REMOTE TRIGGER FOR PYROTECHNIC ENERGY RELEASES

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output to a pyrotechnic separating device for separating an electrical line, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to an electrical energy source, such as a battery or an accumulator, for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy, in which: a temperature of or in the vicinity of the electrical energy source is detected; and, when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, the pyrotechnic separating device is remotely activated to separate the electrical line at a location spatially remote from the electrical energy source.

Claims

1. A method of providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output to a pyrotechnic separating device for separating an electrical line, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to an electrical energy source, such as a battery or an accumulator, for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy, in which: a temperature of or in the vicinity of the electrical energy source is detected; and, when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, the pyrotechnic separating device is remotely activated to separate the electrical line at a location spatially remote from the electrical energy source.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote activation is performed by a non-electrical pyrotechnic, chain reaction.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which, when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, a pyrotechnic initial conversion occurs under an exothermic chemical initial reaction.

4. The method according to claim 3, in which the pyrotechnic initial conversion causes a pyrotechnic transfer conversion under an exothermic chemical subsequent reaction.

5. The method according to claim 4, in which the pyrotechnic transfer conversion for triggering the pyrotechnic separating device causes a pyrotechnic ignition conversion of the pyrotechnic separating device.

6. A system for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output to a pyrotechnic separating device for separating an electrical line, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to an electrical energy source, such as a battery or an accumulator, for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy, comprising a pyrotechnic igniter, which is exposed to the temperature of the electrical energy source and which pyrotechnically converts at a predetermined temperature, and a separate, pyrotechnic remote ignition means coupled to the igniter and couplable to the separating device, which is configured to transfer the heat released during the pyrotechnic conversion of the igniter to the pyrotechnic separating device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the remote ignition means comprises pyrotechnic material adjusted such as to pyrotechnically convert upon pyrotechnic conversion of the igniter to trigger the pyrotechnic separating device.

8. System according to claim 7, wherein the remote ignition means is non-electrically triggerable, formed as an ignition cord or as an ignition hose, wherein an inner side of the ignition hose is coated with pyrotechnic material.

9. A pyrotechnic separating system comprising a system according to claim 1 and a pyrotechnic separating device coupled to the remote ignition means for separating an electrical line, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to an electrical energy source, such as a battery or an accumulator, for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy.

10. Pyrotechnic separating system according to claim 9, wherein the pyrotechnic separating device has a housing with pyrotechnic material, which is sealed with respect to the remote ignition means in such a way that the seal is broken in particular exclusively during pyrotechnic conversion of the igniter, in particular of the remote ignition means.

11. Pyrotechnic separating system according to claim 10, wherein the seal is configured in such a way that upon triggering of the pyrotechnic separating device, the seal is rebuilt, wherein in particular the seal is implemented by a check valve.

12. Pyrotechnic separating system according to claim 9, wherein the pyrotechnic separating device has a cut mechanism for cutting the electrical line and a pyrotechnic drive for operating the cut mechanism, which is associated with the pyrotechnic drive in such a way that, upon activation of the pyrotechnic drive, the cut mechanism is driven, particularly wherein the pyrotechnic drive is equipped with a material which pyrotechnically converts as a function of temperature.

13. Pyrotechnic separating system according claim 9, wherein the remote ignition means and the pyrotechnic separating device and/or the remote ignition means and the igniter are coupled to one another in a force-fitting, form-fitting and/or material-fitting manner.

14. Pyrotechnic remote ignition system comprising a plurality of pyrotechnic temperature sensors which are associated with an electrical energy source, such as a battery or an accumulator, or a plurality of electrical energy sources which are connected to a common electrical line carrying electrical energy, and a pyrotechnic separating device which is spatially separated from the pyrotechnic temperature sensors, which is associated with the electrical line, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to the electrical energy source for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy, the pyrotechnical separating device being coupled to the pyrotechnical temperature sensors by remote ignition means in such a way that the pyrotechnical separating device is activated by one of the remote ignition means when the pyrotechnical temperature sensor associated with the remote ignition means triggers.

15. (canceled)

16. System according to claim 8, wherein the inner side of the ignition hose is coated with pyrotechnic material with an amount in the range from 5 mg/m length to 100 mg/m length.

17. System according to claim 8, wherein the inner side of the ignition hose is coated with pyrotechnic material with an amount in the range from 10 mg/m length to 85 mg/m length.

18. System according to claim 8, wherein the inner side of the ignition hose is coated with pyrotechnic material with an amount in the range from 15 mg/m length to 70 mg/m length.

Description

[0034] In the following, further properties, features and advantages of the invention will become clear by means of a description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which show:

[0035] FIG. 1a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a pyrotechnic remote ignition system according to the invention; and

[0036] FIG. 2a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a pyrotechnic separating system according to the invention.

[0037] In the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, a system according to the invention for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output to a pyrotechnic separating device is generally provided with reference numeral 1. A pyrotechnic separating system according to the invention comprising a system 1 according to the invention and a pyrotechnic separating device is generally provided with reference numeral 10, and a pyrotechnic remote ignition system according to the invention comprising a plurality of pyrotechnic temperature sensors and a separating device is generally provided with reference numeral 100.

[0038] A system 1 according to the invention is for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, preferably of at least 0.5 J, to a pyrotechnic separating device, generally provided with reference numeral 3. The separating device 3 is used to separate an electrical line 5, such as a cable, a wire, a conductor path or the like, leading to an electrical energy source (not shown), such as a battery or an accumulator, for outputting and/or receiving electrical energy. The pyrotechnic separating device 3 is configured to separate, for example, an electrical charging coupling or an electrical discharging coupling transmitted through an electrical line 5. The necessary energy for cutting the electrical line 5, is provided by means of the system 1 according to the invention.

[0039] A system 1 according to the invention comprises the following main components: a pyrotechnic igniter 7; and a pyrotechnic remote ignition means 9 coupled to the igniter 7 and couplable to the separating device 3. According to the invention, the igniter 7 is exposed to the temperature of the electrical energy source and pyrotechnically converts at a predetermined temperature. The remote ignition means 9 is configured to transfer the heat released during the pyrotechnic conversion of the igniter 7 to the pyrotechnic separating device 3 in order to trigger the pyrotechnic separating device 3 via remote activation.

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure and mode of operation of the individual components of a system 1 according to the invention and of a separating device 3 according to the invention are explained in detail below, with FIG. 1 showing the state of the pyrotechnic separating device 3 after it has been activated or triggered and FIG. 2 showing the state of the pyrotechnic separating device 3 before it has been activated.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a remote ignition system 100 according to the invention with four pyrotechnic temperature sensors 101. The temperature sensors 101 are each associated with an electrical energy source, all energy sources being connected to a common line 5. The temperature sensors 101 are each connected or coupled via a separate remote ignition means 9 to a single pyrotechnic separating device 3, which can thus be arbitrarily arranged spatially separate from the temperature sensors 101. The temperature sensors lot can each be regarded as a pyrotechnic igniter 7 according to the invention. Thus, the remote ignition system 100 in FIG. 1 comprises four separate systems 1 according to the invention, which are connected to a single separating device 3 and can each activate the same individually when the corresponding temperature sensor 101 triggers because the temperature of the corresponding energy source exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a pyrotechnic separating system 10, in which a system 1 according to the invention is coupled to a separating device 3 and the individual components of the system 1 and the separating device 3 are shown in detail.

[0043] The pyrotechnic separating device 3 comprises an elongated, hollow cylindrical housing 11, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 2. In the embodiment in FIG. 2, the housing 11 is closed towards a longitudinal side 13. A substantially flat bottom wall 15 is provided on the longitudinal side 13. At a distal edge section 17 adjoining the bottom wall 15, the housing 11 has a through-channel 19 oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial extent of the housing 11, through which the electrical line 5 is passed. Starting from the distal edge section 17, the housing 11 initially has a constant diameter until the housing it expands in an adjoining section 21 so that a chamber 23 is formed in the interior of the housing 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the housing 11 has two openings in the area of the chamber 23. One opening 25 serves to receive a primer 27 which, after insertion, is enclosed by the housing 11 and completely closes the opening 25. A further opening 29 serves to connect or couple the separating device 3 to a system 1 according to the invention, which will be explained in detail later.

[0044] The separating device 3 further comprises a pyrotechnic drive 31 and a cut mechanism 33 arranged movably in the axial direction A within the housing 11 for cutting the electrical line 5. The pyrotechnic drive 31 provides the mechanical work necessary to cut the electrical line 5 and thus operates the cut mechanism 33, wherein the pyrotechnic drive 31 is utilizing the pyrotechnic effect. The pyrotechnic drive 31 includes pyrotechnic material 35 disposed in the chamber 23 and adapted to pyrotechnically convert when a predetermined ambient temperature is exceeded. The pyrotechnic conversion of the pyrotechnic material 35 generally results in a gas expansion, due to which the pressure within the housing 11 or the chamber 23 increases significantly, so that a force is exerted on the cut mechanism 33, which moves in the axial direction A relative to the housing 11 as a result of the gas expansion and in this way cuts the electrical line 5. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cut mechanism 33 is formed as a cylindrical piston 37, which is guided by the housing 11 or a guide 39 of the housing 11 during an axial movement. To seal the chamber 23 from the guide 39 for the cut mechanism 33, two sealing rings 41 are provided between the housing 11 and the piston 37 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. It should be understood, however, that any conceivable means of sealing may be provided between the housing 11 and the piston 37. To seal the opening 29 in the housing 11, a check valve 83 is inserted into the opening 29, which will be explained in detail later.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the cut mechanism 33 cuts the electrical line 5 by separating a line section 43 from the rest of the line 5 and moving it into the distal edge section 17 of the housing 11 (not shown in FIG. 1). If the cut mechanism 33 is made of an electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic, the cut mechanism 33 acts as a kind of insulator between the facing electrical line ends 45, 47 after the line 5 has been cut.

[0046] As an alternative to thermal activation by a specific ambient temperature, pyrotechnic drive 31 or ignition of pyrotechnic material 35 may be initiated by primer 27.

[0047] The pyrotechnic igniter 7 comprises a hollow cylindrical housing 49 filled with a reaction partner substance 51, which may comprise, for example, potassium permanganate, water and/or methanol. Also disposed within the housing 49 is an ampoule 53, for example made of glass, plastic or metal, particularly a metal alloy such as a Roses alloy, for containing a reaction substance 55, preferably comprising chemical energy. For example, the reaction substance 55 comprises glycerol, zinc powder, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and/or lithium aluminum hydride. When a predetermined temperature is exceeded, the ampoule 53 breaks or at least partially melts such that mixing of the reaction substance 55 and the reaction partner substance 51 occurs. The reaction substance 55 and the reaction partner substance 51 are configured with respect to each other in such a way that an exothermic chemical reaction is triggered when the two substances are mixed.

[0048] As an alternative to the reaction partner substance 51 and the ampoule 53 filled with the reaction substance 55, the housing 49 of the igniter 7 may contain only a pyrotechnic material that ignites at a predetermined temperature.

[0049] The housing 49 of the pyrotechnic igniter 7 has an opening 57 through which the remote ignition means 9 is connected to the pyrotechnic igniter 7. To prevent the reaction partner substance 51 from escaping from the housing 49 before the pyrotechnic igniter 7 is activated, the opening 57 is sealed with a sealing metal foil 59.

[0050] In accordance with the invention, the pyrotechnic igniter 7 is positioned in proximity to an electrical energy source to be monitored so that it is exposed to the temperature of the electrical energy source and the ampoule 53 breaks, if the energy source overheats and exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the remote ignition means 9 is in the form of an ignition hose 61, one end 63 of which is connected or coupled to the electrical igniter 7 and the other end 65 of which is connected or coupled to the pyrotechnic separating device 3. The ignition hose 61 may, for example, consist of several layers of different plastics and have an outer diameter of about 3 to 5 mm. On an inner side 67 of the ignition hose 61, the ignition hose 61 is coated with pyrotechnic material (not shown in FIG. 2). For example, the inner surface 67 may be coated with an amount of pyrotechnic material in the range of 5 mg/m length to 100 mg/m length, particularly in the range of 10 mg/m length to 85 mg/m length or in the range of 15 mg/m length to 70 mg/m length. As an alternative to the ignition hose 61, it is also conceivable to use an ignition cord surrounded by a metal tube to protect the surrounding components.

[0052] The connection between the trigger 7 and the ignition hose 61 as well as between the ignition hose 61 and the separating device 3 is identically formed in the embodiment of FIG. 2. However, it is also conceivable that the connections are configured differently. The housing 49 of the trigger 7 has a hollow cylindrical receptacle 69 around the opening 57, into which the end 63 of the ignition hose 61 is inserted in order to couple the ignition hose 61 to the trigger 7. For attaching the ignition hose 61 in the receptacle 69, the receptacle 69 has two circumferential projections 73 on an inner side 71, which engage in two circumferential grooves 75 on the ignition hose 61, which are adapted in shape thereto, and thus hold the latter form-fittingly in the receptacle 69. The separating device 3 also has a hollow cylindrical receptacle 77 around the opening 29, into which the other end 65 of the ignition hose 61 is inserted in order to couple the ignition hose 61 to the separating device 3. The receptacle 77 also has two circumferential projections 79 and the ignition hose 61 has two circumferential grooves 81 at the end 65 which are adapted in shape thereto.

[0053] A check valve 83 is arranged in the receptacle 77 of the separating device 3 for sealing between the ignition hose 61 and the separating device 3. The check valve 83 comprises a ball 85 which is preloaded by a spring 87 and is thus pressed from inside the housing it outwards against a bottleneck 89 of the receptacle 77. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the spring 87 is supported against a wall 91 inside the housing 11, which separates a chamber 93 from the chamber 23 in which the check valve 83 is located. The check valve 83 prevents the resulting high internal pressure from being transmitted to the ignition hose 61 when the pyrotechnic drive 31 of the separating device 3 is triggered, thus ensuring that all of the energy generated by the pyrotechnic drive 31 is transferred to the cut mechanism 33 and that surrounding components are not damaged by the high internal pressure.

[0054] With regard to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it should be noted that the pyrotechnic separating device 3, the pyrotechnic drive 31 and the system 1 are scalable in their dimensions, preferably in order to cut differently dimensioned (electrical) lines 5 or to provide differently sized pyrotechnic energy output quantities. Furthermore, their external shape, in particular cross-sectional dimension, is also not limited to a specific shape and/or dimension, but can be adapted depending on the application or installation situation, for example, of the pyrotechnic separating device 3 in or on an electrical device not shown. The through-channel 19 is to be dimensioned and thereby adapted to the external dimensions of the electrical line 5 in such a way that the electrical line 5 can be passed through the through-channel 19.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows the pyrotechnic separating system 10 according to the invention in an initial state in which the electrical energy source to be monitored is at normal temperature. When the energy source overheats and the temperature of the energy source exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, the pyrotechnic separating device 3 is remotely activated by the system t according to the invention to cut the line 5 at a location spatially remote from the energy source, which is explained in detail below.

[0056] When the temperature of the electrical energy source detected by the pyrotechnic igniter 7 exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, a non-electrical, purely pyrotechnic chain reaction is started to remotely activate the separating device 3. When the predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded, the ampoule 53 of the pyrotechnic igniter 7 breaks so that mixing of the reaction substance 55 and the reaction partner substance 51 within the housing 49 of the igniter 7 results in an exothermic chemical initial reaction that causes an pyrotechnic initial conversion to occur.

[0057] The exothermic chemical initial reaction cuts through the metal foil 59 that closes the opening 57 of the igniter 7, so that the pyrotechnic initial conversion causes a pyrotechnic transfer conversion in the ignition hose 61 under an exothermic chemical subsequent reaction. Due to the pyrotechnic material on the inner side 67 of the ignition hose 61, the transfer conversion is transferred at a speed of about 2000 m/s from the end 63 of the ignition hose 61 connected to the trigger 7 to the end 65 of the ignition hose 61 connected to the separating device 3.

[0058] The pyrotechnic transfer conversion causes a pyrotechnic ignition conversion in the separating device 3 at the end 65 of the ignition hose 61. The transfer conversion in the explosive hose 61 opens the check valve 83 by pushing the ball 85 into the interior of the housing 11 against the force of the spring 87, so that a flame passes through the opening 29 of the housing 11 into the chamber 23, which causes ignition of the pyrotechnic material 35 arranged in the chamber 23 there. After the transfer conversion, the spring 87 pushes the ball 85 back to its original position so that the chamber 23 is once again sealed to the outside. The sealing of the chamber 23 is thus only temporarily released during the pyrotechnic conversion of the ignition hose. 61.

[0059] The ignition of the pyrotechnic material 35 in the chamber 23 triggers the separation device 3 and moves the cut mechanism 33 in axial direction A, so that the cut mechanism 33 cuts the line 5.

[0060] The system 1 according to the invention thus makes it possible to monitor potentially overheated energy sources, which are installed in electronic components, for example, and to reliably separate them from the energy supply in the event of overheating, even if the electrical line 5 of the corresponding energy source is not directly accessible at the energy source itself or at the location of temperature detection, for example, due to installation space-related reasons. In this respect, it is possible with the system according to the invention to reliably separate energy sources and/or electrical devices in the event of overheating, irrespective of the available installation space and the installation space conditions.

[0061] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, figures, and claims may be significant, both individually and in any combination, for the realization of the invention in the various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] 1 system [0063] 10 pyrotechnic separating system [0064] 100 pyrotechnic remote ignition system [0065] 3 pyrotechnic separating device [0066] 5 line [0067] 7 pyrotechnic igniter [0068] 9 pyrotechnic remote ignition means [0069] 11 housing [0070] 13 housing longitudinal side [0071] 15 bottom wall [0072] 17 distal edge section [0073] 19 through-channel [0074] 21 housing section [0075] 23 chamber [0076] 25 opening [0077] 27 primer [0078] 29 opening [0079] 31 pyrotechnic drive [0080] 33 cut mechanism [0081] 35 pyrotechnic material [0082] 37 piston [0083] 39 guide [0084] 41 sealing ring [0085] 43 line section [0086] 45, 47 line end [0087] 49 housing [0088] 51 reaction partner substance [0089] 53 Ampoule [0090] 55 reaction substance [0091] 57 opening [0092] 59 metal foil [0093] 61 ignition hose [0094] 63, 67 ignition hose end [0095] 67 inner surface [0096] 69 hollow cylindrical receptacle [0097] 71 receptacle inner side [0098] 73 circumferential projection [0099] 75 circumferential groove [0100] 77 hollow cylindrical receptacle [0101] 79 circumferential projection [0102] 81 circumferential groove [0103] 83 check valve [0104] 85 ball [0105] 87 spring [0106] 89 bottleneck [0107] 91 wall [0108] 93 chamber [0109] 101 pyrotechnic temperature sensor