Patent ID: 7521817

Claim:
A system for reducing the chance of fire and/or explosion when a vehicle impacts an object comprising: a cable connector having first and second portions that separate when predetermined conditions are satisfied; a pressurized container of inert gas that promotes the separation of said first and second portions of said cable connector, said first portion being connected to the ungrounded terminal of a battery in the vehicle, said second portion being connected to the electrical components of the vehicle; means for sensing impact between the vehicle and the object; means for extinguishing an electrical arc in said first portion of said cable connector while separating said first and second portions; and means for initiating inert gas flow from said pressurized container to said cable connector whereby said first and second portions of said cable connector are separated a distance sufficient to interrupt electrical current, said inert gas flow continuing until said container supplying said inert gas depressurizes thereby reducing the possibility of fire and/or explosion by blanketing the area adjacent to said first portion of said cable connector with inert gas wherein said first portion of said cable connector includes outer recesses for providing inert gas from conduits to plugging fingers of said second portion of said cable connector.