DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INTERRUPTING SWITCH ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A direct current electric circuit interrupting switch assembly for establishing of electric connection comprising a primary electric conductor and a secondary electric conductor integrated between a direct voltage electric source and at least one load; wherein said primary electric conductor of the switch assembly comprises of two branches, which are in parallel connected with each other, of which the first branch includes an electric fuse with a melting member and the second branch includes a pyroswitch with an interrupting member, which is capable to interrupt said second branch of the primary electric conductor extending through said pyroswitch, as well as an actuator, which is capable to ensure appropriate movement of said interrupting member due to interruption of said second branch of the primary electric conductor; wherein said pyroswitch comprises such interrupting member, which is within said pyroswitch displaceable from a first position, in which by means of it said second branch of the primary electric conductor is uninterrupted and in which said interrupting member is held at a sufficient distance apart from the secondary electric conductor, into a second position, in which the electric circuit throughout the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted and the interrupting member is held in an electric conductive contact with the secondary conductor of the switch assembly.

Claims

1. A direct current electric circuit interrupting switch assembly for establishing an electric connection comprising: a primary electric conductor and a secondary electric conductor adapted for integration between a direct voltage electric source and at least one load; wherein by means of said conductors of the switch assembly, a primary terminal of said electric source is electrically connectable with a primary terminal of each electric load, and a secondary terminal of said electric source is electrically connectable with a secondary terminal of each electric load; wherein the primary electric conductor of the switch assembly comprises two branches, which are in parallel connected with each other, and the first branch includes an electric fuse with a melting member and the second branch includes a pyroswitch with an interrupting member, which is capable to interrupt said second branch of the primary electric conductor extending through said pyroswitch, as well as with an actuator, which is capable to ensure appropriate movement of said interrupting member due to interruption of said second branch of the primary electric conductor by means of explosion of at least one chemical reactant contained therein by means of an electric impulse received either from a first sensor for monitoring of electric current value in each electric circuit or a second sensor for monitoring at least one physical characteristic and in an apparatus in which said switch assembly is integrated; and wherein said pyroswitch comprises such interrupting member, which is within said pyroswitch displaceable from a first position, in which by means of it said second branch of the primary electric conductor is uninterrupted and in which said interrupting member is held at a sufficient distance apart from the secondary electric conductor, into a second position, in which the electric circuit throughout the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted and the interrupting member is held in an electric conductive contact with the secondary conductor of the switch assembly.

2. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said interrupting member is a mechanically interruptible and from said first position to said second position displaceable section of the second branch of the primary electric conductor.

3. The switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said interrupting member in said second position, in which the electric circuit through the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted, is held in electric conductive contact with the second electric conductor of the switch assembly, and consequently also in electric contact with each load and also with the secondary terminal of the direct voltage electric source.

4. The switch assembly according to claim 2, wherein said interrupting member in said second position, in which the electric circuit through the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted, is held in electric conductive contact with the second electric conductor of the switch assembly, and consequently also in electric contact with each load and also with the secondary terminal of the direct voltage electric source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the switch assembly of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The present disclosure refers to a direct current electric circuit interrupting switch assembly, which is upon establishing of electric connection via primary electric conductor and secondary electric conductor suitable for integration between a direct voltage electric source and at least one load, so that by means of said conductors of the switch assembly a primary terminal of said electric source is electrically connectable with a primary terminal of each electric load, and a secondary terminal of said electric source is electrically connectable with a secondary terminal of each electric load. Said primary electric conductor of the switch assembly comprises two branches, which are in parallel connected with each other, wherein the first branch includes an electric fuse with a melting member, and the second branch includes a pyroswitch with an interrupting member, which is capable to interrupt said second branch of the primary electric conductor extending through said pyroswitch, as well as with an actuator, which is capable to ensure appropriate movement of said interrupting member due to interruption of said second branch of the primary electric conductor by means of explosion of at least one chemical reactant contained therein by means of an electric impulse received either from a sensor for monitoring of electric current value in each electric circuit, or from any other sensor suitable for monitoring at least one physical characteristic available in each desired location in any apparatus in which said switch assembly is integrated.

[0011] The previously mentioned technical problem is solved by means of arrangement, according to which said pyroswitch comprises such an interrupting member, which is within said pyroswitch displaceable from its first i.e. initial position, in which by means of it said second branch of the primary electric conductor is uninterrupted and in which said interrupting member is held at a sufficient distance apart from the secondary electric conductor, into its second i.e. shifted position, in which the electric circuit throughout the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted and the interrupting member is held in an electric conductive contact with the secondary conductor of the switch assembly.

[0012] The present disclosure further provides that said interrupting member is a mechanically interruptible and from its initial position to its second position displaceable section of the second branch of the primary electric conductor.

[0013] A switch assembly according to the present disclosure is still further characterized in that said interrupting member in its second i.e. shifted position, in which the electric circuit through the second branch of the primary electric conductor is interrupted, is held in electric conductive contact with the second electric conductor of the switch assembly, and consequently also in electric contact with each load and also with the secondary terminal of each direct voltage electric source.

[0014] The present disclosure will be explained in some more detail by means of an embodiment, which is schematically presented in FIG. 1.

[0015] Direct current electric circuit interrupting switch assembly 1 can establish an electric connection via primary electric conductor 11 and secondary electric conductor 12 integrated between a direct voltage electric source 2 and at least one load 3. In this, by means of said conductors 11, 12 of the switch assembly 1 a primary terminal 21 of said electric source 2 is electrically connectable with a primary terminal 31 of each electric load 3, and a secondary terminal 22 of said electric source 2 is electrically connectable with a secondary terminal 32 of each electric load 3.

[0016] Said primary electric conductor 11 of the switch assembly 1 comprises two branches 111, 112, which are parallel connected with each other, wherein the first branch 111 includes an electric fuse 4 with a melting member 41 and the second branch 12 includes a pyroswitch 5 with an interrupting member (51), which is capable to interrupt said second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor (11) extending through said pyroswitch (5), as well as with an actuator 52, which is capable to ensure appropriate movement of said interrupting member 51 due to interruption of said second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor 11 by means of explosion of at least one chemical reactant contained therein by means of a received electric impulse. Said actuator 52 in each critical situation, e.g. by a car crash, receives an impulse either from a sensor, which may be suitable for monitoring of electric current value in each electric circuit, or from any other sensor, which may be suitable for monitoring at least one physical characteristic and available in each desired location in any apparatus in which said switch assembly 1 is integrated.

[0017] In the context of resolving the previously mentioned technical problem, said switch assembly according has been modified in accordance with the present disclosure and is furnished with such pyroswitch 5, which comprises an interrupting member 51, which is within said pyroswitch 5 displaceable from its first i.e. origin position, in which by means of it said second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor 11 is uninterrupted and in which said interrupting member 51 is held at a sufficient distance apart from the secondary electric conductor 12, into its second i.e. shifted position, in which the electric circuit throughout the second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor 11 is interrupted and the interrupting member 51 is held in an electric conductive contact with the secondary conductor 12 of the switch assembly 1.

[0018] Said interrupting member 51 can be a mechanically interruptible and from its initial position to its second position displaceable section of the second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor 11.

[0019] Consequently, said interrupting member 51 is in its second i.e. shifted position, in which the electric circuit through the second branch 112 of the primary electric conductor 11 is interrupted, held in electric conductive contact with the second electric conductor 12 of the switch assembly 1, and herewith consequently also in electric contact with each load 3 and also with the secondary terminal 22 of the direct voltage electric source 2.

[0020] Thanks to such surprisingly simple measures, the previously mentioned technical problem is completely resolved. The switch assembly 1 is no doubt simple and is despite to introduction of appropriate pyroswitch 5 not bulky in view of each required space. Thanks to arrangement of said pyroswitch 5 and the electric fuse 4 with its melting member 4 into two separate branches 111, 112 of primary electric conductor 11 such switch assembly 1 is capable to withstand temperature variations of temperature variations and is moreover able to deal with inductivity variations as well as dynamic current intensity, i.e. frequently changing of electric current values within each particular direct voltage (DC) electric circuit. On the other hand, said switch assembly enables a prompt interruption of said direct voltage electric circuit on the basis of activation of the actuator 52, e.g. in situation of electrically driven vehicle crash, regardless to each electric voltage and actual value of the electric current, and in particular without establishing an electric arc, by which also each disposable electric load(s) become(s) completely insulated with regard to each disposable direct voltage electric source. Thanks to said displacement of the interrupting member 51 from its origin i.e. uninterrupted position into its shifted position in contact with the secondary conductor 12 in each direct voltage circuit, via said switch assembly 1 and each load 3 an additional electric circuit is established, which is completely separated from the electric voltage source 2, and although any additional electric sources remain hidden within such newly established circuit, such sources cannot be brought in contact with the electric source 2.