Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic current breaker (1) for severing a conductor (9), having a housing (2) which is equipped with a cutting piston (8) and an ignition unit (16) for driving the cutting piston (8). The conductor (9) passes through the housing (2), and when the igniter (18) is triggered, the cutting piston (8) severs a printed circuit board (12) from the conductor (9). According to the invention, at least one spacer (20), preferably three spacers (20), are provided between the cutting piston (8) and the conductor (9), said spacers having the shape of pins and lying on a circle (19), the center of which lies on the central axis (24) of the cutting piston (8).

Abstract: A disconnect has a housing defining a cavity, a busbar fixed in the housing and extending through the cavity, a piston movable in the cavity past the piston for breaking a piece out of the busbar, and a plurality of metallic filter elements exposed in the cavity below the busbar and electrically connecting with the piece on activation of the disconnect. An igniter displaces the piston in the cavity into engagement with and past the busbar so as to break the piece out of busbar and displace it past the filter elements such that an arc created by breaking out the piece is drawn by the piece away from the busbar and energy of the arc heats and is dissipated in the filter elements.

Abstract: To produce a current disconnector for automotive safety systems having a conductor (1) which has at least one weakened disconnection point (7a, 7b), the conductor (1) is overmoulded in a plastic injection-moulding tool (2, 3). According to the invention, the disconnection point or disconnection points (7a, 7b) of the conductor (1) is/are produced in the plastic injection-moulding tool (2, 3). This not only simplifies production, it also prevents damage to the conductor, which is fragile owing to the weakened disconnection point, before it is stabilised by the overmoulding. Preferably, the disconnection point or disconnection points (7a, 7b) is/are produced by the closing movement of the plastic injection-moulding tool (2, 3). The disconnection point or disconnection points (7a. 7b) can also be produced in the preheating region of the plastic injection-moulding tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to a current breaker in which a busbar (18) passes through a cavity (25) in which a piston (14) can be moved. By moving the piston (14), a circuit board (19) is broken out of the busbar (18), thus interrupting the current flow. The current breaker has at least one metal filter element (16) which, according to the invention, extends up to the cavity (25). This ensures that the disconnected circuit board (19) touches the at least one filter element (16) during tripping. After the circuit board (19) is separated from the busbar (18), an electric arc is formed which, due to the filter element (16) being touched by the circuit board (19), switches over to the metal filter element (16) when the circuit board (19) continues to move, as a result of which the energy from the system inductance is converted into heat loss in the filter element (16). When suitably designed, there is only a moderate increase in pressure in the current breaker and thus practically no external effect.