A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path and at least one auxiliary electrical power path; a power distribution unit having a motive current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the motive current protection circuit including a fuse; an auxiliary current protection circuit disposed in each of the at least one auxiliary electrical power path, each auxiliary current protection circuit including an auxiliary fuse; a motive current sensor electrically coupled to the motive electrical power path, where the motive current sensor is configured to provide a motive current value; and at least one auxiliary current sensor, each auxiliary current sensor electrically coupled to one of the at least one auxiliary electrical power path, each auxiliary current sensor configured to provide a corresponding auxiliary current value.

A system includes a vehicle comprising a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit comprising a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit comprising a fuse; a current source circuit electrically coupled to the fuse and structured to inject a current across the fuse; and a voltage determination circuit electrically coupled to the fuse and structured to determine at least one of an injected voltage value and a fuse impedance value.

A system including a vehicle having a motive electrical power path, and a power distribution unit having a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path. The current protection circuit includes a first leg of the current protection circuit comprising a thermal fuse, a second leg of the current protection circuit comprising a contactor. The first leg and the second leg may be coupled in a parallel arrangement. The system further has a controller that includes a current detection circuit structured to determine a current flow through the motive electrical power path, and a fuse management circuit structured to provide a contactor activation command in response to the current flow. The contactor may be responsive to the contactor activation command.

A pyrotechnic cut-off device includes: a pyrotechnic igniter, a conductive portion and a movable piston, the piston being able to be displaced in a cavity along a direction of displacement following the actuation of the pyrotechnic igniter between a first position of passage of the current in the conductive portion and a second position of cut-off of the current, wherein the piston defines a first sealing portion having a narrowing of section along the direction of displacement, and the cavity has a wall defining a second sealing portion which extends on either side of the conductive portion and which has a narrowing of section along the direction of displacement, the first sealing portion being in contact with the second sealing portion along a contact surface extending on either side of the conductive portion when the piston is in the second position.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a current interrupt device (CID) including a frangible bulb that is configured to be thermally triggered. In some embodiments, the CID includes a breaking contact electrically coupled to a fixed contact and held in electrical contact by the frangible bulb. In some embodiments, the frangible bulb is configured to break at a temperature threshold. In some embodiments, the breaking contact is configured to bend, rotate and/or otherwise deform about a hinge point in order to become electrically disconnected from the fixed contact when the frangible bulb breaks. In some embodiments, opening the electrical circuit between the breaking contact and the fixed contact may prevent overcharging, overvoltage conditions, overcurrent conditions, thermal runaway, and/or other catastrophic failure events.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a current interrupt device (CID) including a frangible bulb that is configured to be thermally triggered. In some embodiments, the CID includes a breaking contact electrically coupled to a fixed contact and held in electrical contact by the frangible bulb. In some embodiments, the frangible bulb is configured to break at a temperature threshold. In some embodiments, the breaking contact is configured to bend, rotate and/or otherwise deform about a hinge point in order to become electrically disconnected from the fixed contact when the frangible bulb breaks. In some embodiments, opening the electrical circuit between the breaking contact and the fixed contact may prevent overcharging, overvoltage conditions, overcurrent conditions, thermal runaway, and/or other catastrophic failure events.

A fuse housing for safe outgassing of a fuse is disclosed. The fuse housing features labyrinth walls disposed at opposing sides of the fuse housing. The labyrinth walls feature serpentine paths for the flow of outgassing material. At an end of the serpentine paths which is farthest away from a fuse element are vent channels. The vent channels are narrower in depth than that of the serpentine paths of the labyrinth walls, facilitating a suctioning effect during outgassing. Conductive material deposits along the serpentine paths so that the fuse maintains a high OSR rating. By directing and controlling the outflow of gases, the fuse housing is able to reduce the temperature of the gases produced. The fuse housing is also able to reduce the physical and observable effects of outgassing.

A system includes a vehicle including a motive electrical power path; a power distribution unit including: a current protection circuit disposed in the motive electrical power path, the current protection circuit including a fuse and a contactor in a series arrangement with the fuse; a high voltage power input coupling including a first electrical interface for a high voltage power source; and a high voltage power output coupling including a second electrical interface for a motive power load, where the current protection circuit electrically couples the high voltage power input coupling to the high voltage power output coupling.

An interruption switch is provided for interrupting high currents at high voltages, with a casing, which surrounds a contact unit defining the current path through the interruption switch which has a first and second connection contact and a separation region. The contact unit is formed such that a current can be supplied to it via the first connection contact and can be discharged therefrom via the second connection contact, or vice versa. The separation region is formed such that, when it is separated, the current path between the first connection contact and the second connection contact is interrupted. The separation region is arranged inside a reaction chamber. A coating with a reactive material is present in the reaction chamber. The reactive material is designed such that under the influence of an electric arc it attenuates or extinguishes the electric arc.

A pyrotechnic switch having a casing, at least one electrical conductor passing through the casing, a pistonhoused in the casing, the piston-casing assembly being designed to cut the electrical conductor at least at three separate locations, so as to form at least two free conductive strands, separate from the rest of the electrical conductor, a pyrotechnic actuator designed to force the piston to cut the electrical conductor, wherein the piston-casing assembly is designed to cut the electrical conductor such that each free strand has at least one base portion with either no or two folded wings arranged on either side of the base portion, and to create at least one free strand with two folded wings .