Set comprising a security system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a security system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle, said security system comprising: at least one temperature sensor arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, at least one extinguishing module comprising an extinguishing agent, arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, a controller arranged outside of said at least one vehicle, said controller comprising: a means for receiving data from said at least one temperature sensor, a means for deciding whether or not to send an alarm to an alarm center based on the data received, a means for sending said alarm, and a control means capable of commanding the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent outside of said at least one extinguishing module. The present invention also relates to a method for installing and using an assembly according to the invention. Abstract figure: Figure No. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly comprising a security system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle

[0001] The present invention lies in the field of safety related to electric and hybrid electric vehicles. It relates more particularly to an assembly comprising a safety system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle.

[0002] Electric and hybrid electric vehicles, which have the advantage of low CO2 emissions, are experiencing significant growth. These vehicles contain batteries, usually of the lithium-ion type, which can undergo spontaneous combustion in the event of a shock, sometimes of low intensity. The combustion can start immediately during the shock, or after several minutes, several hours, or even several days. Thus, in the case of a damaged vehicle, the combustion can occur at the accident site, or during the towing of the vehicle by a tow truck, or in the garage where the repairs are carried out, or even in a scrapyard.

[0003] Combustion of batteries such as lithium-ion batteries is particularly problematic in that it cannot be stopped before complete combustion. It is only possible to cool the area to prevent the fire from spreading, which is usually done with water, and can require in the order of 10 to 15 m3 of water for a car battery. This cooling water, which is extremely toxic, must then be recovered and reprocessed, which is not always easy to achieve perfectly, produces pollution, and is very expensive.

[0004] When an electric vehicle battery catches fire in a storage location such as a garage or scrapyard, it can take too long to detect the combustion, and the fire can spread to neighboring vehicles. This can especially be the case during the night or on closed days.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to enable very rapid detection of battery combustion, in order to be able to combat it as early as possible.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to slow the spread of the battery combustion fire in order to give time to the firefighters to arrive, and to reduce the risks of spread to neighboring vehicles.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to respond at least in part to the aforementioned objects by proposing a system comprising means for detecting the start of a fire, and in the event of detection, means for sending an alarm and slowing down the fire. To this end, it proposes an assembly comprising a security system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle, said security system comprising:

[0008] - at least one temperature sensor arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, - a controller arranged outside said at least one vehicle, said controller comprising: - a means for receiving data from said at least one temperature sensor, - a means of deciding whether or not to send an alarm to an alarm center based on the data received, - a means of sending said alarm.

[0009] Thanks to these provisions, spontaneous combustion of the vehicle can be detected as early as possible, and firefighters can be called to the scene before the fire becomes widespread. The spread of the fire can also be slowed down, which reduces the risk of the fire spreading outside the vehicle.

[0010] According to other characteristics:

[0011] - said security system may comprise at least one extinguishing module comprising an extinguishing agent, arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, and said controller comprising a control means capable of commanding the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module - said controller can be configured to calculate the rate of rise of the temperature measured by said temperature sensor, for example in degrees Celsius per minute, which is a particularly relevant means of detecting the start of a fire, - at least one temperature sensor and at least one extinguishing module may be placed in the passenger compartment of said vehicle; since the vehicle's batteries are often located under the passenger compartment, a fire starting from the battery spreads very quickly in the passenger compartment, and it is important to slow down the fire in the passenger compartment which usually contains highly flammable elements, - at least one temperature sensor may be arranged on at least one battery of said vehicle, for example by means of a clamp arranged on a box of said at least one battery, which makes it possible to detect as early as possible the start of a fire on the battery, - the security system may comprise at least one optical sensor capable of capturing images of at least one of said vehicles, which allows a remote operator to visually confirm the detection of a fire starting, - said set may include at least two electric or hybrid electric vehicles, which makes it possible to reduce costs by using a single system of security monitoring several vehicles, - said assembly may comprise a housing in which the controller, a transmitter and a battery are arranged, and said at least one temperature sensor and said at least one extinguishing module are connected to said housing by cables, which makes it easy to integrate a vehicle into an assembly according to the invention.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method of installing and using an assembly according to the invention comprising the following steps:

[0013] - provision of at least one temperature sensor on said vehicle, - reception of data from the temperature sensor by a controller, - based on the data received, decision by the said controller whether or not to send an alarm to an alarm center.

[0014] Thanks to these provisions, spontaneous combustion of the vehicle can be detected as early as possible, and firefighters can be called to the scene before the fire becomes widespread. The spread of the fire can also be slowed down, which reduces the risk of the fire spreading outside the vehicle.

[0015] According to other characteristics:

[0016] - the method may further comprise a step of arranging at least one extinguishing module comprising an extinguishing agent on said vehicle, - said decision taken by said controller may be to send an alarm as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first elevation threshold, defined for example in degrees Celsius per minute, during a first period of time, which is a particularly relevant means of detecting the start of a fire, - when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first elevation threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, for a first period of time, then the controller can send to the alarm center the images captured by an optical sensor directed towards said vehicle, which allows an operator to visually verify the presence of a fire detected by the controller, for example to confirm the dispatch of the fire brigade, - said method may include a step of visual analysis of the vehicle by an operator, and decision by said operator to order or not the controller to command the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module, which makes it possible to release the extinguishing agent only after visual verification of the start of the fire, - when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises to a speed greater than a second elevation threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, for a second period of time, then the controller can command the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module, in order to slow the start of the fire as quickly as possible after its detection.

[0017] The present invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0019] The assembly according to the invention comprises a safety system and one or more vehicles 1 of the electric or hybrid electric type. An electric vehicle is a vehicle whose propulsion is ensured exclusively by one or more electric motors, and a hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle which comprises one or more electric motors capable of ensuring the propulsion of the vehicle, and one or more other types of motors capable of ensuring the propulsion of the vehicle, generally thermal.

[0020] The vehicles 1 can be of any category, in particular a car, a truck, a van, or even a motorcycle.

[0021] The security system comprises at least one temperature sensor 2 arranged on each vehicle 1 and an extinguishing module 3 arranged on each vehicle 1. The security system also comprises a controller 4 arranged outside the vehicles 1. The controller 4 is not in contact with any vehicle 1, and it is preferably arranged at a minimum distance from the nearest vehicle 1, for example at least 1 m.

[0022] The controller 4 comprises a means for receiving data from the at least one temperature sensor 2. These data are preferably temperature measurements, received by the controller 4 at a fixed frequency, for example one measurement per minute. It may be provided that the frequency of sending the measurements from the at least one temperature sensor 2 is higher when the measured temperatures are above a predetermined threshold, in order to detect the start of combustion as early as possible. These data may also be signals sent by the at least one temperature sensor 2 to the controller 4 when a temperature threshold is exceeded, or when a temperature rise rate threshold, defined for example in degrees Celsius per minute, is exceeded. Preferably the at least one temperature sensor 2 is a simple sensor, for example a thermocouple, which only sends raw measurements to the controller 4.This reduces the costs of the safety system, which may include several temperature sensors, and at least one temperature sensor 2 may also be destroyed during combustion.

[0023] The controller 4 also includes a means for deciding whether or not to send an alarm. to an alarm center. This decision is based on the data received from the temperature sensor 2. The controller can, for example, decide to send an alarm when a temperature threshold is reached or exceeded. Preferably, the decision means is configured to calculate the rate of temperature rise measured by the temperature sensor 2, for example in degrees Celsius per minute. This allows for more precise detection of the start of combustion, as the measurements are less dependent on the ambient temperature.

[0024] The controller 4 also comprises a means for sending an alarm to an alarm center. This sending means can communicate with a wireless transmitter, for example a 4G transmitter.

[0025] The controller 4 finally comprises a control means capable of commanding the extinguishing module 3 to release the extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module 3. Thus, in the event of the start of combustion being detected, the controller 4 can make a decision, either automatically or after validation by a human operator, to command the release of the extinguishing agent in order to slow down the start of combustion. This saves time before the firefighters arrive, and reduces the risks of the fire spreading outside the vehicle and in particular to neighboring vehicles or to the building in which the vehicle is located.

[0026] The at least one temperature sensor 2 may in particular be arranged on the exterior of the vehicle 1, on its top, its bottom, one side, or even at the front or at the rear. It may also be arranged inside the vehicle, in particular in its passenger compartment 5, near at least one battery 6, in the engine compartment, or even in the trunk. Preferably, at least one temperature sensor 2 is arranged in the passenger compartment 5 of the vehicle 1 and / or on at least one battery 6.

[0027] An advantage of a temperature sensor 2 placed on a battery 6, for example by means of a clamp arranged on the casing of the battery 6, is that spontaneous combustion of this battery 6 can then be detected as early as possible by the controller 4. A vehicle 1 may have several batteries 6, so ideally a temperature sensor 2 must be placed on each battery 6.

[0028] An advantage of a temperature sensor 2 placed in the passenger compartment 5 is that it makes it possible to detect a fire in a part of the vehicle 1 which is generally very flammable due to the presence of carpets, foam, etc.

[0029] It is also particularly advantageous to have at least one extinguishing module 3 in the passenger compartment 5, so that the extinguishing agent can act against the fire directly where it spreads quickly. In addition, since the battery 6 of the vehicle is often located under the passenger compartment 5, a fire starting from a battery 6 will start very quickly in the passenger compartment 5, it is therefore relevant to act quickly in the passenger compartment 5. If the extinguishing module 3 is arranged in the passenger compartment 5 of a vehicle 1 whose doors have been removed, it is possible Place fire blankets over the door openings. This will ensure that the extinguishing agent remains in the passenger compartment 5 as much as possible and will be more effective in slowing combustion in the vehicle 1.

[0030] If at least one extinguishing module 3 is arranged in the passenger compartment 5, then it is particularly advantageous to also have a temperature sensor, so that the controller can take into account the temperature of the passenger compartment 5 before ordering the release of the extinguishing agent there.

[0031] The at least one extinguishing module 3 can also be arranged on the exterior of the vehicle 1, on its top, its bottom, one side, or even at the front or at the rear. The at least one extinguishing module 3 can also be arranged inside the vehicle, in particular in the engine compartment, in the trunk, or even in a support allowing its positioning as close as possible to the at least one battery 6 of the vehicle 1, which makes it possible to slow down the start of the fire as soon as possible.

[0032] Depending on the characteristics of each vehicle category 1, the placements of the at least one temperature sensor 2 and of the at least one extinguishing module 3 on the at least one vehicle 1 can vary.

[0033] The extinguishing module 3 can include an extinguishing cartridge, preferably comprising a pyrotechnic trigger. It is for example a Dynameco (Trademark) 300 E03 type cartridge. The extinguishing agent of the extinguishing module 3 can be any known extinguishing agent. It is preferably a potassium carbonate, which has the advantage of inhibiting combustion for a certain period.

[0034] The extinguishing module 3 can be equipped with a connector allowing it to be easily removed from the safety system, in order to ensure maintenance or replacement without having to move the entire safety system. Thus, during a maintenance operation of the extinguishing module 3, a replacement extinguishing module can be connected in place of the module under maintenance in order to ensure the continuity of operation of the safety system.

[0035] The assembly according to the invention may comprise several vehicles 1. Thus, a single security system makes it possible to centralize the detection of the start of combustion, and the possible sending of alarms, which makes it possible to reduce costs. For example, vehicles arranged next to each other in a garage can be integrated into a single assembly.

[0036] The security system may comprise at least one optical sensor 7, for example a camera. The optical sensor makes it possible, in the event of sending an alarm following detection of the start of combustion, to also send images of the vehicle 1. A human or computer operator can then analyze these images to check whether a fire is visible, and decide whether or not to order the controller 4 to control the ignition. supply of the extinguishing agent to the extinguishing module 3. In the case of a plurality of vehicles 1, the optical sensor 7 may include a wide-angle lens to be able to monitor them all.

[0037] The security system may include a video recorder, in order to record the images captured by the optical sensor 7. In the event of spontaneous combustion of a vehicle 1, this makes it possible to analyze this combustion and to learn from it in order to better manage this problem in the future.

[0038] The security system preferably comprises a housing 8 in which the controller 4 is arranged. The housing 8 can be placed on casters, in order to be easily moved near the vehicles 1 which it is desired to integrate into the assembly according to the invention. The housing 8 can be fireproof or protected against fire in any other way.

[0039] If the security system includes an optical sensor 7, this can be arranged on a mast fixed to the housing 8.

[0040] The security system may also include a transmitter 9 enabling it to send an alarm to an alarm center. The transmitter 9 is preferably a wireless transmitter, for example of the 4G type. The transmitter is preferably arranged in the housing 8.

[0041] The security system may also comprise a security battery 10 and / or a means of powering via the electrical network. Preferably, the security system comprises a security battery 10 and a means of powering via the electrical network. The security system may thus generally be powered by the electrical power supply network, which is simpler to use, and the security battery 10 is present in the event of an interruption of this power supply. The security battery 10 may, for example, be sized to be able to power the security system for 24, 48 or 72 hours, which makes it possible, for example, to cover a weekend when a garage is closed without human presence.

[0042] The safety system may finally comprise cables 11, making it possible to connect the at least one temperature sensor 2 to the controller 4, and the at least one extinguishing module 3 to the controller 4. The cables 11 may comprise a connection interface allowing easy connection and disconnection to the housing 8. It is thus easy to integrate a vehicle into an assembly according to the invention by placing the at least one temperature sensor 2 and the at least one extinguishing module 3 on the vehicle, then connecting the cables 11 to the housing 8. The cables 11 are preferably extensible, in order to give flexibility to the system. The cables 11 are preferably flame-retardant in order to prevent them from spreading a fire outside the vehicle 1.

[0043] The controller 4 preferably comprises a security system monitoring module, making it possible to detect whether an element of the monitoring system such as a temperature sensor 2, an extinguishing module 3, or even an optical sensor 7, a security battery 10 or a cable 11 is disconnected or defective. An alarm specific can be sent by controller 4 to the alarm center in the event of a fault.

[0044] The security system may also include a module for opening the premises in which it is installed. This module may allow the opening of the premises to be triggered based on an opening signal that may be transmitted from outside the assembly according to the invention, for example by radio, by a specific telephone call, or by an audible signal such as a fire brigade siren, at the initiative, for example, of firefighters wishing to enter the premises to fight the start of a fire. Alternatively or in addition, the module may allow the opening of the premises to be triggered based on an opening signal emitted from the controller 4 of the security system. This opening module is particularly advantageous in the case of a fire breaking out on the weekend or at night when no one is present on the premises. It allows firefighters to access the site without having to wait for someone to come and open it.It is understood that the opening of the premises may be conditioned by the occurrence of several combined events such as: exceeding a temperature threshold or temperature rise and the presence of a fire engine siren sound and / or the sending of a signal allowing the opening of the premises.

[0045] The security system may finally include a smoke detector. The controller 4 can thus be warned of the presence of smoke and send an alarm to the alarm center.

[0046] The assembly according to the invention can be installed and used according to the following method:

[0047] - where appropriate, arrival of a vehicle 1 in a garage, whether it is new, for repair or damaged, - where appropriate, installation of the security system near vehicle 1, preferably facilitated by the fact that it includes a casing mounted on wheels and can be connected to a simple power outlet, - provision of at least one temperature sensor 2 on said vehicle 1, for example in the passenger compartment 5 and / or on a battery 6 of the vehicle 1, - provision of at least one extinguishing module 3 comprising an extinguishing agent on said vehicle 1, for example in the passenger compartment 5 of the vehicle 1, - reception of data from the temperature sensor 2 by a controller 4, said data being for example temperature measurements, - depending on the data received, decision by said controller 4 to send or not an alarm to an alarm center. For example, the controller 4 decides to send an alarm, as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is higher than a first absolute threshold, for example between 50°C and 80°C. Another possible operating mode is that the controller decides to send an alarm as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first rise threshold, defined for example in degrees Celsius per minute, for a first period of time, for example between 3 and 5°C per minute, over a duration of 1 minute.

[0048] An alarm is then sent by said controller to an alarm center via a transmitter, for example a 4G transmitter.

[0049] The controller can also be configured to send a pre-alarm as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first rise threshold, defined for example in degrees Celsius per minute, for a first period of time, for example between 3 and 5°C per minute, over a duration of 1 minute; this corresponds for example to a temperature measurement every minute, and a measurement gives a level 3 to 5°C higher than the previous measurement.

[0050] If the next measurement, one minute later, gives a lower value, the pre-alarm is ignored.

[0051] If, on the contrary, the next measurement is again higher, the pre-alarm is confirmed by sending an alarm. It can be decided that the alarm is confirmed for a temperature rise of between 20 and 30°C.

[0052] In the case where the security system comprises an optical sensor 7, the above method may comprise a step during which when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 2 rises at a rate greater than a first elevation threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, then the controller 4 sends to the alarm center the images captured by an optical sensor 7 directed towards said vehicle 1. Alternatively, the sending of images may be carried out by the controller 4 as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 2 is greater than the first absolute threshold. The images may be used by a human or computer operator, via image recognition software, to determine whether or not a visible fire has started.The emergency services can then decide whether or not to go to the scene, and to best prepare their intervention according to the visual situation: presence of smoke, flames, adjacent vehicles on fire, etc. Alternatively or in addition, the images can allow a human or computer operator to decide to order the controller 4 to command the extinguishing module 3 to release the extinguishing agent from the extinguishing means. The release command may concern a different extinguishing module 3 depending on the temperature sensor 2 for which a temperature threshold or temperature rise has been exceeded.

[0053] Finally, the method may comprise a step during which when the temperature measured by one of said at least one temperature sensor 2, for example a sensor arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, rises at a rate greater than a second elevation threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, for example between 6 and 10 °C per minute or even much higher, up to 30 or even 50 °C over a period of one minute, then the controller 4 commands the extinguishing module 3 to release the extinguishing agent from the at least one extinguishing module 3. Alternatively, in a different operating mode, the controller 4 commands the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from the at least one extinguishing module 3 as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 2 is greater than the second absolute threshold, for example between 90 and 120 °C.The release command may concern a different extinguishing module 3 depending on the temperature sensor 2 for which a temperature or temperature rise threshold has been exceeded.

[0054] The first and second elevation thresholds, as well as the first and second absolute thresholds, may be the same or different.

[0055] The controller can also check the proper functioning of the temperature sensors, and send an alarm as soon as one of the temperature sensors is faulty. For example, if they are thermocouples, the measurement is made according to a resistance measurement; when the resistance becomes infinite, the thermocouple is out of order. It can then be decided to start continuous image capture, to allow detection of a possible start of fire, despite the failure of a temperature sensor. This is particularly interesting if the faulty temperature sensor is the one located in the passenger compartment, and there is no other in the passenger compartment.

[0056] Although the above description is based on particular embodiments, it is in no way limiting of the scope of the invention, and modifications may be made, in particular by substitution of technical equivalents or by different combination of all or part of the characteristics developed above.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a security system and at least one electric or hybrid electric vehicle, said security system comprising: - at least one temperature sensor arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, - a controller arranged outside of said at least one vehicle, said controller comprising: - a means for receiving data from said at least one temperature sensor, - a means for deciding whether or not to send an alarm to an alarm center based on the data received, - a means for sending said alarm, - a housing in which the controller, a transmitter and a battery are arranged, said at least one temperature sensor being connected to said housing by cables.

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim, in which said security system further comprises at least one extinguishing module comprising an extinguishing agent, arranged on each of said at least one vehicle, and said controller further comprises a control means capable of controlling the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module.

3. An assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein said controller is configured to calculate the rate of temperature rise measured by said temperature sensor, for example in degrees Celsius per minute.

4. Assembly according to one of claims 2 or 3, in which at least one temperature sensor and at least one extinguishing module are arranged in the passenger compartment of said vehicle.

5. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one temperature sensor is arranged on at least one battery of said vehicle, for example by means of a clamp arranged on a box of said at least one battery.

6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, in which the security system comprises at least one optical sensor capable of capture images of at least one of said vehicles.

7. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

8. Method of installing and using an assembly according to one of the preceding claims comprising the following steps: - provision of at least one temperature sensor on said vehicle, - preferably, provision of at least one extinguishing module comprising an extinguishing agent on said vehicle, - reception of data from the temperature sensor by a controller, - depending on the data received, decision by said controller whether or not to send an alarm to an alarm center.

9. Method according to the preceding claim, in which said decision taken by said controller is to send an alarm as soon as the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first rise threshold, defined for example in degrees Celsius per minute, during a first period of time.

10. Method according to one of claims 8 to 9, in which when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first rise threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, during a first period of time, then the controller sends to the alarm center the images captured by an optical sensor directed towards said vehicle, and an operator visually checks the presence of a fire outbreak detected by the controller to confirm the dispatch of the firefighters.

11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, in which when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a first rise threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, during a first period of time, then the controller sends to the alarm center the images captured by an optical sensor directed towards said vehicle, said method then further comprising a step of visual analysis of the vehicle by an operator, and decision by said operator whether or not to order the controller to command the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module.

12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein when the temperature measured by one of said at least one temperature sensor rises at a rate greater than a second rise threshold, defined in degrees Celsius per minute, during a second period of time, then the controller commands the extinguishing module to release said extinguishing agent from said at least one extinguishing module.

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