Activation flag for activating a rescue disconnect point to deactivate a vehicle's high-voltage system.

Abstract

Activation flag (10) for activating a rescue disconnect point (100) for deactivating a high-voltage system of a vehicle, comprising a base material (20) with a fastening section (22) for a through-reaching attachment to a pull interface (110) of the rescue disconnect point (100) and a gripping section (24) with two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) arranged on both sides next to the fastening section (22) for manual gripping and applying a pull force to the pull interface (110), wherein the two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) each have at least one fastening opening (25) for connecting the two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) by means of a fastening thread (40).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an activation flag for activating a rescue disconnect point to deactivate a vehicle's battery system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an activation device for activating a rescue disconnect point to deactivate a vehicle's high-voltage system.

[0002] It is known that vehicles with high-voltage systems should be equipped with a means to switch off the battery system or disconnect it from live parts of the vehicle in emergency situations. For example, if an emergency team, such as the fire department, reaches a crashed vehicle, the vehicle must be brought to a state in which injured persons can be safely rescued from the vehicle, in order to secure the accident scene and allow emergency responders to be present. This is particularly important if the vehicle is an electrically powered vehicle with a battery system.

[0003] Known electric vehicles have a rescue disconnect point for this purpose, which ensures a mechanical separation of the battery device from current-carrying parts of the vehicle.

[0004] In known solutions, an adhesive activation flag is used, located in a visible area of ​​the vehicle and manually pulled out by a rescue team. A corresponding pull tab for the emergency disconnect switch is attached to this activation flag, allowing the pull tab to transmit this force to the emergency disconnect switch. Pulling the activation flag then activates the disconnect switch, ensuring the vehicle is in a secure state for the subsequent rescue operation.

[0005] A disadvantage of the known solutions is that the activation flag may not withstand the mechanical stresses of an emergency. For example, improper handling, such as an incorrect angle or excessive pulling force, can cause the activation flag to tear or even break off completely, thus preventing or compromising the activation of the emergency disconnect point. Even during use outside of emergency situations, there is a risk of damaging the activation flag, which could prevent or severely limit the necessary activation of the emergency disconnect point in an emergency.

[0006] US Patent 2,722,575 A discloses a safety device. The safety device is designed as a switch that is inserted into the ignition circuit of a motor vehicle. In a first operating state, the switch allows a closed circuit and thus operation of the motor vehicle. In a second operating state, the ignition circuit of the motor vehicle, in this case a tractor, is interrupted and the engine is shut off. For switching between the first and second operating states, the safety device is attached to the operator of the motor vehicle by means of a multi-section extension and a belt with a buckle. If the operator accidentally moves away from or falls from the tractor's driver's seat, a connecting element of the switch is removed, interrupts the ignition circuit, and stops the tractor's engine.

[0007] German patents DE 10 2009 036 672 A1 and US 2012 / 0 150 375 A1 disclose that high-voltage connectors can be used for connecting and disconnecting high-voltage batteries from the rest of the vehicle and / or high-voltage electronics.

[0008] US Patent 5,878,871 A shows an extension of the actuating chain of a pull-chain switch for an electrical device, in this case, lamps or fans. The extension is intended to protect the switch from damage caused by tensile forces and / or jerky operation.

[0009] US Patent 3,536,876 A describes a device that can be placed between a car battery or similar battery and a battery cable, and which is controlled from the dashboard or other remote point to pull a coupling pin that normally holds two conductive elements in telescopic contact with each other, so that a spring can separate the two elements and thereby interrupt the electrically conductive path between the battery and the cable.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is the object of the present invention to increase the reliability of the emergency disconnection point in a cost-effective and simple manner.

[0011] The foregoing problem is solved by an activation flag having the features of claim 1 and an activation device having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the activation flag according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the activation device according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers, or can refer, to each other.

[0012] According to the invention, an activation flag is to be used for activating a rescue disconnect point to deactivate a vehicle's high-voltage system. For this purpose, the activation flag comprises a base material with a fastening section for through-attachment to a tensile interface of the rescue disconnect point. Furthermore, the base material is equipped with a gripping section or, in a preferred embodiment, with two gripping section parts arranged on either side of the fastening section for manual gripping and the application of a tensile force to the tensile interface. Each gripping section part is further equipped with at least one fastening opening for connecting one, or preferably both, gripping section parts by means of a fastening thread.

[0013] Unlike previous solutions, it is now possible to perform the fastening with a high degree of safety. In the first step, the activation flag with the fastening section is threaded through a corresponding opening in the rescue separation point. To secure this through-attachment position, a fastening thread is then used to connect the two gripping section parts. The fastening thread is threaded through both fastening openings and closed. The fastening thread can be closed by simply tying or knotting it. An irreversible connection, such as clipping, crimping, or welding the fastening thread material, is also possible. This ensures that the two gripping section parts lie on top of each other, allowing them to be gripped together.In this position, the fastening thread prevents the activation flag from being removed from its fastening position.

[0014] With an activation flag according to the invention, no gluing is required. Instead, fastening occurs by simply gripping the flag through the material. Besides significantly simplifying assembly, this method also increases safety. Tearing of an adhesive bond is no longer possible. Instead, the tensile forces are directly transferred through the material of the base body.

[0015] As can be seen from the preceding explanation, a fastening thread is a flexible, thread-like component. The fastening thread can therefore also be designed as a fastening cord or fastening wire. The closure of such an open thread depends on the type and, in particular, the material of the fastening thread. According to the invention, it is especially advantageous if the base material is designed as a flexible material.

[0016] According to the invention, the activation flag for emergency situations is based on a known solution. The activation flag has two main sections for activating the emergency disconnect point. The first is the fastening section, which is securely attached to the pull-out interface of the emergency disconnect point. This means that the activation flag is guided through an opening or undercut in the pull-out interface during installation. This ensures a secure connection and thus a force transmission capability with the activation flag at a pull-out interface, which can be made of metal or plastic, for example, and is designed to be correspondingly robust. To then use the activation flag at a different location or...To facilitate activation of the emergency disconnect point, the gripping section is positioned at a distance from the fastening section and, consequently, also at a distance from the pulling interface. The gripping section is designed for manual grasping by the rescue personnel. This grasping action allows a pulling force to be transferred to the gripping section and, via the fastening section and the corresponding through-bolt, to the pulling section. In a known manner, the rescue personnel can thus grasp the gripping section by hand, apply the pulling force to the pulling interface, and thereby activate the emergency disconnect point and deactivate the vehicle's battery system.

[0017] It can be advantageous if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the fastening section and / or the gripping section are equipped, at least partially, with a reinforcing material for mechanical reinforcement of the base material, in addition to the base material. This further improves stability, as the base body is supported in its continuous fastening function. According to the invention, it is therefore advantageous if the activation flag is at least partially designed in a two-layer configuration. The base material is the material that provides the foundation of the activation flag. This base material thus also provides the fastening section and the gripping section. According to the invention, this base material is now supplemented, at least partially, by a reinforcing material for mechanical reinforcement of the base material.Such mechanical reinforcement can be provided by an additional layer, by an additional reinforcing element applied to or incorporated into the base material, or similar means. As will be explained later, fiber-reinforcing or fabric-reinforcing materials as defined in the present invention are preferred.

[0018] The inventive design allows, in principle, the use of existing activation flags with regard to both assembly and usability. However, the addition of a reinforcing material to the base material provides mechanical stabilization, thus improving the reliability of the activation flag while maintaining the same operational and assembly functionality. This means that even with incorrectly applied tensile force, excessive force, or an incorrect angle of application, the force will not cause the activation flag to tear. Instead, the reinforcing material stabilizes the activation flag, activating the emergency disconnect point and deactivating the battery device.The provision of the reinforcement material according to the invention of this embodiment thus complements known activation flags in such a way that they can provide a mechanically stabilized and therefore more reliable design form with consistent functionality.

[0019] An advantage can be achieved if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the reinforcing material is arranged on an inner side of the base material, and in particular only on an inner side of the base material. This results in the reinforcing material being exclusively located on the inner side, which is normally the back of the base material. The front side can thus be formed free of the reinforcing material in the base material. This leads to increased freedom in the design of the fastening section and, in particular, the gripping section. For example, an auxiliary or informative print, such as tactile printing, can easily be applied to the front side of the gripping section without colliding with the reinforcing material on the back, i.e., the inner side.

[0020] Further advantages can be achieved if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the reinforcing material is arranged over the entire surface or substantially over the entire surface of the base material. While partial sections with reinforcing material can, in principle, already provide the quality according to the invention, reinforcement over the entire surface area of ​​the base material using the reinforcing material is a preferred embodiment. This leads, firstly, to the desired mechanical stabilization effect being provided for all partial sections and thus for the entire surface of the base material. Secondly, this leads to the activation flag being provided in its basic version as a two-layer or multi-layer component, and the desired geometry of the activation flag being cut out simply and cost-effectively.In terms of manufacturing complexity, the full-surface application of the base material with the reinforcing material thus brings about a significant simplification.

[0021] It is further advantageous if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the reinforcing material is fibrous, particularly woven. This is especially advantageous when combined with a flexible or elastic base material, whereby the flexibility is maintained by the fibrous and / or woven reinforcing materials, while elasticity is reduced or even eliminated. In principle, in addition to flexible fibers, rigid or essentially rigid fibers can also be used. Examples of such fibers include carbon fibers, glass fibers, fabric fibers, or other woven fibers. Both natural and synthetic fibers are conceivable. The combination of different material components is also fundamentally conceivable for the reinforcing material according to the present invention.

[0022] A further advantage is that, in an activation flag according to the invention, the base material, particularly in the area of ​​the attachment section, has a folded section for folding the base material to itself for at least partial attachment. In other words, the base material can be folded over at the folded section so that the inside of the base material on one side of the folded section contacts the inside of the base material on the other side of the folded section, and in this way the base material can be attached to itself. Thus, the wall thickness is doubled in this area of ​​the gripping section above the folded section, so that the mechanical stabilizing effect is also doubled by the base material and by the doubled reinforcement material. The folding preferably extends to the gripping section.

[0023] Further advantages can be achieved if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the gripping section is wider than the mounting section. This results in a larger contact area on the gripping section being available for applying the tensile force. In this way, it becomes possible to save space, material, and also a small amount of weight. Last but not least, the reduced design with regard to the geometric extent of the mounting section is also adapted for better integration into or onto the vehicle.

[0024] It is also advantageous if, in an activation flag according to the invention, a sudden change in width is formed between the gripping section and the fastening section. This is particularly advantageous when combined with a wider gripping section as described in the preceding paragraph. This combination allows for simple and, above all, material-saving manufacturing. In a cutting process for blanking from a flat base material, this results in less waste and therefore less rejects or losses.

[0025] It can also be advantageous if, in an activation flag according to the invention, the reinforcing material is arranged in a crack zone with increased mechanical stress, and in particular only in such a crack zone of the base material. Reducing the amount of reinforcing material to such crack zones with high mechanical stress allows for further reductions in cost, material, and weight. The crack zone is, in particular, the transition in width between the gripping section and the fastening section, as explained in the two preceding paragraphs. In this area, where there is an abrupt change in width, a notch effect can lead to mechanical destabilization, which can be compensated for or substantially compensated for by introducing the reinforcing material into this crack zone.

[0026] Also part of the present invention is an activation device for activating a rescue disconnect point for deactivating a high-voltage system of a vehicle, comprising an activation flag according to the invention, wherein, for example, the two gripping section parts are connected to each other by means of a fastening thread through the fastening openings.

[0027] An activation device according to the invention equips a rescue separation point with an activation flag according to the invention, so that the activation device offers the same advantages as have been explained in detail with reference to an activation flag according to the invention.

[0028] Further features, advantages, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings schematically show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of an activation flag according to the invention in the assembled situation, Fig. 2 another embodiment of an activation flag according to the invention, Fig. 3 another embodiment of an activation flag according to the invention in a side view, Fig. 4 another embodiment of an activation flag according to the invention in a side view, Fig. 5 the embodiment of the Fig. 1 in mounted position, and Fig. 6 another embodiment in mounted position.

[0029] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an activation flag 10 according to the invention. This flag is essentially symmetrical and shows in Fig. 1. The illustration before assembly. Here, various embodiments of the reinforcing materials 30 are schematically combined in one configuration. However, it should be noted that, of course, a single reinforcing material 30 or a single type of reinforcing material 30 can also be used for a single activation flag 10.

[0030] The Fig. Figure 1 shows that two gripping section parts 24a and 24b of gripping section 24 are provided on the left and right, respectively. These gripping sections have an inner surface 21 on their reverse side, which is intended, for example, for attachment to themselves to allow a pulling force to be applied by manual gripping. A fastening section 22 is provided in the center for through-attachment to the pulling interface 110 of the rescue separation point 100. For the mounting of the activation flag 10 according to the Fig. 1 into a position according to the Fig. 5 or Fig. 6. A folding or folding occurs via a folding section 26 on the fastening section 22 after passing through an opening or undercut in the tensile interface 110. This results in a first gripping section part 24a coming to rest on a second gripping section part 24b, and these are connected to each other by means of a fastening thread 40 through the two fastening openings 25. The two fastening section parts 22a and 22b come to rest, at least partially, on different sides of the tensile interface 110 and on their own reverse side, as shown by the Fig. 5 shows.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 1 further shows how reinforcement of the base material can be provided. The base material 20 can be mechanically stabilized with a reinforcing material 30, which in the right-hand embodiment consists of square fibers and in the left-hand embodiment consists of interwoven fabric fibers. In the Fig. 1 This mechanical stabilization is essentially provided over the entire base body 20.

[0032] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a simple asymmetrical embodiment, which represents the unmounted version of the activation flag 10. Here, only a single gripping section 24 and a single fastening section 22 are provided. At the transition between different widths between the gripping section 24 and the fastening section 22, similar to the process described in [reference missing]... Fig. 1, a crack zone 28 is defined, which is provided by the abrupt change in width. The reinforcing material 30 can be provided particularly in this area.

[0033] The Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows different solutions in side view, in which it is clearly visible that the reinforcing material 30 is arranged on the inside 21 of the base material 20. While in the Fig. 3 two separate sections with reinforcing material 30 ensure the mechanical stabilization of the base material 20, in the embodiment according to the figure the base material 20 is provided with mechanical stabilization by the reinforcing material 30 essentially over its entire surface.

[0034] The Fig.Figure 6 further shows an activation device in its mounted position. The activation flag 10, with its fastening section 22, extends through the pull-out interface 110. To secure this through-position, a fastening thread 40 is guided through the two fastening openings 25. To prevent the fastening thread 40 from being removed, it is connected to itself by the thread closure 42. This can be achieved, for example, by crimping or welding.

[0035] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Activation flag (10) for activating a rescue disconnect point (100) for deactivating a high-voltage system of a vehicle, comprising a base material (20) with a fastening section (22) for a through-reaching attachment to a pull interface (110) of the rescue disconnect point (100) and a gripping section (24) with two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) arranged on both sides next to the fastening section (22) for manual gripping and applying a pull force to the pull interface (110), wherein the two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) each have at least one fastening opening (25) for connecting the two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) by means of a fastening thread (40). [2] Activation flag (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the fastening section (22) and / or the gripping section (24) has at least in sections, in addition to the base material (20), a reinforcing material (30) for mechanical reinforcement of the base material (20). [3] Activation flag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reinforcing material (30) is arranged on at least one inner side (21) of the base material (20), preferably only on one inner side (21) of the base material (20). [4] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the reinforcing material (30) is arranged over the entire surface or substantially over the entire surface of the base material (20). [5] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the reinforcing material (30) is fibrous, in particular fabric-like. [6] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the base material (20), in particular in the area of ​​the fastening section (22), has a folding section (26) for folding the base material (20) for at least partial fastening to itself. [7] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the gripping section (24) is wider than the fastening section (22). [8] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that there is a sudden change in width between the gripping section (24) and the fastening section (22). [9] Activation flag (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the reinforcing material (30) is arranged in a crack zone (28) with increased mechanical stress, in particular only in such a crack zone (28) of the base material (20). [10] Activation device for activating a rescue disconnect point (100) for deactivating a high-voltage system of a vehicle, comprising an activation flag (10) with the features of one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the two gripping section parts (24a, 24b) are connected to each other by means of a fastening thread (40) through the fastening openings (25).

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