US2983801A - High current disconnect device - Google Patents

High current disconnect device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2983801A
US2983801A US794671A US79467159A US2983801A US 2983801 A US2983801 A US 2983801A US 794671 A US794671 A US 794671A US 79467159 A US79467159 A US 79467159A US 2983801 A US2983801 A US 2983801A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
plug
socket member
piston
chamber
squib
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US794671A
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English (en)
Inventor
Lewis H Van Billiard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US794671A priority Critical patent/US2983801A/en
Priority to GB4183/60A priority patent/GB923568A/en
Priority to DEG29067A priority patent/DE1260590B/de
Priority to FR837497A priority patent/FR1266359A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2983801A publication Critical patent/US2983801A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/633—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only
    • H01R13/637—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only by fluid pressure, e.g. explosion
    • 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

  • This invention relates to electrical circuit opening, or disconnect, devices, and more particularly to improved electrical current disconnect devices for quickly and completely breaking large electric currents.
  • Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a circuit interrupting device in its closed condition, and an electrical circuit through the device exists;
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the circuit interrupting device in its open condition, and no electrical circuit through the device exists;
  • Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged and exaggerated fragmentary section showing the area of contact between the two principal portions of the circuit disconnect device.
  • socket member 12 and plug member 14 are made of a soft malleable electrical conductive material, such as aluminum; soft navy brass," an alloy comprised approximately of 68% copper and 32% zinc; copper, etc.
  • Side wall 16 and the base, or bottom wall, 18 of socket member 12 form a cylindrical plug chamber 20, which is more clearly seen in Fig. 2.
  • Socket member 12 is also provided with an integral and internally threaded boss 24. This permits socket member 12 to be mounted on the threaded end of electrical conductor 26 which in turn may be rigidly mounted in, or secured to, wall, or support, 28. If conductor 26 is ever at a potential other than ground, then conductor 26 will be insulated from wall 28, or wall 28 will be made from a suitable electrically non-conductive material.
  • socket member 12 There is also formed in the socket member 12 a plurality of bores 32. Bores 32 communicate with plug chamber 20 through its bottom wall 18, as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The ends of each of the bores 32 nearest to plug chamber 20 are counterbored to form squib recesses 34. Each of the recesses 34 is of the size to receive a squib 36 of the type described and illustrated in US. Patent No. 2,801,585, dated August 6, 1957.
  • the number of squib chambers 34 formed in socket member 12 is in part a function of the size of socket member 12 and plug 14, and a safety factor based on the number of squibs 36 that can be permitted to misfire and still have electrical current disconnect device 10 operate as intended.
  • three bores 32 are made parallel with the longitudinal axis 38 of socket member 12, they are equiangularly disposed with respect to axis 38, and they are equidistant from axis 38. Their distance from axis 38 is such that they clear boss 24 as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Plug 14 consists of a pilot piston 40, a piston 42, a conically shaped connector 44, and a stem 46.
  • Pilot piston 40 has a diameter chosen so that it will have a slip fit within walls 16 of socket member 12, and thus can be easily placed in plug chamber 20- of member 12.
  • Piston 42 has a slightly greater diameter than that of pilot piston 40, its diameter being such that piston 42 has a drive fit within walls 16 of socket member 12.
  • Conductor 50 is illustrated as being bolted to stem 46. Obviously other conventional means for securing the normally insulated electrical conductor 50 to stem 46 may be used.
  • disconnect device 10 it is desirable to make certain that neither of the two main elements of disconnect device 10 be permitted to contact other elements of the system of which device 10 is one item, and also to make certain that plug 14 and socket 12 do not accidentally contact one another after disconnect device 10 has hen energized to place it in its open condition.
  • a preferred manner of accomplishing this is to provide a protective housing 54 which may be made from a suitable tough electrical insulating material such as Textolite, nylon, etc. Housing 54 is illustrated as being mounted on socket member 1'2 by machine screws 56, for example. Housing 54 has a relatively long cylindrical chamber 58 formed in it which has a sufficient diameter so that the plug member 14 may move freely in it.
  • End wall 60 of housing 54 has a central opening 62 formed in it through which stem 46 of plug member 14 may move freely. Since opening 62 in the end wall 60 of protective housing 54 is only slightly greater in diameter than that of stem 46, the other elements of plug member 14 are prevented from passing out of protective housing 54.
  • Formed through the side walls 64 of housing 54 are a plurality of openings 66 which have the function of permitting gases produced by squibs 36, when they are fired, to escape from chamber 58. Openings 66 also permit spring fingers 68 to be mounted on the outer surface of housing 54 by machine screws 70, for example, and yet project into chamber '58 as can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, when plug member 14 moves into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, spring fingers 68 project into chamber 58 and prevent plug member 14 from inadvertently contactingv socket member 12.
  • pilot piston 44 measured in the direction of its longitudinal axis 76 of plug member 14 is slightly less than the. length of plug chamber Ztlmeasuredin the direction ofaxis 38.
  • the diameter of piston '42 of plug member 14 is greater than that of pilot piston 40 by' a sufiicient amount so that it must be driven, by being tapped with a hammer, for example, into plug chamber 20, Plug member 14 is driven into socket member 12 until pilot piston 40 substantially contacts bottom wall 18 of socket member 12.
  • protective housing 54 may then he slipped over plug member 14'- and secured to socket member 12. Flexible conductor 50 may then be secured to stem- 46.
  • Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section of the area of contact 78 between walls 16 of socket member 12 and piston 42 of plug member 14. While plug member 14 is being driven into plug chamber to a point where pilot piston 40 engages the bottom wall 18 of plug chamber 29, some of the metal behind the leading edge of St of piston 42 is removed, or displaced, to form the area of very close contact 78 between piston 42 and side walls 16. The force acting on the surface of piston 42 also acts to remove or displace some of the metal of the inner surface of wall 16 to help increase the width of area 78. It is, therefore, not necessary to clean either side walls 16 of socket member 12, or the surface of piston 42 before driving plug member 14 into socket member 12. The drive fit between plug member 14 and socket member 12 firmly secures plug and socket'mem bers 14, 12 together so that most accelerations or vibrations to which device 19 will be subject will not cause them to separate.
  • disconnect device 10 If at some time the current through disconnect device 10 exceeds a certain maximum value, or if a time is reached when the system of which device 10 is an item is to be de-energized, then device 10 can be caused to open the circuit through it, by firing squibs '36.
  • a firing circuit which can consist of a dry cell battery and a switch will cause, when the switch is closed, a current of sufficient magnitude to flow through squibs 36 to ignite them, or to fire them.
  • squibs 36 One of the characteristics of squibs 36, such as are described in the aforesaid US; Patent 2,801,585, are that the gases and flame produced by the squibs do not produce a shattering effect, or that the squibs have substantially no brisance: As a result, the gases produced by squibs 36 produce a relatively gradual increase in pressure in chamber 29 between bottom wall 18 and pilot piston 40.
  • cuts 22. made in wall 1.6 do not extend to bottom wall 18 of socket member 12. The reason for this is to prevent the gases released initially by squibs 36, from having a paththroughcuts 22 around plug 14 and thus partially reduce the pressure acting on plug member 14.
  • the length of cuts 22 is not a critieal limitation,v since current disconnect device 10 will work reliably if cuts 22 are made down to wall 18.
  • the gases produced by squibs 36 develop more than enough pressure to quickly drive plug member 14 toward the end of protective housing 54 until connector 44 engages the inner surface-of endwall 60 of housing 54 as illustrated-in Fig. 2.
  • As.- plug member 14 is. forced away from socket member 12, it pushes spring fingers 68 out of. its way; After plug member 14 has passed openings 66, spring fingers 68 return to their'initial position and project into chamber 58 a sufficient distance, as seen in Fig. 2, to make certain that plug member 14 cannot accidentally contact socket memb'er'12'.
  • the gases produced by squibs 36 have an escape route from cham ber 58.
  • highcurrent disconnect device 10 One of the unforeseen advantages of highcurrent disconnect device 10 is that the gases produced bysquibs 36 have a higher dielectric constant than that of' the ambient atmosphere. Another advantage results from the fact that the gases in the space between pilot piston 40 and socket member 12 are turbulent. The combina tion of the higher dielectric constant of the gases' produced by squibs 36 and their turbulence quickly extinguishes any arcs between plug member 14 and" socket member 12 as'they separate.
  • the electrical current carrying capacity per unit area of contact between electrodes made of a given metal is a constant and well known by persons working inthis art.
  • the current carrying capacity per square mil of contact of electrodes made of soft navybrass is .005 ampere per square mil.
  • the area of contact between plug'member 14 and socket member 12 is, of course, equal tothe width. of the area of contact 78 as seen in Fig. 3 multi plied by the circumference of piston 42.
  • the width of area 78 ranges from .015 inch in the smaller disconnect device to .030 inch in the larger, It is thus possible to design acircuit disconnect device to handle a given maximum value of current by making certain that the product of the circumference of piston 42, the width of the area contact, and the amount of current that the material can carry per unit area at least equals, or preferably exceeds, that designed maximum current value. By increasing the diameter of piston 42 and plug chamber '20, it is possible to scale up disconnect device 10 to handle very large electrical currents. V
  • the length of pilot piston 40 was .437 inch and'its diameterwas 1.248 inches.
  • the diameter of piston 42 was 1.256 inches.
  • the length of plug chamber 20 was .500 inch andits diameter was 1.250 inches, Wall 16 ofsocket member 12 was .125 inch thick.
  • Both of the members 12, 14 were made of soft navy brass.
  • the width of the area of contact 78 was .020 inch.
  • the maximum current that the disconnect device wasdesigned to carry was 600 amperes at 250 volts.
  • the dimensions, characteristics, and'performance characteristics are included by ways of example as being suitable for the device. illus trated. It should be understood that devices in accord-,
  • plug chamber 20 is cylindrical and concentric with respect to the longitudinal axis 38 of socket member 12. Bores 32 through which leads 72 of the squibs 36 are connected to a firing circuit, are also parallel to longitudinal axis 38 of socket member 12, and therefore, may easily be machined, Squib chambers 34 can be readily made by counterboring bores 32. Thus, it is possible to economically manufacture current disconnect devices of the type described and claimed.
  • An electrical current disconnect device comprising a socket member having a base and side walls, the base and side walls forming a plug receiving chamber; a squib recess formed in said socket member, said squib recess communicating with the plug chamber and being adapted to receive a squib having lead Wires; a passage through the socket member communicating with the squib recess, said passage providing means through which the lead wires of the squib may be connected to a squib firing circuit; a plug member having a pilot piston, and a piston, said pilot piston having a slip fit within the side walls of the socket member, said piston having a drive fit with the side walls of the socket member, said plug member adapted to be driven into the plug receiving chamber of the socket member so that a portion of the piston of the plug member is within the chamber; and means for connecting electrical conductors respectively to the plug member and the socket member.
  • An electrical current disconnect device comprising a socket member made of a soft malleable electrical conductor having a base and resilient side walls, said base and side walls forming a plug chamber; a squib recess in said base communicating with the plug chamber; a passage through the base communicating with the squib recess; a squib having lead wires, said squib being mounted in the squib recess with its lead wires extending through the passage for connecting the squib to a squib firing circuit; means for connecting an electrical conductor to the socket member; a plug member made of a soft malleable electrical conductor and having a stem, a piston, and a pilot piston, the pilot piston having a slip fit with the walls of the socket member, and the piston having a drive fit with the side walls of the socket member, the pilot piston and the piston of the plug member adapted to be placed within the plug chamber of the socket member so that the pilot piston is within the plug chamber and substantially engages the base of the socket member, and at
  • An electrical current disconnect device comprising a socket member made of a malleable electrical conductor and having a base and side walls, a plurality of cuts in said walls, said base and side walls forming a cylindrical plug chamber, a passage through the base communicating with the plug chamber, the end of said passage nearest the plug chamber being enlarged to form a squib recess; a squib having a pair of lead wires, said squib being mounted in the squib recess with the lead wires extending through the passage for connecting the squib to means for igniting said squib; means for connecting an electrical conductor to the socket member; a plug member having a stem, a cylindrical piston and a cylindrical pi-lot piston, the pilot piston having a slip fit within the walls of the socket member forming the plug chamber, the piston having a drive fit with the side walls of the socket member forming the plug chamber, the pilot piston and piston of the plug member being placed within the plug chamber of the socket member so that the pilot piston is Within the plug
  • An electrical current disconnect device comprising a socket member and a plug member; said members being made from the same malleable electrical conductive material; said socket member having a base and side walls, a plurality of cuts in said walls, said base and side Walls forming a cylindrical plug chamber, a plurality of bores through the base communicating with the plug chamber, and the ends of said bores nearest the plug chamber being enlarged to form a squib recess; a plurality of squibs, each squib having a pair of lead wires and each being mounted in one of said squib recesses with the lead wires extending through the bores for connecting the squibs to means for igniting said squibs; a boss on said socket member for threadably connecting the socket member to a threaded electrical conductor; said plug member having a stem, a cylindrical piston and a cylindrical pilot piston, the pilot piston having a slip fit within the walls of the socket member, the piston having a drive fit with the side walls of the socket

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
US794671A 1959-02-20 1959-02-20 High current disconnect device Expired - Lifetime US2983801A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US794671A US2983801A (en) 1959-02-20 1959-02-20 High current disconnect device
GB4183/60A GB923568A (en) 1959-02-20 1960-02-05 High current electric disconnect device
DEG29067A DE1260590B (de) 1959-02-20 1960-02-19 Durch Explosion einer Ladung oeffnender Schalter
FR837497A FR1266359A (fr) 1959-02-20 1960-09-01 Perfectionnements aux appareils connecteurs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US794671A US2983801A (en) 1959-02-20 1959-02-20 High current disconnect device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2983801A true US2983801A (en) 1961-05-09

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ID=25163302

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US794671A Expired - Lifetime US2983801A (en) 1959-02-20 1959-02-20 High current disconnect device

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US (1) US2983801A (de)
DE (1) DE1260590B (de)
GB (1) GB923568A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997031385A1 (de) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Stromunterbrecher für eine batterieleitung von fahrzeugen

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2471662A1 (fr) * 1979-12-12 1981-06-19 Ferraz & Cie Lucien Perfectionnements aux dispositifs de coupure a conducteur destructible par effet pyrotechnique avec systeme fusible en derivation
DE4402994A1 (de) * 1994-02-01 1995-08-03 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Elektrischer Sicherheitsschalter für Kraftfahrzeuge
ES2135602T3 (es) * 1994-02-01 1999-11-01 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Interruptor de seguridad electrico para vehiculos automoviles.
DE19606448A1 (de) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag Batterie-Kabelklemme für Fahrzeuge
DE19620204A1 (de) * 1996-05-20 1997-11-27 Grote & Hartmann Anschlußeinrichtung für eine Batterieklemme
DE102014108244A1 (de) * 2014-06-12 2015-12-17 Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft Sicherheitsvorrichtung zur Unterbrechung einer Hochvoltleitung für ein Kraftfahrzeug
DE102017202978B3 (de) 2017-02-23 2018-04-05 Audi Ag Anordnung zum Abführen von austretenden Stoffen bei einer Auslösung eines pyrotechnischen Trennelements aus einer Verbauvorrichtung

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2458464A (en) * 1943-01-21 1949-01-04 John W Busacker Switch
US2559024A (en) * 1944-07-19 1951-07-03 Electric Service Mfg Company Electrical disconnector
US2712791A (en) * 1942-07-09 1955-07-12 Bieakney Robert Max Switch
US2816196A (en) * 1951-05-04 1957-12-10 Roland G Dandelin Detonator electrical switch
US2835758A (en) * 1956-12-18 1958-05-20 Leroy M Atkins Explosive time delay switch
US2860210A (en) * 1956-11-09 1958-11-11 Mc Graw Edison Co Circuit interrupting device
US2883492A (en) * 1958-07-30 1959-04-21 Harry M Landers Electrical switch construction
US2892062A (en) * 1955-01-15 1959-06-23 Calor Emag Arrangement for interrupting electric currents by means of explosive material
US2931874A (en) * 1953-10-08 1960-04-05 Audley B Leaman Explosive switch

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE666262C (de) * 1938-10-14 Hermann Muth Dipl Ing Elektrische Sicherungseinrichtung fuer grosse Stromstaerken
DE133836C (de) *
US723183A (en) * 1901-06-29 1903-03-17 Gen Electric Circuit-breaker.
GB190126693A (en) * 1901-12-31 1902-11-27 British Thomson Houston Co Ltd Improvements in Electric Circuit-breakers.
DE630851C (de) * 1932-10-26 1936-06-06 Ferguson Pailin Ltd Elektrischer Stromunterbrecher, bei welchem durch Erhitzung eines Leiters infolge von UEberstroemen ein Explosivstoff entzuendet wird

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2712791A (en) * 1942-07-09 1955-07-12 Bieakney Robert Max Switch
US2458464A (en) * 1943-01-21 1949-01-04 John W Busacker Switch
US2559024A (en) * 1944-07-19 1951-07-03 Electric Service Mfg Company Electrical disconnector
US2816196A (en) * 1951-05-04 1957-12-10 Roland G Dandelin Detonator electrical switch
US2931874A (en) * 1953-10-08 1960-04-05 Audley B Leaman Explosive switch
US2892062A (en) * 1955-01-15 1959-06-23 Calor Emag Arrangement for interrupting electric currents by means of explosive material
US2860210A (en) * 1956-11-09 1958-11-11 Mc Graw Edison Co Circuit interrupting device
US2835758A (en) * 1956-12-18 1958-05-20 Leroy M Atkins Explosive time delay switch
US2883492A (en) * 1958-07-30 1959-04-21 Harry M Landers Electrical switch construction

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997031385A1 (de) * 1996-02-21 1997-08-28 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Stromunterbrecher für eine batterieleitung von fahrzeugen
US6144111A (en) * 1996-02-21 2000-11-07 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Current breaker for a vehicle battery lead

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB923568A (en) 1963-04-10
DE1260590B (de) 1968-02-08

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