Patent Application
20240186083
The present invention relates to an electric circuit breaker device.
An electric circuit may be provided with a breaker device configured to be actuated when an abnormality occurs in a device constituting the electric circuit or when an abnormality occurs in a system in which the electric circuit is mounted, thereby urgently interrupting the continuity of the electric circuit. Electric circuit breaker devices have been proposed in which, according to one aspect thereof, a projectile is moved at high speed by energy applied from an igniter or the like to forcibly and physically cut a conductor piece that forms a portion of an electric circuit (refer to Patent Document 1 and the like, for example). Further, in recent years, electric circuit breaker devices applied to electric vehicles equipped with a high-voltage power source are becoming increasingly important.
Patent Document 1: JP 2013-522834 T
Patent Document 2: JP 2007-534107 T
When cutting a conductor piece forming a portion of an electric circuit by actuation of an electric circuit breaker device, an arc is likely to be generated during cutting. Failing to sufficiently suppress the arc may cause damage to a device to which the electric circuit breaker device is connected. Therefore, a technology for effectively suppressing an arc is desired.
The technology of the present disclosure has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object thereof is to provide an electric circuit breaker device that suppresses generation of an arc during actuation.
In order to solve the above problem, an electric circuit breaker device according to the present disclosure includes: a housing including an accommodating space inside, the accommodating space extending in one direction and including a projectile accommodating portion formed at one end side and an arc-extinguishing region portion formed at the other end side: an igniter provided at the housing: a projectile accommodated in the projectile accommodating portion and configured to be projected from the projectile accommodating portion toward an arc-extinguishing region portion side along the accommodating space by energy received from the igniter: and a conductor piece provided at the housing and forming a portion of an electric circuit, the conductor piece including, at a portion of the conductor piece, a cutoff portion to be cut off by the projectile, the cutoff portion being disposed crossing between the projectile accommodating portion and the arc-extinguishing region portion, wherein the projectile includes, on a distal end side, a cutting-off surface configured to cut off the cutoff portion during actuation of the igniter, and of the conductor piece, at least one of a first surface facing a projectile accommodating portion side or a second surface facing the arc-extinguishing region portion side is formed with a cutting-off assisting groove at a predetermined expected cutting-off position where the cutoff portion is pressingly cut by the cutting-off surface during actuation of the igniter, the cutting-off assisting groove having a shape conforming to a contour of the cutting-off surface.
The cutting-off surface may have a circular shape, and the cutting-off assisting groove may have a circular arc shape as seen in a moving direction of the projectile.
The cutting-off assisting groove may be formed as a V-shaped groove of which a cross-sectional shape along a thickness direction of the conductor piece is V-shaped.
The cutting-off assisting groove may be formed on both a first surface side and a second surface side of the conductor piece.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electric circuit breaker device that suppresses generation of an arc during actuation.
An electric circuit breaker device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the configurations, combinations thereof, and the like in the embodiment are an example, and various additions, omissions, substitutions, and other changes may be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited by the embodiment and is limited only by the claims.
The breaker device 1 includes a housing 10, an igniter 20, a projectile 40, a conductor piece 50, and a coolant material 60. The housing 10 is an outer shell member, and encloses an accommodating space 13 extending in a direction from a first end portion 11 on an upper end side to a second end portion 12 on a lower end side. This accommodating space 13 is a space formed in a straight line, making the projectile 40 movable, and extends along a vertical direction of the breaker device 1. As illustrated in
The housing 10 includes a housing body 100, a top holder 110, and a bottom container 120. The housing body 100 is bonded to the top holder 110 and the bottom container 120, thereby forming the housing 10 that is integral.
The housing body 100 has, for example, a substantially prismatic outer shape. However, the shape of the housing body 100 is not particularly limited. In addition, the housing body 100 includes a cavity portion 145 formed therethrough along the vertical direction. This cavity portion 145 forms a portion of the accommodating space 13. Furthermore, the housing body 100 includes an upper surface 101 to which a flange portion 111 of the top holder 110 is fixed and a lower surface 102 to which a flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 is fixed. In the present embodiment, an upper tubular wall 103 having a tubular shape is provided erected upward from the upper surface 101 on the outer circumferential side of the upper surface 101 in the housing body 100. In the present embodiment, the upper tubular wall 103 has a rectangular tubular shape, for example, but may have other shapes. On the outer circumferential side of the lower surface 102 in the housing body 100, a lower tubular wall 104 having a tubular shape is provided suspended downward from the lower surface 102. In the present embodiment, the lower tubular wall 104 has a rectangular tubular shape, for example, but may have other shapes. The housing body 100 configured as described above can be formed from an insulating member such as a synthetic resin, for example. For example, the housing body 100 may be formed from nylon, which is a type of polyamide synthetic resin.
Next, the top holder 110 will be described. The top holder 110 is, for example, a cylindrical member having a stepped cylindrical tubular shape with a hollow inside. The top holder 110 includes a small diameter cylinder portion 112 positioned on the upper side (first end portion 11 side), a large diameter cylinder portion 113 positioned on the lower side, a connection portion 114 connecting these, and the flange portion 111 extending outward from a lower end of the large diameter cylinder portion 113. For example, the small diameter cylinder portion 112 and the large diameter cylinder portion 113 are coaxially disposed, and the large diameter cylinder portion 113 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the small diameter cylinder portion 112.
The contour of the flange portion 111 in the top holder 110 has a substantially quadrangular shape that fits inside the upper tubular wall 103 in the housing body 100. For example, the flange portion 111 may be integrally fastened to the upper surface 101 in the housing body 100 using a screw or the like, or may be fixed thereto by a rivet or the like, in a state of being disposed inside the upper tubular wall 103. Further, the top holder 110 may be bonded to the housing body 100 in a state where a sealant is applied between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and a lower surface of the flange portion 111 in the top holder 110. This can increase airtightness of a tubular space (a portion of the accommodating space 13) formed in the housing 10. Further, instead of the sealant or in combination with the sealant, an O-ring may be interposed between the upper surface 101 of the housing body 100 and the flange portion 111 of the top holder 110 to increase the airtightness of the tubular space.
The cavity portion formed inside the small diameter cylinder portion 112 in the top holder 110 functions as an accommodating space for accommodating a portion of the igniter 20 as illustrated in
Next, the bottom container 120 will be described. The bottom container 120) has a substantially tubular bottomed shape with a hollow inside, and includes a side wall portion 122, a bottom wall portion 123 connected to a lower end of the side wall portion 122, and a flange portion 121 connected to an upper end of the side wall portion 122. The side wall portion 122 has, for example, a cylindrical tubular shape. The flange portion 121 extends outward from the upper end of the side wall portion 122. The contour of the flange portion 121 in the bottom container 120 has a substantially quadrangular shape that fits inside the lower tubular wall 104 in the housing body 100. For example, the flange portion 121 may be integrally fastened to the lower surface 102 in the housing body 100 using a screw or the like, or may be fixed thereto by a rivet or the like, in a state of being disposed inside the lower tubular wall 104. Here, the bottom container 120 may be bonded to the housing body 100 in a state where the sealant is applied between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and an upper surface of the flange portion 121 in the bottom container 120. This can increase airtightness of a tubular space (a portion of the accommodating space 13) formed in the housing 10. Further, instead of the sealant or in combination with the sealant, an O-ring may be interposed between the lower surface 102 of the housing body 100 and the flange portion 121 of the bottom container 120 to increase the airtightness of the tubular space.
Note that the above aspect regarding the shape of the bottom container 120 is an example, and other shapes may be adopted. Further, the cavity portion formed inside the bottom container 120 communicates with the housing body 100 positioned above, and forms a portion of the tubular space. The bottom container 120 configured as described above can be formed from an appropriate metal member, such as 30) stainless steel or aluminum, having excellent strength and durability, for example. However, a material for forming the bottom container 120 is not particularly limited. Further, the bottom container 120 may have a multilayer structure. For example, in the bottom container 120, an exterior portion facing the outside may be formed from an appropriate metal member, such as stainless steel or aluminum, having excellent strength and durability, and an interior portion facing the tubular space side may be formed from an insulating member such as a synthetic resin. Of course, the entire bottom container 120 may be formed from an insulating member.
As described above, the housing 10 in the embodiment includes the housing body 100, the top holder 110, and the bottom container 120 that are integrally assembled, and the tubular space extending in the direction from the first end portion 11 to the second end portion 12 is formed inside the housing 10. The tubular space accommodates the igniter 20, the projectile 40, a cutoff portion 53 in the conductor piece 50, the coolant material 60, and the like that will be described below in detail.
Next, the igniter 20 will be described. The igniter 20 is an electric igniter that includes an ignition portion 21 with an ignition charge, and an igniter body 22 including a pair of electro-conduction pins (not illustrated) connected to the ignition portion 21. The igniter body 22 is surrounded by an insulating resin, for example. Further, distal end sides of the pair of electro-conduction pins in the igniter body 22 are exposed to the outside, and are connected to a power source when the breaker device 1 is used.
The igniter body 22 includes a body portion 221 having a substantially cylindrical shape and accommodated inside the small diameter cylinder portion 112 in the top holder 110, and a connector portion 222 positioned on the body portion 221. The igniter body 22 is fixed to the small diameter cylinder portion 112 by, for example, the body portion 221 being pressed to an inner circumferential surface of the small diameter cylinder portion 112. Further, a constricted portion having an outer circumferential surface recessed as compared with other locations is annularly formed along a circumferential direction of the body portion 221 at an axially intermediate portion of the body portion 221. An O-ring 223 is fitted into this constricted portion. The O-ring 223 is formed from, for example, rubber (silicone rubber, for example) or a synthetic resin, and functions to increase airtightness between the inner circumferential surface in the small diameter cylinder portion 112 and the body portion 221.
The connector portion 222 in the igniter 20 is disposed protruding to the outside through an opening 112A formed at an upper end of the small diameter cylinder portion 112. The connector portion 222 has, for example, a cylindrical tubular shape covering a side of the electro-conduction pins, allowing connection with a connector of a power source.
As illustrated in
In actuation of the igniter 20, when an actuating current for igniting the ignition charge is supplied from the power source to the electro-conduction pins, the bridge wire in the ignition portion 21 generates heat, and as a result, the ignition charge in the igniter cup is ignited and burns, generating a combustion gas. Then, the pressure in the igniter cup increases along with the combustion of the ignition charge in the igniter cup of the ignition portion 21, a rupture surface 21A of the igniter cup ruptures, and the combustion gas is discharged from the igniter cup into the accommodating space 13. More specifically, the combustion gas from the igniter cup is discharged into a recess 411 in a piston portion 41 described later of the projectile 40 disposed in the accommodating space 13. Thereby, the projectile 40 is launched downward from the initial position in
Next, the projectile 40 will be described. The projectile 40 is formed from an insulating member such as synthetic resin, for example, and includes the piston portion 41 and a rod portion 42 connected to the piston portion 41. The piston portion 41 has a substantially cylindrical shape and has an outer diameter substantially corresponding to an inner diameter of the large diameter cylinder portion 113 in the top holder 110. For example, the diameter of the piston portion 41 may be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter cylinder portion 113. The shape of the projectile 40 can be changed as appropriate according to the shape of the housing 10 and the like.
Further, the recess 411 having a cylindrical shape, for example, is formed on an upper surface of the piston portion 41. This recess 411 receives the ignition portion 21. A bottom surface of the recess 411 is formed as a pressure receiving surface 411A that receives energy received from the igniter 20 during actuation of the igniter 20. Further, a constricted portion having an outer circumferential surface recessed as compared with other locations is annularly formed along a circumferential direction of the piston portion 41 at an axially intermediate portion of the piston portion 41. An O-ring 43 is fitted into this constricted portion. The O-ring 43 is formed from, for example, rubber (silicone rubber, for example) or a synthetic resin, and functions to increase airtightness between an inner circumferential surface in the large diameter cylinder portion 113 and the piston portion 41.
The rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 is a rod-shaped member having an outer circumferential surface smaller in diameter than the piston portion 41 and extending along the extending direction of the accommodating space 13, for example, and is integrally connected to a lower end side of the piston portion 41. When the igniter 20 is actuated, the rod portion 42 moves along the extending direction of the accommodating space 13 and is inserted into the cavity portion 145 of the housing body 100. A lower end surface of the rod portion 42 is formed as a cutting-off surface 420 for cutting off the cutoff portion 53 from the conductor piece 50 during actuation of the breaker device 1. Note that although the rod portion 42 in the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical tubular shape, the shape thereof is not particularly limited, and can be changed in accordance with the shape and size of the cutoff portion 53 to be cut off from the conductor piece 50 during actuation of the breaker device 1. The rod portion 42 may have a columnar shape such as a cylinder, an elliptic cylinder, or a prism, for example. Note that, in the initial position of the projectile 40 illustrated in
In the projectile 40 configured as described above, the projectile 40 is projected from the initial position illustrated in
Next, the coolant material 60 disposed in the accommodating space 13 in the housing 10 will be described. Here, as illustrated in
The arc-extinguishing region portion R2 of the accommodating space 13 is a region (space) for receiving the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the rod portion 42 of the projectile 40 projected during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20). In this arc-extinguishing region portion R2, the coolant material 60 as an arc-extinguishing material is disposed. The coolant material 60 is a coolant material for removing thermal energy of the arc generated and the cutoff portion 53 when the projectile 40 cuts off the cutoff portion 53 of the conductor piece 50, and cools the arc and the cutoff portion 53, thereby suppressing arc generation during cutting off of a current or thereby extinguishing (eliminating) the generated arc.
The arc-extinguishing region portion R2 of the breaker device 1 has significance as a space for receiving the cutoff portion 53 cut off from a first connecting end portion 51 and a second connecting end portion 52 in the conductor piece 50 by the projectile 40 and, at the same time, as a space for effectively extinguishing the arc generated when the projectile 40 cuts off the cutoff portion 53. Then, the coolant material 60 is disposed as an arc-extinguishing material in the arc-extinguishing region portion R2, and thus the arc generated when the cutoff portion 53 is cut off from the conductor piece 50 is effectively extinguished.
As one aspect of the embodiment, the coolant material 60 is solid. As one aspect of the embodiment, the coolant material 60 is formed from a shape retaining body. The shape retaining body herein is, for example, a material that can keep a constant shape when no external force is applied and can hold the integrity (does not come apart), even if deformation can occur, when an external force is applied. For example, examples of the shape retaining body include a fibrous body formed into a desired shape. In the present embodiment, the coolant material 60 is formed from a metal fiber that is a shape retaining body. Here, examples of the metal fiber forming the coolant material 60 include an aspect in which at least any one of steel wool or copper wool is included. However, the above aspects in the coolant material 60 are examples, and the coolant material 60 is not limited to the above aspects.
The coolant material 60 is formed into a substantially disk shape, for example, and is disposed at a bottom portion of the bottom container 120.
Next, the conductor piece 50 will be described.
The conductor piece 50 can be formed from a metal such as copper (Cu), for example. However, the conductor piece 50 may be formed from a metal other than copper, or may be formed from an alloy of copper and another metal. Note that examples of metals other than copper included in the conductor piece 50 include manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and platinum (Pt).
In one aspect illustrated in
Here, various forms of the conductor piece 50 can be adopted, and a shape thereof is not particularly limited. While, in the example illustrated in
In addition, a pair of conductor piece holding holes 105A and 105B are formed in the housing body 100 according to the embodiment. The pair of conductor piece holding holes 105A and 105B extend in a transverse cross-sectional direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (axial direction) of the housing body 100. More specifically, the pair of conductor piece holding holes 105A and 105B extend in a straight line with the cavity portion (accommodating space 13) of the housing body 100 interposed therebetween. The conductor piece 50 configured as described above is held in the housing body 100 in a state of being inserted through the pair of conductor piece holding holes 105A and 105B formed in the housing body 100. In the example illustrated in
As described above, the conductor piece 50 attached to the housing body 100 is held orthogonally to the extending direction (axial direction) of the accommodating space 13 with the cutoff portion 53 crossing the accommodating space 13. Note that reference sign LI illustrated in
In the conductor piece 50, a first surface (upper surface) 501 facing the projectile accommodating portion R1 side is formed, at a predetermined expected cutting-off position, with a cutting-off assisting groove 54 having a shape conforming to the contour of the cutting-off surface 420. In other words, as illustrated in
In addition, as illustrated in
In
A gap between an outer circumferential surface 421 of the rod portion 42 and an inner circumferential surface 191 of the housing body 100 is small (for example, 0.1 mm). Both the outer circumferential surface 421 of the rod portion 42 and the inner circumferential surface 191 of the housing body 100 are provided at positions substantially overlapping a bottom portion 543 of the cutting-off assisting groove 54 in the height direction. Note that the outer circumferential surface 421 of the rod portion 42 and the inner circumferential surface 191 of the housing body 100 are not limited to the positions overlapping the bottom portion 543 of the cutting-off assisting groove 54 in the height direction, and may be provided at positions substantially overlapping the cutting-off assisting groove 54.
As such, in the present embodiment, the cutting-off assisting groove 54 is provided at the expected cutting-off position of the conductor piece 50, and the thickness of the conductor piece 50 in the vicinity of the bottom portion thereof is made thinner than other portions to form a portion that is fragile (fragile part) 55. For this reason, a force applied by the cutting-off surface 420 of the projectile 40 when the igniter 20 is actuated is concentrated on the fragile part 55, and thus the conductor piece 50 is quickly cut.
Note that in the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the cutting-off assisting groove 54 is a V-shape, but is not limited thereto, and may be other shapes such as a U-shape or a semicircular shape.
Next, operation content when the breaker device 1 is actuated to interrupt the electric circuit will be described. As described above,
Furthermore, the breaker device 1 according to the embodiment further includes an abnormality detection sensor (not illustrated) configured to detect an abnormal state of a device (such as a vehicle, a power generation facility, or a power storage facility) to which an electric circuit to be cut off is connected, and a control unit (not illustrated) configured to control the actuation of the igniter 20. In addition to the current flowing through the conductor piece 50, the abnormality detection sensor may be able to detect an abnormal state on the basis of a voltage or a temperature of the conductor piece 50. Further, the abnormality detection sensor may be, for example, an impact sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, a vibration sensor, or the like, and may detect an abnormal state such as an accident or fire on the basis of an impact, a temperature, acceleration, or vibration in a device such as a vehicle. The control unit of the breaker device 1 is a computer capable of performing a predetermined function by executing a predetermined control program, for example. The predetermined function of the control unit may be realized by corresponding hardware. Then, when excessive current flows through the conductor piece 50 forming a portion of the electric circuit to which the breaker device 1 is applied, the abnormal current is detected by the abnormality detection sensor. Abnormality information regarding the detected abnormal current is passed from the abnormality detection sensor to the control unit. For example, the control unit is energized from an external power source (not illustrated) connected to the electro-conduction pins of the igniter 20 and actuates the igniter 20 based on the current value detected by the abnormality detection sensor. Here, the abnormal current may be a current value that exceeds a predetermined threshold value set for protection of a predetermined electric circuit. Note that the abnormality detection sensor and the control unit described above need not be included in the components of the breaker device 1, and may be included in a device separate from the breaker device 1, for example. Further, the abnormality detection sensor and the control unit are not essential configurations of the breaker device 1.
For example, when an abnormal current of the electric circuit is detected by an abnormality detection sensor that detects an abnormal current of the electric circuit, the control unit of the breaker device 1 actuates the igniter 20. That is, an actuating current is supplied from the external power source (not illustrated) to the electro-conduction pins of the igniter 20, and as a result, the ignition charge in the ignition portion 21 is ignited and burns, generating a combustion gas. Then, the rupture surface 21A ruptures due to rise in pressure in the ignition portion 21, and the combustion gas of the ignition charge is discharged from the inside of the ignition portion 21 into the accommodating space 13.
Here, the ignition portion 21 of the igniter 20 is received in the recess 411 of the piston portion 41, and the rupture surface 21A of the ignition portion 21 is disposed facing the pressure receiving surface 411A of the recess 411 in the projectile 40. Therefore, the combustion gas from the ignition portion 21 is discharged to the recess 411, and the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas is transmitted to the upper surface of the piston portion 41 including the pressure receiving surface 411A. As a result, the projectile 40 moves downward in the accommodating space 13 in the extending direction (axial direction) of the accommodating space 13.
Then, as illustrated in the lower half of
In the breaker device 1 according to the embodiment, when the projectile 40 moves along the accommodating space 13 by actuation and cuts the conductor piece 50, a force applied to the conductor piece 50 is concentrated on the fragile part 55. Therefore, the conductor piece 50 can be quickly cut and generation of an arc can be suppressed.
The cutting-off assisting groove 54A of the present modification is provided in the second surface 502 of the conductor piece 50, and is formed to be a vertical object as compared with the cutting-off assisting groove 54 of the embodiment described above. That is, the cutting-off assisting groove 54A is a V-shaped groove of which the width of a cross section illustrated in
The cutting-off assisting groove 54 of the present modification is the same as that of the embodiment described above, and the cutting-off assisting groove 54A is the same as that of the modification 1 described above. As such, even in the case of the configuration in which the cutting-off assisting grooves 54 and 54A are provided on the first surface 501 side and the second surface 502 side of the conductor piece 50, respectively, a portion between the cutting-off assisting groove 54 and the cutting-off assisting groove 54A in the height direction of the conductor piece 50 serves as a fragile part, the conductor piece 50 is quickly cut during actuation of the breaker device 1, and generation of an arc can be suppressed.
While the embodiment of the electric circuit breaker device according to the present disclosure has been described above, each of the aspects disclosed in the present specification can be combined with any other feature disclosed in the present specification.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-059908 | Mar 2021 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2022/003733 | 2/1/2022 | WO |
