phase de fonctionnement du contacteur 1 correspondant au déplacement du piston 4, les têtes 15, 25, 35 des trois plots conducteurs 5, 6, 7 sont alignées et en permanence au contact de la partie intermédiaire du piston 4, soit au niveau de la plaquette conductrice 8 soit au niveau du piston 4 lui-même. Il est à préciser qu'un tel dispositif fonctionne en moins de cinq millisecondes depuis le temps d'application du courant nominal de mise à feu.During the operating phase of the contactor 1 corresponding to the displacement of the piston 4, the heads 15, 25, 35 of the three conductive pads 5, 6, 7 are aligned. and permanently in contact with the intermediate portion of the piston 4, either at the level of the conductive plate 8 or at the level of the piston 4 itself. It should be noted that such a device operates in less than five milliseconds since the application time of the nominal firing current.

Claims (10)

  1. Electrical contactor constituted by a hollow body (2) which delimits an upstream part in which there is situated a pyrotechnic initiation device (3) and a downstream part in which a piston (4) is accommodated and comprising three electrical contact points (5, 6, 7), the said piston (4) comprising a conductive part (8) which connects the first electrical contact point (5) initially to the second electrical contact point (6), and can be displaced under the effect of the pressure generated by the gases obtained from the combustion of the pyrotechnic initiation device (3) in order to connect the second electrical contact point (6) to the third electrical contact point (7),
    characterised in that the conductive part (8) of the piston (4) remains continually in contact with at least two electrical contact points during its displacement, and, at a given moment of the said displacement, is temporarily connected to the three electrical contact points (5, 6, 7).
  2. Electrical contactor according to claim 1, characterised in that the hollow body (2) is an elongate tube.
  3. Electrical contactor according to claim 2, characterised in that the electrical contact points (5, 6, 7) are situated in the lateral wall of the downstream part of the tube.
  4. Electrical contactor according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical contact points (5, 6, 7) consist of conductive studs.
  5. Electrical contactor according to claim 1, characterised in that the conductive part (8) of the piston (4) consists of a plate.
  6. Electrical contactor according to claim 1, characterised in that the downstream part of the hollow body (2) has a conical free end (9) which allows the piston (4) which is moved by the combustion gases to end its course by being fitted into the said conical end (9).
  7. Electrical contactor according to claim 4,
    characterised in that each conductive stud (5, 6, 7) is inserted in an insulating structure (10, 30, 40) which is added into the wall of the downstream part of the hollow body (2).
  8. Electrical contactor according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that each stud (5, 6, 7), as well as the plate, are made of material which is based on copper.
  9. Electrical contactor according to claim 1,
    characterised in that the hollow body (2) is made of light alloy which is based on aluminium.
  10. Electrical contactor according to claim 1,
    characterised in that the pyrotechnic initiation device (3) is made from a hot-wire initiator of the type used in automobil mass production.
EP99403071A 1998-12-30 1999-12-08 Pyrotechnically operated electrical switch Expired - Lifetime EP1017078B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9816613A FR2788165B1 (en) 1998-12-30 1998-12-30 ELECTRIC CONTACTOR WITH PYROTECHNIC OPERATION
FR9816613 1998-12-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1017078A1 EP1017078A1 (en) 2000-07-05
EP1017078B1 true EP1017078B1 (en) 2006-03-08

Family

ID=9534657

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99403071A Expired - Lifetime EP1017078B1 (en) 1998-12-30 1999-12-08 Pyrotechnically operated electrical switch

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US6344788B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1017078B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE320078T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69930233T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2260896T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2788165B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE502005003488D1 (en) * 2005-09-22 2008-05-08 Delphi Tech Inc Device for separating an electrical conductor
FR2953324B1 (en) * 2009-11-27 2012-06-08 Snpe Materiaux Energetiques ELECTRIC SWITCH WITH SLIDING DRAWER FORMING CIRCUIT BREAKER OR SWITCH
FR2953322B1 (en) * 2009-11-27 2013-02-15 Snpe Materiaux Energetiques ELECTRIC SWITCH FORMING FAST ACTUATED CIRCUIT BREAKER
EP2811549B1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2018-09-19 Autoliv Development AB Over-current responsive device
EP2811548B1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2017-08-09 Autoliv Development AB Battery module disconnect arrangement
DE102014110825A1 (en) 2014-07-30 2014-09-18 Peter Lell Electrical switch, in particular for high voltages and / or high currents

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1017078A1 (en) 2000-07-05
DE69930233T2 (en) 2006-12-14
ATE320078T1 (en) 2006-03-15
FR2788165B1 (en) 2001-02-02
ES2260896T3 (en) 2006-11-01
US6344788B1 (en) 2002-02-05
FR2788165A1 (en) 2000-07-07
DE69930233D1 (en) 2006-05-04

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