Protecting device

• US 6,750,561 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Yoshiyuki, Hirai, Hiroki, Ota, Kouji, Yamakawa, Shuji, Yuasa, Eriko
• Primary Examiner(s): BERHANE, ADOLF D
• Application Number:
  US10/117,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 307/10.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/71 Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch , e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A fixed member 11 is provided with an input terminal 2 to be connected with a battery 100 and an output terminal 9 to be connected with an electric load 101. A movable member 12 is provided with the first current pass 4 that has connecting terminals 1 and 8 to be connected with the terminal members 2 and 9 respectively in a state where the movable member 12 is attached to the fixed member 11. The fixed member 11 is provided with the second current pass 15 for connecting the terminals 2 and 9 separately from the first current pass 4, and terminal protecting contacts 30 and 31 included in the second current pass 15.

Claims

1. A protecting device comprising:

a fixed member to be fixed on a vehicle,

a movable member that is attached to or removed from said fixed member for cutting off power supply from an on-vehicle power source to each electric load by removing said movable member from said fixed member,

said fixed member including an input terminal to be connected to said on-vehicle power source and an output terminal to be connected to each electric load;

said movable member including a first current pass having movable side connecting terminals on ends thereof to be respectively connected to said input terminal and said output terminal in a state where said movable member is attached to said fixed member;

said fixed member including a second current pass for connecting said input terminal with said output terminal separately from said first current pass, said second current pass including terminal protecting contacts during midstream that contact with each other, and

current switching means provided for cutting off a current said second current pass in a state where said movable member is attached to said fixed member, and for passing a current through said second current pass while said movable member is being removed from said fixed member and before said input terminal and said output terminal are separated from said movable side connecting terminals;

wherein

said terminal protecting contacts contact with each other in a state where said movable member is attached to said fixed member, and separate from each other while said movable member is being removed from said fixed member and after said current switching means switches on said second current pass.

2. The protecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said terminal protecting contacts are made of a material that has a greater arc resistance than said input terminal and said output terminal.

3. The protecting device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a condenser in parallel with said terminal protecting contacts.

4. The protecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said terminal protecting contacts are disposed on elastically deformable spring pieces formed in such a manner that said terminal protecting contacts remain separated in a natural state where an external force is not subjected to said spring pieces, and

said movable member includes an operating section that forces said terminal protecting contacts to contact with each other in a state where said movable member is attached to said fixed member.

5. The protecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said current switching means comprising:

a pair of current switching terminals that are separated from each other located on said second current pass, and

a connecting conductor located on said movable member that is separated from at least one of said current switching terminals in a state where said movable member is attached to said fixed member, and contacts with said both current switching terminals at least when said terminal protecting contacts separate from each other, to achieve electric connection between said current switching terminals.