Fuse for a Motor Vehicle Power Line

• US 20130009745A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto-Kabel Management GmbH
• Original Assignee: Auto-Kabel Management GmbH
• Inventors: Hentschel, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 9,425,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/401
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2039/008 using the switch for a battery cutoff
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 39/006 Opening by severing a conductor

Abstract

Circuit breaker for motor vehicle power lines, having a first planar connection flap, a second connection flap and a connection portion which electrically connects the connection flaps and which forms a desired breaking location. A particularly simple production with low material use can be achieved by the connection flaps and the electrical connection portion closing an explosion chamber of a pyrotechnical igniter in such a manner that the desired breaking location bursts owing to the gas pressure of the pyrotechnical igniter brought about in the event of actuation.

Claims

1. Fuse for motor vehicle power lines having

a first connection flap (2),

a second connection flap (4)

a connection portion (6) which electrically connects the connection flaps (2, 4) and which forms a predetermined breaking location,

the connection flaps (2, 4) and the electrical connection portion (6) sealing an explosion chamber (8) of a pyrotechnical igniter (10) in such a manner that the predetermined breaking location bursts owing to the gas pressure of the pyrotechnical igniter (10) brought about in the event of actuation.

2. Fuse according to claim 1, characterised in that the connection portion (6) is formed from a solder material.

3. Fuse according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the connection portion (6) is arranged in a gap (18) which is formed between the connection flaps (2, 4).

4. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gap (18) is formed by a punching operation by which the connection flaps (2, 4) are formed.

5. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the gap (18) extends transversely relative to the extension direction of the connection flaps (2, 4).

6. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) engage one in the other in the region of the gap (18) in such a manner that the connection flaps (2, 4) close the gap and/or the connection flaps (2, 4) are positionally stable with respect to each other in the event of a tensile force and/or the connection flaps (2, 4) are formed in a dovetail-like or folded manner in the region of the gap (18).

7. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the connection portion (6) is a material applied by electroplating in such a manner that the gap (18) is electrically closed.

8. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) are inclined so as to face away from the igniter (10).

9. Fuse according to claim 8, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) have members (2a, 4a) which are inclined in such a manner that the members (2a, 2b) define a triangle or a semi-circle.

10. Fuse according to either claim 8 or claim 9, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) are notched at bending edges and/or have an embossed groove (12).

11. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) close an opening of a housing (14) in such a manner that the connection portion (6) is arranged in the region of the opening.

12. Fuse according to claim 11, characterised in that the opening forms a mouth of a firing channel of the igniter (10).

13. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the connection flaps (2, 4) are adhesively bonded to the housing (14).

14. Fuse according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the predetermined breaking location in the connection portion (6) is formed by means of an embossed groove or an embossed perforation.