Device for extinguishing the battery of an electric vehicle
The device addresses the inefficiency and hazard of conventional extinguishing methods by using a catapult arm to inject extinguishing agent directly into the electric vehicle battery, ensuring effective and safe extinguishing even in challenging positions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102025108528
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-06
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-30
AI Technical Summary
Conventional extinguishing methods for electric vehicle batteries, especially after accidents with unfavorable vehicle positions, are often inefficient and hazardous for emergency workers due to the difficulty in reaching the battery and the risk of repeated ignition.
A device with a mobile base frame and a prestressed catapult arm that drives metal mandrels into the burning battery and injects extinguishing agent directly into the battery cells, allowing for efficient and safe extinguishing even in hard-to-reach positions.
The device enables direct application of the extinguishing agent to the battery, ensuring efficient extinguishing and continuous cooling to prevent re-ignition, thereby reducing risks to emergency workers.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for extinguishing the battery of an electric vehicle, in particular after an accident in which the vehicle has come into an unfavorable position, for example after a rollover. State of the art
[0002] The market penetration of electric vehicles is steadily increasing, leading to a growing number of such vehicles on the roads. Due to the high energy density of their batteries, electric vehicles pose a particular hazard. If the battery ignites, for example due to a short circuit resulting from an accident or damage, a significant amount of heat is generated. The battery is typically integrated into the vehicle's floor structure, as in... Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle (1) with a battery (2) installed in the vehicle floor. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a battery (2) consisting of a protective battery frame (3, 3.1) in which individual cells are arranged in cell modules (4).
[0003] If a short circuit occurs within a cell module, the ignition spreads rapidly to neighboring cells until the entire battery is affected. This chemical combustion process releases enormous amounts of heat due to the battery's high energy content and does not require ambient air. The battery's tight encapsulation within the battery frame significantly complicates extinguishing efforts, as the extinguishing agent has difficulty reaching the source of the fire. This design also makes reignition of the battery possible. Typically, firefighters lower a burning vehicle into a water bath, as in... Fig. 3 shown, to cool the battery and prevent reignition.
[0004] The high temperatures generated during a battery fire (over 1000 °C) pose a significant danger to emergency responders. Inserting a fire extinguisher into the battery is hazardous. Extinguishing the fire is further complicated in vehicles that are lying on their side or on their roof after a rollover, as technical extinguishing devices positioned between the road surface and the vehicle's undercarriage cannot be used in these cases. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a vehicle after a rollover where the battery is difficult to access. Disclosure of the invention
[0005] One problem is that conventional firefighting methods for electric vehicles, especially after accidents with an unfavorable vehicle position, are often inefficient and dangerous for emergency services.
[0006] The problem described is solved according to claim 1. The device according to the invention makes it possible to extinguish the battery of an electric vehicle efficiently and safely, particularly after a rollover accident.
[0007] This approach has the advantage that the extinguishing agent can be applied directly to the source of the fire inside the battery, without putting emergency personnel in immediate danger. Furthermore, it allows for continuous cooling of the battery to prevent reignition.
[0008] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a vehicle (1) with a battery (2) installed in the vehicle floor according to the state of the art. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a battery (2) with battery frame (3, 3.1) and cell modules (4) according to the state of the art. Fig. Figure 3 shows a burning vehicle being lowered into a water bath by the fire brigade, in accordance with the state of the art. Fig. Figure 4 shows a vehicle after a rollover where the battery is difficult to access, in accordance with the state of the art. Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of the extinguishing device according to the invention in use. Fig. Figure 6 shows a more detailed side view of the extinguishing device according to the invention. Embodiments of the invention
[0009] One embodiment will now be explained in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. Figure 5 shows the apparatus (3) according to the invention in use. The apparatus (3) consists of a mobile base frame, for example with a tracked or chain drive (3.1) for rough terrain. The apparatus is driven as close as possible to the crashed vehicle (1). A pre-tensioned catapult arm (4) strikes one or more metal prongs (5) with high dynamics into the burning battery (2) of the vehicle. Extinguishing agent (6) is then injected directly into the battery through the hollow metal prong (5).
[0010] A summary of Fig. 6 and Fig. Figure 7 illustrates the apparatus (3) in more detail. It consists of a stable base frame (3.2) to which the crawler or track drive (3.1) is attached. A rotating turret (3.3), similar to the design of a mini excavator, is also attached to the base frame (3.2). All other components are mounted on the turret (3.3). The catapult arm (4) consists of a telescopic boom and a guide (4.2). The guide (4.2) is rotatably mounted on a bracket (4.1).
[0011] The ejector (5) is attached to the catapult arm (4). It is hollow and has one or more outlet openings at its tip. A large-volume pneumatic cylinder (10) is attached to the lower end of the catapult arm (4). This cylinder is characterized by a very large piston area. The pneumatic cylinder (10) is connected to the catapult arm (4) via a piston rod (10.1). A gas tank (8) is connected to the pneumatic cylinder (10) via a valve (9) and can be filled with air or another gas via a filling valve (8.1).
[0012] The extinguishing agent (6) is supplied via a conventional fire hose (7) with a connection. Through this connection, the extinguishing agent is conveyed to the extinguishing nozzle (5) via a heat-resistant hose (7.1). The telescopic boom can be moved translationally within the guide (4.2). A hydraulic cylinder (4.3 - Fig.7) enables the movement of the boom (4.5). Both the boom (4.5) and the guide (4.2) are stable yet lightweight, for example made of CFRP, to allow for rapid acceleration of the catapult arm (4).
[0013] In operation, the apparatus (3) is loaded from the fire engine, and the gas tank (8) is filled to high pressure. A firefighter can remotely control the apparatus (3) to the crashed vehicle and adjust the telescopic boom (4.5) to the vehicle's size. After positioning, the catapult arm (4) is released. The pneumatic cylinder (10) is pressurized with gas, accelerating and rotating the catapult arm (4). The extinguishing spike (5) is driven into the battery (2), and the extinguishing agent (6) can be injected directly into the battery cells. If the extinguishing spike (5) does not penetrate as intended, the catapult arm (4) can be raised again and returned to its starting position for another attempt. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 2 batteries 3 Apparatus 3.1 Track / Chain Drive 3.2 Basic framework 3.3 Tower 4 Catapult arm 4.1 Mounting bracket (for catapult arm) 4.2 Guidance (of the catapult arm) 4.3 Hydraulic cylinders 4.5 Boom 5 extinguishing spike 6 extinguishing agents 7 fire hoses 7.1 Heat-resistant hose 8 Gas tank 8.1 Filling valve (for gas tank) 9 valve 10 pneumatic cylinders 10.1 Piston rod
Claims
[1] Device for extinguishing a battery (2) of an electric vehicle (1), characterized by following features: - a mobile apparatus (3) with a base frame (3.2); - a pivotable catapult arm (4) attached to the base frame (3.2); - a hollow extinguishing spike (5) attached to the catapult arm (4) with at least one outlet opening; - a device for supplying an extinguishing agent (6) through the hollow extinguishing mandrel (5); - a pneumatic cylinder (10) connected to the catapult arm (4) via a piston rod (10.1) to accelerate the catapult arm (4). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by following features: - a gas tank (8) for pressurising the pneumatic cylinder (10); - a valve (9) to control the gas flow from the gas tank (8) to the pneumatic cylinder (10). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by following features: - a crawler or chain drive (3.1) on the base frame (3.2) of the apparatus (3); - a turret (3.3) rotatably mounted on the base frame (3.2), to which the catapult arm (4) is attached. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by following features: - a telescopic boom (4) of the catapult arm (4), wherein the boom (4) is mounted in a guide (4.2) so as to be translationally movable; - a hydraulic cylinder (4.3) for moving the boom (4). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by following feature: - a remote control for controlling the movement of the apparatus (3) and / or for triggering the catapult arm (4).