Fuse device for a cable in motor vehicles

• US 5,877,563 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Albiez, Robert, Groebmair, Maximilian, Krappel, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganjian, Peter
• Application Number:
  US08/595,866
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.8, 307/119, 180/271, 180/274, 180/279, 180/281-283, 200/61.08, 361/115, 280/727
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5877 with provisions for direct mounting on a battery pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2039/008 using the switch for a battery cutoff
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 39/006 Opening by severing a conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/637 by fluid pressure, e.g. explosion

Abstract

A fuse device for a cable in vehicles, includes a current strength sensor having an evaluation circuit connected downstream, and a severing device for the cable. The severing device disconnecting the cable when a current strength exceeds a limiting value. The sensor, evaluation circuit, and severing device are located in a housing in which a section of the cable also runs.

Claims

1. A fuse device for a cable in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a current strength sensor;

an evaluation circuit coupled downstream from said current strength sensor;

a severing device for permanently severing the cable when a current strength exceeds a limiting value under normal operation of the vehicle; and

a housing in which a section of the cable runs, and in which said sensor, said evaluation circuit, and said severing device are located.

2. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein an operating voltage is supplied through said section of the cable in said housing to the evaluation circuit.

3. The fuse device according to claim 2, further comprising an intermediate lead upon which the severing device acts, said cable being electrically coupled at both ends with the intermediate lead.

4. The fuse device according to claim 2, wherein said cable is reversibly releasible from the housing at both ends.

5. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein said cable is reversibly releasible from the housing at both ends.

6. The fuse device according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the cables run through the housing, said plurality of cables being simultaneously separable from one another by the severing device.

7. The fuse device according to claim 6, wherein said current sensor simultaneously measures the current in the plurality of cables and, wherein said limiting value is related to a current strength running in at least one of said cables.

8. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is divided into two parts, said two parts being separated from one another via the severing device.

9. The fuse device according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the cables run through the housing, said plurality of cables being simultaneously separable from one another by the severing device.

10. The fuse device according to claim 9, wherein said current sensor simultaneously measures the current in the plurality of cables and, wherein said limiting value is related to a current strength running in at least one of said cables.

11. The fuse device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate lead upon which the severing device acts, said cable being electrically coupled at both ends with the intermediate lead.

12. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein said evaluation circuit additionally receives a blocking signal.

13. The fuse device according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable threshold value switch coupled to the current strength sensor, wherein the limiting value is adjustable for operationally related variable current strength values in the cable.

14. The fuse device according to claim 1, further comprising a battery clamp, said housing being directly integrated into the battery clamp.

15. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein said cable is separable via a plug;

and

wherein said severing device acts on said plug in a non-physically contacting manner via a pressure force to sever the cable.

16. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of cables run through the housing, each of said cables being separable via a respective plug;

and

wherein said severing device acts on said plug in a non-physically contacting manner via a pressure force to sever the cable.

17. The fuse device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said housing in which the section of the cable runs includes a bolt holding said housing portion in contact with a remaining portion of the housing;

and

wherein said severing device operates on said bolt in a non-physically contacting manner via a pressure force to separate said portion of the housing from the remaining portion in order to sever the cable running through said portion of the housing.

18. A fuse device for a cable through which a current passes in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a current sensor coupled to said cable and having a current strength output signal;

an evaluation circuit which receives said current strength output signal;

a severing device coupled to said cable and receiving a severing output signal from said evaluation circuit when a current strength through said cable exceeds a limiting value under normal operation of the vehicle, said severing device operating to permanently sever the cable in response to the severing output signal; and

a housing in which said current sensor, said evaluation circuit, and said severing device are located, a section of said cable running through the housing.