Fire suppression device for electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, the fire suppression device comprising: a first unit including a wheel capable of moving under a vehicle body of an electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred; a second unit including a lifting actuator provided on one side of the first unit to lift the vehicle body from the ground; and a third unit including a foldable pool provided on one side of the first unit and made of flexible material so as to be stretchable or contractible to form an inner surface facing a bottom surface and front, rear, left, and right side surfaces of the vehicle body lifted by the lifting actuator. Therefore, it is easy to operate the fire suppression device, and the fire suppression device may quickly extinguish fire in an electric vehicle and facilitate transportation, movement, and maintenance in a compact and lightweight implementation.

Description

Fire suppression system for electric vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, and more particularly, to a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle that is easy to operate and can quickly suppress a fire in an electric vehicle.

[0002] Automobiles are generally driven by internal combustion engines that use gasoline or diesel fuel, but the carbon emissions generated by internal combustion engines accelerate global warming, and nitrogen compounds, which are problematic along with carbon emissions, are pointed out as one of the causes of air pollution.

[0003] Accordingly, the spread of electric vehicles, which emit no carbon or nitrogen compounds, has been increasing recently.

[0004] This trend will lead to a worldwide phase-out of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles due to global warming issues, and will gradually increase the adoption rate of electric vehicles.

[0005] From this perspective, the cumulative number of electric vehicle registrations is showing an explosive increase of 71.5% annually between 2020 and 2021, and the number of electric vehicle fires and the amount of damage are also increasing accordingly.

[0006] Electric vehicle fires can occur due to the combustion of internal combustible materials such as vehicle seats, but the most dangerous of all is the thermal runaway phenomenon in which the heat energy generated when internal combustible materials are burned is transferred to the battery, causing the combustion to be more violent than that of a normal vehicle fire.

[0007] Fires in electric vehicles caused by thermal runaway occur more violently than in fires in general vehicles, making it difficult for firefighting water to penetrate the battery. Therefore, the fire suppression time and the amount of firefighting water required are also longer than in fires in general vehicles.

[0008] Battery fires in electric vehicles progress through four stages of thermal runaway: swelling, overpressure release, generation of flammable gases, and thermal runaway (ignition of flammable gases).

[0009] To digest the batteries of these electric vehicles, it is crucial to prevent continuous thermal runaway of adjacent batteries due to heat energy.

[0010] Due to these significant differences in the characteristics of existing vehicle fires, fire departments are developing methods to extinguish electric vehicle fires, and cooling extinguishing using a submersion tank and directly pouring water on the battery have been confirmed to be the most effective methods to date.

[0011] In the case of a device such as the cooling tank of Patent No. 10-2376222, it was confirmed that the fire was completely extinguished during the immersion test, but it took about 40 minutes to assemble it, fill it with water, and submerge the vehicle.

[0012] In addition, when introducing foreign equipment, not only is the introduction cost high, but a lot of manpower must be allocated to operate the equipment, which means that the initial and operating costs are high, which is burdensome.

[0013] The present invention was invented to improve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle that is easy to operate and can quickly suppress a fire in an electric vehicle.

[0014] In addition, the present invention provides a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle that can facilitate transportation, movement, and maintenance storage by implementing compactness and light weight.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it includes: a first unit including a wheel that can move under a body of an electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred; a second unit including an elevation actuator provided on one side of the first unit to raise the body from the ground; and a third unit including a folding pull made of a flexible material that can be expanded or contracted to form an inner surface facing the bottom surface and the front, back, left, and right sides of the body raised by the elevation actuator.

[0016] Here, the first unit is characterized in that it further includes a moving frame having a lower surface equipped with the wheel and an upper surface on which the lifting actuator is installed.

[0017] At this time, when the folding pool is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, the left-right width of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is characterized by being smaller than or equal to the wheel track of the electric vehicle.

[0018] And, when the folding pool is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, the front-rear length of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is characterized in that it is less than or equal to the wheel base of the electric vehicle.

[0019] And, when the folding pool is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, the height of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is characterized in that it is less than or equal to the length from the chassis of the electric vehicle to the ground.

[0020] And, the second unit is characterized in that it further includes an elevation frame that is raised or lowered by the elevation actuator and has an upper surface facing the chassis of the electric vehicle.

[0021] And, the third unit is characterized in that it further includes a plurality of support bars that can be entered and exited with respect to the moving frame of the first unit having an upper surface on which the lifting actuator is installed, a rotation bar that is provided to be rotatable with respect to the end portions of each of the plurality of support bars, a plurality of full support bars that are received in the rotation bar so as to be entered and exited from the end portions of the rotation bar and can be arranged in a straight line on an imaginary line passing through the front and end portions of the rotation bar, and an entry and exit bar that is integrally formed or entered and exited on the end portion side of the full support bar and is connected to the upper edge of the folding pull that includes a lower edge formed along the edge of the moving frame of the first unit and an elastic portion that extends radially from the lower edge and contracts in a pattern in which a plurality of hills and valleys are repeatedly formed.

[0022] And, the third unit is characterized in that it further includes a linear actuator provided on the pivot bar to extend and contract the plurality of full support bars relative to the pivot bar.

[0023] And, the third unit is characterized in that it further includes a bar rail installed on the moving frame and each of the plurality of support bars is received therein so that the plurality of support bars can reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of support bars, and a mover provided at the tip of each of the plurality of support bars to receive driving force and reciprocate along the bar rail.

[0024] In addition, the above folding pool is characterized by being made of a non-combustible or flame retardant material.

[0025] In addition, it is characterized by further including a moving actuator that transmits driving force to the wheel, and a communication module that is electrically connected to the moving actuator and is capable of communicating with a server of the control center and a portable terminal of an administrator through a network, and that enables remote control of the moving actuator, the second unit, and the third unit.

[0026] According to the present invention having the above configuration, the following effects can be achieved.

[0027] First of all, the present invention has a special advantage that can be of great help in the initial fire suppression because it can lift the body of an electric vehicle in which a fire has broken out with a single device and immediately create a pool for forming a flooding tank to extinguish the fire.

[0028] In addition, the present invention is easy to operate and, in some cases, can be operated remotely to approach the body of an electric vehicle in which a fire has broken out, lift the body, create a submersion tank, and immerse the body in a fire extinguishing agent or water to extinguish the fire, so it has the special advantage of ensuring the safety of firefighters deployed to the scene.

[0029] In addition, the present invention can significantly improve convenience in maintenance, such as making it easy to transport, move, and carry, and convenient to store and store, by reducing the volume and size to make it compact and lightweight.

[0030] Figure 1 is a front conceptual diagram showing a state in which a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is placed under the body of the electric vehicle.

[0031] Figure 2 is a front conceptual diagram illustrating the operating structure of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front conceptual diagram showing structural details of a third unit, which is a main part of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4 is a planar conceptual diagram showing the overall structure of a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figures 5 to 7 are front conceptual diagrams sequentially illustrating the operation process of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The advantages and features of the present invention and the method for achieving them will become clear with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

[0037] However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms.

[0038] The embodiments herein are provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention.

[0039] And the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0040] Accordingly, in some embodiments, well-known components, well-known operations, and well-known techniques are not specifically described to avoid obscuring the present invention.

[0041] Additionally, throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components, and the terminology used (referred to) in this specification is for the purpose of describing embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0042] In this specification, the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase, and the reference to an element or action as “including (or comprising)” does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or actions.

[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in the sense commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0044] Also, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not to be interpreted ideally or excessively unless they are defined otherwise.

[0045]

[0046] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0047] First, FIG. 1 is a front conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention is placed under the body of the electric vehicle.

[0048] And, Fig. 2 is a front conceptual diagram showing the operating structure of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] And, FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front conceptual diagram showing structural details of a third unit, which is a main part of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] And, FIG. 4 is a plan conceptual diagram showing the overall structure of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] In addition, FIGS. 5 to 7 are front conceptual diagrams sequentially illustrating the operation process of a fire suppression device of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] In addition, FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] For reference, the lifting frame (210) indicated by the two-dotted line in FIG. 4 is positioned at the uppermost side in FIG. 4, the folding pull (301) indicated by the one-dotted line is positioned lower than the lifting frame (210) when folded and contracted, and the wheel (101) indicated by the dotted line is positioned at the lowermost side in FIG. 4.

[0054] In addition, the straight lines that intersect each other in the shape of an 'X' at the center of the moving frame (110) and the lifting frame (210) indicated by dots in FIG. 4 indicate virtual lines that do not actually exist and will be described in detail later.

[0055]

[0056] It can be seen that the present invention has a structure in which the first unit (100) is movable, the second unit (200) lifts the body (400), and the third unit (300) forms a submersion tank for extinguishing a fire in the body (400), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0057] First, the first unit (100) may include a wheel (101) that can move under the body (400) of the electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred.

[0058] In addition, the second unit (200) may include a lifting actuator (not shown) provided on one side of the first unit (100) to raise the body (400) from the ground (500).

[0059] In addition, the third unit (300) may include a folding pool (301) made of a flexible material that can be expanded or contracted to form an inner surface facing the front, rear, left, and right sides and the bottom surface of the body (400) raised by the lifting actuator on one side of the first unit (100).

[0060] Accordingly, as will be described in detail in the operating process later, the folding pool (301) is extended and spread out to the maximum extent as shown in Fig. 7, thereby forming an immersion tank that receives extinguishing fluid or extinguishing water for extinguishing a fire occurring in the body (400).

[0061] The present invention can be applied to the above-described embodiments, and of course, the following various embodiments can also be applied.

[0062]

[0063] First, the first unit (100) may further include a moving frame (110) having a lower surface equipped with a wheel (101) and an upper surface on which an elevation actuator is installed, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0064]

[0065] Meanwhile, the second unit (200) may further include a lifting frame (210) that is raised or lowered by a lifting actuator and has an upper surface facing the chassis of the electric vehicle.

[0066] In addition, the second unit (200) may further include a support means (220) formed between the moving frame (110) and the lifting frame (210), which maintains the state in which the lifting frame (210) raises the body (400) by being extended or contracted, or extended or folded, by the lifting actuator.

[0067] Here, the support means (220) is not specifically shown, but may be a lifting actuator itself, such as a hydraulic jack, which is mounted on the moving frame (110) and pushes up the lifting frame (210).

[0068] At this time, the support means (220) may be applied in an embodiment consisting of a combination of a folding stand, a support cylinder, and an elevating rod, although not specifically illustrated.

[0069] The folding member is formed by a pair of link bars that are rotatably formed in an 'X' shape and are repeated in the vertical direction, and the pair of link bars at the lowest end can be rotatably connected to the front and rear or left and right sides of the moving frame (110), and the pair of link bars at the top can be rotatably connected to the front and rear or left and right sides of the lifting frame (210).

[0070] The support cylinder has a lower part that is fixed to the moving frame (110) and can be arranged in multiple numbers along the front-back or left-right direction of the moving frame (110).

[0071] The lifting rod is elastically raised and lowered from the upper end of each of the plurality of support cylinders and has an upper end that is fixed to the lifting frame (210).

[0072] In addition, the support means (220) may further include limit switches installed between a pair of link bars at the lowest level and the moving frame (110), and between a pair of link bars at the highest level and the lifting frame (210), although not specifically illustrated.

[0073] The limit switch may also detect that the lifting frame (210) has lifted the body (400) to the maximum height at which the folding pull (301) can be unfolded, and may stop the extension of the lifting rod of the support cylinder in the lifting actuator.

[0074] That is, it goes without saying that the support means (220) can apply various application and modification designs as described above.

[0075]

[0076] Meanwhile, the third unit (300) may further include a plurality of support bars (310) that can be moved into and out of the moving frame (110) of the first unit (100) having an upper surface on which an elevator actuator is installed.

[0077] In addition, the third unit (300) may further include a rotation bar (320) that is provided to be rotatable with respect to the end portion of each of the plurality of support bars (310).

[0078] In addition, the third unit (300) may further include a plurality of full support bars (330) that are stored in the pivot bar (320) so as to be accessible from the distal end of the pivot bar (320) and can be arranged in a straight line on an imaginary line passing through the front and distal ends of the pivot bar (320).

[0079] In addition, the third unit (300) may further include an access bar (340) that is integrally formed or provided in a retractable manner at the end of the full support bar (330), and is connected to the upper edge (3013) of the foldable pool (301) that includes a lower edge (3011) formed along the edge of the moving frame (110) of the first unit (100), and an elastic portion (3012) that extends radially from the lower edge (3011) and contracts in a pattern in which a plurality of mountains and valleys are repeatedly formed.

[0080] Here, it is preferable that the folding pool (301) is made of a non-combustible or flame-retardant material.

[0081] At this time, the third unit (300) may further include a hinge (350) provided between the end portion of each of the plurality of support bars (310) and the front end portion of the pivot bar (320), and supporting the pivot bar (320) to rotate with respect to the end portion of each of the plurality of support bars (310).

[0082] In addition, the third unit (300) may also be applied to an embodiment of a structure further including a bar rotation cylinder rotatably coupled to each of a plurality of support bars (310), although not specifically illustrated, and a bar rotation rod rotatably extending and retracting from the bar rotation cylinder and rotatably coupled to the rotation bar (320).

[0083] In addition, the third unit (300) may further include a linear actuator (322) provided on the pivot bar (320) to allow a plurality of full support bars (330) to be retractable relative to the pivot bar (320).

[0084] Meanwhile, the third unit (300) may further include a bar rail (360) that is installed on a moving frame (110) as shown in FIG. 4 and accommodates a plurality of support bars (310) and allows the plurality of support bars (310) to reciprocate along the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of support bars (310).

[0085] Additionally, the third unit (300) may further include a mover (312) that is provided at the tip of each of the plurality of support bars (310) and receives driving force to reciprocate along the bar rail (360).

[0086] Here, the bar rail (360) can be arranged on an imaginary line (see the straight line in the center of Figure 4) that extends diagonally from each vertex of a moving frame (110) formed in a rectangular shape with a left-right width and a front-back length that are different from or equal to each other and a left-right width that is less than or equal to the front-back length.

[0087] At this time, it is preferable that the leading end of each bar rail (360) is adjacent to the intersection of the virtual lines, and the distal end of each bar rail (360) is placed at each vertex of the moving frame (110).

[0088] The arrangement of the front and rear ends of each bar rail (360) on an imaginary line intersecting in the aforementioned 'X' shape is a technical means for maximizing the range of motion according to the reciprocating movement of each of the plurality of support bars (310), thereby actively responding to various sizes of body (400) and making it easy to form an immersion tank by surrounding the bottom surface and front, rear, left and right sides of the body (400).

[0089] And, referring to Fig. 4, the width of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is smaller than or equal to the wheel track of the electric vehicle when the folding pool (301) is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, so that it moves under the body (400) and there will be no problem in unfolding the folding pool (301).

[0090] In addition, the front-to-rear length of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is less than or equal to the wheel base of the electric vehicle when the folding pool (301) is fully retracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, so that it moves under the body (400) and does not interfere with unfolding the folding pool (301).

[0091] In addition, the height of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is less than or equal to the length from the chassis of the electric vehicle to the ground (500) when the folding pool (301) is fully retracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, so that it moves under the body (400) and does not interfere with unfolding the folding pool (301).

[0092]

[0093] Hereinafter, the operation process of a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 together with FIG. 1.

[0094] For reference, drawing symbols not shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 refer to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0095] First, the first unit (100) moves under the body (400) where the fire occurred as shown in Fig. 1, and then the lifting actuator is operated so that ① the lifting frame (210) raises the body (400) as shown in Fig. 5, and the support means (220) supports the lifting frame (210) and the body (400).

[0096] Continuing, ② the support bar (310) moves along the bar rail (360) and prepares to unfold with respect to the moving frame (110).

[0097] Afterwards, ③ the rotation bar (320) rotates with respect to the support bar (310) as shown in Fig. 6 to adjust the appropriate unfolding angle of the folding pulley (301), and when the angle adjustment of the rotation bar (320) is completed, ④ the entry bar (340) prepares to be extended.

[0098] Next, as the access bar (340) and the full support bar (330) are spread out from the rotation bar (320) as shown in Fig. 7, the folding pool (301) is also spread out in an inclined manner in the front, back, left, and right directions of the moving frame (110) to form a flood tank for fire suppression.

[0099] Next, the firefighter extinguishes the fire that occurred in the vehicle body (400) by injecting extinguishing agent or extinguishing water into the internal space of the unfolded folding pool (301).

[0100]

[0101] Meanwhile, the fire suppression device for an electric vehicle according to the present invention can be remotely controlled via a network (600) as shown in FIG. 8.

[0102] For this purpose, a moving actuator (120) that transmits driving force to the wheel (101) may be further provided.

[0103] Additionally, a communication module (900) electrically connected to the moving actuator (120) may be further provided.

[0104] The communication module (900) can communicate with the control center's server (700) and the manager's portable terminal (800) via the network (600), and can remotely control the mobile actuator (120), the second unit (200), and the third unit (300), so that firefighters can remotely control the device to extinguish the fire without directly approaching the fierce flames caused by the fire occurring in the body (400) of the electric vehicle.

[0105]

[0106] As described above, it can be seen that the basic technical idea of ​​the present invention is to provide a fire suppression device for an electric vehicle that is easy to operate, can quickly suppress a fire in an electric vehicle, and can facilitate transportation, movement, maintenance, and storage by being compact and lightweight.

[0107] And, of course, many other modifications and applications are also possible for those with common knowledge in the industry within the scope of the basic technical idea of ​​the present invention.

Claims

1. A first unit including a wheel that can move under the body of an electric vehicle in which a fire has occurred; A second unit including a lifting actuator provided on one side of the first unit to raise the body from the ground; and A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it includes a third unit including a folding pool made of a flexible material that can be expanded or contracted to form an inner surface facing the bottom surface and the front, rear, left, and right sides of the body raised by the lifting actuator, which is provided on one side of the first unit.

2. In claim 1, The above first unit, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes a moving frame having a lower surface equipped with the wheel and an upper surface on which the lifting actuator is installed.

3. In claim 1, When the above folding pulley is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that the left-right width of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is smaller than or equal to the wheel track of the electric vehicle.

4. In claim 1, When the folding pulley is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that the front-rear length of the fire suppression device of the electric vehicle is less than or equal to the wheel base of the electric vehicle.

5. In claim 1, When the folding pulley is fully contracted and before the lifting actuator is operated, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that the height of the fire suppression device for the electric vehicle is less than or equal to the length from the chassis of the electric vehicle to the ground.

6. In claim 1, The second unit above, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes an elevation frame that is raised or lowered by the elevation actuator and has an upper surface facing the chassis of the electric vehicle.

7. In claim 1, The third unit above, A plurality of support bars that can be moved in and out of the moving frame of the first unit having an upper surface on which the lifting actuator is installed, A pivot bar rotatably provided for each end of the plurality of support bars, A plurality of full support bars that can be inserted and removed from the distal end of the above-described rotating bar and are arranged in a straight line on an imaginary line passing through the front and distal ends of the above-described rotating bar; A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes an access bar which is integrally formed or provided in a retractable manner at the end side of the full support bar, has a lower edge formed along the edge of the moving frame of the first unit, and is connected to an upper edge of the foldable pool including an elastic portion that extends radially from the lower edge and contracts in a pattern in which a plurality of mountains and valleys are repeatedly formed.

8. In claim 7, The third unit above, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes a linear actuator provided on the pivot bar and extending the plurality of full support bars so that they can be retracted relative to the pivot bar.

9. In claim 7, The third unit above, A bar rail installed on the above moving frame and capable of reciprocating the plurality of support bars along the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of support bars, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes a mover that is provided at the tip of each of the plurality of support bars to receive driving force and can reciprocate along the bar rail.

10. In claim 1, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that the above-mentioned folding pool is made of a non-combustible or flame retardant material.

11. In claim 1, A moving actuator that transmits driving force to the above wheel, A fire suppression device for an electric vehicle, characterized in that it further includes a communication module that is electrically connected to the above-mentioned moving actuator, can communicate with a server of a control center and a portable terminal of an administrator via a network, and can remotely control the above-mentioned moving actuator, the second unit, and the third unit.

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