Patent ID: 8432648

Claim:
A discharge device for a vehicle, the device being employed in a vehicle that includes an electric circuit having at least one capacitor and a storage battery as an electricity source for the electric circuit, the discharge device comprising: a forced connection device having a pair of terminals, wherein, when the forced connection device is activated, the pair of terminals are short-circuited with each other; a discharging resistor that is connected in series with the forced connection device; and a discharging circuit having a circuit structure that connects the at least one capacitor with the discharging resistor in parallel through activation of the forced connection device, wherein when an abnormality related to a collision of the vehicle is detected, the discharge device forcibly stops electricity supply from the storage battery to the electric circuit, and activates the forced connection device to forcibly discharge the at least one capacitor through the discharging circuit, the forced connection device includes: an insulating member that is disposed between the pair of terminals with the pair of terminals being pressed against each other; and a gas generator for generating combustion gas directed to the insulating member, the forced connection device short-circuits the pair of terminals with each other by removing the insulating member through activation of the gas generator at detection of the abnormality, and the at least capacitor and the discharging circuit are provided integrally.