Patent ID: 8154377

Claim:
A circuit breaker for electrical supply lines, particularly power supply lines or battery cables, for motor vehicles, comprising: a first electrical connecting element having a first receptacle; a second electrical connecting element press fit into the first receptacle whereby a current path is established between the connecting elements such that in a conducting state of the circuit breaker an electric current passes between the first electrical connecting element and the second electrical connecting element; and a pyrotechnic separating unit disposed in the first receptacle in a region between the first and second electrical connecting elements, the pyrotechnic separating unit thermally actuatable by Joule heat created by the electric current flowing between the electrical connecting elements and emitted by at least one of the electrical connecting elements, the pyrotechnic separating unit actuatable to displace at least a portion of at least one electrical connecting element with respect to the other via pressure generated by the actuated pyrotechnic separating unit and exerted on the connecting elements, whereby the current path between the electrical connecting elements is broken.