Vehicle bottom surface cooling device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle bottom surface cooling device capable of injecting liquid for cooling to cover the entire bottom surface of an electric vehicle on fire, without the need for many nozzles or a large amount of liquid for cooling.SOLUTION: A vehicle bottom surface cooling device includes: a plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220 for injecting liquid for cooling; and device bodies 10, 110, 210 for supplying the liquid for cooling to the nozzles 20, 120, 220. The nozzles 20, 120, 220 are connected to the device bodies so as to be positioned lower than the minimum ground clearance of an electric vehicle. The plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220 are attached so that a range where the injected liquid for cooling strikes a bottom surface of the electric vehicle differs at least partially in terms of area or timing, and the liquid is ejected upward at an inclined angle. The liquid for cooling is sprayed over the bottom surface through injection from the plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle underside cooling device that sprays a cooling liquid from below toward the underside of an electric vehicle in the event of a fire. [Background technology]

[0002] Several fire extinguishing devices have been proposed to extinguish vehicle fires caused by malfunctions, accidents, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fire extinguishing device for extinguishing fires in the engine compartment of an automobile, which has a flat support member formed so as to be insertable between the pallet of the automobile and the underside of the engine compartment, and which has multiple upward-facing fog nozzles connected to the fog nozzles through hoses for pressure-feeding a fire extinguishing agent. In recent years, the electrification of vehicles has progressed at a rapid pace as part of measures to combat global warming. Among electric vehicles, those equipped with a drive battery used to drive the driving motor, etc., include BEVs (battery electric vehicles), HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles), and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). BEVs in particular are equipped with large-capacity drive batteries, and the majority of drive batteries in BEVs currently on the market have a capacity of 20 kWh to 70 kWh, with some luxury vehicles exceeding 100 kWh. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-107311 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the event of a vehicle fire in a BEV or other vehicle, the drive battery may experience internal discharge due to an internal malfunction, the effects of an external collision during an accident, or the effects of the fire, and may generate heat for a long period of time. Therefore, even if the fire is extinguished, the heat generated by the drive battery may cause the vehicle to catch fire again, so the drive battery must be continuously cooled from the outside after the fire is extinguished. Because drive batteries are often mounted under vehicles to lower their center of gravity, spraying water toward the bottom of the vehicle is considered effective for cooling the drive battery to prevent recurrence of fire. However, the water nozzles commonly used by fire departments have difficulty spraying water toward the bottom of the vehicle. Therefore, it is recommended to use heavy equipment such as a forklift to lift the vehicle or turn it upside down to make it easier to spray water toward the bottom, but such heavy equipment is not always available at the scene of a vehicle fire. On the other hand, if a fire extinguishing device is inserted between the vehicle and the ground as in Patent Document 1, it becomes possible to spray water onto the underside of the vehicle from below without lifting the vehicle. However, Patent Document 1 sprays fog into the engine compartment to suffocate the fire, and does not spray water or the like to cool the underside of the vehicle.

[0005] Also, depending on the model, some BEVs have a 2m square (4m 2 ) and therefore, in consideration of the cooling effect, it is desirable to continuously spray a cooling liquid such as water over the entire bottom of the vehicle. However, when spraying from a nozzle positioned below the vehicle underside, a single nozzle can achieve a large spray area if the distance between the nozzle and the vehicle underside is sufficiently large. However, the spray area becomes smaller as the distance between the nozzle and the vehicle underside decreases. Therefore, multiple nozzles are required to ensure a large spray area when the distance is small. For example, Figure 13 shows the number of full cone nozzles required to spray to cover the entire vehicle underside when using full cone nozzles, each of which emits a liquid with a roughly circular cross-section, directed vertically upward as in Patent Document 1. As shown in Figure 13, if a full cone nozzle with a spray angle of 120°, indicating the spread of the fluid, is used with its tip 50 mm above the ground and its axis directed vertically upward, 64 full cone nozzles would be required to spray to cover the entire 2-meter square underside of a vehicle with a ground clearance of 120 mm. The reason why the vehicle's ground clearance is assumed to be 120 mm is that although the minimum ground clearance for automobiles in Japan is set at 90 mm (Article 163 (Minimum Ground Clearance) of the Notification Prescribing Details of Safety Standards for Road Transport Vehicles), the actual ground clearance of automobiles is generally between 120 mm and 225 mm.

[0006] As the number of nozzles increases, the number of pipes for supplying the cooling liquid also increases, which makes the device more complex and causes problems such as increased costs and poor storage capacity. Furthermore, if a large amount of cooling liquid is sprayed forcefully from the nozzles, it is possible to continuously spray the cooling liquid over the entire underside of the vehicle with fewer nozzles. However, if a vehicle fire occurs on the road, especially on a highway, there is likely to be no nearby water source, so the supply of cooling liquid will likely have to be relied upon to supply by a water tanker, which makes it difficult to secure a large amount of cooling liquid.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle underside cooling device that can spray cooling liquid to cover the entire underside of an electric vehicle in the event of a fire, without requiring a large number of nozzles or a large flow rate of cooling liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The vehicle underside cooling device of the present invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle underside cooling device that sprays cooling liquid toward the underside of an electric vehicle, and is equipped with a plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220 that spray the cooling liquid, and a main body 10, 110, 210 that supplies the cooling liquid to the nozzles 20, 120, 220, wherein the nozzles 20, 120, 220 are connected to the main body 10, 110, 210 so that they are positioned lower than the minimum ground clearance of the electric vehicle, and the plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220 are attached so that the ranges over which the sprayed cooling liquid hits the underside of the electric vehicle are different from each other in at least some respects or at different times, and the spray is directed diagonally upward, and the cooling liquid is sprayed onto the underside by spraying from the plurality of nozzles 20, 120, 220. The present invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 1, at least one of the nozzles 20, 120, 220 is attached to the main body 10, 110, 210 so as to spray cooling liquid obliquely upward from the outside of the electric vehicle toward the edge of the underside. The present invention as set forth in claim 3 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device as set forth in claim 1, at least two of the nozzles 20, 120, 220 are fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid in the form of a fan-shaped sheet. The present invention as set forth in claim 4 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device as set forth in claim 3, a plurality of fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid obliquely upward are attached in a vertical row to the main body 10. The present invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 4, the elevation angle θ of the fan-shaped nozzles attached in a vertical row to the main body 10 is the same between the fan-shaped nozzles, and the injection angle α of the fan-shaped nozzles is also the same between the fan-shaped nozzles. The present invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 5, the elevation angle θ is in the range of 1°<θ<30°. The present invention as set forth in claim 7 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device as set forth in claim 3, a plurality of fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid obliquely upward are attached to the main body 110 in a row. The present invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 7, the elevation angles θ of the fan-shaped nozzles attached in a horizontal row to the main body 110 are different from each other, and the spray angles α of the fan-shaped nozzles are also different from each other. The present invention of claim 9 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device of claim 8, the elevation angle θ is in the range of 1°<θ<30°. The present invention described in claim 10 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 2, the main body 210 has a rotating head 214 that rotates around a vertical axis, and a plurality of nozzles 220 that spray cooling liquid diagonally upward are attached to the rotating head 214. The present invention described in claim 11 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 10, two or more of the nozzles 220 are fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid in the form of a fan-shaped sheet, and the rotating head 214 is equipped with a cooling and driving fan-shaped nozzle at a position away from a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head 214, and the rotating head 214 rotates due to the recoil when the cooling and driving fan-shaped nozzle sprays the cooling liquid diagonally upward. The present invention described in claim 12 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 11, a fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling is attached to the rotating head 214 on a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head 214, and the flow rate of cooling liquid sprayed from the fan-shaped nozzle for cooling and driving is less than the flow rate of cooling liquid sprayed from the fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling. The present invention of claim 13 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device of claim 10, the rotation speed of the rotary head 214 is 30 to 60 rpm. The present invention of claim 14 is characterized in that in the vehicle underside cooling device of claim 10, the rotary head 214 is provided with a nozzle 220 that sprays the cooling liquid vertically upward. The present invention described in claim 15 is characterized in that, in the vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 11, the fan-shaped nozzle in the rotating head 214 is attached so that the sprayed cooling liquid spreads vertically, and the elevation angle θ is set to an angle at which no water is wasted plus 1 / 2 of the spray angle α. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the vehicle underside cooling device of the present invention, it is possible to spray cooling liquid so as to cover the entire underside of an electric vehicle in the event of a fire, without requiring a large number of nozzles or a large flow rate of cooling liquid. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a vehicle underside cooling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is used; [Figure 2] Conceptual diagram of the vehicle underside cooling device [Figure 3] External view of the vehicle underside cooling device [Figure 4] A diagram showing the water spray area of ​​each nozzle [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a vehicle underside cooling device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is used; [Figure 6] External view of the vehicle underside cooling device [Figure 7] External view of the head [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which a vehicle underside cooling device according to a third embodiment of the present invention is used. [Figure 9] External view of the vehicle underside cooling device [Figure 10] External view of the rotating head [Figure 11] A conceptual diagram showing the jetting state from each nozzle in the rotary head [Figure 12] Fig. 1 shows the settings of the spray angle and elevation angle of the fan-shaped nozzle in the rotating head. [Figure 13] A diagram showing the number of filled cone nozzles required when used facing vertically upwards. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A vehicle underside cooling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device that sprays cooling liquid toward the underside of an electric vehicle, and comprises a plurality of nozzles that spray the cooling liquid and a main body that supplies the cooling liquid to the nozzles, the nozzles are connected to the main body so that they are positioned lower than the minimum ground clearance of the electric vehicle, and the plurality of nozzles are attached so that the ranges over which the sprayed cooling liquid hits the underside of the electric vehicle are at least partially different from each other or at different times, and the spray is directed diagonally upward, and the cooling liquid is sprayed onto the underside by spraying from the plurality of nozzles. According to this embodiment, it is possible to spray cooling liquid so as to cover the entire bottom surface of an electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred, without requiring a large number of nozzles or a large flow rate of cooling liquid.

[0012] A third embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the first embodiment, in which at least one of the nozzles is attached to the main body so as to spray cooling liquid obliquely upward from the outside of the electric vehicle toward the edge of the underside. According to this embodiment, if there is a gap between the drive battery of an electric vehicle and a plate or the like, the cooling liquid will also enter and flow into that gap, making it easier to lower the temperature of the drive battery.

[0013] The third embodiment of the present invention is such that, in the vehicle underside cooling device according to the first embodiment, two or more of the nozzles are fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid in the form of a fan-shaped sheet. According to this embodiment, the cooling liquid can be sprayed so as to cover the entire bottom surface of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred, using a smaller number of nozzles and at a smaller flow rate.

[0014] The fourth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the third embodiment, in which a plurality of fan-shaped nozzles that spray cooling liquid diagonally upwards are attached to the main body in a vertical row (the fan-shaped nozzles are arranged vertically in the spray direction). According to this embodiment, each nozzle is assigned a different area to spray the cooling liquid onto the underside of the vehicle without overlapping, so that the cooling liquid can be sprayed to cover the entire underside of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred with a smaller number of nozzles and flow rate.

[0015] The fifth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the fourth embodiment, in which multiple fan-shaped nozzles are attached in a vertical row (series) to the main body, and the elevation angles of the fan-shaped nozzles are the same and the spray angles of the fan-shaped nozzles are also the same. According to this embodiment, the structure can be simplified, and the influence on the water spray area can be reduced even if the ground clearance varies depending on the electric vehicle.

[0016] A sixth embodiment of the present invention is such that, in the vehicle underside cooling device according to the fifth embodiment, the elevation angle θ is in the range of 1°<θ<30°. According to this embodiment, the cooling liquid that hits the underside of the vehicle tends to continue to move along the underside of the vehicle, so that the cooling liquid can be sprayed to cover the entire underside of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred with a smaller number of nozzles and flow rate.

[0017] The seventh embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the third embodiment, in which a plurality of fan-shaped nozzles that spray cooling liquid diagonally upwards are attached to the main body in a horizontal row (the fan-shaped nozzles are arranged horizontally in the spray direction). According to this embodiment, the length of the main body is shortened, making it easier to carry and store.

[0018] The eighth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the seventh embodiment, in which multiple fan-shaped nozzles are attached in a horizontal row (parallel) to the main body, and the elevation angles of the fan-shaped nozzles are different from each other and the spray angles of the fan-shaped nozzles are also different from each other. According to this embodiment, each nozzle is assigned a different area to spray the cooling liquid onto the underside of the vehicle without overlapping, so that the cooling liquid can be sprayed to cover the entire underside of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred with a smaller number of nozzles and flow rate.

[0019] A ninth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the eighth embodiment, wherein the elevation angle θ is in the range of 1°<θ<30°. According to this embodiment, the cooling liquid that hits the underside of the vehicle tends to continue to move along the underside of the vehicle, so that the cooling liquid can be sprayed to cover the entire underside of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred with a smaller number of nozzles and flow rate.

[0020] The tenth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the second embodiment, in which the main body has a rotating head that rotates around a vertical axis, and a plurality of nozzles that spray cooling liquid diagonally upward are attached to the rotating head. According to this embodiment, the portion that sprays the cooling liquid from under the vehicle can be made compact, and the impact on the spray area can be reduced even if the ground clearance varies depending on the electric vehicle.

[0021] An eleventh embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the tenth embodiment, in which two or more of the nozzles are fan-shaped nozzles that spray cooling liquid in the form of a fan-shaped sheet, and a cooling and driving fan nozzle is attached to the rotating head at a position away from a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head (the spray axis of the fan-shaped nozzle does not overlap with the plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head), and the rotating head rotates due to the recoil when the cooling and driving fan nozzle sprays the cooling liquid diagonally upward. According to this embodiment, there is no need to provide a separate power source for rotating the rotary head, which makes it possible to suppress an increase in costs and reduce the possibility of breakdowns.

[0022] The twelfth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the eleventh embodiment, in which a fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling is attached to the rotating head on a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head (the spray axis of the fan-shaped nozzle overlaps with the plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head), and the flow rate of cooling liquid sprayed from the cooling and driving fan-shaped nozzle is less than the flow rate of cooling liquid sprayed from the fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling. According to this embodiment, the spray flow rate from the cooling and driving fan nozzle, which also serves to rotate the rotating head, is reduced to be lower than the spray flow rate from the main cooling fan nozzle, which is only responsible for cooling the underside of the vehicle, making it easier to control the rotation speed of the rotating head.

[0023] A thirteenth embodiment of the present invention is such that, in the vehicle underside cooling device according to the tenth embodiment, the rotation speed of the rotary head is set to 30 to 60 rpm. According to this embodiment, the cooling liquid sprayed from the nozzle is prevented from scattering excessively, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0024] A fourteenth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the tenth embodiment, wherein a nozzle for spraying cooling liquid vertically upward is attached to the rotary head. According to this embodiment, the cooling liquid sprayed vertically upward is not affected by the rotation of the rotating head as much as the cooling liquid sprayed diagonally upward, so the cooling liquid sprayed from the nozzles arranged vertically upward can be sprayed onto areas that are difficult to reach with the cooling liquid sprayed from the nozzles arranged diagonally upward, thereby cooling the entire underside of the vehicle.

[0025] The fifteenth embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle underside cooling device according to the eleventh embodiment, wherein the fan-shaped nozzles on the rotating head are attached so that the sprayed cooling liquid spreads vertically, and the elevation angle is set to an angle at which no water is wasted plus half the spray angle. According to this embodiment, the generation of wasted water is suppressed and the cooling liquid can be efficiently sprayed onto the underside of the vehicle. [Example]

[0026] Hereinafter, a vehicle underside cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a vehicle underside cooling device according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the vehicle underside cooling device in use. Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle underside cooling device, where (a) is a top view and (b) is a side view. Fig. 3 is an external view of the vehicle underside cooling device, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a side view when installed on the ground. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the water spray area of ​​each nozzle. A vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with a drive battery 2 at the bottom, and a plate 3 is disposed below the drive battery 2 so as to cover the drive battery 2 from below. The vehicle underside cooling device placed under the vehicle 1 is portable and has a straight tubular main body 10 and multiple nozzles 20 connected to the main body 10, and is used to spray cooling liquid onto the underside of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle fire.

[0027] 2 and 3, the main body 10 has a front tubular body 11 and a rear tubular body 12. The front tubular body 11 and the rear tubular body 12 are slender, circular tubes, and are connected via a detachable connecting member 30. The connecting member 30 is, for example, a one-touch joint. Support bodies 40 protruding on both sides are provided on the front tubular body 11. The support bodies 40 are arranged at two locations, one at the front and one at the rear of the front tubular body 11, and casters 41 are attached to both ends. A joint 50 is provided at the rear end of the rear pipe body 12, and a fire hose can be connected to the main body 10 via the joint 50. The joint 50 is, for example, a Machino joint. When a fire hose connected to a water source such as a water tanker is connected to the main body 10 and a cooling liquid such as water is supplied, the cooling liquid passes through the inside of the main body 10 and is sprayed from each nozzle 20. The cooling liquid supplied to the nozzles 20 has, for example, a pressure of 0.5 MPa and a flow rate of 50 L / min. At least one of the front pipe body 11 and the rear pipe body 12 may be configured as an integrated unit by connecting multiple circular pipes with one-touch joints, etc. Since the total length of the main body 10 exceeds 2 m, the front pipe body 11 or the rear pipe body 12 can be easily separated, making it easier to store and carry.

[0028] The front tube body 11 has a first nozzle 20A, a second nozzle 20B, a third nozzle 20C, and a fourth nozzle 20D attached in a vertical row (in series) from the tip side with their axes (rays) facing forward and upward, i.e., each nozzle 20 is arranged vertically in the injection (spray) direction, and a filter 60 is provided between the fourth nozzle 20D and the connecting material 30 to capture impurities contained in the cooling liquid. Each nozzle 20 is connected to the inside of the front tube body 11, and the cooling liquid is sprayed from a small hole at the tip of each nozzle 20. Each nozzle 20 is a fan-shaped nozzle, and the cooling liquid sprayed from each nozzle 20 spreads out in a fan-shaped sheet. The height h (see FIG. 1) from the ground to the tip of each nozzle 20 is, for example, less than approximately 90 mm. Note that if the vehicle underside cooling device is used for an electric vehicle whose ground clearance is well over 90 mm, the height h may be 90 mm or more.

[0029] Each nozzle 20 does not point its axis vertically upward, but points obliquely upward at an elevation angle θ of approximately 10°. The cooling liquid sprayed obliquely upward from each nozzle 20 does not immediately fall when it hits the underside of the vehicle (plate 3, etc.), but continues to flow along the underside of the vehicle, so water can be sprayed over the entire underside of the vehicle even with a small number of nozzles (four in this embodiment). Furthermore, since each nozzle 20 is a fan-shaped nozzle and the cross section of the sprayed beam of cooling liquid is linear, almost all of the cooling liquid hits the underside of the vehicle and contributes to cooling. Therefore, the entire underside of the vehicle can be cooled efficiently with a small flow rate of cooling liquid. The elevation angle θ of each nozzle 20 is set depending on the tip height h of the nozzle 20 and the assumed minimum ground clearance of the vehicle 1, but is preferably in the range of approximately 1°<θ<30°, and more preferably 5°<θ<15°. This makes it easier for the cooling liquid that hits the underside of the vehicle to continue moving along the underside of the vehicle. The injection angle α of each nozzle 20 is also set according to the tip height h of the nozzle 20, the minimum ground clearance of the assumed vehicle 1, and the like.

[0030] On the other hand, even if a fan-shaped nozzle is used for each nozzle 20, if the axis is directed vertically upward (elevation angle θ=90°), the cooling liquid that hits the underside of the vehicle will fall directly without flowing down the underside of the vehicle, and therefore many nozzles will be required, as in the case shown in Fig. 13. Note that the number of nozzles required to cover the entire underside of the vehicle by spraying water directed vertically upward is greater when fan-shaped nozzles are used than when full-cone nozzles are used. It is also possible to use a full-cone nozzle for each nozzle 20. In this case, if the axis is directed diagonally upward, the cooling liquid will flow down the vehicle underside after hitting the underside. However, because the beam of cooling liquid sprayed from a full-cone nozzle spreads out in a circular shape, much of the sprayed cooling liquid falls to the ground without hitting the vehicle underside, and less cooling liquid flows down the vehicle underside after hitting the underside compared to a fan-shaped nozzle. Therefore, it is not possible to spray cooling liquid so as to cover the entire vehicle underside with a small number of nozzles and a small flow rate, as in this embodiment.

[0031] The nozzles 20 are arranged in a vertical row at intervals of approximately 50 cm on the front pipe body 11 so that each nozzle covers approximately 1 / 4 of the spray area of ​​the cooling liquid (the range over which the sprayed cooling liquid hits the vehicle underside) of the vehicle underside, which has a width L of approximately 2 m. Note that the spray areas may partially overlap. 4 shows the spray area when the main body 10 is submerged to approximately the center under the vehicle. In this case, the cooling liquid sprayed from the leading first nozzle 20A hits the vehicle underside about 50 cm (L / 4) from the end of the spray direction and continues to flow along the vehicle underside to the end. In addition, the cooling liquid sprayed from the second nozzle 20B, the third nozzle 20C, and the fourth nozzle 20D hit the vehicle underside 50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm, respectively, from the position where the cooling liquid sprayed from the first nozzle 20A hits the vehicle underside and continues to flow along the vehicle underside.

[0032] The fourth nozzle 20D sprays from the outside of the vehicle 1 toward the edge of the vehicle underside, without going under the vehicle 1. If there is a gap 4 between the drive battery 2 and the plate 3, the cooling liquid sprayed from the fourth nozzle 20D will also enter and flow into the gap 4, making it easier to lower the temperature of the drive battery 2.

[0033] In addition, the vehicle underside cooling device of this embodiment has the same spray angle α and elevation angle θ for each nozzle 20, so it has a simple structure and also has the advantage of having little impact on the spray area even if the ground clearance of the vehicle 1 varies.

[0034] Next, a vehicle underside cooling device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7. Note that the same functional parts as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the vehicle underside cooling device in use. Fig. 6 is an external view of the vehicle underside cooling device, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a side view when installed on the ground. Fig. 7 is an external view of the head, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a diagram showing the elevation angle of each nozzle. The vehicle underside cooling device placed on the side of vehicle 1 in Figure 5 is portable and has a straight tubular main body 110 and multiple nozzles 120 connected to main body 110, and is used to spray cooling liquid onto the underside of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle fire.

[0035] 6, the main body 110 has a short, cylindrical front tube 111, a cylindrical rear tube 112 that is much longer than the front tube 111, and a horizontally elongated head 113 connected to the tip of the front tube 111. The front tube 111 and the rear tube 112 are connected via a detachable connecting member 130. The connecting member 130 is, for example, a one-touch joint. At the tip of the front tube body 111, supports 140 are provided that protrude on both sides so as to cover the head 113. Casters 141 are attached to both ends of the supports 140. A joint 50 is provided at the rear end of the rear pipe body 112, and a fire hose can be connected to the main body 110 via the joint 50. When a fire hose connected to a water source such as a water tanker is connected to the main body 110 and a cooling liquid such as water is supplied, the cooling liquid passes through the inside of the main body 110 and is sprayed from each nozzle 120. The cooling liquid supplied to the nozzles 120 has a pressure of 0.5 MPa and a flow rate of 50 L / min, for example. The rear pipe body 112 may be configured by connecting a plurality of circular pipes together using a one-touch joint or the like.

[0036] The head 113 is in communication with the interior of the front pipe body 111, and a filter 60 is provided between the head 113 and the connecting member 130. A first nozzle 120A, a second nozzle 120B, a third nozzle 120C, and a fourth nozzle 120D are attached to the head 113 in a horizontal row (parallel) from one end, with their axes facing forward and upward. Each nozzle 120 is connected to the inside of the head 113, and the cooling liquid is sprayed from a small hole at the tip of each nozzle 120. A fan-shaped nozzle is used for each nozzle 120, and the cooling liquid sprayed from each nozzle 120 spreads in a sheet shape. The height h (see FIG. 5) from the ground to the tip of the nozzle 120 is, for example, less than approximately 90 mm.

[0037] The axis of each nozzle 120 is directed obliquely upward rather than vertically upward. The cooling liquid sprayed obliquely upward from each nozzle 120 does not immediately fall when it hits the underside of the vehicle (plate 3, etc.), but continues to spread and flow along the underside of the vehicle, so water can be sprayed over the entire underside of the vehicle even with a small number of nozzles (four in this embodiment). Furthermore, since each nozzle 120 is a fan-shaped nozzle and the cross section of the sprayed beam of cooling liquid is linear, almost all of the cooling liquid hits the underside of the vehicle and contributes to cooling. Therefore, the entire underside of the vehicle can be cooled efficiently with a small flow rate of cooling liquid.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle underside cooling device of this embodiment sprays the cooling liquid from outside the vehicle 1 without having the head 113 go under the vehicle. The four nozzles 120 arranged horizontally in the head 113 have different elevation angles θ to change the reach distance to the vehicle underside so that each nozzle covers approximately ¼ of the area to spray the cooling liquid on the vehicle underside, which has a width L of approximately 2 m. Also, to minimize interference between the cooling liquid sprayed from each nozzle 120, the nozzles 120 are arranged so that nozzles 120 with relatively similar elevation angles θ are not adjacent to each other. In this embodiment, the elevation angle θ of the first nozzle 120A located at one end is approximately 4°, the elevation angle θ of the fourth nozzle 120D located at the other end is approximately 5°, the elevation angle θ of the second nozzle 120B located next to the first nozzle 120A is approximately 7°, and the elevation angle θ of the third nozzle 120C located next to the fourth nozzle 120D is approximately 13°. The smaller the elevation angle θ, the longer the distance the sprayed cooling liquid travels to reach the underside of the vehicle, so the spray area covered by each nozzle 120 is the underside of the vehicle that is farthest from the head 113, in the order of first nozzle 120A, fourth nozzle 120D, second nozzle 120B, and third nozzle 120C. The elevation angle θ of each nozzle 120 is set according to the tip height h of the nozzle 120 and the minimum ground clearance of the assumed vehicle 1, but is preferably in the range of approximately 1°<θ<30°, and more preferably in the range of 5°<θ<15°.

[0039] Furthermore, since the distance the cooling liquid sprayed from each nozzle 120 travels to reach the vehicle underside differs, the spray angle α of each nozzle 120 also differs. The spray angle α of each nozzle 120 depends on factors such as the assumed distance between head 113 and vehicle 1 at the time of spraying, but for example, the spray angle α of first nozzle 120A, which has the longest reach to the vehicle underside, is approximately 50°, the spray angle α of fourth nozzle 120D, which has the second longest reach, is approximately 65°, the spray angle α of second nozzle 120B, which has the third longest reach, is approximately 80°, and the spray angle α of third nozzle 120C, which has the shortest reach, is approximately 115°.

[0040] When spraying toward the underside of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle fire, the main body 110 is carried close to the vehicle 1 while rolling on the casters 141, and the position is adjusted so that the cooling liquid sprayed from the third nozzle 120C, which covers the spray area closest to the head 113, hits the edge of the vehicle underside. The cooling liquid sprayed from first nozzle 120A hits the vehicle underside about 50 cm (L / 4) from the end of the spray direction, and then spreads and flows to the end. Also, the cooling liquid sprayed from fourth nozzle 120D, second nozzle 120B, and third nozzle 120C hits the vehicle underside 50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm, respectively, from the position where the cooling liquid sprayed from first nozzle 120A hits the vehicle underside, and then spreads and flows. If there is a gap 4 between the drive battery 2 and the plate 3, the cooling liquid sprayed from the third nozzle 120C will also enter and flow into the gap 4, making it even easier to lower the temperature of the drive battery 2.

[0041] In addition, the vehicle underside cooling device of this embodiment has multiple nozzles 120 arranged in a horizontal row (parallel) on the head 113, so it is compact and has the advantage of being easier to carry and store, as the length of the main body 110 can be shortened compared to the fire extinguisher of the first embodiment.

[0042] Next, a vehicle underside cooling device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 12. Note that the same functional parts as those in the above-described embodiments are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the vehicle underside cooling device in use. Fig. 9 is an external view of the vehicle underside cooling device, with (a) being when retracted and (b) being when extended. Fig. 10 is an external view of the rotating head, with (a) being a perspective view from above and (b) being a perspective view from below. Fig. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing the spray state from each nozzle in the rotating head, with (a) being a top view and (b) being a side view. Fig. 12 is a diagram related to the setting of the spray angle and elevation angle of the fan-shaped nozzle in the rotating head. The vehicle underside cooling device placed under the vehicle 1 in Figure 8 is portable and has a straight tubular main body 210 and multiple nozzles 220 connected to the main body 210, and is used to spray cooling liquid onto the underside of the vehicle in the event of a vehicle fire.

[0043] As shown in Figure 9, the main body 210 has a front tube 211, a rear tube 212, and a central tube 213, and a rotating head 214 connected to the tip of the front tube 211. The tubes of the main body 210, consisting of the front tube 211, the rear tube 212, and the central tube 213, are long, slender, cylindrical telescopic pipes, and are structured so that by sliding the front tube 211 and the central tube 213 toward the rear tube 212, most of the front tube 211 and the central tube 213 are housed in the rear tube 212. This allows the overall length to be shortened to about one-third of that when not in use, making it easy to carry and store. At the tip of the front tube body 211, supports 230 protruding on both sides are provided below the rotary head 214. Casters 231 are attached to both ends of the supports 230. A joint 50 is provided at the rear end of the rear pipe body 212, and a fire hose can be connected to the main body 210 via the joint 50. When a fire hose connected to a water source such as a water tanker is connected to the main body 210 and a cooling liquid such as water is supplied, the cooling liquid passes through the inside of the main body 210 and is sprayed from each nozzle 220. The cooling liquid supplied to the nozzles 220 has a pressure of 0.5 MPa and a flow rate of 50 L / min, for example. A filter 60 is provided on the rear pipe body 212 near the joint 50.

[0044] The rotary head 214 is in communication with the interior of the front tubular body 211. A first nozzle 220A is attached to one end of the rotary head 214, a second nozzle 220B is attached to the other end, and a third nozzle 220C, a fourth nozzle 220D, and a fifth nozzle 220E are attached to the center. In addition, a sixth nozzle 220F is attached to the tip of the central tubular body 213. Each nozzle 220 is connected to the inside of the rotary head 214 or the inside of the central pipe 213, and cooling liquid is sprayed from small holes at the tip of each nozzle 220. The height h (see FIG. 8) from the ground to the tip of the nozzle 220 is set to, for example, less than approximately 90 mm.

[0045] The rotary head 214 has, for example, an elliptical or rectangular shape when viewed from above, and rotates about a vertical axis. As described above, the rotary head 214 is provided with three nozzles 220 in the center and one each at both ends. The first nozzle 220A and the second nozzle 220B, located at both ends of the rotating head 214, are fan-shaped nozzles for cooling and driving that not only cool the underside of the vehicle but also rotate the rotating head 214. Both nozzles have their axes pointing diagonally upward, but the spray directions are opposite to each other so that the spray from both nozzles can be used to rotate the rotating head 214 in one direction. Of the three nozzles 220 located in the center of the rotating head 214, the axes of third nozzle 220C and fourth nozzle 220D are directed diagonally upward, while the axis of fifth nozzle 220E is directed vertically upward. The spray direction of third nozzle 220C is on the same side as first nozzle 220A, and the spray direction of fourth nozzle 220D is on the same side as second nozzle 220B. Fifth nozzle 220E is located between third nozzle 220C and fourth nozzle 220D and is positioned on the rotation axis of rotating head 214. Like first nozzle 220A and second nozzle 220B, third nozzle 220C and fourth nozzle 220D have axes directed diagonally upward, but because their axes are positioned on a plane that includes the rotation axis of rotating head 214, they do not contribute to the rotation of rotating head 214 and are main cooling fan-shaped nozzles that are responsible only for cooling the underside of the vehicle. Additionally, the sixth nozzle 220F located in the central pipe 213 is attached with its jetting direction facing the rotary head 214 side and its axis pointing obliquely upward. The first nozzle 220A, the second nozzle 220B, the third nozzle 220C, the fourth nozzle 220D, and the sixth nozzle 220F are fan-shaped nozzles, and the fifth nozzle 220E is a full-cone nozzle. Note that the fifth nozzle 220E may also be a fan-shaped nozzle.

[0046] When spraying toward the underside of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle fire, the main body 210 is carried close to the vehicle 1 while rolling on the casters 231, and the front pipe body 211 is moved under so that the rotating head 214 is positioned approximately in the center under the vehicle. As a result, the first to fifth nozzles 220A to 220E provided on the rotating head 214 are directed with their axes facing from below the vehicle 1 toward the vehicle underside, and the sixth nozzle 220F provided on the rear pipe body 212 is directed with its axis facing from the side of the vehicle 1 toward the edge of the vehicle underside. When the spraying starts, the cooling liquid is sprayed from each nozzle 220 toward the underside of the vehicle. Rotating head 214 rotates in one direction due to the reaction force generated when cooling liquid is sprayed from first nozzle 220A and second nozzle 220B. The range (spray area) over which cooling liquid sprayed from first to fourth nozzles 220A to 220D, which are directed diagonally upward, strikes the vehicle underside changes as rotating head 214 rotates, for example, from the front to the right side to the rear to the left side. Note that third nozzle 220C and fourth nozzle 220D spray in opposite directions, so the cooling liquid does not strike the same location at the same time. However, as rotating head 214 rotates, the cooling liquid strikes the same location at different times, resulting in the same spray area. The same holds true for the relationship between the spray area of ​​first nozzle 220A and the spray area of ​​second nozzle 220B. On the other hand, the cooling liquid sprayed from the fifth nozzle 220E directed vertically upwards will swirl somewhat due to the rotation of the rotary head 214, but will generally hit the center of the underside of the vehicle. Additionally, the cooling liquid sprayed from the sixth nozzle 220F hits the edge of the vehicle underside. If there is a gap 4 between the drive battery 2 and the plate 3, the cooling liquid sprayed from the sixth nozzle 220F will also enter and flow into that gap 4, further reducing the temperature of the drive battery 2.

[0047] The axis of each nozzle 220, except for the fifth nozzle 220E, is directed obliquely upward rather than vertically upward. The cooling liquid sprayed obliquely upward does not immediately fall upon hitting the vehicle underside (plate 3, etc.), but instead spreads and flows along the vehicle underside. Furthermore, by providing the fifth nozzle 220E, whose axis is directed vertically upward, on the rotary head 214, the cooling liquid is also sprayed onto the central portion of the vehicle underside. This makes it possible to spray water over the entire vehicle underside even with a small number of nozzles (six in this embodiment). Furthermore, each nozzle 220 is a fan-shaped nozzle directed diagonally upward, and the cross section of the sprayed bundle of cooling liquid is linear, so that almost all of the cooling liquid hits the underside of the vehicle and contributes to cooling. Therefore, the entire underside of the vehicle can be cooled efficiently with a small flow rate of cooling liquid.

[0048] The sixth nozzle 220F is a fan-shaped nozzle with a spray angle α of approximately 70°, and is attached with an elevation angle θ of approximately 45°. The cooling liquid sprayed from the sixth nozzle 220F spreads in the left and right directions. The first to fourth nozzles 220A to 220D are fan-shaped nozzles with a spray angle α of approximately 70°, and are attached so that the fan-shaped sheet surface formed by the sprayed bundle of cooling liquid is perpendicular to the ground. The cooling liquid sprayed from the first to fourth nozzles 220A to 220D spreads in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. The elevation angle θ of the first to fourth nozzles 220A to 220D is set to, for example, approximately 36° using the relational expression θ=α / 2+β so as to minimize the occurrence of wasted water of the sprayed cooling liquid heading toward the ground instead of the underside of the vehicle (see FIG. 12). Here, β is the angle at which no wasted water occurs. This makes it possible to reduce the required flow rate of the cooling liquid. Note that "H" in FIG. 12 is the assumed minimum ground clearance of the vehicle 1.

[0049] In addition, the vehicle underside cooling device of this embodiment has multiple nozzles 220 arranged on the rotating head 214, so the part that sprays the cooling liquid from under the vehicle can be made compact, and it also has the advantage that there is little impact on the spray area even if the ground clearance of the vehicle 1 changes. If the rotation speed of the rotating head 214 is too fast, the cooling liquid sprayed from the nozzle 220 attached to the rotating head 214 may splash around too much, reducing the cooling efficiency. Therefore, it is preferable to set the flow rate of the cooling liquid so that the rotation speed of the rotating head 214 is within the range of 30 to 60 rpm.

[0050] As described above, the fan-shaped nozzles attached to the rotary head 214 are divided into two sets, one for main cooling and one for cooling and driving. The main cooling fan nozzles are third nozzle 220C and fourth nozzle 220D, and their axes (spray axes) are located on a plane that includes the rotation axis of rotary head 214, and they do not generate driving force to rotary head 214. The main cooling fan nozzles have a higher spray flow rate than the cooling and driving fan nozzles, and play a central role in cooling the underside of the vehicle by spraying cooling liquid. The fan-shaped nozzles for cooling and driving are first nozzle 220A and second nozzle 220B. Since the axes of first nozzle 220A and second nozzle 220B are away from the plane including the rotation axis, a rotational moment is generated about the rotation axis by the jets from first nozzle 220A and second nozzle 220B, causing rotary head 214 to rotate. Furthermore, the ejection flow rates of the first nozzle 220A and the second nozzle 220B are set smaller than those of the third nozzle 220C and the fourth nozzle 220D. This structure (design) makes it easier to control the rotation speed of the rotating head 214. Furthermore, cooling efficiency can be improved by setting the rotation speed of the rotating head 214 within an appropriate range so that the cooling liquid sprayed from the nozzle 220 does not splash too much. An appropriate rotation speed of the rotating head 214 is 10 to 120 rpm, and more preferably 30 to 60 rpm. [Industrial Applicability]

[0051] The vehicle cooling device of the present invention can be used to extinguish a fire from below an electric vehicle such as a BEV when a fire has broken out, or to cool the bottom of the vehicle to prevent the drive battery from catching fire again after the fire has been extinguished. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10,110,210 Main unit 20,120,220 nozzles 214 Rotating Head α Spray angle θ elevation angle

Claims

1. A vehicle underside cooling device that sprays a cooling liquid toward the underside of an electric vehicle, a plurality of nozzles for spraying the cooling liquid; a main body for supplying the cooling liquid to the nozzle; the nozzle is connected to the main body so as to be located lower than a minimum ground clearance of the electric vehicle; the plurality of nozzles are attached so that the ranges over which the sprayed cooling liquid hits the bottom surface of the electric vehicle are at least partially different from each other or at different times, and the spray is directed obliquely upward; A vehicle underside cooling device, characterized in that the cooling liquid is sprayed onto the underside by jets from the plurality of nozzles.

2. 2. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzles is attached to the main body so as to spray the cooling liquid obliquely upward from outside the electric vehicle toward the edge of the underside.

3. 2. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the nozzles are fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid in the form of a fan-shaped sheet.

4. 4. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the fan-shaped nozzles for spraying the cooling liquid obliquely upward are attached in a vertical row to the main body.

5. 5. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of fan-shaped nozzles attached in a vertical row to the main body have the same elevation angle and the same spray angle.

6. 6. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 5, wherein the elevation angle θ is in the range of 1°<θ<30°.

7. 4. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the fan-shaped nozzles for spraying the cooling liquid obliquely upward are attached to the main body in a row.

8. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 7, characterized in that, among the plurality of fan-shaped nozzles attached in a row to the main body, the fan-shaped nozzles have different elevation angles and different spray angles.

9. 9. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 8, wherein the elevation angle θ is in a range of 1°<θ<30°.

10. The main body has a rotary head that rotates about a vertical axis, 3. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the nozzles for spraying the cooling liquid obliquely upward are attached to the rotary head.

11. two or more of the nozzles are fan-shaped nozzles that spray the cooling liquid into a fan-shaped sheet; The vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 10, characterized in that the fan-shaped nozzle for cooling and driving is attached to the rotating head at a position away from a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head, and the rotating head rotates due to the recoil when the fan-shaped nozzle for cooling and driving sprays the cooling liquid diagonally upward.

12. The vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 11, characterized in that the fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling is attached to the rotating head on a plane including the rotation axis of the rotating head, and the flow rate of the cooling liquid sprayed from the fan-shaped nozzle for cooling and driving is less than the flow rate of the cooling liquid sprayed from the fan-shaped nozzle for main cooling.

13. 11. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 10, wherein the rotation speed of the rotary head is 30 to 60 rpm.

14. 11. The vehicle underside cooling device according to claim 10, wherein the nozzle for spraying the cooling liquid vertically upward is attached to the rotary head.

15. The vehicle underside cooling device described in claim 11, characterized in that the fan-shaped nozzle on the rotating head is attached so that the sprayed cooling liquid spreads vertically, and the elevation angle is set to an angle at which no water is wasted plus half the spray angle.

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