Electric vehicle charging device having fire-extinguishing function

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle charging device having a fire-extinguishing function capable of suppressing a fire at an early stage by automatically separating a charging cable and spraying a fire-extinguishing agent when the fire is detected during charging.

Description

Electric vehicle charging device with digestive function

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging device for preventing fires that may occur during the charging of an electric vehicle, and more specifically, to an electric vehicle charging device that automatically disconnects the charging cable and sprays a fire extinguishing agent to suppress the fire when a fire is detected during charging.

[0002] (Korean Acknowledgements) This result was produced with support from the 2025 Gyeongsangbuk-do Regional Innovation Center University Support System (RISE)-(MEGAversity Alliance University).

[0003] (English Acknowledgments) This research was supported by the Gyeongsangbuk-do RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) project[MEGAversity unit].

[0004]

[0005] Generally, driven by stricter global environmental regulations and trends toward energy conservation, the development and widespread adoption of eco-friendly vehicles are expanding across countries. Electric vehicles can include pure electric vehicles (EVs) that operate on batteries charged with external electric energy, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that use both an engine and a motor, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that can be charged from an external power source.

[0006] Recently in Korea as well, due to the government's strengthening of environmental regulations, vehicle manufacturers are accelerating the development of eco-friendly electric vehicles, such as EVs (electric vehicles) and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid vehicles), which offer high fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions. Accordingly, there is a need to expand charging stations and supply charging cables alongside the adoption of electric vehicles.

[0007] Meanwhile, at an electric vehicle charging station, charging of the vehicle's internal battery pack begins by plugging the charging cable and connector attached to the charging stand into the vehicle's inlet. The standard charging cables used in such electric vehicle charging systems encase various cores, such as charging power units or communication units, with a sheathing material. Furthermore, the battery pack inside the vehicle charged by the charging cable primarily uses lithium-ion batteries, and is configured in a form where battery modules—in which these lithium-ion batteries are stacked and electrically connected in series and / or parallel—are housed in a metal case to protect against external shocks or moisture.

[0008] However, battery packs using lithium-ion batteries have the potential for multiple battery modules to ignite or explode due to thermal runaway. If heat or flames are transferred to adjacent batteries as a result, causing a secondary fire or explosion, it can lead to a serious situation involving casualties. To prevent such secondary fires or explosions, fire extinguishing technologies are being actively developed.

[0009] For example, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2646558 (Title: 'System for spraying fire extinguishing liquid on parking surface floor for electric vehicle fire suppression', hereinafter referred to as the 'Prior Patent') discloses a technology for suppressing a fire by directly spraying fire extinguishing liquid from the parking surface onto the battery under the vehicle. However, the technology disclosed in the Prior Patent had a problem of delayed fire suppression because it suppressed the fire by spraying the fire extinguishing liquid when thermal runaway had already occurred inside the battery pack.

[0010] [Prior Art Literature]

[0011] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2646558 (Date of publication: March 7, 2024)

[0012]

[0013] The present invention is designed to solve the aforementioned problems and aims to provide an electric vehicle charging device capable of automatically disconnecting the charging cable and spraying a fire extinguishing agent to suppress the fire when a fire is detected during charging.

[0014]

[0015] To achieve the above objective, the electric vehicle charging device having a fire extinguishing function according to the present invention may be configured to include: a charging cable installed in a charger to supply power; a connector detachably connected to a charging inlet of an electric vehicle, wherein a contact terminal of the charging cable is inserted into a charging nozzle formed on one side; a separating member installed between the charging cable and the connector to separate the charging cable from the charging nozzle by elastic force in the event of a fire; a fire detection sensor attached to the connector to detect any one of heat, smoke, or flammable gas; and a control module electrically connected to the fire detection sensor and, upon receiving a fire detection signal from the fire detection sensor, activating the separating member to stop charging.

[0016] In addition, a transfer passage connected to a fire extinguishing agent tank is provided inside the connector, and the transfer passage can be configured to be connected to the charging nozzle when the charging cable is disconnected.

[0017] Additionally, the connector may be configured such that, in accordance with the fire monitoring signal of the fire detection sensor, the control module operates the separation member to disconnect the charging cable and simultaneously sprays the fire extinguishing agent through the charging nozzle.

[0018] In addition, a groove into which an O-ring is fitted is formed on the outer circumference of the contact terminal of the charging cable, and the O-ring may be positioned inside the charging nozzle of the connector to maintain airtightness between the contact terminal and the charging nozzle.

[0019] In addition, the separating member may be formed in the shape of a retractable piston, such that one end of the separating member is fixed to the inner wall of the connector and the other end is fixed to the outer surface of the charging cable.

[0020] In addition, the fire detection sensor may be configured to include at least one of a thermocouple, a smoke sensor, or a gas sensor.

[0021] In addition, the fire extinguishing agent tank may be configured to be filled with an eco-friendly fire extinguishing agent based on a Halon substitute material specialized for lithium-ion battery fires.

[0022]

[0023] The electric vehicle charging device equipped with a fire extinguishing function according to the present invention, configured as described above, prevents further spread of fire by automatically disconnecting the charging cable when a fire is detected during charging, and further minimizes damage to life and property by rapidly suppressing the initial fire by spraying a fire extinguishing agent. Through this, it is expected that the safety of electric vehicle charging will be enhanced, user anxiety will be alleviated, and social costs will be reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are naturally derived from the interaction between the components described in the specification, and in addition to the effects explicitly mentioned, there may be additional effects that a person skilled in the art can grasp through this specification. Therefore, the effects described in this specification do not encompass all effects perceived by the inventor and must be understood through the entire content of the specification.

[0025]

[0026] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of an electric vehicle charging device according to the present invention, and

[0027] FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present invention, and

[0028] FIG. 3 is a simplified drawing showing the state in which a charging cable is separated from a connector according to the present invention, and

[0029] FIG. 4 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a separating member according to another embodiment of the present invention,

[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of an electric vehicle charging device according to the present invention, and

[0031] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a usage state in which a fire extinguishing agent is sprayed through the charging nozzle of a connector according to the present invention.

[0032]

[0033] ※Explanation of symbols※

[0034] A: Electric vehicle charging device

[0035] 1: Charger 1a: Control system

[0036] 2 : Electric vehicle 2a : Charging inlet

[0037] 10: Charging cable 11: O-ring

[0038] 20: Connector 21: Charging nozzle

[0039] 22: Transfer passage 30: Fire detection sensor

[0040] 40 : Separating member 50 : Control module

[0041] 60: Fire extinguishing agent tank 61: Transfer pipe

[0042] 62 : Fire extinguishing agent

[0043]

[0044] The configuration and operation according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0045] This is intended to provide a detailed explanation sufficient for a person skilled in the art to easily implement the contents of the present invention, and does not imply that the technical concept and scope of the present invention are limited thereby.

[0046] In addition, it should be noted that when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, identical components are denoted by the same numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings; furthermore, terms specifically defined in consideration of the structure and operation of the present invention may vary according to the intent or convention of the user or operator, and the definition of such terms should be determined based on the content throughout this specification.

[0047] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as "including" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of an electric vehicle charging device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a simplified cross-sectional view of a connector according to the present invention.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electric vehicle charging device (A) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be largely configured to include a charging cable (10), a connector (20), a separating member (40), a fire detection sensor (30), and a control module (50).

[0050]

[0051] The configuration of the present invention is described in detail as follows.

[0052]

[0053] First, a charging cable (10) is installed in a charger (1) and can transmit power or communication signals to charge the battery of an electric vehicle (2). This charging cable (10) has a core (not shown) which is the center for efficiently transmitting power or communication signals, and may be covered with an outer sheath made of a highly heat-resistant material to protect the core and insulate it from the external environment. In particular, the heat-resistant outer sheath prevents heat from spreading rapidly in the event of a fire, thereby minimizing the risk of fire, and through this structure, the charging cable (10) can provide a safe charging environment.

[0054] In addition, the charger (1) supports various charging methods, such as slow charging and fast charging, depending on the amount and type of power delivered through the charging cable (10), and a charging cable and connector suitable for each charging method are used. Furthermore, the charger (1) is equipped with a control system (1a) that performs various functions, such as charging status monitoring and communication protocol processing, in addition to power conversion and management functions for battery charging.

[0055] Referring again to FIG. 2, the connector (20) is an essential component for charging the electric vehicle (2), and is responsible for connecting the charging cable (10) and the charging inlet (2a) of the electric vehicle (2), and can be designed with a structure that is easy to attach and detach.

[0056] The charging nozzle (21) located inside the connector (20) can securely fix the contact terminal of the charging cable (10) by inserting it.

[0057] Additionally, a groove is formed in the inner wall of the charging nozzle (21) of the connector (20) to accommodate an O-ring (11), and a hermetic structure can be formed by combining with the O-ring (11) located on the outer surface of the charging cable (10). This O-ring structure protects the interior from the external environment and can prevent safety issues caused by sparks or heat that may occur during charging.

[0058] Additionally, a transfer passage (22) for transferring a fire extinguishing agent (62) may be formed inside the connector (20), and this transfer passage (22) may be connected to a fire extinguishing agent tank (60) through a transfer pipe (61). A charging cable (10) is located within the transfer passage (22), and when the charging cable (10) is disconnected, it is connected to a charging nozzle (21) to spray the fire extinguishing agent (62). This structure minimizes the spray path of the fire extinguishing agent (62), allowing the fire to be extinguished in a short time.

[0059] Additionally, the fire extinguishing agent tank (60) can be positioned adjacent to the charger (1) to store and supply the fire extinguishing agent (62). At this time, it is desirable to design the system so that the fire extinguishing agent (62) can move stably through the transfer pipe (61) by adjusting the pressure inside the fire extinguishing agent tank (60). The transfer pipe (61) is formed integrally with the charging cable (10) so that they can move together, and an external flexible protective pipe (not shown) can protect the transfer pipe (61) to prevent damage from external impact. The flexible protective pipe mentioned here is an expandable hose, also known as an inflatable hose, and is generally constructed around an inner tube made of an elastic material such as latex or rubber.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram showing the state in which a charging cable is separated from a connector according to the present invention.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 3, the separating member (40) is installed between the charging cable (10) and the connector (20) and can separate the charging cable (10) from the charging nozzle (21) by means of elastic force in the event of a fire.

[0062] Specifically, the separating member (40) is manufactured in the form of an elastic piston, with one end fixed to the inner wall of the connector (20) and the other end fixed to the outer surface of the charging cable (10).

[0063] In other words, the separating member (40) having an elastic element installed inside the connector (20) is operated by the control module (50) described later in the event of a fire, and induces relative movement with the charging cable (10). This movement is amplified by the expansion force of the elastic element, allowing the charging cable (10) to be quickly separated from the charging nozzle (21) of the connector (20). Through this, the contact terminal of the charging cable (10), which was firmly connected to the charging inlet (2a) of the electric vehicle (2), can be quickly separated to cut off the power supply and perform a safety function to prevent the spread of fire.

[0064] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a side cross-section of a separating member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, the separating member (40) may be formed in an annular shape that wraps around the outer surface of the charging cable (10). This allows for faster and more stable separation by gripping the outer surface of the charging cable (10) and pushing it with a uniform force.

[0066] FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the overall configuration of an electric vehicle charging device according to the present invention.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 5, the fire detection sensor (30) is attached to the connector (20) described above and can detect various fire-causing factors, such as heat, smoke, or flammable gas, in real time. The fire detection sensor (30) can be used alone or in combination with a thermocouple, smoke sensor, gas sensor, etc. Through this, various fire situations, such as temperature rise, smoke generation, and flammable gas leakage, can be comprehensively detected and information can be transmitted in real time to the control module (50) described later.

[0068] The control module (50) can generate a separation member (40) operation signal by analyzing a fire detection signal received from a fire detection sensor (30). At this time, the generation of the fire monitoring signal and the operation signal can be provided from the control system (1a) of the aforementioned charger (1).

[0069] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a usage state in which a fire extinguishing agent is sprayed through the charging nozzle of a connector according to the present invention.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, when the separation member (40) is operated according to the signal, the charging cable (10) is separated, and at the same time, the fire extinguishing system is activated so that the fire extinguishing agent (62) can be sprayed. In addition, the control module (50) can also perform the function of safely stopping charging by transmitting a charging stop signal to the charging system.

[0071]

[0072] The electric vehicle charging device (A) with an automatic fire suppression function according to the present invention, configured as described above, can prevent the fire from spreading further by automatically disconnecting the charging cable (10) when a fire is detected during charging, and further minimize damage to life and property by spraying a fire extinguishing agent (62) to quickly suppress the initial fire. Through this, the safety of charging the electric vehicle (2) can be enhanced, user anxiety can be relieved, and social costs can be reduced.

[0073]

[0074] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described above with specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is understood that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A charging cable installed in a charger to supply power; A connector detachably connected to the charging inlet of an electric vehicle, wherein the contact terminal of the charging cable is inserted into a charging nozzle formed on one side; A separating member installed between the charging cable and the connector, which separates the charging cable from the charging nozzle by elastic force in the event of a fire; A fire detection sensor attached to the above connector for detecting any one of heat, smoke, or flammable gas; and An electric vehicle charging device characterized by including a control module that is electrically connected to the fire detection sensor and, upon receiving a fire detection signal from the fire detection sensor, operates the separation member to stop charging.

2. In Paragraph 1, Inside the above connector, An electric vehicle charging device characterized by having a transfer passage connected to a fire extinguishing agent tank, wherein when the charging cable is disconnected, the transfer passage is connected to the charging nozzle.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above connector is, An electric vehicle charging device characterized in that, according to a fire monitoring signal from the fire detection sensor, the control module operates the separation member to disconnect the charging cable and simultaneously sprays the fire extinguishing agent through the charging nozzle.

4. In Paragraph 1, An electric vehicle charging device characterized by having a groove formed on the outer circumference of the contact terminal of the charging cable into which an O-ring is fitted, and the O-ring positioned inside the charging nozzle of the connector to maintain airtightness between the contact terminal and the charging nozzle.

5. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned separating member is, An electric vehicle charging device characterized by being formed in the shape of a retractable piston, wherein one end of the separating member is fixed to the inner wall of the connector and the other end is fixed to the outer surface of the charging cable.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above fire detection sensor is, An electric vehicle charging device characterized by comprising at least one of a thermocouple, a smoke sensor, or a gas sensor.

7. In Paragraph 2, An electric vehicle charging device characterized by the fact that the above-mentioned fire extinguishing agent tank is filled with an eco-friendly fire extinguishing agent based on a Halon substitute material specialized for lithium-ion battery fires.

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