Fuse having an explosion chamber

Abstract

Embodiments disclose a fuse comprising a one power lead, an explosion chamber and an isolating chamber, wherein the fuse is designed such that a power lead can be broken into at least two parts by an explosion triggered in an explosion chamber. The two parts are separated from each other in an associated isolating chamber by a respective electrically insulating partition. Embodiments disclose a method comprising a power lead, an explosion chamber and an isolating chamber, wherein an explosion is triggered in the explosion chamber so that the power lead is broken into at least two parts and bent into the isolating chamber such that at least two parts are separated from one another by an electrically insulating partition. The present disclosure can be applied to pyrotechnic fuses for vehicles and to high-voltage fuses.

Claims

1. A fuse for causing a break in a power lead, wherein the power lead has a predetermined breaking point along a length of the power lead, the fuse comprising: an explosion chamber for triggering an explosion configured to cause a break in the power lead at the predetermined breaking point, the explosion chamber having first and second explosion chamber walls across which the power lead extends; an isolating chamber having first and second isolating chamber walls across which the power lead extends, such that a fuse portion of the power lead extends between a first location of the first isolating chamber wall and a second location of the second isolating chamber wall, and wherein the fuse portion of the power lead includes the predetermined breaking point, and wherein the fuse portion of the power lead forms a wall that substantially isolates the isolating chamber from the explosion chamber prior to the explosion triggered in the explosion chamber; and an electrically insulating partition extending, from a bottom of the isolating chamber, toward the power lead, such that a distal end of the partition is spaced from the power lead; wherein: the power lead is configured to break into at least first and second parts at the predetermined breaking point by the explosion triggered in the explosion chamber, the first and second parts configured to bend at about the first and second locations, respectively, of the first and second isolating chamber walls, and the electrically insulating partition is configured to keep the first and second parts of the power lead electrically isolated from each other in the isolating chamber.

2. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating partition is positioned within the isolating chamber.

3. The fuse according to claim 1, wherein the power lead is configured to break at only the predetermined breaking point into exactly two parts, and the fuse includes exactly one electrically insulating partition for the power lead.

4. The fuse according to claim 1, further comprising: a magnet for providing a magnetic field configured to suppress formation of an arc between the first and second parts.

5. A method for operating a fuse comprising at least one power lead, an explosion chamber, and an isolating chamber having first and second isolating chamber walls across which the power lead extends, such that a fuse portion of the power lead extends between a first location of the first isolating chamber wall and a second location of the second isolating chamber wall, wherein the fuse portion of the power lead forms a wall that substantially isolates the isolating chamber from the explosion chamber prior to an explosion triggered in the explosion chamber, wherein the method comprises: deforming the power lead by an application of pressure when the explosion is triggered in the explosion chamber; separating the power lead into at least first and second parts at a predetermined breaking point; bending each separated part at about the first and second locations, respectively, of the first and second isolating chamber walls towards a different side of an electrically insulating partition that extends from a bottom of the isolating chamber; and isolating the bent parts from each other by the partition, wherein a distal end of the partition is spaced from the power lead.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the electrically insulating partition is located in the isolating chamber.

7. A high-voltage pyrofuse for causing a break in a power lead, wherein the power lead has a predetermined breaking point along a length of the power lead, the fuse comprising: an explosion chamber for triggering an explosion configured to cause a break in the power lead at the predetermined breaking point, the explosion chamber having first and second explosion chamber walls through which the power lead extends; an isolating chamber having first and second isolating chamber walls through which the power lead extends, such that a fuse portion of the power lead extends between a first location of the first isolating chamber wall and a second location of the second isolating chamber wall, and wherein the fuse portion of the power lead includes the predetermined breaking point, and wherein the fuse portion of the power lead forms a wall that substantially isolates the isolating chamber from the explosion chamber prior to the explosion triggered in the explosion chamber; and an electrically insulating partition extending, from a bottom of the isolating chamber, toward the power lead, such that a distal end of the partition is spaced from the power lead; wherein: the power lead is configured to break into at least first and second parts at the predetermined breaking point by the explosion triggered in the explosion chamber, the first and second parts configured to bend at about the first and second locations, respectively, of the first and second explosion chamber walls, and the electrically insulating partition is configured to isolate the first and second parts from each other.

8. The pyrofuse according to claim 7, wherein: the electrically insulating partition is positioned within the isolating chamber.

9. The pyrofuse according to claim 7, further comprising: a magnet for providing a magnetic field configured to suppress formation of an arc between the first and second parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a pyrotechnic fuse according to an exemplary embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of a side view of the pyrotechnic fuse in a non-tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(3) FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of parts of the pyrotechnic fuse in the non-tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a sectional illustration of a side view of the pyrotechnic fuse in a tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of an oblique view of the pyrotechnic fuse in the tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(6) FIG. 6 shows an oblique view of the parts of the pyrotechnic fuse shown in FIG. 3 in the tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a sectional illustration of an oblique view of parts of the pyrotechnic fuse in a non-tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a sectional illustration of a side view of the pyrotechnic fuse in the non-tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment; and

(9) FIG. 9 shows a sectional illustration of an oblique view of parts of the pyrotechnic fuse in a tripped state according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of an exemplary pyrotechnic fuse 1 comprising a first top housing part 2 and a second bottom housing part 3. The two housing parts 2 and 3 have aligned boreholes 4 through which the two housing parts 2 and 3 can be fixedly connected, for example screwed, to each other. The housing 2, 3 assembled from the two housing parts 2 and 3 can be made of electrically insulating plastic material, for example. End regions of a power lead protrude from the housing 2, 3 in the form of a metallic conductor rail 5 as electrical connections 6.

(11) The fuse 1 can protect a current flow at an isolating current of at least 7500 A at 450 volts direct current (VDC) to 1500 volts direct current without effect on the surrounding area. The fuse 1 may be a high-voltage fuse or a high-voltage pyrofuse.

(12) The housing 2, 3 can have a cuboid basic shape. An extinguishing magnet (not shown), if present, can be recessed in the housing 2, 3.

(13) As is shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2, 3 comprises a sealed interior 7, which is divided by the conductor rail 5 into a top sub-chamber 8 and a bottom sub-chamber 9 serving as the isolating chamber. An isolating element 10, which forms an explosion chamber 11 in the top sub-chamber 8, is located in the top sub-chamber 8. The isolating element 10 may be made of non-flammable, electrically insulating plastic material or of electrically insulating ceramic material, for example.

(14) The isolating element 10 comprises a sealing plate 12 serving as a displaceable wall of the explosion chamber 11, as also shown in the removed first housing part 2 in FIG. 3. The sealing plate 12 is mounted in the first housing part 2 so as to be linearly displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the conductor rail 5. For this purpose, the first housing part 2 comprises guide rails 13 on opposing sides of the top sub-chamber, which extend perpendicularly to the conductor rail 5 (shown in FIG. 2 as from top to bottom). The guide rails 13 engage in corresponding recesses 14 in the sealing plate 12.

(15) The isolating element 10 furthermore comprises an isolating web 15 that protrudes beyond or away from the sealing plate 12, perpendicularly in the direction of the conductor rail 5. The sealing plate 12, isolating web 15, and the isolating element 10 may together have a T shape. The isolating web 15 may be seated on the conductor rail 5. The explosion chamber 11 is therefore delimited or formed by the top housing 2 and the sealing plate 12, and is located on the side of the sealing plate 12 facing away from the isolating web 15.

(16) The explosion chamber 11 may be assigned a blasting charge that can be triggered in a defined or controlled manner (not shown). During explosion of the blasting charge a high overpressure builds in the explosion chamber 11 in a short time. For example, the blasting charge may be a squib that can be ignited by way of an electrical blasting cable (not shown). The fuse 1 may comprise a corresponding connection (not shown). The appropriate firing pulse can be generated by an external triggering device (not shown). However, the appropriate firing pulse can also be generated by a triggering device (not shown) that represents a part of the fuse 1.

(17) The overpressure of the explosion exerts a force or a pulse on the sealing plate 12 in the direction of the conductor rail 5. This, in turn, presses the isolating web 15 on the conductor rail 5, which yields under the pressure of the isolating web 15 by deforming into the isolating chamber 9. The isolating web 15 presses the conductor rail 5 further and further into the isolating chamber 9 until the conductor rail 5 tearstypically at the contact surface with the isolating web 15and consequently is separated into a first part 16 (shown on the left) and a second part 17 (shown on the right), as illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.

(18) An overpressure that is still present in the explosion chamber 11 and/or the pulse thereof causes the isolating element 10 to continue to move in the direction of the isolating chamber 9, even after the conductor rail 5 has been separated, for example until the isolating web 15 strikes a bottom of the isolating chamber 9 and/or the sealing plate 12 strikes the conductor rail 5 and is stopped, whereby the fuse 1 assumes an end position. The isolating web 15 thus slides through a gap between the two separated parts 16 and 17 of the conductor rail 5 and is therefore disposed between the two separated parts 16 and 17. The isolating web 15 may serve as a partition between the two parts 16 and 17. For example, the isolating chamber 9 may be sufficiently deep in the direction of the movement of the isolating element 10 that the isolating web 15 can be reliably disposed between the two parts 16 and 17 in the end position. Isolating web 15 can be noticeably displaced beyond the separating edges 18 of the two parts 16 and 17. In the end position, the separated parts 16 and 17 of the conductor rail 5 are therefore separated from one another in the isolating chamber 9 by a respective electrically insulating partition in the form of the isolating web 15.

(19) At the moment that the conductor rail 5 is separated into the two parts 16 and 17, an arc may develop between these, for example if a high voltage is present at the connections of the conductor rail. The arc extinguishes if a shortest distance between the two separating edges 18 grows larger than a predefined maximum distance. By the isolating web 15 sliding between the two separating edges 18, and by the isolating web 15 being electrically insulating, the distance between the two separating edges 18 (past the isolating web 15) can be reliably set such that it becomes larger than the maximum distance needed to maintain the arc. The arc may therefore be extinguished, and kept extinguished. The isolating web 15 is not damaged because it is not flammable. The explosion additionally achieves a rapid tripping of the fuse 1 and isolation of the conductor rail 5.

(20) FIG. 7 shows a sectional illustration of an oblique view of an exemplary pyrotechnic fuse 21 without the first housing part and in a non-tripped state. Externally, the fuse 21 can look like the fuse 1 as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows a sectional illustration of a side view of the fuse 21.

(21) The first housing part 22 of the fuse 21 can be designed similarly to the first housing part 2 of the fuse 1. Here, however, the first housing part 22 does not comprise any guide rails because no linearly displaceable isolating element is present in the top sub-chamber, which now serves entirely as the explosion chamber 23.

(22) The isolating element used in the fuse 21 is designed as a partition 24, which protrudes from a bottom of an isolating chamber 25 in the direction of the conductor rail 5, and perpendicularly to the conductor rail 5. The partition 24 is spaced from the conductor rail 5. The partition 24 is made of non-flammable and electrically insulating plastic material or of an electrically insulating ceramic material, for example. The explosion chamber 23 is separated from the isolating chamber 25 only by the conductor rail 5 here. The isolating chamber 25 is consequently delimited by a second housing part 26 and the conductor rail 5, while the explosion chamber 23 is delimited by the first housing part and the conductor rail 5.

(23) The conductor rail 5 may therefore represent a wall of the explosion chamber 23, which separates the explosion chamber 23 from the isolating chamber 25. Above the partition 24, the conductor rail 5 has a predetermined breaking point 27.

(24) FIG. 9 shows the fuse 21 in a tripped state in a view analogous to that of FIG. 7. The tripped state is reached when an explosion is being triggered in the explosion chamber 23. The pressure created in the explosion chamber 23 causes the conductor rail 5 to be bent in the direction of the isolating chamber 25 that it is stretched sufficiently at the predetermined breaking point 27 to tear at that point. This separation into the parts 16 and 17 takes place prior to reaching the partition 24. The pulse of the two parts 16 and 17 causes these to be bent further into the isolating chamber 25, even after they have been separated, and sufficiently far that the separating edges 18 are separated by the partition 24. In this way, an arc can be quickly extinguished or a formation of an arc can be prevented, similar to the fuse 1.

(25) The fuse 21 may comprise at least one arc blow-out or extinguishing magnet 28, which is recessed into the housing 22, 26 of the fuse 21 to the side of the conductor rail 5.

(26) In some embodiments, the conductor rail 5 of the fuse 1 can also have a predetermined breaking point 27 in the contact region with the isolating web 15.

(27) In some embodiments, the fuse 1 can also comprise at least one arc blow-out or extinguishing magnet 28, to the side of the conductor rail 5 and recessed into the housing 2 and 3. During operation, an arc can be deflected laterally relative to the conductor rail 5, for example, whereby the length of the conductor rail 5 is noticeably increased and the extinguishing of the arc is thereby supported and/or the generation of the arc is thereby suppressed.

(28) In general, a, an or the like may be understood to mean a singular or a plural form, in particular within the meaning of at least one or one or more or the like, unless this is explicitly excluded, such as by the expression exactly one or the like.

(29) Numerical information can also comprise exactly the indicated number as well as a typical tolerance range, unless explicitly excluded.

(30) While the present disclosure is illustrated and described in detail according to the above embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and additional embodiments may be implemented. Further, other embodiments and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of one or more embodiments disclosed herein, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(31) 1 fus.

(32) 2 first housing part

(33) 3 second housing part

(34) 4 borehole

(35) 5 conductor rail

(36) 6 electrical connection

(37) 7 interior

(38) 8 top sub-chamber

(39) 9 isolating chamber

(40) 10 isolating element

(41) 11 explosion chamber

(42) 12 sealing plate

(43) 13 guide rail

(44) 14 recess

(45) 15 isolating element

(46) 16 first part of the conductor rail

(47) 17 second part of the conductor rail

(48) 18 separating edge

(49) 21 fuse

(50) 22 first housing part

(51) 23 explosion chamber

(52) 24 partition

(53) 25 isolating chamber

(54) 26 second housing part

(55) 27 predetermined breaking point

(56) 28 extinguishing magnet