Water inflow prevention system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a water inflow prevention system and a vehicle. The water inflow prevention system comprises an air filter shell, a water inlet pipe and a water outlet pipe, the control valve is arranged at the air outlet in the air filter shell; the mechanical immersion recognition device is arranged at the lowest position in the air filter shell; and the controller is electrically connected with the control valve and the mechanical immersion recognition device, and the controller is configured to control the control valve to close the air outlet according to an immersion signal, detected by the mechanical immersion recognition device, of the air filter shell. By means of the technical scheme, it can be guaranteed that the mechanical soaking recognition device detects the soaking risk in the air filter shell in the first time, so that the control valve is closed in time, it can be guaranteed that water in the air filter shell can be effectively isolated in time, and the situation that water in the air filter shell enters a fuel cell system to be damaged is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle safety, and in particular to a water ingress prevention system and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The fuel cell system has a hydrogen subsystem, an air subsystem, a thermal management subsystem, an electrical subsystem, and a control subsystem. Among these systems, the hydrogen subsystem, the thermal management subsystem, the electrical subsystem, and the control subsystem are relatively independent and not easily affected by external interference. The air subsystem needs to inhale external air as the raw material for the cathode reaction. In existing application solutions, an air filter and an air intake duct are added to the front end of the air subsystem. The air intake duct is responsible for drawing relatively clean air from a higher position. At the same time, through a special structure, it filters the liquid water inside the system to ensure that the air entering the air path of the fuel cell system is relatively dry. The air filter is responsible for further filtering particulate matter, sulfur-containing gases, hydrocarbon gases, ammonia, metal substances and other substances in the air that have a risk of being toxic to the fuel cell system, ensuring the normal and healthy operation of the fuel cell system.

[0003] In related technologies, sensors are usually used to determine whether a vehicle is submerged in water. However, when water accidentally enters the air filter when the fuel cell system is turned off, since the sensor has dried out before the system is turned on, the control system will determine that the sensor is dry and mistakenly turn on the system, causing water to enter the fuel cell system and damage the fuel cell performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides a water ingress prevention system and a mechanical water immersion identification device to ensure that water inside the air filter housing is promptly and effectively isolated, preventing water from entering the fuel cell system and causing damage.

[0005] The present invention further provides a vehicle.

[0006] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the water ingress prevention system includes: an air filter housing; a control valve, which is arranged at the air outlet in the air filter housing; a mechanical water immersion identification device, which is arranged at the lowest position in the air filter housing; a controller, which is electrically connected to the control valve and the mechanical water immersion identification device, respectively, and the controller is configured to control the control valve to close the air outlet based on a signal of water immersion in the air filter housing detected by the mechanical water immersion identification device.

[0007] According to the water ingress prevention system of the embodiment of the present invention, by setting the mechanical water immersion identification device at the lowest position in the air filter housing and setting the control valve at the air outlet in the air filter housing, it can be ensured that the mechanical water immersion identification device detects the risk of water immersion inside the air filter housing at the first time, and then controls the control valve to close in time, shutting down the air filter housing, thereby prompting the driver to check that there is no water in the air filter housing before starting the operation, preventing further damage to the fuel cell. This protection measure is used in areas where heavy rainstorms are frequent, greatly reducing the economic losses of users. In addition, this embodiment integrates the control valve and the mechanical water immersion identification device inside the air filter housing, which has a compact structure and does not require the addition of redundant installation components. It is not only convenient for installation, but also effectively reduces costs.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical water immersion identification device includes: a shell, the shell having an open chamber; an electrode, the electrode is arranged in the chamber and electrically connected to the controller, the electrode including a positive pole and a negative pole; a conductor, the conductor is movably arranged in the chamber, and is used to move between a first position and a second position of the chamber; wherein, when water in the air filter shell flows into the chamber through the opening, the conductor moves from the first position to the second position to electrically connect the positive pole and the negative pole.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical water immersion identification device also includes: a water immersion fuse, the water immersion fuse is arranged at the lowest position in the chamber, the water immersion fuse is arranged between the positive pole and the negative pole, and the water immersion fuse is provided with the conductor on one side of the direction of the line between the positive pole and the negative pole, the water immersion fuse is used to separate the conductor from the positive pole and the negative pole, and after the water immersion fuse is immersed in water, the conductor can move from the first position to the second position.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the mechanical water immersion identification device further includes: an elastic member, which is arranged on a side of the conductor in the chamber that is away from the water immersion insurance, one end of the elastic member is connected to the chamber and the other end is connected to the conductor, and the elastic member is used to provide an elastic force to move the conductor from the first position to the second position.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the flood fuse is a honeycomb structure, and the honeycomb structure is placed with its cell opening end faces so that the honeycomb structure is deformable in the longitudinal direction.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the flood insurance is made of paper material.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, grooves are formed on opposite sides of the chamber, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are respectively arranged in the grooves, and the dimension h1 of the water immersion fuse in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode is greater than the dimension h2 of the groove in the same direction.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, it further includes: an air intake pipe, one end of which is connected to the outside world and the other end is connected to the air inlet of the air filter housing, and a rainproof cap and a steam-water separator are provided in the air intake pipe; a water filter sponge, which is provided in the air intake pipe at one end of the air inlet adjacent to the air inlet of the air filter housing; or the water filter sponge is provided at the air inlet of the air filter housing.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, it also includes: an alarm device, which is electrically connected to the mechanical water immersion identification device and the controller respectively, and the alarm device is configured to send an alarm signal according to the signal that the mechanical water immersion identification device detects that the air filter housing is flooded, and the controller sends the alarm prompt to the cab.

[0016] The vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes: a fuel cell system; the water ingress prevention system, and the air filter housing is connected to the fuel cell system.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a water ingress prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a water ingress prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagram showing a normal state in which the conductor of the mechanical water immersion identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention is in a first position; Figure 4 is a diagram of a submerged state of a conductor of a mechanical submergence identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a second position; Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a flood fuse according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of logic control when the water ingress prevention system is turned on according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 71 is a schematic diagram of logic control when the water ingress prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention is operating normally.

[0019] Reference numerals: 100. Water ingress prevention system; 1. Air filter housing; 11. Air outlet; 12. Air inlet; 13. Dust outlet; 14. Air filter element; 2. Control valve; 3. Mechanical water immersion identification device; 31. Housing; 3101. Opening; 3102. Chamber; 3103. Groove; 32. Electrode; 3201. Positive electrode; 3202. Negative electrode; 33. Conductor; 34. Water immersion fuse; 35. Elastic member; 4. Controller; 5. Inlet pipe; 6. Water filter sponge; 200. Fuel cell system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. The embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary. The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0021] Reference below Figure 1-Figure 7 A water intrusion prevention system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0022] like Figure 1-Figure 2 As shown, the water ingress prevention system 100 includes: an air filter housing 1 , a control valve 2 , a mechanical water immersion identification device 3 and a controller 4 .

[0023] The control valve 2 is positioned at the air outlet 11 within the air filter housing 1. This arrangement ensures that when the control valve 2 is closed, water within the air filter housing 1 is promptly and effectively isolated, preventing water from entering the air filter housing 1 and causing damage to the fuel cell system 200. Compared to placing the control valve 2 in other locations, this embodiment effectively prevents water that has already entered the air filter from entering the fuel cell system 200, thereby preventing the fuel cell system 200 from intruding.

[0024] The mechanical water immersion identification device 3 is arranged at the lowest position in the air filter housing 1 , which can ensure that the water immersion inside the air filter housing 1 is detected immediately after the air filter housing 1 is immersed in water, thereby triggering a protection mechanism for the fuel cell system 200 .

[0025] Furthermore, the control valve 2 and the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 are both disposed within the air filter housing 1. With this configuration, the air filter housing 1 is not only provided with an air filter element 14 to filter out particulate matter, sulfur-containing gases, hydrocarbon gases, ammonia, metal substances, and other substances in the air that pose a risk of toxicity to the fuel cell system 200. Furthermore, the air filter housing 1 is also provided with a control valve 2 and a mechanical water immersion identification device 3. When water enters the air filter housing 1, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 identifies the water and transmits a water immersion signal, thereby causing the control valve 2 to close the air outlet 11. This effectively isolates the water within the air filter housing 1 in a timely manner, preventing water from entering the fuel cell system 200. In other words, this embodiment integrates the air filter element 14, the control valve 2, and the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 within the air filter housing 1. This creates a simple and compact structure, eliminating the need for redundant mounting components. This not only facilitates installation but also effectively reduces costs.

[0026] Furthermore, the controller 4 is electrically connected to the control valve 2 and the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 respectively. The controller 4 is configured to control the control valve 2 to close the air outlet 11 according to the signal of water immersion of the air filter housing 1 detected by the mechanical water immersion identification device 3.

[0027] Specifically, after the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 detects water immersion in the air filter housing 1, it will transmit a water immersion signal to the controller 4. The controller 4 receives the water immersion signal to control the control valve 2 to close the air outlet 11 of the air filter housing 1, shutting off the air filter housing 1, thereby preventing water in the air filter housing 1 from entering the fuel cell system 200 and causing damage.

[0028] Furthermore, once the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 detects water in the air filter housing 1, it triggers the controller 4 to close the control valve 2, thereby shutting off the air filter housing 1. This in turn prompts the driver to check that the air filter housing 1 is completely free of water before starting the system, thus preventing further damage to the fuel cell. This protective measure, particularly in areas prone to heavy rain, significantly reduces financial losses for users.

[0029] The mechanical water immersion identification device 3 of the present invention features a simple and durable mechanical structure, which not only reduces manufacturing costs but also offers a long service life and low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, it is unaffected by electromagnetic interference (EMI), making it more stable and reliable even in high-noise environments. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for additional protective measures and is better able to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, humidity, and radiation. If a problem arises, the mechanical cause of the malfunction is generally easy to identify, making repairs relatively simple. Furthermore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 triggers its action through physical contact, ensuring absolute safety and reliability.

[0030] Compared with using sensors, when water accidentally enters the air filter housing 1 when the fuel cell system 200 is turned off, as long as the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 identifies that there is water immersion inside the air filter housing 1, the controller 4 will not execute the startup program, and at the same time ensure that the control valve 2 is in a closed state, thereby ensuring the safety of the fuel cell system 200.

[0031] Thus, by positioning the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 at the lowest position within the air filter housing 1 and positioning the control valve 2 at the air outlet 11 within the air filter housing 1, it is ensured that once the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 detects the risk of water immersion within the air filter housing 1, the control valve 2 promptly closes the air outlet of the air filter housing 1, thereby ensuring that the water within the air filter housing 1 can be promptly and effectively isolated, preventing water within the air filter housing 1 from entering the fuel cell system 200 and causing damage. Furthermore, when the fuel cell system 200 is shut down and the air filter housing 1 accidentally enters water, as long as the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 identifies water immersion within the air filter housing 1, the controller 4 will not execute the startup procedure, while ensuring that the control valve 2 is in the closed state, thereby ensuring the safety of the fuel cell system 200. In addition, this embodiment integrates both the control valve 2 and the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 within the air filter housing 1, resulting in a compact structure and eliminating the need for additional mounting components. This not only facilitates installation but also effectively reduces costs.

[0032] Furthermore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 includes a housing 31 , an electrode 32 and a conductor 33 . The housing 31 has a chamber 3102 with an opening 3101 , which ensures that water entering the air filter housing 1 enters the chamber 3102 through the opening 3101 .

[0033] In this embodiment, the shell 31 is arranged at the bottom of the air filter shell 1 and is protruded relative to the bottom of the air filter shell 1, so that the opening 3101 of the shell 31 is upward to correspond to the lowest position of the air filter shell 1, which can ensure that the water in the air filter shell 1 flows into the chamber 3102 at the first time.

[0034] The electrode 32 is disposed in the chamber 3102 and is electrically connected to the controller 4. The electrode 32 includes a positive electrode 3201 and a negative electrode 3202. The conductor 33 is movably disposed in the chamber 3102 and is configured to move between a first position and a second position within the chamber 3102. When water within the air filter housing 1 flows into the chamber 3102 through the opening 3101, the conductor 33 moves from the first position to the second position, electrically connecting the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202.

[0035] The working process of the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 of the embodiment of the present application is briefly described as follows: Figure 3As shown, when there is no water in the air filter housing 1, the conductor 33 is in the first position in the chamber 3102. At this time, the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are electrically disconnected, so no signal can be transmitted to the controller 4. Figure 4 As shown, when water immersion occurs in the air filter housing 1, the water in the air filter housing 1 flows into the chamber 3102 through the opening 3101 of the chamber 3102, causing the conductor 33 to move from the first position to the second position, so that the two ends of the conductor 33 contact the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 respectively. At this time, the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are electrically conductive through the conductor 33, so that a signal can be transmitted to the controller 4, and then the controller 4 controls the control valve 2 to close to block the air outlet 11 of the air filter housing 1, thereby preventing the water in the air filter housing 1 from entering the fuel cell system 200 and causing damage.

[0036] With this configuration, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 directly triggers the electrode conduction through physical contact, converting the mechanical motion of the conductor 33 directly into the desired current output. This deterministic "action is immediately executed once the trigger condition is met" improves the overall controllability and safety of the system, eliminates false alarms, and exhibits strong anti-interference capabilities. Therefore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 of the present invention offers numerous advantages, including high reliability, immediate response, strong environmental adaptability, no need for a power supply, high cost-effectiveness, and ease of diagnosis and maintenance.

[0037] Furthermore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 also includes: a water immersion fuse 34, which is arranged at the lowest position in the chamber 3102, and the water immersion fuse 34 is arranged between the positive pole 3201 and the negative pole 3202, and the water immersion fuse 34 is provided with a conductor 33 on one side of the direction of the connecting line between the positive pole 3201 and the negative pole 3202. The water immersion fuse 34 is used to separate the conductor 33 from the positive pole 3201 and the negative pole 3202, and after the water immersion fuse 34 is immersed in water, the conductor 33 can move from the first position to the second position.

[0038] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, in this embodiment, the opening 3101 of the chamber 3102 faces upward, and the water immersion fuse 34 is disposed at the lowest position within the chamber 3102 corresponding to the opening 3101. A positive electrode 3201 and a negative electrode 3202 are disposed at the lateral ends of the water immersion fuse 34, respectively. A conductor 33 is disposed on the longitudinal upper side of the water immersion fuse 34. This arrangement allows the conductor 33 to be separated from the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 when the water immersion fuse 34 is not submerged. In this case, the conductor 33 is in the first position, and the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are electrically disconnected. After the water-immersion fuse 34 is immersed in water, its strength drops sharply, and the conductor 33 can move downward from the first position to the second position. At this time, the water-immersion fuse 34 is flattened, so that the two ends of the conductor 33 contact the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 respectively. At this time, the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are electrically conductive through the conductor 33, and thus can transmit a current signal (i.e., a water-immersion signal) to the controller 4.

[0039] With this configuration, the water immersion fuse 34 is a key component that triggers the movement of the conductor 33. Once water enters the air filter housing 1, the water immersion fuse 34 will immediately become submerged, triggering the conductor 33 to move to the second position, thereby connecting the electrode 32. This signals that the air filter housing 1 is flooded to the controller 4, causing it to close the control valve 2 and shut down the fuel cell system 200. Furthermore, the water immersion fuse 34 can respond quickly to water ingress in the air filter housing 1 and is non-recoverable, preventing damage to the fuel cell system 200 caused by starting the air filter housing 1 before the air filter housing 1 has recovered.

[0040] Furthermore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 also includes: an elastic member 35, which is arranged on the side of the conductor 33 in the chamber 3102 away from the water immersion insurance 34, one end of the elastic member 35 is connected to the chamber 3102, and the other end is connected to the conductor 33, and the elastic member 35 is used to provide an elastic force to move the conductor 33 from the first position to the second position.

[0041] In this embodiment, the elastic member 35 is disposed on the longitudinal upper side of the conductor 33, the upper end of the elastic member 35 is connected to the chamber 3102, and the lower end of the elastic member 35 is connected to the conductor 33. Figure 3 As shown, when the air filter housing 1 is working normally, the force between the elastic member 35 inside the chamber 3102 and the water-immersion insurance 34 at the bottom reaches a balanced state, that is, the elastic member 35 is used to maintain a constant pressure. At this time, the conductor 33 and the electrode 32 are separated. Figure 4As shown, when water immersion occurs in the air filter housing 1, since the water immersion fuse 34 at the bottom of the chamber 3102 is made of a special material, its strength drops sharply after immersion. At this time, the elastic force of the elastic member 35 at the top of the chamber 3102 pushes the conductor 33 to move downward, squeezing the water immersion fuse 34 to deform, so that the two ends of the conductor 33 can contact the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 of the electrode 32 to achieve electrical conduction.

[0042] In this embodiment, the water-insulating fuse 34 can be made of paper. This ensures that the water-insulating fuse 34 has a certain compressive strength when not submerged in water, and that the material strength decreases sharply after being submerged in water, thus meeting the requirements of use. Furthermore, the use of paper material is low-cost and suitable for mass-produced applications.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the submergence fuse 34 is a honeycomb structure, and the honeycomb structure is placed with its cell openings 3101 end faces such that the honeycomb structure is deformable in the longitudinal direction.

[0044] like Figure 5 As shown, the honeycomb structure is composed of a large number of small hexagonal or other shaped cells. When subjected to external pressure, these cells can evenly distribute the force across multiple contact points rather than concentrating it at a single point. When an external force acts on the surface of the honeycomb structure, the force is rapidly transmitted throughout the structure, forming a three-dimensional stress network, thereby avoiding localized stress concentration. Furthermore, the honeycomb structure achieves maximum structural strength using minimal material. Because its interior is filled with air or other low-density fillers, it is lightweight yet highly rigid. Therefore, the flood safety device 34 exhibits high compressive strength even when not submerged. Furthermore, after the flood safety device 34 is submerged, the conductive member 33 compresses the flood safety device 34 under the elastic force of the elastic member 35, causing the flood safety device 34 to rapidly deform in the longitudinal direction, allowing the conductive member 33 to contact the electrode 32 and achieve electrical conduction. This not only ensures a sharp drop in material strength after immersion, but also effectively improves the instantaneous responsiveness of the mechanical flood identification device 3.

[0045] As an example, the flood fuse 34 of this embodiment may be made of a paper material having a honeycomb structure.

[0046] Therefore, the water immersion fuse 34 in this embodiment is completely applicable to the waterproof air filter housing 1, has low cost, and is non-recoverable, thereby preventing damage to the fuel cell system 200 caused by starting the air filter housing 1 before it is recovered.

[0047] Furthermore, grooves 3103 are formed on opposite sides of the chamber 3102, and the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are respectively arranged in the grooves 3103, and the dimension h1 of the water immersion fuse 34 in the direction perpendicular to the line between the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 is greater than the dimension h2 of the groove 3103 in the same direction.

[0048] In this embodiment, if Figure 3 As shown, grooves 3103 are formed on opposite sides of the bottom of the chamber 3102, and the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are relatively arranged in the grooves 3103, and one side of the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 are flush with the side wall of the chamber 3102, thereby ensuring that the conductor 33 moves smoothly downward from the first position to the second position and ensuring that the two ends of the conductor 33 are in contact with the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 respectively.

[0049] Furthermore, the dimension h1 of the water immersion fuse 34 in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 is greater than the dimension h2 of the groove 3103 in the same direction. This configuration ensures that the water immersion fuse 34 can separate the conductor 33 from the electrode 32 when not immersed in water. It should be noted that the direction perpendicular to the line connecting the positive electrode 3201 and the negative electrode 3202 refers to the longitudinal direction in this embodiment.

[0050] Furthermore, the housing 31 is a split housing 31 . In this embodiment, the housing 31 may adopt a threaded detachable structure, which facilitates the installation of various components and the replacement of the water immersion fuse 34 .

[0051] In this embodiment, the water ingress prevention system 100 further includes an intake pipe 5 and a water filter sponge 6. One end of the intake pipe 5 is connected to the outside world and the other end is connected to the air inlet 12 of the air filter housing 1. A rain cap and a water separator are provided within the intake pipe 5. The water filter sponge 6 is provided within the intake pipe 5 at one end adjacent to the air inlet 12 of the air filter housing 1 or at the air inlet 12 of the air filter housing 1.

[0052] Specifically, if Figure 1 As shown, the intake pipe 5 draws relatively clean air from a higher position and filters any liquid water from the air through a water separator, ensuring that the air entering the fuel cell system 200 is relatively dry and free of impurities. A rain cap prevents rainwater from entering the air filter housing 1 through the intake pipe 5. Furthermore, a water filter sponge 6 can be positioned within the intake pipe 5 at one end adjacent to or at the air inlet 12 of the air filter housing 1, further effectively preventing liquid water from the intake pipe 5 from entering the air filter housing 1.

[0053] Furthermore, the water ingress prevention system 100 also includes: an alarm device, which is electrically connected to the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 and the controller 4 respectively, and the alarm device is configured to send an alarm signal based on the signal of water immersion of the air filter housing 1 detected by the mechanical water immersion identification device 3, and the controller 4 sends the alarm prompt to the cab.

[0054] This arrangement can remind the driver that there is a risk of water immersion in the air filter housing 1, so that the driver can further confirm whether the fuel cell system 200 is shut down and replace the water immersion fuse 34 in time. The driver can only start the system after checking that there is no water in the air filter housing 1 to prevent further damage to the fuel cell.

[0055] According to the second aspect of this embodiment, the control method for preventing water ingress into the fuel cell system is applied to the water ingress prevention system of this embodiment. The control method includes: upon receiving a signal from the water immersion identification device 3 indicating water ingress within the air filter housing 1, the controller 4 controls the control valve 2 to close the air outlet 11 and shut down the fuel cell system. With this arrangement, once the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 detects water ingress within the air filter housing 1, it triggers the controller 4 to control the control valve 2 to close, thereby shutting down the air filter housing 1 and the fuel cell system. This can prompt the driver to check that the air filter housing 1 is completely free of water before starting the system, thereby preventing further damage to the fuel cell.

[0056] Furthermore, the control method of the present invention further includes: setting control valve 2 to a normally closed state; and when controller 4 receives a start-up signal from the fuel cell system, determining whether water is present in air filter housing 1 to control whether the fuel cell system starts normally and whether control valve 2 is opened. When the fuel cell system is operating normally, control valve 2 is open, and control valve 2 is closed and the fuel cell system is shut down based on whether controller 4 receives a signal indicating water is present in air filter housing 1.

[0057] In some embodiments, the control valve 2 can be a normally closed, one-way solenoid valve to ensure that air flows from the air filter housing 1 into the fuel cell in a single direction. In this embodiment, when the fuel cell system 200 is not powered on, the control valve 2 is normally closed; when the fuel cell system 200 is operating normally, the control valve 2 is open.

[0058] Specifically, if Figure 6 As shown, when the fuel cell system 200 is not turned on, the control valve 2 is in a normally closed state, which can prevent various substances from entering the fuel cell system 200. When the controller 4 receives the power-on signal of the fuel cell system 200, the controller 4 needs to determine whether the air filter housing 1 is flooded. If the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 does not detect the risk of water immersion in the air filter housing 1, the fuel cell system 200 can be started normally; otherwise, it is not allowed to start. Figure 7As shown, when the fuel cell system 200 is in normal operation, the control valve 2 is in an open state, so that the air filtered by the air filter element 14 in the air filter housing 1 can normally enter the fuel cell system 200 for reaction. If the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 detects that there is a risk of water immersion in the air filter housing 1, the water immersion signal is sent to the controller 4. The controller 4 executes the rapid shutdown program and immediately closes the control valve 2 after the shutdown is completed. At this time, the air outlet 11 of the air filter housing 1 is blocked, completing the protection of the fuel cell system 200. The waterproof protection mechanism of this embodiment is safe and effective, and can ensure that the fuel cell system 200 will not be damaged due to water ingress into the air filter housing 1 during startup, operation and shutdown.

[0059] The vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes: a fuel cell system 200; a water ingress prevention system 100, and an air filter housing 1 connected to the fuel cell system 200.

[0060] The water ingress prevention system 100 of this embodiment operates as follows: When the fuel cell system 200 is operating normally, air first enters the intake pipe 5. After preliminary filtration through the centrifugal air passages of the intake pipe 5, the relatively dry air then passes through the water filter sponge 6, the air inlet 12 of the air filter housing 1, the air filter element 14, and the air outlet 11 of the air filter housing 1 to enter the fuel cell system 200. If water enters the air filter housing 1, the mechanical water ingress detection device 3 identifies the water ingress fault and sends a fault signal to the controller 4. The controller 4 then executes a rapid shutdown sequence and immediately closes the control valve 2 upon completion of the shutdown, thus protecting the fuel cell system 200.

[0061] Therefore, at the vehicle level, the water ingress prevention system 100 of this embodiment solves the current lack of waterproof air filter housings 1 on the market, preventing damage to the fuel cell system 200 caused by water immersion in the air filter housing 1. At the system level, the air filter housing 1 is integrated, eliminating the need for additional vehicle parts and making it easily adaptable to the vehicle. Furthermore, the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 of this embodiment utilizes a mechanical structure that directly triggers electrode conduction through physical contact, converting the mechanical motion of the conductor 33 directly into the required current output. This improves the overall controllability and safety of the system, eliminates false alarms, and offers strong anti-interference capabilities. It offers numerous advantages, including high reliability, instant response, strong environmental adaptability, no need for power supply, high cost-effectiveness, and ease of diagnosis and maintenance. Furthermore, the water immersion fuse 34 in the mechanical water immersion identification device 3 is fully compatible with waterproof air filter housings 1, is low-cost, and is non-recoverable, preventing damage to the fuel cell system 200 caused by starting the air filter housing 1 while it is still in service. In addition, the waterproof protection mechanism of this embodiment is safe and effective, and can ensure that the fuel cell system 200 will not be damaged due to water entering the air filter housing 1 during startup, operation and shutdown, ensuring the absolute safety and reliability of the fuel cell system 200.

[0062] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0063] Throughout this specification, reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0064] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A water ingress prevention system, characterized in that: include: Air filter housing; A control valve, the control valve being arranged at an air outlet in the air filter housing; A mechanical water immersion identification device, the mechanical water immersion identification device being arranged at the lowest position in the air filter housing; The controller is electrically connected to the control valve and the mechanical water immersion identification device respectively, and is configured to control the control valve to close the air outlet according to a signal indicating that the air filter housing is flooded with water detected by the mechanical water immersion identification device.

2. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mechanical water immersion identification device comprises: a housing having an open chamber; Electrodes, the electrodes are disposed in the chamber and electrically connected to the controller, the electrodes comprising a positive electrode and a negative electrode; A conductor is movably disposed in the chamber and is configured to move between a first position and a second position in the chamber; wherein, when water in the air filter housing flows into the chamber through the opening, the conductor moves from the first position to the second position to electrically connect the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

3. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mechanical water immersion identification device further includes: A water-immersion fuse is provided at the lowest position in the chamber, the water-immersion fuse is provided between the positive pole and the negative pole, and the conductor is provided on one side of the direction of the line connecting the positive pole and the negative pole. The water-immersion fuse is used to separate the conductor from the positive pole and the negative pole, and the conductor can move from the first position to the second position after the water-immersion fuse is immersed in water.

4. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mechanical water immersion identification device further includes: An elastic member is arranged on a side of the conductor in the chamber that is away from the water immersion fuse, one end of the elastic member is connected to the chamber and the other end is connected to the conductor, and the elastic member is used to provide an elastic force to move the conductor from the first position to the second position.

5. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flood fuse is a honeycomb structure, and the honeycomb structure is placed with its cell opening end faces such that the honeycomb structure is deformable in the longitudinal direction.

6. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The water immersion insurance is made of paper material.

7. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Grooves are formed on opposite sides of the chamber, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode are respectively arranged in the grooves. The dimension h1 of the water immersion fuse in a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode is greater than the dimension h2 of the groove in the same direction.

8. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: An air intake pipe, one end of which is connected to the outside world and the other end of which is connected to the air inlet of the air filter housing, wherein a rainproof cap and a steam-water separator are provided in the air intake pipe; A water filter sponge is provided in the air intake pipe at one end adjacent to the air inlet of the air filter housing; or the water filter sponge is provided at the air inlet of the air filter housing.

9. The water ingress prevention system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: An alarm device is electrically connected to the mechanical water immersion identification device and the controller respectively, and the alarm device is configured to send an alarm signal according to the signal of water immersion of the air filter housing detected by the mechanical water immersion identification device, and the controller sends the alarm prompt to the cab.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: include: Fuel cell systems; The water ingress prevention system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the air filter housing is connected to the fuel cell system.

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