FIRE EXTINGUISHING KIT INTENDED FOR A BATTERY TRAY OF AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a fire suppression system for a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, comprising at least one conduit (2) configured to carry a fluid, said conduit being configured to be joined to the battery tray so that said fluid can enter said battery tray or be discharged from said battery tray, said system comprising a first support (3), a second support (4), and a longitudinal member (5), said longitudinal member (5) having a longitudinal recess, said conduit (2) being positioned in said longitudinal recess, said conduit (2) having a determined length, said longitudinal member (5) extending over the entire length of said conduit (2), said longitudinal member (5) having a first flange (5a) and a second flange (5b), said first flange (5a) being fixed to the first support (3), said second flange (5b) being fixed to the second support (4). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: FIRE EXTINGUISHING ASSEMBLY FOR A BATTERY TRAY OF AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

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

[0002] Prior art patent application FR3002910, which describes a load-bearing structure for a hybrid or electric vehicle, is known. The load-bearing structure comprises hollow sections in the form of channels. These hollow sections are formed by means of side members and cross members positioned beneath the floor of the vehicle. The hollow sections are positioned near a compartment containing a plurality of traction batteries. The load-bearing structure further comprises an external access means for introducing fire-extinguishing fluid into the channels. In addition, the load-bearing structure comprises diffusion ports for the fluid from the channels to the compartment. However, a drawback remains. Since the load-bearing structure consists of the vehicle's side members and cross members, the watertightness of the structure is not guaranteed.Furthermore, assembling such a structure is challenging because the entire vehicle needs to have a specific configuration.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to extinguish quickly extinguished the fires localized in the said battery tray.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a fire extinguishing assembly for a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising at least one conduit configured to carry a fluid, said conduit having an open end configured to allow the introduction of said fluid into said conduit, said conduit being configured to be joined to the battery tray so that said fluid can enter said battery tray or be evacuated from said battery tray, notable in that said assembly comprising a first support, a second support and a longitudinal member, said longitudinal member having a longitudinal recess, said conduit being positioned in said longitudinal recess, said conduit having a determined length, said longitudinal member extending over the entire length of said conduit, said longitudinal member having a first rim and a second rim, said first rim being fixed to the first support,said second edge being fixed to the second support.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the assembly can easily be mounted in a cluster on a vehicle to allow for the rapid flooding of said vehicle battery tray.

[0006] Advantageously, said conduit is fixed in said stringer by means of at least one weld bead.

[0007] The weld bead is a solid joint which helps to preserve the sealing of said conduit.

[0008] Advantageously, said first support, said second support, the first rim and the second rim have an opening, the respective openings of the first support and the first rim being superimposed so as to form a first passage, a first fixing screw passing through said first passage, the respective openings of the second support and the second rim being superimposed so as to form a second passage, a second fixing screw passing through said second passage, the first fixing screw and the second fixing screw each being held by a nut.

[0009] Preferably, said nut is fixed by welding.

[0010] This reinforces the strength of the fixing.

[0011] The invention further relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray including said assembly described above, said vehicle comprising an axle, said axle comprising a shaft and a shaft support, said shaft support being fixed on said axle, said shaft support being fixed on said shaft, said first support and said second support being fixed on either side of said shaft.

[0012] Advantageously, said first support and said second support are fixed to the stretcher by means of a plurality of weld beads.

[0013] Advantageously, said battery tray has at least one opening, said conduit being fixed in said opening, said opening having a seal capable of breaking when said fluid is introduced into said battery tray through said conduit.

[0014] Preferably, said vehicle comprising a front axle and a rear axle, said front axle comprising two front wheels, said front axle comprising two assemblies positioned between said front wheels, said rear axle comprising two rear wheels, said rear axle comprising two assemblies positioned between said rear wheels.

[0015] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fire extinguishing assembly mounted on an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates said vehicle comprising four fire extinguishing units.

[0016] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fire suppression system for the battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. In Figure 1, the fire suppression system is mounted on the vehicle, near one of its rear wheels 13. The battery tray is not shown in Figure 1. The fire suppression system includes a conduit 2 configured to carry a fluid for extinguishing a potential fire within the battery tray. For example, the fluid is water. However, it could also be a specific fire extinguishing fluid used by firefighters. Indeed, the conduit 2 has an open end into which a fire hose can be inserted to flood the battery tray.The conduit 2 is joined to the battery tray so that the fluid can enter the battery tray or be discharged from it. The assembly includes a first support 3 and a second support 4. Furthermore, the assembly includes a longitudinal member 5. The longitudinal member 5 has a longitudinal groove, similar to a gutter. The conduit 2 is positioned in this longitudinal groove. Optionally, the conduit 2 is fixed to the longitudinal member 5 by means of at least one weld bead 6. The weld bead 6 is a continuous metallic joint formed by the local fusion of the edges of two parts, in this case, by the local fusion of the edges of the conduit 2 and the longitudinal member 5. This allows the conduit 2 and the longitudinal member 5 to be joined securely, while maintaining the seal of the conduit 2. The conduit 2 has a defined length. The longitudinal member 5 extends over at least the entire length of the conduit 2.The longitudinal member 5 has a first flange 5a and a second flange 5b. The first flange 5a is fixed to the first support 3, while the second flange 5b is fixed to the second support 4. Preferably, the first support 3, the second support 4, the first flange 5a, and the second flange 5b each have an opening. The opening in the first support 3 and the opening in the first flange 5a are superimposed. Thus, the opening in the first support 3 and the opening in the first flange 5b form a first passage. A first fixing screw 7a passes through this first passage. Similarly, the opening in the second support 4 and the opening in the second flange 5b are superimposed. The opening in the second support 4 and the opening in the second flange 5b form a second passage. A second fixing screw 7b passes through this second passage.Each of the fixing screws 7a, 7b is held by a nut 8, preferably fixed by welding. The assembly can be mounted in a cluster, that is to say, all the parts of said assembly are grouped and assembled at once in said vehicle. This facilitates assembly. Consequently, assembly time is reduced.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle whose traction battery is positioned in said battery tray 1. The vehicle comprises an axle 9 comprising a shaft 10 and a shaft support 11. The shaft support 11 is fixed to said axle 9. The shaft 10 is fixed to the shaft support 11. The first support 3 and the second support 4 are fixed on either side of said shaft 10, preferably by a plurality of weld beads 6. In this configuration, the assembly contributes to the stiffening of the axle 9.

[0018] In [Fig.2], said vehicle 100 comprising the battery tray 1 is shown. The battery tray 1 comprises four assemblies. The assemblies are secured by a plurality of pairs formed by the first fixing screw 7a and the second fixing screw 7b. The battery tray 1 has four openings in which a cover 12 is positioned. The cover 12 is designed to break when the fluid is introduced into the conduit 2. The vehicle 100 has a rear axle comprising two rear wheels 13. In [Fig. 1], one of the two rear wheels 13 is shown. Furthermore, said vehicle 100 comprises a front axle with two front wheels. Preferably, said rear axle and said front axle each comprise two assemblies. The two assemblies of the rear axle are positioned between the two rear wheels 13. The two assemblies of the front axle are positioned between the front wheels.

Claims

Demands

1. A fire extinguishing assembly for a battery tray (1) of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising at least one conduit (2) configured to carry a fluid, said conduit (2) having an open end configured to permit the introduction of said fluid into said conduit (2), said conduit being configured to be joined to the battery tray (1) so that said fluid may enter said battery tray (1) or be discharged from said battery tray (1), characterized in that said assembly comprising a first support (3), a second support (4) and a longitudinal member (5), said longitudinal member (5) having a longitudinal recess, said conduit (2) being positioned in said longitudinal recess, said conduit (2) having a determined length, said longitudinal member (5) extending over the entire length of said conduit (2), said longitudinal member (5) comprising a first flange (5a) and a second flange (5b),said first rim (5a) being fixed to the first support (3), said second rim (5b) being fixed to the second support (4).

2. Assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that said conduit (2) is fixed in said stringer (5) by means of at least one weld bead (6).

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said first support (3), said second support (4), first rim (5a) and second rim (5b) have an opening, the respective openings of the first support (3) and of the first rim (5a) being superimposed so as to form a first passage, a first fixing screw (7a) passing through said first passage, the respective openings of the second support (4) and of the second rim (5b) being superimposed so as to form a second passage, a second fixing screw (7b) passing through said second passage, the first fixing screw (7a) and the second fixing screw (7b) each being held by a nut (8).

4. Assembly according to claim 3 characterized in that said nut (8) is fixed by welding.

5. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray (1) comprising said assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said vehicle comprising an axle (9), said axle (9) comprising a stretcher (10) and a stretcher support (11), said stretcher support (11) being fixed on said axle (9), said stretcher support (11) being fixed on said stretcher (10), said first support (3) and said second support (4) being fixed on either side of said stretcher (10).

6. Vehicle according to claim 5 characterized in that said first support (3) and said second support (4) are fixed to the frame (10) by means of a plurality of weld beads (6).

7. Vehicle according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said battery tray (1) has at least one opening, said conduit (2) being fixed in said opening, said opening having a seal (12) capable of breaking when said fluid is introduced into said battery tray (1) through said conduit (2).

8. Vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 7 characterized in that said vehicle comprises a front axle and a rear axle, said front axle comprising two front wheels, said front axle comprising two assemblies positioned between said front wheels, said rear axle comprising two rear wheels (13), said rear axle comprising two assemblies positioned between said rear wheels (13).

Images