Housing configuration for a pyromechanical disconnecting device

A pyromechanical disconnecting device that includes a housing having a receiving space for an ignition element and a supporting floor. A disconnecting tool is disposed in the housing and movable along a path toward a disconnecting point of a current conductor rail. Also disposed in the housing is an ignition element adapted to propel the disconnecting tool along the path to sever the current conductor rail. The ignition element includes an end having a conical flank facing the supporting floor of the housing. An elastic sealing element is arranged about the conical flank and the supporting floor to act as an axial tolerance compensator between the ignition element and the supporting floor of the housing.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a pyromechanical disconnecting device.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a pyromechanical disconnecting device, in particular for switching off a battery in a motor vehicle, with a housing in which a current conductor rail is arranged, constructed as able to be cut through by a disconnecting tool at a disconnecting point, wherein the disconnecting tool can be accelerated by the propellants of an ignition element and the ignition element has electrical connecting pins, is inserted into a receiving space in the housing and is supported on a supporting floor of this receiving space and the supporting floor has through bores for the connecting pin.

With disconnecting devices of this kind it is known also to insert into the housing a supporting element, which has a supporting function for absorbing the back pressure during triggering of the ignition element. This supporting element usually consists of metal.

According to the prior art this supporting element is inserted into an injection mould for the housing as an insertion part and injected with the housing. This process is cost-intensive, as the insertion process is usually done by hand. Additionally there are the costs for the insertion part itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to enable simple and yet safe installation of an ignition element into the pyromechanical disconnecting device.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that an elastic sealing element is arranged between the ignition element and the supporting floor. This sealing element acts as axial tolerance compensation for the ignition element and at the same time represents a sealing function against the penetration of moisture.

In one embodiment the supporting element is an O-ring. Alternatively, the sealing element may also be a flat seal, which is arranged on the supporting floor and through which the connecting pins project.

In a further embodiment the sealing element is an elastic compensation element injected on to the supporting floor.

The housing consists of a high-strength insulating material, preferably a plastics material, with which glass fibres or carbon fibres may be mixed for mechanical stiffening.

The invention is explained in greater detail below using three figures.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a housing1made of a high-strength insulating material, with which glass fibres or carbon fibres are mixed for stiffening, a receiving space7is arranged, in which there is an ignition element5, which on initiation generates a propellant. This propellant accelerates a disconnecting tool6, which in turn cuts through a current conductor rail (not shown), arranged in the housing1or in the receiving space7, at a disconnecting point.

The ignition element5is supported on a supporting floor2of the receiving space7, the ignition element5having two connecting pins9, which project through the supporting floor2at two through bores3. The connecting pins9are connected from outside to a plug10.

Between the ignition element5and the supporting floor2is arranged an elastic sealing element4, which acts as axial tolerance compensation for the inserted ignition element5. At the same time this sealing element4represents a sealing function against penetration of moisture.

As shown inFIG. 1, this sealing element4is an O-ring which is supported on a conical flank8of the ignition element5and the supporting floor2.

InFIG. 2an embodiment of the elastic sealing element4is shown, in which the sealing element4is an elastic compensation element injected on to the supporting floor2. This compensation element, like the O-ring shown inFIG. 1, is supported on a conical flank8of the ignition element5.

FIG. 3shows an embodiment of the sealing element4, in which the sealing element4is a flat seal which is arranged on the supporting floor2and through which the connecting pins9of the ignition element5project.