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 Documents 1 and 2 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.
In an electric circuit breaker device, an arc is likely to occur when a conductor piece forming a portion of an electric circuit is cut. When an arc occurs, the electric circuit cannot be interrupted quickly, and thus the electric circuit breaker device must quickly extinguish the generated arc.
The technique 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 capable of quickly extinguishing an arc during actuation.
To solve the problems described above, in an electric circuit breaker device according to the present disclosure, a projectile to be projected along an accommodating space formed in a housing by energy received from an igniter includes a first projectile configured to cut off a cutoff portion from a conductor piece by being projected by the energy received from the igniter, and a second projectile configured to press, into an arc-extinguishing region of the accommodating space in which a coolant material is disposed, the cutoff portion cut off by the first projectile.
More specifically, the electric circuit breaker device according to the present disclosure includes: an igniter provided to a housing; a projectile disposed in an accommodating space, the accommodating space being formed in the housing and extending in one direction, the projectile being to be projected along the accommodating space by energy received from the igniter; a conductor piece that is provided to the housing, forms a portion of an electric circuit, and includes in a portion thereof a cutoff portion disposed crossing the accommodating space and to be cut off by the projectile; and an arc-extinguishing region that is provided in the accommodating space and in which a coolant material is disposed, the arc-extinguishing region being configured to receive the cutoff portion after being cut off, in which the projectile includes a first projectile configured to cut off the cutoff portion from the conductor piece by being projected by the energy received from the igniter, and a second projectile configured to press, into the arc-extinguishing region, the cutoff portion cut off by the first projectile.
Here, the second projectile may be attached to the first projectile prior to actuation of the igniter, and may be projected from the first projectile by the energy received from the igniter.
Further, the second projectile may be smaller in size than the first projectile.
Further, the second projectile may be smaller in transverse cross-sectional area than the first projectile.
Further, the second projectile may be attached to the first projectile with the second projectile positioned coaxially with the first projectile prior to actuation of the igniter.
Further, the second projectile may be attached to the first projectile with a center axis of the second projectile extending through or near a planar center portion of the cutoff portion prior to actuation of the igniter.
Further, the first projectile may include a cutoff surface disposed facing the cutoff portion prior to actuation of the igniter and configured to cut off the cutoff portion, an attachment recessed portion opening in the cutoff surface and configured to be attached with the second projectile, and a communication path through which the energy received from the igniter is guided to a pressure receiving portion of the second projectile attached to the attachment recessed portion.
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electric circuit breaker device capable of quickly extinguishing an arc that occurs 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 the configurations, combinations thereof, and the like in the embodiment are examples, 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 embodiments and is limited only by the claims.
The breaker device 1 includes a housing 10 as an outer shell member, an igniter 20, a projectile 30, a conductor piece 50, and a coolant material. The housing includes the accommodating space 13 that extends 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 30 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. The housing body 100 includes a cavity portion formed therethrough along the vertical direction. This cavity portion 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 have cylindrical tubular shapes. The large diameter cylinder portion 113 has a diameter slightly larger than that of the small diameter cylinder portion 112. The connection portion 114 extends in a radial direction of the small diameter cylinder portion 112 and the large diameter cylinder portion 113, thereby connecting them to each other.
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 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 accommodating space 13.
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 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 accommodating space 13.
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 accommodating space 13. The bottom container 120 configured as described above can be formed from an appropriate metal member, such as 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 accommodating space 13 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 accommodating space 13 extending in the direction from the first end portion 11 to the second end portion 12 is formed inside the housing 10. The accommodating space 13 accommodates the igniter 20, the projectile 30, a cutoff portion 53 in the conductor piece 50, the first coolant material 60, and the second coolant material 70 that are 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 conduction pins (not illustrated) connected to the ignition portion 21. The igniter body 22 is surrounded by an insulating resin, for example. Further, tip end sides of the pair of 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 conduction pin, 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 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 44 in a piston portion 41 described later of the projectile 30 disposed in the accommodating space 13.
Next, the conductor piece 50 will be described.
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
Here, 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
Coolant Material Next, a coolant material 60 disposed in the accommodating space 13 in the housing 10 will be described. Here, as illustrated in
The arc-extinguishing region R2 of the accommodating space 13 is a region (space) for receiving the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the projectile 30 projected during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20). In this arc-extinguishing region 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 30 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 R2 of the breaker device 1 has significance as a space for receiving the cutoff portion 53 cut off from the first connecting end portion 51 and the second connecting end portion 52 of the conductor piece 50 and, at the same time, as a space for effectively extinguishing the arc generated when the cutoff portion 53 is cut off. Then, in order to effectively extinguish the arc generated when the cutoff portion 53 is cut off from the conductor piece 50, the coolant material 60 is disposed as an arc-extinguishing material in the arc-extinguishing region R2. As one aspect of the embodiment, the coolant material 60 is solid. 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. For example, the coolant material 60 may be formed by forming a braided metal fiber into a desired shape. 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. For example, the coolant material 60 may be powdered or granular, or may be prepared by compression-forming powder or granules. The coolant material 60 may be liquid or gel-like instead of being solid.
Next, the projectile 30 will be described. The projectile 30 includes the first projectile 40 and a second projectile 70.
First, the projectile 30 will be described with reference to
The rod portion 42 of the first projectile 40 is a rod-shaped member having an outer circumferential surface smaller in diameter than the piston portion 41, for example, and is integrally connected to a lower end side of the piston portion 41. A lower end surface of the rod portion 42 is formed as a cutoff surface 421 for cutting off the cutoff portion 53 from the conductor piece 50 during actuation of the breaker device 1. The cutoff surface 421 of the first projectile 40 is disposed facing the cutoff portion 53 in a state where the first projectile 40 is disposed at an initial position illustrated in
Further, a recess 44, which is a recessed portion having a cylindrical shape, for example, is formed on an upper surface of the piston portion 41 in the first projectile 40. The recess 44 is configured to receive the ignition portion 21. A bottom surface of the recess 44 is formed as a first pressure receiving portion 44A 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.
An attachment recessed portion 45 for accommodating and attaching the second projectile 70 is provided on a lower end side of the first projectile 40. This attachment recessed portion 45 is formed in an aspect in which the attachment recessed portion 45 opens in the cutoff surface 421 of the rod portion 42 in the first projectile 40. In the example illustrated in
Next, the second projectile 70 will be described. The second projectile 70 is so shaped and sized as to be accommodatable in the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40, and is configured as a cylindrical piston form in the present embodiment. Further, as illustrated in
An upper surface of the second projectile 70 is formed as a second pressure receiving portion 71 that receives energy received from the igniter 20 during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20). Further, a lower surface of the second projectile 70 is formed as a pressing portion 72 for pressing the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 into the arc-extinguishing region R2 during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20). Here, when the second projectile 70 is attached to the first projectile 40, the second projectile 70 is inserted into the attachment recessed portion of the first projectile 40 from the second pressure receiving portion 71 (upper surface) side. As a result, as illustrated in
Further, for example, when the second projectile 70 is attached to the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40, an O-ring 73 may be compressed and deformed by being sandwiched between an inner circumferential surface of the attachment recessed portion 45 and the outer circumferential surface of the second projectile 70. Then, a repulsive force of the O-ring 73 in the compressed and deformed state may exert a holding force for suppressing falling off of the second projectile 70 from the attachment recessed portion 45 due to its own weight. Further, in the present embodiment, an axial depth of the attachment recessed portion 45 in the first projectile 40 is slightly larger than an axial length of the second projectile 70. Further, the axial depth of the attachment recessed portion 45 in the first projectile 40 may be equal in dimension to the axial length of the second projectile 70. This enables the second projectile 70 to be accommodated in the attachment recessed portion 45 without a lower end portion including the pressing portion 72 of the second projectile 70 protruding from the open end 45A of the attachment recessed portion 45 in the first projectile 40.
In the pre-actuation initial state illustrated in
Further, reference sign L2 illustrated in
Next, operation content when the breaker device 1 is actuated to interrupt the electric circuit will be described.
The breaker device 1 according to the present embodiment further includes an abnormality detection sensor (not illustrated) configured to detect an abnormal current of the electric circuit, 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 capable of detecting a voltage and a temperature of the conductor piece 50. Further, 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 conduction pin of the igniter 20 and actuates the igniter 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 components 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 conduction pin 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.
As described above, the projectile 30 in the breaker device 1 includes the first projectile 40 and the second projectile 70. The projectile 30 is configured to be projected from the initial position by receiving energy received from the igniter 20 during actuation, more specifically, energy of the combustion gas generated by combustion of the ignition charge in the ignition portion 21, and is movable along the accommodating space 13. The first projectile 40 and the second projectile 70 in the projectile 30 have functions (roles) different from each other. Specifically, during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20), the first projectile 40 is projected toward the second end portion 12 side in the accommodating space 13 by the energy received from the combustion gas of the ignition charge in the igniter 20, thereby functioning to cut off the cutoff portion 53 from the conductor piece 50. On the other hand, during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20), the second projectile 70 is projected toward the second end portion 12 side in the accommodating space 13 by the energy received from the combustion gas of the ignition charge in the igniter 20, thereby functioning to press, into the arc-extinguishing region R2, the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40. Hereinafter, the operation content of the first projectile 40 and the second projectile 70 during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20) will be described in detail.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in the upper half of
Note that a holding portion for holding the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 in a state of abutting the stopper portion 101A when the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 in the first projectile 40 collides with the stopper portion 101A during actuation of the breaker device 1 may be provided on at least any one of the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 or the stopper portion 101A. Such a holding portion is not particularly limited. For example, the holding portion may be formed by a protrusion provided on the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 or the stopper portion 101A. For example, when the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 collides with the stopper portion 101A, a protrusion provided on the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 pierces the stopper portion 101A, or a protrusion provided on the stopper portion 101A pierces the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41, whereby the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 can be held in a state of abutting the stopper portion 101A. Alternatively, the holding portion may be formed not by actively providing the protrusion as described above, but by engagement between a round internal corner portion 47 formed at a boundary portion between the lower end surface 411 of the piston portion 41 and the outer circumferential surface of the rod portion 42 as illustrated in
Next, the operation of the second projectile 70 during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20) will be described. As described above, in the pre-actuation initial state of the breaker device 1, the second projectile 70 is attached to the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40. As described above, the recess 44 and the attachment recessed portion 45 in the first projectile 40 communicate with each other via the communication path 46, and the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70 in the state of being attached to the first projectile 40 is disposed facing the lower end of the communication path 46. Therefore, a portion of the combustion gas from the ignition portion 21 discharged toward the recess 44 of the first projectile 40 during actuation of the breaker device 1 (igniter 20) is guided to the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70 through the communication path 46, and as a result, the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas is transmitted to the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70. Due to this, the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70 attached (accommodated) in the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40 is pressed, and the second projectile 70 is vigorously biased downward (toward the second end portion 12 side). As a result, the second projectile 70 stored in the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40 protrudes downward from the open end 45A of the attachment recessed portion 45 and is projected. Due to this, the cutoff portion 53 cut off from the conductor piece 50 by the rod portion 42 of the first projectile 40 as illustrated in the upper half of
As described above, the projectile 30 of the breaker device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first projectile 40 and the second projectile 70, which are projected in two steps by receiving energy of the combustion gas generated by the burning of the ignition charge of the ignition portion 21 during actuation of the igniter 20. That is, when the first projectile 40, which is projected by the energy received from the combustion gas of the ignition charge during actuation of the igniter 20, is pressed down toward the second end portion 12 side of the accommodating space 13, the cutoff portion 53 is pressingly cut by the cutoff surface 421, whereby the cutoff portion 53 can be cut off from the conductor piece 50. As a result, the first connecting end portion 51 and the second connecting end portion 52 positioned at both ends of the conductor piece 50 are electrically disconnected, and the predetermined electric circuit to which the breaker device 1 is applied can be forcibly interrupted.
Then, similarly to the first projectile 40, the second projectile 70 is projected from the first projectile 40 toward the second end portion 12 side by the energy received from the combustion gas of the ignition charge generated during actuation of the igniter 20. Due to this, the cutoff portion 53 can be separated from the cutoff surface 421 of the first projectile 40, for example, by the pressing portion 72 of the second projectile 70, and the cutoff portion 53 can be swiftly pressed into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2. As a result, the cutoff portion 53 pressed into the bottom portion side of the arc-extinguishing region R2 by the second projectile 70 is rapidly cooled by the coolant material 60 disposed in the arc-extinguishing region R2, whereby the arc generated when the cutoff portion 53 is cut off from the first connecting end portion 51 and the second connecting end portion 52 can be quickly extinguished. As a result, it is possible to quickly interrupt the electric circuit to which the breaker device 1 is applied in a case where an abnormality is detected in the electric circuit, or the like. That is, by effectively suppressing a prolonged extinguishing of the arc generated when the electric circuit is interrupted, it is possible to suppress a prolonged interruption of the electric circuit. Further, according to the breaker device 1, it is possible to suitably suppress the generation of a large spark or flame or the generation of a loud impact sound when the electric circuit is interrupted. Further, damage to the housing 10 and the like of the breaker device 1 caused by these can also be suppressed.
As described above, according to the breaker device 1, separately from the first projectile 40 for cutting off the cutoff portion 53 from the conductor piece 50 during actuation of the igniter 20, there is included the second projectile 70, which is projected from the first projectile 40 to press the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2. By adopting such a two-step mechanism in the projectile 30, even if an axial length of the rod portion 42 in the first projectile 40 is designed to be short, the second projectile 70 can separate the cutoff portion 53 from the cutoff surface 421 of the first projectile 40 and press the cutoff portion 53 into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2. Due to this, the cutoff portion 53 after being cut off can be swiftly moved away from the first connecting end portion 51 and the second connecting end portion 52 in the conductor piece 50, the arc when the electric circuit is interrupted can be reduced, and the insulation performance thereof can be improved.
On the other hand, in the known breaker device without the two-step projection mechanism of the projectile, in order to increase the distance between the conductor piece and the cut portion, a movement stroke of the projectile corresponding to the distance by which the cut portion should be separated from the conductor piece is normally required, and therefore, the axial length of the projectile has to be increased in accordance with the movement stroke. On the other hand, it is sufficient for the axial length of the rod portion 42 in the first projectile 40 according to the present embodiment to have a length sufficient for cutting off the cutoff portion 53 by the rod portion 42 during actuation of the igniter 20, and it is not necessary to press the cutoff portion 53 by the rod portion 42 into the bottom portion side of the arc-extinguishing region R2. For example, the axial length of the rod portion 42 in the first projectile 40 is only required to be set to such a length that when the piston portion 41 is brought into the movement restriction state during actuation of the igniter 20, the position of the cutoff surface 421 is positioned lower than the position of the lower surface (the surface facing the arc-extinguishing region R2) of the cutoff portion 53 in the pre-actuation initial state. Due to this, while the axial length of the rod portion 42 in the first projectile 40 is shortened, the cutoff portion 53 can be cut off at the time of projection, and the cutoff portion 53 after being cut off can be swiftly separated away from the first connecting end portion 51 and the second connecting end portion 52. Thus, being able to shorten the axial length of the rod portion 42 and, by extension, the axial length of the first projectile 40 has the following advantages.
That is, in the pre-actuation initial state of the breaker device 1, as illustrated in
Note that in the breaker device 1, the timing at which the second projectile 70 is projected from the first projectile 40 during actuation of the igniter 20 is not particularly limited. For example, the second projectile 70 may be projected from the first projectile 40 at the moment when the cutoff portion 53 is removed by the cutoff surface 421 of the first projectile 40, or, as illustrated in the upper half of
Furthermore, according to the breaker device 1, as described above, the second projectile 70 is configured to be attached to the first projectile 40 prior to actuation of the igniter 20 (pre-actuation initial state) and projected from the first projectile 40 by the energy received from the igniter 20. Due to this, it is possible to adopt, for the second projectile 70, a reasonable arrangement aspect suitable for separating, from the cutoff surface 421 of the first projectile 40, the cutoff portion 53 after being cut off and pressing the cutoff portion 53 into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the second projectile 70 is configured as a projectile having a smaller transverse cross-sectional area than that of the first projectile 40, it is possible to adopt an aspect suitable for attaching the second projectile 70 to the first projectile 40 in the pre-actuation initial state of the breaker device 1. Further, since the second projectile 70 is smaller in size than the first projectile 40, it is possible to reduce an impact when the cutoff portion 53 cut off during actuation of the breaker device 1 collides with the bottom wall portion 123 of the bottom container 120. Therefore, even if the thickness of the bottom wall portion 123 in the bottom container 120 is reduced, deformation, damage, and the like of the bottom wall portion 123 can be suppressed. However, the aspect of the second projectile 70 is not particularly limited as long as it is possible to press, into the arc-extinguishing region R2, the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 during actuation of the igniter 20. For example, the second projectile 70 may be disposed in a state of being spaced apart from the first projectile 40 without being attached to the first projectile 40 in the pre-actuation initial state. Further, it is not necessary for the second projectile 70 to be smaller in size than the first projectile 40. The second projectile 70 may have a size equal to that of the first projectile 40, or the second projectile 70 may be larger in size than the first projectile 40.
Further, according to the breaker device 1, the second projectile 70 is attached to the first projectile 40 with the second projectile 70 positioned coaxially with the first projectile 40. Due to this, when the second projectile 70 is projected from the first projectile 40, the second projectile 70 can press, in a well-balanced manner, the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2. In particular, in the present embodiment, prior to actuation of the igniter 20, the second projectile 70 is attached to the first projectile 40 with the center axis Cl of the second projectile 70 extending through or near the planar center portion of the cutoff portion 53. Due to this, when the second projectile 70 is projected from the first projectile 40, the second projectile 70 can press the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 at or near the planar center portion of the cutoff portion 53, whereby the cutoff portion 53 can be smoothly pressed into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2. Note that as the second projectile 70 is attached to the first projectile 40 with the center axis Cl of the second projectile 70 extending through the planar center portion of the cutoff portion 53, the cutoff portion 53 cut off by the first projectile 40 during actuation of the igniter 20 can be further smoothly pressed into the bottom portion side (second end portion 12 side) of the arc-extinguishing region R2 by the second projectile 70.
Further, the first projectile 40 in the present embodiment includes the cutoff surface 421 disposed facing the cutoff portion 53 prior to actuation of the igniter 20 and configured to cut off the cutoff portion 53, the attachment recessed portion 45 opening in the cutoff surface 421 and configured to be attached with the second projectile 70, and the communication path 46 through which the energy received from the igniter 20 is guided to the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70 attached to the attachment recessed portion 45. Due to this, the combustion gas generated during actuation of the igniter 20 can be suitably introduced via the communication path 46 into the second pressure receiving portion 71 of the second projectile 70 attached to the attachment recessed portion 45 of the first projectile 40. Then, the second projectile 70 can be smoothly projected from the first projectile 40 by the pressure (combustion energy) of the combustion gas introduced into the second pressure receiving portion 71.
Note that in the above embodiment, in the example illustrated in
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 |
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2020-219386 | Dec 2020 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2021/048500 | 12/27/2021 | WO |