METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PREDETERMINED PYROTECHNIC ENERGY OUTPUT

Abstract

Summary

The present invention relates to a process for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, comprising a pyrotechnic material that pyrotechnically converts at a material-specific conversion temperature, and communicating heat to the pyrotechnic material to convert the pyrotechnic material at an ambient temperature of the pyrotechnic material that is less than the conversion temperature.

Claims

1. Process for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, wherein: a pyrotechnic material is provided which pyrotechnically converts at a material-specific conversion temperature; and to convert the pyrotechnic material at an ambient temperature of the pyrotechnic material, which is lower than the conversion temperature, heat is communicated to the pyrotechnic material.

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic material is heated to at least partially reach the conversion temperature.

3. Process according to claim 1, in which the pyrotechnic material is heated in such a way that a temperature difference between the conversion temperature and the ambient temperature is completely bypassed, in particular exceeded, preferably by at least 5°, at least 10°, at least 15°, at least 50°, at least 70° C. or by at least 90° C.

4. Process according to claim 1, wherein the heat is generated by an exothermic chemical reaction.

5. Process according to claim 1, wherein a reaction substance and a reaction partner substance are mixed, preferably under exothermic chemical reaction, to generate heat.

6. Process according to claim 5, wherein the reaction substance is selected from a list comprising glycerol, zinc powder, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and/or lithium aluminum hydride, and the reaction partner substance is selected from a list comprising potassium permanganate, water and/or methanol.

7. Process according to claim 5, wherein a boundary separating the reaction substance and the reaction partner substance is melted, broken, punctured or the like.

8. Process according to claim 5, in which heat is communicated to the pyrotechnic material when a predetermined threshold of a kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the pyrotechnic material is exceeded.

9. Process according to claim 8, wherein the energy input threshold is realized by a temperature threshold and/or an acceleration force threshold.

10. Process according to claim 8, in which the communication of heat to the pyrotechnic material is electrically triggered.

11. Process, according to claim 8, for triggering a pyrotechnic actuator, in which the pyrotechnic actuator is triggered when a kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the pyrotechnic actuator exceeds a predetermined energy input threshold.

12. Process according to claim 11, wherein the initiation of the pyrotechnic actuator is initiated by mechanical force input to the pyrotechnic actuator, wherein in particular the mechanical force necessary to trigger the initiation of the pyrotechnic actuator is temporarily stored and when the predetermined energy input threshold is exceeded, the temporarily stored mechanical force is released, preferably abruptly.

13. Process according to claim 11, wherein the energy input threshold is realized by a temperature threshold and/or an acceleration force threshold.

14. Process according to claim 11, wherein exceeding the predetermined energy input threshold is initiated electrically.

15. Process according to claim 11, which proceeds according to the operation of the system formed according to claim 16.

16. System for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, comprising: pyrotechnic material that pyrotechnically converts when a pyrotechnic material-specific conversion temperature is reached; a heat source for delivering heat to the pyrotechnic material; and a control mechanism associated with the heat source for triggering the predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, wherein the control mechanism acts at a predetermined operating condition, in which a conversion temperature of the pyrotechnic material has not yet reached the conversion temperature, on the heat source to release its stored heat, such that the pyrotechnic material is heated to at least partially reach the conversion temperature.

17. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat stored in the heat source is adjusted such that it completely bridges, in particular exceeds, a temperature difference between the conversion temperature and the ambient temperature when the heat source is activated, preferably by at least 5°, at least 10°, at least 15°, at least 50°, at least 70° C. or by at least 90° C.

18. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises an energy carrier containing chemical energy and activation of the heat source causes an exothermic chemical reaction of the energy carrier.

19. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a reaction substance that is separated from a reaction partner substance disposed in the heat source or outside the heat source, wherein activation of the heat source is accompanied by mixing of the reaction partner substance and the reaction substance such that an exothermic reaction is triggered.

20. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a reaction substance and a reaction partner substance disposed separately therefrom, wherein the reaction substance comprises glycerol, zinc powder, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and/or lithium aluminum hydride, and the reaction partner substance comprises potassium permanganate, water, and/or methanol.

21. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a reaction substance separated from a reaction partner substance arranged in the heat source or outside the heat source, and a housing for receiving the reaction substance and optionally the reaction partner substance, wherein the reaction partner substance is separated from the reaction substance by the housing or optionally by a boundary formed inside the housing, for example of glass, plastic or metal, in particular a metal alloy.

22. System according to claim 21, wherein the housing and optionally the boundary is/are designed in such a way that, in the predetermined operating state a mixing of reaction substance and reaction partner substance is accompanied, in particular the housing and optionally the boundary is melted, broken, punctured.

23. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a reaction substance and a reaction partner substance arranged separately therefrom, wherein the reaction partner substance is present with respect to the reaction substance in a ratio of at least 1:1, preferably at least 1.5:1 or at least 2:1 and/or of at most 5:1, preferably at most 4:1 or 3:1, wherein in particular the ratio is within the range from 1.5:1 to 2.5:1.

24. System according to claim 16, wherein the heat source comprises a reaction substance and a reaction partner substance arranged separately therefrom, wherein the reaction partner substance and the pyrotechnic material are at least partially mixed, wherein in particular there is a mixing ratio of reaction partner substance to pyrotechnic material of at least 10:1, in particular at least 15:1, at least 20:1 or at least 25:1.

25. System according to claim 16, wherein the control mechanism activates the heat source when a predetermined threshold of kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the control mechanism is exceeded.

26. System according to claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is implemented by a predetermined temperature resistance threshold of the heat source, so that when the temperature resistance threshold is exceeded, the heat source is activated, in particular by the housing or the partition wall breaking, melting or being penetrated, so that mixing of the reaction substance and the reaction partner substance is accompanied.

27. System according to claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is implemented by an acceleration force threshold acting on the heat source, in particular negative acceleration force threshold, so that when the acceleration force threshold of the heat source is exceeded, the heat source is activated, in particular by the housing or the boundary breaking, so that mixing of reaction substance and reaction partner substance is accompanied.

28. System according to claim 16, wherein the control mechanism comprises an electrical primer element associated with the heat source such that upon electrical initiation of the electrical primer element, the heat source is activated, in particular the electrical primer element heats up such that the housing or boundary is destroyed to trigger the mixing of the reaction substance and reaction partner substance.

29. System, in particular according to claim 16, for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output, comprising: a pyrotechnic actuator system; and a control mechanism that triggers the pyrotechnic actuator when a kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the control mechanism exceeds a predetermined energy input threshold.

30. System according to claim 29, wherein the pyrotechnic actuator comprises a mechanical primer for providing a pyrotechnic gas expansion.

31. System according to claim 29, wherein the control mechanism comprises a preloaded, in particular spring-biased, force transmission member, such as a striker, which is actuated when the predetermined energy input threshold is exceeded, in particular in order to activate the mechanical primer, wherein, in particular when the predetermined energy input threshold is exceeded, the preload is preferably abruptly released.

32. System according to claim 29, wherein the control mechanism comprises a force storage, which is in particular heat source-realized, for holding the force transmission member in its biased position.

33. System according to claim 32, wherein the force storage is assigned to the force transmission member in such a way that, when the predetermined energy input threshold is exceeded, the force storage releases the force transmission member, wherein in particular the force transmission member performs an axial relative movement with respect to the pyrotechnic actuator, in particular strikes the mechanical primer.

34. System according to claim 31, wherein the prestressing of the force transmission member is realized by a spring, in particular a spiral compression spring, which is supported in particular on the force transmission member.

35. System according to claim 29, wherein the kinetic energy input threshold is set such that when an acceleration force threshold acting on the force storage, in particular negative acceleration force, is exceeded, the force storage releases the force transmission member, wherein in particular the force storage has a housing which breaks when the acceleration force is exceeded.

36. System according to claim 29, wherein the thermal energy input threshold is set in such a way that when a predetermined ambient temperature of the force storage is exceeded, the force storage releases the force transmission member, wherein in particular the force storage has a housing which melts when the predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded.

37. System according to claim 29, wherein the control mechanism comprises an electrical primer element associated with the force storage such that upon electrical initiation of the electrical primer element, the force storage is activated to release the force transmission member.

Description

[0059] 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 and tables, in which show:

[0060] FIG. 1 a sectional view of a system according to the invention, which is part of a pyrotechnic cutting device;

[0061] FIG. 2 a sectional view of the pyrotechnic cutting device according to FIG. 1 after provision of a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output by the system according to the invention;

[0062] FIG. 3 a sectional view of a further exemplary design of a system according to the invention, which is part of a pyrotechnic cutting device;

[0063] FIG. 4 a sectional view of the pyrotechnic cutting device according to FIG. 3 after provision of the predetermined pyrotechnic energy output by the system according to the invention;

[0064] FIG. 5 a further exemplary design of a system according to the invention, which is part of a pyrotechnical cutting device;

[0065] FIG. 6 a sectional view of the pyrotechnic cutting device according to FIG. 5 after the pyrotechnic energy output has been provided by the system according to the invention;

[0066] FIG. 7a a sectional view of a further exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention, which is part of a pyrotechnic cutting device; and

[0067] FIG. 8 a sectional view of the pyrotechnic cutting device of FIG. 7 after the pyrotechnic system has provided the pyrotechnic energy output.

[0068] In the following description of exemplary embodiments of systems according to the invention as well as process according to the invention, a system according to the invention is generally provided by the reference numeral 1. In the embodiments according to the accompanying figure pages, the system 1 according to the invention for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output preferably of at least 0.5 J part in a pyrotechnic cutting device, which is generally provided by the reference numeral 100, for severing a strand-like or sheet-like element. In one embodiment of the invention, this integrates the severing of an electric line 103 leading to an electrical energy source (not shown), such as a battery or accumulator, for dissipating and/or receiving electrical energy, which may be, for example, one or a plurality of: a cable, a wire, a braid, a rope, a tube, a (glass) fiber with or without armor and/or sheathing, a conductor path, or a combination of the above examples, or the like. To avoid repetition, the separation of an electrical charge coupling of an electric line will be discussed below. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other string-like elements or sheet-like elements may also be severed. The pyrotechnic cutting device 100 is designed to disconnect, for example, an electrical charging coupling or an electrical discharging coupling transmitted via an electric line 103. The necessary energy for cutting an electric line 103, which for example comprises stranded wires 106 and an insulation jacket 104, is provided by means of the system 1 according to the invention. The necessary energy to be provided by the system 1 depends on the dimensioning of the cutting device 100 and, in particular, on the material, the material thickness and/or a line diameter and is to be set via a scaling or suitable design of the system 1 according to the invention. With reference to FIGS. 1-8, exemplary embodiments of systems 1 according to the invention are described, each of which is part of a pyrotechnic cutting device 100 and provides the pyrotechnic cutting device 100 with the energy required for cutting the, for example, electric line 103. In this context, identical or similar components are provided with identical or similar reference numerals. In order to avoid repetition, with respect to the various embodiments, in each case essentially only the differences arising with respect to the further embodiments will be discussed.

[0069] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention, wherein FIG. 1 shows the state of the pyrotechnic cutting device too before its activation and FIG. 2 shows the state of the pyrotechnic cutting device too after its triggering or activation. The pyrotechnic cutting device too comprises an elongated, hollow cylindrical housing 105, which is closed towards one longitudinal side. A substantially planar bottom wall 107 is provided on this longitudinal side. At a distal peripheral zone 109, the housing 105 has a passage duct tit oriented substantially perpendicular to the axial extent of the housing 105, through which the electric line 103 is passed. Facing the bottom wall 107, the housing 105 is open, having an opening 113 formed in the face. Partially inserted through the opening 113 into the interior of the housing 105 is a pyrotechnic actuator 115 configured to operate a cutting mechanism 117 axially movably disposed within the housing 105. In particular, the pyrotechnic actuator 115 provides the mechanical work necessary to cut the electrical wire 103, wherein the pyrotechnic actuator 115 utilizes the pyrotechnic effect. As shown schematically in FIG. 1, the pyrotechnic actuator is connected to the housing 105 in a gas- and pressure-tight manner by means of a keyed joint 119. The pyrotechnic actuator 115 includes a pressure-, fluid-, and/or gas-tight chamber 121 having a cutting mechanism-side case section 123 that is largely inserted into the interior of the housing 105 through the opening 113. The cutting mechanism 117, which may be, for example, a blade, a pin or a piston, a ball, a ram or a cutting edge and is preferably made of plastic, in particular hard plastic or also rubber, ceramic, glass or metal, is circumferentially surrounded both by the housing 105 and by the case section 123 and is guided during an axial movement both by the case section 123 and by the housing 105. On the inside, a sealing ring 125, in particular a plurality of sealing rings 125 arranged in series, is provided between the case section 123 and the cutting mechanism 117. It should be understood, however, that any conceivable means of sealing may be provided between case section 123 and cutting mechanism 117. For example, the cutting mechanism 117 may be configured such that it bears against the wall of the case section 123 when subjected to a compressive load, such as in the manner of a Minié bullet. The case section 123 opens into a radial flange 127, which is offset radially inwardly with respect to the case section 123 to form an axial annular support 129 for the cutting mechanism 117. This allows for simplified assembly, but is not essential to the operation of the present invention.

[0070] The chamber 121 is essentially an elongated component and is hollow cylindrical in shape with end passage opening 131, 133 (facing each other). Adjacent to the flange section 127 is a cylindrical section 135 having a wall thickness less than that of the flange section 127 and forming an (annular) support 137 opposite the (annular) support surface 129, on which an mounting aid 139 rests, provided for example in the form of a paper disc. The cylindrical section 135 defines a cylindrical cavity which is closed off at an opposite end with respect to the case section 123. To close it off, a plug-like bottom part 141 is inserted into the chamber 121 via the opening 133 and connected to the chamber 121 so that the interior is configured to be fluid, pressure and/or gas tight. The bottom part 141 may, for example, be attached to the chamber 121 by a screw joint, which is schematically indicated by means of the reference numeral 143, or by some other substance-locking or force-locking connection. Further, to increase sealing performance, a sealing ring 145 may be disposed at a front end 147 of the chamber 121 such that a head 149 of the bottom portion forms on the seal receptacle for the seal 145 together with the front end 147. Closed-loop joints, such as welding, bonding, or the like, are also conceivable.

[0071] The system 1 according to the invention may comprise the pyrotechnic actuator 115. The pyrotechnic actuator 115 and/or the system 1 comprise a pyrotechnic material 3 disposed within the chamber cavity, namely in the region of the bottom part 141. The pyrotechnic material 3 is adapted to pyrotechnically convert when a predetermined ambient temperature is exceeded. The pyrotechnic conversion of the pyrotechnic material 3 generally results in a gas expansion, due to which the pressure within the chamber 121 increases considerably, so that a force is exerted on the cutting mechanism 117, which moves axially relative to the chamber 121, in particular the case section 123, and the housing 105 as a result of the gas expansion, and in this way cuts, for example, the electric line 103 (see FIG. 2).

[0072] The pyrotechnic actuator 115 is coupled to the cutting mechanism 117 by means of a gear 151 for, in particular, transmission-free transmission of the drive force generated by the pyrotechnic actuator 115 to the cutting mechanism 117. The gear 151 comprises, for example, at least partially the chamber 121 in which the pyrotechnic material 3 is arranged, in particular an inner chamber wall, as well as the cutting mechanism housing 105, in particular those sections which are responsible for transmitting the force of the pyrotechnic actuator force to the cutting mechanism 117. For example, those sections are responsible or decisive for force transmission which guide the cutting mechanism 117 during its axial relative movement or are in contact with the cutting mechanism 117 substantially parallel to its direction of movement. The cutting mechanism 117 is associated with the pyrotechnic actuator 115 by means of the gear 151 in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic actuator 115 is activated or triggered by means of the gear 151, the cutting mechanism 117 is actuated and caused to perform an axial relative movement with respect to the housing 105 of the cutting mechanism and with respect to the case section 123 (see FIG. 2).

[0073] The system 1 according to the invention may comprise the chamber 121 or may be arranged in the chamber 121. The system 1 for providing a predetermined pyrotechnic energy output comprises a heat source 5 for delivering heat to the pyrotechnic material or pyrotechnic material 3. The heat source 5 may have, for example, a bottle-like or capsule-like structure or shape. The heat source 5 comprises a housing 7, for example made of glass, plastic or metal, in particular a metal alloy, such as a Rose alloy, for accommodating a reaction substance 9, preferably containing chemical energy. For example, the reaction substance comprises glycerol, zinc powder, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride and/or lithium aluminum hydride. Further, the heat source 5 comprises a reaction partner substance 11 separate from the reaction substance 9. According to FIG. 1, the reaction partner substance 11, which may comprise, for example, potassium permanganate, water and/or methanol, is separated from the reaction substance 9 by means of the housing 7 and is arranged within the chamber 121. Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the reaction partner substance 11 is separated from the pyrotechnic material 3 by means of a thin-walled boundary 13, such as a partition or layer. Direct mixing of pyrotechnic material 3 with reaction partner substance 11 is also possible.

[0074] According to the present invention, the heat source 5 is set to impart heat to the pyrotechnic material 3 when it is activated, so that the pyrotechnic material 3 at least partially reaches its pyrotechnic material-specific conversion temperature. The heat source 3 is controlled or triggered by a control mechanism associated with the heat source 5 for triggering the predetermined pyrotechnic energy output. The control mechanism is arranged to act on the heat source 5 for releasing its stored heat to the pyrotechnic material 3 at a predetermined operating condition at which an ambient temperature of the pyrotechnic material 3 has not yet reached the conversion temperature of the pyrotechnic material 3, such that the pyrotechnic material is heated to at least partially reach the conversion temperature. For example, the control mechanism may activate the heat source when a predetermined threshold of kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the control mechanism is exceeded.

[0075] According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 2, the control mechanism is realized, for example, by a predetermined temperature resistance threshold of the heat source 5. The temperature resistance threshold of the heat source 5 is, for example, the temperature up to which the housing 7 of the heat source 5 remains stable and accordingly retains its shape and/or separates the reaction substance 9 from the reaction partner substance 11. If this temperature stability threshold of the housing 7 is exceeded, the heat source 5 is activated and heat is communicated to the pyrotechnic material 3.

[0076] As shown schematically in FIG. 2, the activation of the heat source 5 can be effected by the housing 7 breaking or at least partially melting, so that a mixing of reaction substance 9 and reaction partner substance 11 is accompanied. The reaction substance 9 and the reaction partner substance 11 are designed with respect to each other in such a way that when the two substances are mixed, in particular as a result of activation of the heat source 5, an exothermic chemical reaction is triggered and the resulting or generated heat is communicated to the pyrotechnic material 3. As it is also schematically indicated in FIG. 2, a state of the pyrotechnic cutting device too or the heat source 5 or the pyrotechnic material 3 is shown in which the heat source 5 has been activated by the control mechanism so that so much heat has been communicated to the pyrotechnic material 3 that the pyrotechnic material 3 has reacted, causing a gas expansion which has caused an axial relative movement of the cutting mechanism 117 to cap the, for example, electric line 103. Due to the broken heat source 5 or broken housing 7, a mixture of pyrotechnic material 3, reaction substance 9 and reaction partner substance 11 is partially present in chamber 121, together with combustion residues, such as NO.sub.x, CO.sub.y, KO.sub.z and/or CaO, formed during the pyrotechnic conversion of pyrotechnic material 3. It should be understood that there are predominantly residues of the reaction products of reaction substance 9 and reaction partner substance 11. The residues of reaction substance 9 and reaction partner substance 11 themselves are only present to a small extent, if at all, since substances 9, 11 consume themselves during the reaction.

[0077] In an analogous manner, the control mechanism can be realized by an acceleration force threshold acting on the heat source 5, in particular a negative acceleration force threshold. For example, an abrupt impact or collision can form such an acceleration force threshold, in particular a negative acceleration force threshold. As a result of the acceleration force threshold being exceeded, the heat source 5 is activated by its housing 7 breaking as a result of the force acting on the housing 7. The shattering, dissolving or bursting of the housing 7 results in an analogous way in a mixing of the reaction substance 9 and the reaction partner substance 11, which results in the previously described heating of the pyrotechnic material 3 and the associated activation of the pyrotechnic actuator 115. The activation of the pyrotechnic cutting device too results in the electric line 103 being capped by the cutting mechanism 117. As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting mechanism 117 cuts the electric line 103 by severing a line section 153 from the remainder of the line 103 and displacing it into the distal peripheral zone 109 of the housing 105. If the cutting mechanism is made of an electrically non-conductive material, such as plastic, the cutting mechanism acts as a type of insulator between the facing electric line ends 155, 157.

[0078] With regard to the exemplary embodiments shown according to the enclosed figure pages, it should be noted that the pyrotechnic cutting device too, the pyrotechnic actuator 115 and the system 1 are scalable in their dimensions, preferably in order to cut differently dimensioned (electrical) lines 103 or to provide differently sized pyrotechnic energy output quantities. Furthermore, also their outer shape, in particular cross-sectional dimension, is 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 cutting device 100 in or on an electrical appliance not shown. The passage duct 111 is to be dimensioned and thereby adapted to the external dimensions of the electric line 103 in such a way that the electric line 103 can be passed through the passage duct 111.

[0079] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a further exemplary embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention is explained, which is integrated into a pyrotechnic cutting device 100, which has substantially the same structure as that of FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

[0080] According to the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the system 1 comprises the pyrotechnic actuator 115. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pyrotechnic actuator 115 comprises a mechanical priming cap 159 for providing a pyrotechnic gas expansion. The mechanical priming cap 149 is arranged in the region of the flange section 127, which is dimensioned larger in the longitudinal extension direction of the chamber 121 or the housing 105 and/or in the movement direction of the cutting mechanism 117, compared to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2. Facing the pyrotechnic actuator, the flange section 127 has a radially recessed ring support portion 161 on which the mechanical primer 159 rests. The primer 159 is held axially in position by a preloaded, in particular spring-preloaded, force transmission member, which is formed by a firing pin 163 with a nose-like, convexly curved protrusion 165, which points in the direction of the mechanical primer 159. The firing pin 163 has a substantially U-shaped structure, with a receiving space formed between two opposing legs 167 and 169 in which the force storage 15 is partially received.

[0081] The force storage 15 may be formed, for example, by the previously described heat source 5. The legs 167, 169 of the firing pin 163 surround a front end 17 of the force storage 15, which has a rear end 19 surrounded by a movable acceleration part 171 axially offset with respect to the firing pin 163. The acceleration part 171 comprises an at least partially hollow cylindrical structure. Together with the firing pin 163, the acceleration part 171 forms the force transmission member of the control mechanism. A spring, for example a spiral compression spring 175, is supported on an end face 173 of the acceleration part 171 facing in the direction of the bottom part 141 and is responsible for the spring bias of the force transmission member 163. The spiral compression spring 175 is also supported on an end face 177 of the bottom part 141 facing into the interior of the chamber.

[0082] In FIG. 3, a depressed, preloaded position of the spiral compression spring 175 is shown, in which energy is stored. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, no pyrotechnic material 3 is arranged in the chamber 121. According to the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pyrotechnic gas expansion is generated exclusively by the mechanical primer 159. The control mechanism according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is configured to initiate the pyrotechnic actuator 115 when a kinetic and/or thermal energy input acting on the control mechanism exceeds a predetermined energy input threshold. When the predetermined energy input threshold is exceeded, the pyrotechnic actuator 115 is activated by releasing the bias of the spiral compression spring 175, preferably abruptly, and releasing the stored energy, preferably abruptly, so that the firing pin 163 strikes the mechanical primer 159 to activate it. Activation of the mechanical primer causes pyrotechnic gas expansion (FIG. 4), which in turn, as has already been described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, drives the cutting mechanism 117 to cut the electrical wire 103, for example. Activation of the mechanical primer 159 is accomplished by actuating the acceleration part 171, which is held in position and at a distance from the firing pin 163 by the force storage 15 and is biased toward the firing pin 163 by the spiral compression spring 175. This can be done by the energy input threshold being implemented by an acceleration force, in particular negative acceleration force, acting on the force storage 15. For example, the acceleration force threshold can be caused by an abrupt fall or impact. As a result of the acceleration force threshold being exceeded, the force storage releases the acceleration part 171 so that it is accelerated by the spiral compression spring 175 and strikes the firing pin 163, which then strikes the mechanical primer 159 to activate it. For example, the force storage 15 has a housing made of, for example, glass, plastic or metal, particularly a metal alloy such as Roshe's alloy. Thus, if the acceleration force threshold is exceeded, the housing 7 of the force storage 15 shatters, causing a chain reaction: Release of the preload force; axial acceleration of the acceleration part 171; impact of the acceleration part 171 on the firing pin 163; impact of the firing pin 163 on the mechanical primer 159; activation of the mechanical primer 159 under pyrotechnic gas expansion; operation of the cutting mechanism 117 to cut the electric line 103 (FIG. 4).

[0083] In an analogous manner, the control mechanism can also be implemented by a thermal energy input threshold with respect to the force storage 15, so that when a predetermined ambient temperature of the force storage 15 is exceeded, the force storage 15 releases the force transmission member 163 in an analogous manner. For example, this can be done by the housing 7 of the force storage 15 melting, breaking or partially dissolving when the predetermined temperature threshold is exceeded, so that the acceleration part 171 is accelerated in the direction of the firing pin 163 by the spiral compression spring 175 as a result of the spring biasing force acting on it.

[0084] The embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 corresponds essentially to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, with the system 1 additionally comprising an electrical primer element 21. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the electrical primer element 21 is configured as an electrical primer element. The electrical primer element 21 comprises electrical connection lines 23, 25, via which the electrical primer element 21 can be electrically activated. The electrical initiation of the pyrotechnic actuator 115 or the pyrotechnic energy output is characterized in that a heat input for the pyrotechnic material 3 associated with the electric trigger element 21 is provided via the electrical initiation, so that the conversion temperature of the pyrotechnic material 3 is exceeded to convert it. The electrical initiation may additionally be provided to provide a further initiation option for capping the electric line 103.

[0085] For example, a passage bore 179 is provided in the bottom part 141 through which the electrical connection lines 23, 25 extend. Furthermore, a hollow case 181, for example made of metal and/or in the form of a ring, is arranged in the interior of the base part 21, which case is also provided on a base-side end face 183 having a passage bore 185 for passing through the electrical connection lines 23, 25. Inside the case 181, a substantially fully cylindrical body 187 made of glass, for example, is arranged into which the electrical connection lines 23, 25 open. An ignition or thermal bridge 189, not shown in more detail, is provided on the body 187. The ignition or thermal bridge 189 is implemented, for example, as an ohmic resistor which heats up during the electrical initiation of the electrical primer element 21 in such a way that the pyrotechnic material 3, which rests on the ignition bridge 189 or is arranged in the immediate vicinity thereof, is heated in such a way that it converts in order to generate the pyrotechnic gas expansion for operating the cutting mechanism 117.

[0086] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the force storage 15 is actuated or released, in particular destroyed, via the electrical initiation by the electrical primer element 21 (see FIG. 6), so that the chain reaction described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4 can be accompanied. According to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, an fitting piece 191, which is essentially hollow-cylindrical but may also be polygonal or elliptical in cross-section, is arranged between the bottom part 141 and the acceleration part 171, on which the spiral compression spring 175 is supported. The fitting piece 191 is adapted externally to an interior dimension of the chamber interior 121. The fitting piece defines a funnel-shaped section 193 in its interior, which opens into a substantially cylindrical bore or duct 195 through which pyrotechnic gas expansion can selectively propagate toward the cutting mechanism 117.

[0087] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another exemplary embodiment of a pyrotechnic cutting device 100 comprising a further embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention, substantially corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the system 1 of FIGS. 7 and 8 additionally comprises an electrical primer element 21 described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 to provide the additional electrical initiation option described above.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 List of chemicals of the invention Trivial name/lab CAS jargon Plain name number K-benzanate (KDNBF) Potassium dinitrobenzofuroxanate 29267-75-2 (Potassium salt of 1,4-dihydro-5,7- dinitrobenzofurazan-4-ol 3-oxide) Diazol, Dinol, DDNP Diazodinitrophenol 4682-03-5 Lead styphnate, Lead 2,4,6-trinitroresorcinate 15245-44-0 trizinate Tetryl N-methyl-N-2,4,6-tetranitroaniline 479-45-8 Picrazole 1-(2,4,6-Trinitrophenyl)-5-(1 - unknown (2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-1 H-tetrazol- 5-yl)-1 H-tetrazole K/CaStype K/Ca 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3- unknown bis(olate) Glycerin Propane-1,2,3-triol 56815 Ammonium nitrate NH.sub.4NO.sub.3 6484-52-2 Ammonium chloride NH.sub.4Cl 12125-02-9 Lithium aluminum LiAlH.sub.4 16853-85-3 hydride Potassium KMnO.sub.4 7722-64-7 permanganate Methanol CH.sub.4 OH 67-56-1

[0088] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, figures, and claims could be relevant both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in the various embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0089] 1 system [0090] 3 pyrotechnic material [0091] 5 heat source [0092] 7 housing [0093] 9 reaction substance [0094] 11 reaction partner substance [0095] 13 boundary [0096] 15 force storage [0097] 17, 19 end [0098] 21 electrical primer element [0099] 23, 25 electrical connection line [0100] 100 pyrotechnic cutting device [0101] 103 electric line [0102] 104 insulation jacket [0103] 105 housing [0104] 106 stranded wire [0105] 107 bottom wall [0106] 109 peripheral zone [0107] 111 passage duct [0108] 113 opening [0109] 115 pyrotechnic actuator [0110] 117 cutting mechanism [0111] 119 keyed joint [0112] 121 chamber [0113] 123 case section [0114] 125 sealing ring [0115] 127 radial flange [0116] 129 support [0117] 131, 133 passage opening [0118] 135 cylindrical section [0119] 137 support [0120] 139 mounting aid [0121] 141 bottom part [0122] 143 screwed joint [0123] 145 seal [0124] 147 end [0125] 149 head [0126] 151 gear [0127] 153 heat source [0128] 155, 157 line end [0129] 159 mechanical primer [0130] 161 ring support section [0131] 163 force transmission member/firing pin [0132] 165 protrusion [0133] 167, 169 leg [0134] 171 force transmission member/acceleration part [0135] 173 end face [0136] 175 compression spring [0137] 177 end face [0138] 179 passage bore [0139] 181 case [0140] 183 face [0141] 185 passage bore [0142] 187 body [0143] 189 ignition or thermal bridge [0144] 191 fitting piece [0145] 193 funnel-shaped section [0146] 195 duct