Classifications

• • 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
  • H01H39/004—Closing switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
  • H02H9/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the general field of devices for closing an electric circuit or short-circuiter.
• the invention more particularly relates to a pyrotechnic short-circuiter, for example being able to be triggered by the firing of a pyrotechnic charge present in a pyrotechnic initiator.
• the short-circuiters are used to, in the event of a failure in an electrical installation, bypass a device or part of an electrical circuit to be protected by rapidly deflecting the current through the short-circuiter.
• This application extends to most embedded installations using a stand-alone power source, such as a battery or accumulator, that require fast discharge under certain conditions to make the installation safe.
• a stand-alone power source such as a battery or accumulator
• Such devices are for example used in the automobile to, in case of accident, dissipate the electrical energy of some parts of the electrical installation.
• the known pyrotechnic short-circuiters generally comprise a pyrotechnic initiator allowing, at its trigger, to electrically connect two conductive portions by means of a conductive element.
• the known devices have disadvantages. These generally do not allow to have a contact pressure and a sufficient contact area between the conductive element and the conductive portions to be used at high electrical power safely.
• these devices are subject, because of the speed and the violence of their release, rebounds of the conductive element on the conductive portions. These bounces can then generate arcing and circuit interruptions, which reduces the reliability, safety and service life of the device and the circuit to which it is connected.
• the main purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome such drawbacks by proposing a pyrotechnic short-circuiter comprising a body in which there are present:
• a first pressurizing chamber in communication with an output of a pyrotechnic initiator
• a second chamber in which is present a support on which are present two conductive portions separated from one another, the support defining a housing opening into the second chamber between the two conductive portions, each conductive portion comprising a portion of deformable end extending into the second chamber and facing the housing, the support having a drawer structure engaged in an opening of an outer side wall of the body, and
• a piston separating the first chamber from the second chamber, the piston comprising an attached conductive element configured to come into contact with the deformable end portions of the conductive portions,
• the pyrotechnic initiator being configured to move the piston from a first position in which the conductive member is disengaged from the end portions to a second position in which the conductive member is inserted into the housing and is in contact with each deformable end portion, the deformable end portions being, in the second position, deformed and exerting a holding force for locking in position the conductive element in the housing.
• the first position may be a position in which no current can flow through the short-circuiter.
• the short-circuiter may comprise only two conductive portions in the second chamber.
• the short-circuiter according to the invention is remarkable in that the conductive portions comprise deformable end portions which are able to exert a holding force on the conductive element in order to maintain it in the second position. It is indeed thanks to the deformation of the end portions that the holding and blocking of the conductive element is made possible.
• blocked is meant that the conductive element can no longer move, and more particularly return to the first position.
• end portion “deformable” is meant that it is able to deform elastically or plastically when the piston and / or the conductive member comes into contact following the triggering of the pyrotechnic initiator.
• the holding force exerted may be due to the elasticity of the deformable end portions.
• the holding force may be due to the dimensions of the housing and the piston that can "wedge" the conductive element by force in the housing.
• This advantageous arrangement makes it possible to prevent rebounds of the conductive element on the conductive portions and considerably reduces the risk of arcing and circuit breaking after tripping. Deformation of the deformable end portions also dampens the shock as the piston moves from the first to the second position.
• the short-circuiter according to the invention also makes it possible to increase the contact pressure and the contact surface between the conductive element present on the piston and the end portions of the conductive portions, which makes it possible to extend its use. to areas where the electrical powers involved are high.
• the fact that the conductive element is attached allows a simpler and less expensive design of the short-circuiter according to the invention.
• the drawer structure of the support ensures easy mounting of the device and a better maintenance of the conductive portions in the device.
• the piston may comprise a facing face of the conductive portions from which protrudes a relief extending transversely relative to the conductive portions, the conductive element being attached to said relief.
• the relief may have a rectangular section.
• the conductive element may have a U-shaped section.
• the conductive element may extend over the entire relief. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive element may extend over at least half of the relief. In an exemplary embodiment, the deformable end portion of each conductive portion may comprise one or more cuts. These cuts advantageously promote the deformation of the deformable end portions.
• the piston may comprise a skirt facing the housing, said skirt cooperating, in the second position, with a raised projection on a bottom wall of the housing.
• the skirt may then have notches or grooves opening facing the second chamber and to increase the flexibility of said skirt.
• the raised projection on the bottom wall of the housing may have an increasing width away from the second chamber. This advantageous arrangement allows to put the skirt on the relief in the manner of a Morse taper, which further improves the maintenance of the conductive element in the second position and shock absorption.
• the conductive element may be present around said skirt.
• the conductive element may be, in the first position, facing the second chamber.
• the short-circuiter comprises a body in which are present the first and second chamber, the support and the piston, the body being able to be made of an insulating material of electricity.
• the support may be in an electrically insulating material.
• the piston and the relief of the piston may be of an electrically insulating material.
• each conductive portion may be, in the second position, sandwiched between an inner side wall of the housing and the conductive element.
• the invention also relates to a secure electrical circuit comprising: an electric generator,
• the first conductive portion is different from the second conductive portion.
• the invention also relates to an electrical installation comprising such a secure electrical circuit.
• Such an installation may be present in a motor vehicle.
• FIGS. 1A and 1B are exploded views of a short-circuiter according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIGS. 2A to 2C are sectional views of the short-circuiter of FIGS. 1A and 1B before, during and after its release,
• FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of a short-circuiter according to a second embodiment of the invention, before and after it is triggered,
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views of short-circuiters according to a third and a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of an electrical installation comprising a secure electrical circuit implementing a short-circuiter according to the invention
• the short-circuit 100 comprises a pyrotechnic initiator 110 comprising an ignition device 111 provided with two electrical conductors 112.
• the pyrotechnic initiator 110 further comprises a pyrotechnic charge 113.
• the pyrotechnic charge 113 may be under the form of one or more monolithic blocks 114.
• the pyrotechnic initiator 110 further comprises a retaining plug 115 (or "retainer") acting as an electrical and mechanical interface between the short-circuiter 100 and an electrical circuit 10 ( Figure 6).
• the load 113 may be in granular form. It is general knowledge of the skilled person to choose the nature and dimensions of the pyrotechnic charge to be implemented for the intended application.
• the short-circuiter 100 comprises a body 120 within which a first 121 and a second 122 chambers are present (Figure 2A).
• the body 120 may for example be formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting material, and be insulating electricity.
• the pyrotechnic initiator 110 comprises a seal 116 of elastically deformable material bearing on an inner wall 123 of the body 120.
• the ignition device 111 is, in the illustrated example, housed in the body 120.
• the body 120 furthermore has two through channels 124, each of the conductors 112 extending in a separate channel 124.
• the first chamber 121 is a pressurizing chamber and is in communication with an output S of the pyrotechnic initiator 110.
• the pyrotechnic initiator 110 is configured to pressurize the first chamber 121 when actuated.
• the pyrotechnic charge 113 is present in the first chamber 121.
• this charge 113 is present outside the first chamber 121 as long as the latter remains in position. communication with an output S of the pyrotechnic initiator 110.
• the body 120 also houses two conductive portions 131 and 132 of electricity which are intended to be electrically connected when the pyrotechnic initiator 110 is triggered.
• the conductive portions 131, 132 take the form of flat tabs.
• the two conductive portions 131, 132 are initially (that is to say, before tripping of the short-circuiter) disconnected from each other.
• the conductive portions 131, 132 are separated transversely (with respect to an axis X which will be explained below) from one another by a non-zero distance.
• the conductive portions 131, 132 each extend on either side of the short-circuit 100 and are intended to be connected by their ends 131a, 132a located outside the short-circuit 100 to an electrical circuit 10 ( Figure 6).
• the conductive portions 131, 132 each have a deformable end portion 131b, 132b present in the second chamber 122.
• the deformable end portions 131b, 132b here have an arcuate shape, the center of the circle being in the second chamber 122 on the X axis.
• the deformable end portions 131b, 132b are provided with cutouts 131c, 132c which extend radially with respect to the axis X and which allow said parts of to be deformed more easily. However, it is not beyond the scope of the invention when the cuts 131c, 132c are not radial.
• the conductive portions 131, 132 are present on a support 140.
• the support 140 is here an electrically insulating material.
• the support 140 may for example be formed of a thermoplastic or thermosetting material.
• the support 140 has, in the illustrated example, a drawer structure or cassette intended to be engaged in an opening 125 of the outer lateral wall 126 of the body 120. In the example shown, the support 140 is present in the second chamber 122.
• the support 140 defines a guide 141 in which the conductive portions 131, 132. are housed and held.
• the guide 141 also comprises notches 141a intended to cooperate with tongues 13d and 132d present on the sides of each conductive portion 131 and 132 to block them in position in the guide 141.
• the support 140 further has a housing 142 formed inside said support in the space E separating the conductive portions 131, 132.
• the housing 142 takes the form of a blind circular housing opening into the second chamber 122 and having a constant radius R.
• the end portions 131b, 132b of the conductive portions 131, 132 are present facing the housing 142.
• a relief 143 projects on the bottom wall 144 of the housing 142.
• the relief 143 extends here from the bottom wall 144 over the entire depth P of the housing 142.
• the relief 143 takes the form of a circular button or solid disc centered on the axis X.
• the relief 143 has, at its end opposite the bottom wall 144 of the housing 142, a first radius RI which is smaller than the radius R2 that the relief 143 at its base.
• the radii R1 and R2 are thus strictly smaller than the radius R so as to provide an annular space around the relief 143 forming a groove 145 in the housing, the end portions 131b, 132b extending opposite this annular space without extend with regard to relief 143.
• the support 140 is also provided at a face 146 opposite the second chamber 122 of a guide rail 147.
• the guide rail 147 guides the insertion of the support 140 into the body 120 by cooperation with one or several grooves 128 provided in the body 120, in particular at the opening 125.
• a locking relief 148 present on the rail 147 allows to lock the support 140 in position once it is inserted into the body 120.
• the short-circuiter 100 further comprises a piston 150 formed, in this example, an electrically insulating material, for example polyetheretherketone (PEEK GF40) or polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) or polyamide (PA).
• the piston may be made of an electrically conductive material.
• the piston 150 sealingly separates the first chamber 121 from the second chamber 122.
• the piston 150 is located between the first 121 and the second chamber 122.
• the piston 150 is configured to move in a cavity corresponding to the meeting of the first chamber 121. and second 122 rooms.
• the piston 150 is provided with a seal 151 formed of an elastically deformable material which bears on an inner lateral wall 127 of the body.
• the inner side wall 127 surrounds the first 121 and second 122 chambers.
• the inner side wall 127 of the body 120 defines an interior volume in which are present the first 121 and second 122 chambers.
• the piston 150 has a cylindrical geometry centered along the axis X, corresponding moreover to the axis in which the piston 150 moves in the short-circuit 100, and is provided with a first skirt 152 directed to the first chamber 121. This design of the piston 150 makes it possible to obtain a short-circuiter 100 having a small footprint.
• the piston 150 further comprises a second skirt 153 which extends towards the second chamber 122.
• the second skirt 153 is here provided with a plurality of grooves or notches 153a opening into the second chamber 122 in direction 142. These notches 153a give the skirt 153 a certain flexibility allowing it to deform more easily.
• the skirt 153 has an inner radius R3 which is, in this example between the radii R1 and R2 of the relief 143. In this way, the skirt 153 is adapted to cooperate with the relief 143 of the housing 142 and can be fitted on said relief 143 to the way of a Morse taper.
• the skirt 153 furthermore has an outer radius R4 which is here strictly smaller than the radius R5 of the piston 150 so as to provide an annular space between the second skirt 153 and the inner wall 127 of the body 120.
• the piston 150 is further provided with an electrically conductive element 154 which can be attached to the piston 150.
• the electrically conductive element 154 may for example be made of copper.
• the electrically conductive element 154 takes the form of a washer centered on the X axis. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2A (that is to say before triggering the short-circuit). circuit 100), the conductive element
• the conducting element 154 will have the function, when the pyrotechnic initiator 110 is tripped, of electrically connecting the conductive portions 131, 132.
• the second skirt 153 may not have a constant outer radius R4, for example be conical with its smallest outer radius located on the side of the second chamber 122.
• the conductive element 154 may in addition to being split, and for example take the form of a slotted washer. In this way, during the assembly of the short-circuiter 100, the conductive element 154 can be fitted on the skirt 153 by deforming circumferentially. This arrangement further increases the contact pressure between the conductive element 154 and the end portions of the conductive portions 131, 132 after tripping of the short-circuit 100.
• the pyrotechnic initiator is reported on the body 120 by inserting the pyrotechnic charge 113 by the bottom 129 of the body 120 and inserting the retaining cap 115 into one end of the body 120 opposite the bottom 129.
• the piston 150 is then inserted by force through the bottom 129 of the body 120.
• the piston 150 has a positioning relief 156, for example in the form of an axial notch, intended to cooperate with a relief present on the inner side wall 127 of the body 120. This cooperation makes it possible to block the piston 150 in rotation and thus avoid that the latter revolves around the axis X when the first chamber 121 is pressurized by the pyrotechnic initiator 110.
• the piston 150 further has at its first skirt 152 a circumferential notch 157 which is intended to cooperate with a bead 127a present on the wall internal lateral 127 of the body so as to lock the piston in the first position during the storage and transport of the short-circuiter 100.
• the notch 157 and the bead 12 7a are dimensioned so that the piston 150 can be released after triggering the initiator 110.
• the short-circuiter 100 thus obtained is ready to be connected to an electrical circuit 10 (FIG. FIG. 6), for example by welding the ends 131a, 132a of the conductive portions 131, 132 to said circuit.
• FIGS. 2A to 2C will now describe the operation of the first short-circuiting embodiment 100 according to the invention described above.
• the short-circuit 100 is not yet triggered and is in a first configuration, for example storage.
• the piston 150 is in a first position or up position.
• the conductive portions 131, 132 are not electrically connected by the conducting element 154 which is then released from them, and no current flows between the conductive portions 131,
• the pyrotechnic initiator 110 is then activated or triggered, for example in response to an electrical pulse given by a control device C (FIG. 6) of the electrical circuit to which the conductors 112 are connected.
• the triggering of the pyrotechnic initiator 110 has the effect of passing the short-circuit 100 in a second configuration in which the piston 150 is in a second position or low position.
• the actuation of the pyrotechnic initiator 110 makes it possible to carry out the combustion of one or more pyrotechnic charges 113 in order to generate a combustion gas which will pressurize the first chamber 121 (solid arrows in FIGS. 2B and 2C).
• This pressurization of the first chamber 121 moves the piston 150 towards the conductive portions 131, 132.
• the piston 150 is configured to move without deformation during the passage of the short-circuit 100 of the first configuration ( Figure 2A) at the second configuration ( Figure 2C).
• the piston 150 is driven in a translation movement along the X axis in the direction of the conductive portions 131, 132 during the transition from the first configuration to the second configuration.
• the movement of the piston 150 has no component of rotation about the axis X during the passage from its first to its second position.
• each conductive portion 131, 132 and the conductive element 154 is here in the second position, in the direction given by the axis X.
• the deformable end portions 131b, 132b are now folded perpendicular to the direction in which the conductive portions 131, 132 extend towards the bottom wall 144 of the housing.
• the second skirt 153 of the piston 150 is housed in the groove 145 of the housing 144.
• the end portions 131b, 132b are thus clamped or clamped between an inner lateral wall 149 of the housing 142 and the conducting element 154.
• position, the deformed end portions 131b, 132b exert a holding force on the piston 150 (and the conductive element 154) which blocks it in this second position.
• the progressive deformation of the end portions has allowed some of the kinetic energy of the piston to be absorbed and the risk of rebounds to be eliminated.
• the second skirt 153 is fitted on the relief 143 in the manner of a Morse taper, to ensure an even more efficient locking of the piston 150 in the second position.
• the radius R of the housing 142 must be adapted to accommodate the piston 150, and more precisely its second skirt 153, the conductive element 154 and the parts of end 131b, 132b deformed, while allowing effective maintenance of the piston 150 and the conductive member 154 in the second position.
• the width L2 (FIG. 2C) of the groove 145 (measured at the level of the bottom wall 144) in the housing 142 must be substantially equal to or slightly greater than the sum of the thickness and of a conductive portion. 131, 132, the width L1 of the conductive element 154 measured perpendicularly to the axis X and the thickness e2 of the second skirt 153.
• each end portion 131b , 132b extends into the second chamber 122, which is to be sized as a function of the depth (( Figure 2A) of the housing 142 so that the end portions 131b, 132b can contain once folded. It will also be noted that the end portions 131b, 132b do not must not extend into the second chamber 122 beyond the second skirt 153 of the piston 150 for obvious reasons.
• the short-circuiter 200 is shown in FIG. 3A in a first configuration before it is tripped.
• the piston 250 does not comprise a second skirt and takes a generally cylindrical shape over its entire dimension along the X axis.
• the housing 242 in the support 240 does not include embossed and has a bottom wall 244 planar.
• the conductive element is monolithically formed with the piston 250.
• the piston 250 is integrally made of an electrically conductive material and here plays the role of the conductive element. . Even if they are not clearly visible in the figures, the end portions 231b, 232b may, as for the short-circuit 100, include cutouts to promote their deformation.
• the radius R ( Figure 3B) of the housing 242 must be adapted to accommodate the piston 250 and the end portions 231b, 232b deformed, while allowing maintenance effective piston 250 in the second position.
• the radius R of housing 242 must be substantially equal to or slightly greater than the sum of the radius R5 of the piston and the thickness e1 of a conductive portion 231, 232. The same goes for defining the length on which each end portion 231b, 232b extends in the second chamber 222, which must be sized according to the depth P of the housing so that the end portions 231b, 232b can contain there once folded.
• FIG. 4 shows a short-circuiter
• the short-circuiter 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention incorporating characteristics of the short-circuit 100 and 200.
• the operation of the short-circuiter 300 is identical to the short-circuiters 100, 200 described above, and the corresponding reference signs in the figures. designate identical characteristics.
• the short-circuiter 300 is shown here when the piston 350 is in its first position.
• the piston 350 comprises, as for the short-circuiter 100, a skirt 353 which can be engaged on a relief 343 projecting on the bottom wall 344 of the housing 342.
• the short-circuiter 300 comprises a piston 350 which is formed monolithically with the conductive element, such as the piston 250 of the short-circuiter 200.
• the piston 350 is here integrally electrically conductive.
• FIG. 5 shows a short-circuiter 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• the operation of the short-circuiter 400 is identical to the short-circuiters 100, 200 and 300 described above, and the corresponding reference signs in the figures designate identical characteristics.
• the short-circuiter 400 is shown here when the piston 450 is in its first position.
• the short-circuiter 400 comprises a piston 450 of an electrically insulating material, which here is devoid of a second skirt.
• the housing 442 does not have protruding relief on its bottom wall 444, similarly to the short-circuiter 300.
• the piston 450 further comprises a reported conductor element 454, here taking the form of a washer fixed on the face 455 of the piston 450 opposite the second chamber 422.
• FIG 6 there is shown schematically an example of installation 1 comprising a secure electrical circuit 10 implementing a pyrotechnic short-circuit 100 according to the invention.
• the circuit 10 comprises an electric generator G, an electrical device D (the electrical device may be another electrical circuit) powered by the electric generator G, and a pyrotechnic short-circuit 100 according to the invention.
• the first conductive portion 131 of the pyrotechnic short-circuit 100 is connected to a first terminal 11 of the device, and its second conductive portion 132 is connected to a ground of the electrical circuit.
• the installation 1 may furthermore include a short-circuiter control device C configured to trip the short-circuiter in response to a variation of a predefined parameter.
• the control device C may be connected to the conductors 112 of the pyrotechnic initiator 110.
• the control device C may activate the short-circuiter if a current threshold is detected in the circuit, in case exceeding a temperature threshold in the device D, in case of detection of a shock, etc.
• the short-circuit 100 is tripped, the current flowing initially in the device D is biased to ground.
• FIGS. 7A and 7B show a short-circuiter 500 according to yet another embodiment of the invention in exploded perspective
• FIGS. 8A and 8B show it in section respectively when the piston is in the first and in the second position.
• the operation of the short-circuiter 500 is identical to the short-circuiters 100, 200, 300 and 400 described above, and the corresponding reference signs in the figures designate identical characteristics.
• the piston 550 comprises, on its face 555 opposite the conductive portions 531 and 532, a projecting relief 558 which extends here in the transverse direction T, transversely with respect to the conducting portions 531 and 532 (c that is to say in a direction transverse to the axis L in which the conductive portions extend here).
• the relief 558 has a generally rectangular section in a longitudinal plane (that is to say comprising the axis L and the vertical axis X).
• the relief 558 extends facing the housing 542 present in the support 540.
• the relief 558 here extends with respect to the space E separating the conductive portions 531 and 532.
• the support 540 has the shape of a drawer engaged in an opening 525 of the side wall 526 of the body 520.
• a conductive element 554 having a longitudinal U-shaped section is attached to the relief 558, for example glued on the relief 558.
• the element conductor 554 can be obtained for example by folding a conductive wafer to give it its shape.
• the conductive element 554 extends here over the entire length of the relief 558 on the piston 550 measured in the transverse direction T.
• the conductive element 554 could extend along at least half of this length. In this way, when the piston 550 passes from the first ( Figure 8A, no current can pass through the short-circuiter) to the second ( Figure 8B, a current can flow through the short-circuiter) position, the relief 558 occupies the l E space between the conductive portions 531 and 532, and the conductive element 554 electrically connects the conductive portions 531 and 532 while deforming their deformable end portions 531b and 532b, which also has the effect of locking the piston 550 in the second position.
• the conductive element 554 and the relief 558 on the piston 550 are thus wedged between the deformable end portions 531b and 532b of the conductive portions 531 and 532.
• the dimensions of the relief 558 and the conductive element 554 may especially be adapted according to the size of the housing 542, the space E between the conductive portions 531 and 532.
• This embodiment has the advantage of being simple and inexpensive to achieve especially because the conductive element is reported.
• the shape of the conductive element (U-section) further increases the manufacturing simplicity of the short-circuiter.

Landscapes

• Air Bags (AREA)
• Fuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=58547600

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2016
  • 2016-12-20 FR FR1662956A patent/FR3060833B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-12-14 CN CN201780082540.0A patent/CN110226212A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-12-14 JP JP2019554026A patent/JP2020502772A/ja active Pending
  • 2017-12-14 WO PCT/FR2017/053572 patent/WO2018115644A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-12-14 EP EP17822422.6A patent/EP3559970A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-12-14 US US16/471,396 patent/US20190393008A1/en not_active Abandoned

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events