ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CONDUIT COMPRISING A FIRST HALF-CONNECTOR CONFIGURED TO CONNECT TO A SECOND HALF-CONNECTOR OF A TUBE

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery box (1) comprising a battery, said vehicle comprising at least one conduit (2) having a first end (2a) and a second end (2b), said first end (2a) being connected to said battery box (1), characterized in that said second end (2b) comprises a first half-connector (3), said at least one conduit (2) being configured to connect with a tube (4), said tube (4) comprising a second half-connector (5), the first half-connector (3) and the second half-connector (5) each comprising a fixed body each comprising a first jaw and a second jaw positioned opposite one another, said first half-connector (3) and said second half-connector (5) being configured to form a symmetrical connection so that said conduit (2) and said tube (4) form a pipe (6),said pipe (6) being configured to transport a fluid. Figure 1,

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CONDUIT COMPRISING A FIRST HALF- FITTING CONFIGURED TO CONNECT TO A SECOND HALF-FITTING OF A TUBE

[0001] The invention relates to means for extinguishing a fire starting in the batteries of electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] Known from the prior art is patent application FR3002910 which describes a supporting structure designed to extinguish fires in the traction batteries of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The vehicle comprises a rear bumper and side members, in particular a straight side member. The supporting structure comprises hollow channels which surround or are located near the battery compartment. These hollow channels are designed so that they can be filled with a fire extinguishing fluid via an external access means. In addition, the supporting structure comprises orifices configured to diffuse said fluid from the hollow channels into the battery compartment. The channels use the side members. The rear bumper comprises a hatch into which a firefighter can insert a nozzle of a fire hose to distribute water into the straight side member. However, disadvantages remain.Initially, the hatch through which the water is injected is at the rear bumper. To intervene, the firefighters must therefore move up to the vehicle to insert the nozzle of the fire hose through the hatch, despite the risk of fire and explosion of the batteries in the vehicle. It is also necessary for the firefighters to keep the fire hose in the hatch. Consequently, the firefighters remain close to the battery for a long time.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to avoid prolonged exposure of firefighters to the risks of explosion or fire of the battery.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery box comprising a battery, said vehicle comprising at least one conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end being connected to said battery box, remarkable in that said second end comprises a first half-connector, said at least one conduit being configured to connect with a tube, said tube comprising a second half-coupling, the first half-coupling and the second half-coupling each comprising a fixed body each comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw of each half-coupling being positioned opposite each other, said first half-coupling and said second half-coupling being configured to form a symmetrical connection so that said conduit and said tube form a pipe, said pipe being configured to transport a fluid.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, firefighters can extinguish a fire at the battery level while remaining at a distance from said vehicle.

[0006] Advantageously, said first half-connector comprises a seal.

[0007] The presence of a seal prevents the loss of fluid when the latter is introduced into the pipeline.

[0008] Advantageously, said first half-connection and / or said second half-connection has an internal diameter of between 40 mm and 65 mm.

[0009] This diameter allows efficient injection of said fluid into the battery tray via the pipeline.

[0010] Advantageously, said first half-coupling comprises a locking device configured to lock the connection between the first half-coupling and the second half-coupling, preferably a locking ring.

[0011] This prevents accidental separation of the conduit and the tube during the fire brigade intervention.

[0012] Preferably, said vehicle comprises two conduits configured to form two pipes, a first pipe configured to distribute the fluid to said battery tray and a second pipe configured to evacuate the fluid having been distributed into said battery tray.

[0013] The fluid can then be easily collected after passing through the battery tray, which avoids the uncontrolled flow of the fluid into the environment and, consequently, the associated ecological consequences.

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for extinguishing a battery fire in an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of assembling the pipeline via the symmetrical connector; - a step of inserting a fire hose into said pipeline to introduce the fluid, said fluid being distributed into said battery tray.

[0015] Preferably, the first half-coupling comprises a locking ring, the locking ring being positioned on said first half-coupling and on said second half-coupling during the pipe assembly step.

[0016] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising pipes according to one embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first half-connection of a conduit of the electric or hybrid motor vehicle shown in [Fig.l] and a second half-connector of a tube.

[0017] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a battery tray 1 of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The vehicle comprises at least one conduit 2. In [Fig.l], the vehicle comprises two conduits 2. Each conduit 2 has a first end 2a and a second end 2b. The first end 2a forms the junction between said conduit 2 and said battery tray 1. The second end 2b comprises a first half-connector 3. Each conduit 2 is configured to connect with a tube 4. The tube 4 comprises a second half-connector 5. In [Fig.2], the first half-connector 3 and the second half-connector 5 are illustrated before their connection. The first half-connector 3 and the second half-connector 5 are identical. Indeed, the first half-coupling 3 and the second half-coupling 5 each comprise a fixed body C3, C5 each comprising a first jaw M13, M15 and a second jaw M23, M25.The first jaw M13, M15 and the second jaw M23, M25 of each half-coupling 3, 5 are positioned opposite each other. The first half-coupling 3 and the second half-coupling 5 are configured to form a symmetrical coupling so that each conduit 2 and the associated tube 4 form a pipe configured to transport a fluid. The symmetrical coupling, otherwise called the Guillemin coupling or the firefighter coupling, is a mechanical device known from the prior art for connecting two elements. Optionally, said first half-coupling 3 comprises a seal to prevent loss of fluid during the injection of said fluid. For example, the fluid is water or an extinguishing fluid. Thus, in the event of thermal runaway, or even a fire in said battery, it is possible to introduce said fluid into said pipe 6 to flood the battery tray 1 comprising said battery.More precisely, the fluid is introduced through the tube 4. The fluid then passes through the conduit 2 to reach the battery tray 1. The first half-connection 3 and the second half-connection 5 preferably have an internal diameter of between 40 mm and 65 mm. The internal diameter of the first half-connection 3 and the second half-connection 5 are identical or different. Preferably, as illustrated in [Fig.l], said vehicle comprises two pipes 6. A first pipe allows the distribution of the fluid. towards said battery tray while the second pipe allows the evacuation of said fluid after its passage into said battery tray 1. The path of said fluid is illustrated in [Fig.l] by arrows. Preferably, the tube 4 has a shape similar to an exhaust outlet. Thus, the aesthetics of the vehicle are preserved. Preferably, the first half-coupling 3 comprises a locking device configured to lock the connection between the conduit 2 and the tube 4, and more precisely the connection between the first half-coupling 3 and the second half-coupling 5. By way of example, the locking device is a locking ring. The locking ring is a fixing part which secures the connection between the first half-coupling 3 and the second half-coupling 5 by firmly fixing itself around the first half-coupling 3 and the second half-coupling 5 to prevent any accidental separation.The locking ring may have grooves or teeth configured to engage in said first half-coupling 3 or in said second half-coupling 5 to provide a secure lock.

[0018] The invention is to be able to extinguish a fire at the level of the vehicle battery, in particular in the event of thermal runaway of said battery. To extinguish such a fire, it is necessary to carry out a step of assembling the pipe 6 by means of the symmetrical connection formed by the first half-connection 3 and by the second half-connection 5. When said first half-connection 3 comprises the locking ring, said locking ring is positioned on said first half-connection 3 and on said second half-connection 5 during the step of assembling the pipe 6. Finally, during an insertion step, a fire hose is inserted into said pipe to introduce the fluid and for said fluid to be distributed into said battery tray 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery box (1) comprising a battery, said vehicle comprising at least one conduit (2) having a first end (2a) and a second end (2b), said first end (2a) being connected to said battery box (1), characterized in that said second end (2b) comprises a first half-connector (3), said at least one conduit (2) being configured to connect with a tube (4), said tube (4) comprising a second half-connector (5), the first half-connector (3) and the second half-connector (5) each comprising a fixed body (C3, C5) each comprising a first jaw (M13, M15) and a second jaw (M23, M25), the first jaw (M13, M15) and the second jaw (M23, M25) of each half-connector (3, 5) being positioned opposite each other,said first half-coupling (3) and said second half-coupling (5) being configured to form a symmetrical coupling so that said conduit (2) and said tube (4) form a pipe (6), said pipe (6) being configured to transport a fluid.,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said first half-connector (3) comprises a sealing joint.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said first half-coupling (3) and / or said second half-coupling (5) has an internal diameter of between 40 mm and 65 mm.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said first half-coupling (3) comprises a locking device configured to lock the connection between the first half-coupling (3) and the second half-coupling (5), preferably a locking ring.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said vehicle comprises two conduits (2) configured to form two pipes (6), a first pipe (6) configured to distribute the fluid to said battery box (1) and a second pipe (6) configured to evacuate the fluid having been distributed in said battery box (1).

6. Method for extinguishing a battery fire in an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of assembling the pipe (6) via the symmetrical connector; - a step of inserting a fire hose into said pipe (6) to introduce the fluid, said fluid being distributed into said battery tray (1).

7. Method according to claim 6 characterized in that the first half-coupling (3) comprises a locking ring, the locking ring being positioned on said first half-coupling (3) and on said second half-coupling (4) during the step of assembling the pipeline (6).

Images