Fire detector for vehicular use

Abstract

Fire detector (1) comprising a detector system (5) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) thereof and comprising a first extremity (5a) and a second extremity (5b), the first extremity (5a) being configured to be fixedly carried by a portion (2) of a vehicle, the detector system (5) comprising a first and a second detection elements (5', 5' ) and an insulator layer (6) operationally interposed between the first and second detection elements (5', 5" ), wherein the detection elements (5', 5' ) being fixedly coupled relatively one to the other at their extremities (5a, 5b) and wherein both detection elements (5', 5' ' ) comprising a reduced strength portion (7) realized between their extremities (5a, 5b) and configured to break at a pre- defined temperature difference between the first and second elements ( 5', 5" ).

Description

[0001] "FIRE DETECTOR FOR VEHICULAR USE"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000029763 filed on December 23, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention concerns a fire detector for a vehicle .

[0005] The present invention finds its preferred, although not exclusive, application in detecting of the fire source and fire distribution direction in electrical batteries or engine for a vehicle . Reference will be made to this application by way of example below.

[0006] Background of the Invention

[0007] Vehicles comprises torque sources configured to provide torque to the wheels . The torque may be provided by an internal combustion engine or by electrical batteries .

[0008] Both internal combustion engine and electrical batteries may fire due to an unexpected temperature rising due to different physical phaenomena .

[0009] In particular, such unexpected temperature rising may lead to disastrous fire conditions that would be dangerous for the vehicle passengers .Accordingly, fire detectors are provided in the vehicles near the internal combustion engine / battery pack or within the respective cover .

[0010] In case the fire detectors are provided near the internal combustion engine / battery pack the responsibility of providing accurate fire detectors is in charge of the vehicle manufacturer .

[0011] However, providing sensible and precise a fire detector is challenging and there is need to provide such sensor means in an economic manner .

[0012] Moreover, due to high sudden temperatures and to fire, the existing electronic sensor means may lead to their destruction with consequence incapability of monitoring the fire ignition source and direction.

[0013] Therefore, there is need to provide fire detectors that are precise and robust to be used in vehicular field.

[0014] The obj ect of the invention is to fulfil the needs discussed above .

[0015] An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above-mentioned needs in a cost-effective and optimized manner .

[0016] Summary of the Invention

[0017] The aforementioned aim is reached by a fire detector, a vehicular system and a vehicle as claimed in the appended set of claims that are integral part of the present description .Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0019] • Figure 1 is a perspective schematic view of a fire detector according to the invention; and

[0020] • Figures 2A to 2C are lateral sectioned schematic view of the fire detector according to the invention in different operative conditions .

[0021] Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 discloses a fire detector 1 for a vehicle (not shown) in particular for detecting fire near a vehicular portion 2 .

[0022] Such vehicular portion 2 can be represented by an internal combustion housing or a case of a battery pack or a battery machine or an electric component or any suitable vehicular portion that can allow fire ignition.

[0023] Fire detector 1 comprises a detector system 5 extending along a longitudinal axis A thereof and comprising a first extremity 5a and a second extremity 5b .

[0024] The detector system 5 is fixedly connected to the vehicular portion 2 at one between the first and second extremity 5a, 5b .

[0025] In the disclosed embodiment, the detector system 5 isfixedly connected to the vehicular portion 2 at the first extremity 5a and in particular in a fixed manner .

[0026] The detector system 5 comprises a first detection element 5' and a second detection elements 5' ’ . Such detection elements 5' , 5' ’ extends along the longitudinal axis A and are realized in metallic material, as not limitative example in cast iron.

[0027] Preferably, detection elements 5' , 5' ’ are realized as beam elements, more preferably have a rectangular cross section having a transversal extension along a transversal axis B perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A and along a vertical axis C perpendicular to both the preceding axes A, B .

[0028] Clearly, being beam-like elements the extension along vertical axis C is much lower than transversal and longitudinal axis B, A.

[0029] The detector system 5 comprises furthermore an insulation layer 6 operationally interposed between the first and second detection elements 5 ' , 5 ' ' .

[0030] Insulation layer 6 preferably comprises a beam-like element having the same shape of the first and second detection elements 5 ' , 5 ' ' and realized in a material that is thermally insulant while resisting to high temperatures and displacements .

[0031] The insulation layer 6 is interposed between the firstand second detection elements 5 ' , 5 along vertical axis C . The first and second detection elements 5 ' , 5 ' ' are connected together to at least one between said first and second extremities 5a, 5b by respective first and second mechanical connections 3, 4.

[0032] In particular, the connection zone defined by mechanical connections 3, 4 is limited thereby reducing the thermal conduction between the first and second detection elements 5 ' , 5 ' ' .

[0033] In particular, the fixed mechanical connection 4 at the second extremities 5b of the first and second element is realized by welding, in particular by spot welding.

[0034] The first extremity 5a is fixedly connected to the vehicular portion 2 via a mechanical fixed connection 3, such as a welding connection.

[0035] Preferably, both the first and second detection elements 5' , 5' ’ are provided with a reduced strength portion 7 configured to break at a preset temperature difference between the first and second detection elements 5' , 5' ’ .

[0036] Such reduced strength portion 7 comprises a crosssection having a reduced resistant cross-section with respect to the remaining portion of the first and second detection elements 5' , 5' .

[0037] In particular, such reduced resistant cross-section may be a reduced inertia portion e . g. by reducing its thicknessor providing openings therein.

[0038] In the disclosed embodiment, the reduced strength portion 7 comprises an opening 8, in particular a circular opening as shown and at least one groove 9, in the shown embodiment a single groove extending along a diameter of the opening 8. In particular, such groove 9 is perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis A.

[0039] Preferably, the reduced strength portion 7 is realized between the extremities 5a, 5b of the first and second elements 5' , 5' ’ in particular in the middle thereof along longitudinal axis A.

[0040] The operation of the embodiment of the invention as described above is the following.

[0041] Figure 2A discloses a standard configuration of the fire detector 1 in which there is no temperature difference between first and second detector elements 5' , 5' ’ .

[0042] In the condition of figure 2B fire starts underneath the fire detector 1 thereby increasing temperature of the second detector element 5' ’ that starts to bending due to its extremity fixation. Indeed, the second element 5' ’ tends to increase its length due to the temperature while the first element 5' , separated by insulation layer would remain at its original length.

[0043] When the maximum temperature is reached, the second element 5' ’ would break in the reduced strength portion 7thereby. Accordingly, the position of the ignition point and direction of the fire distribution can be easily detected by retrieving the broken element .

[0044] In view of the foregoing, the advantages of the fire detector, vehicular portion and vehicle according to the invention are apparent .

[0045] The provided fire detector is particularly precise since will break at a precise temperature .

[0046] Moreover, the proposed fire detector is particularly robust since is provided in metallic material and therefore can survive to fire and high temperature thereby allowing to retrieve ignition point after fire .

[0047] Furthermore, the proposed fire detector is particularly compact and economic and can be provided in any portion of the vehicle thereby being versatile and economic .

[0048] Indeed, it can be used in different portions of the vehicle and it can be provided on existing systems thereby improving these latter .

[0049] It is clear that modifications can be made to the described fire detector, vehicular portion and vehicle which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims .

[0050] For example, the provided material of the first and second elements and of the insulating layer may vary. Similarly, their shape can be different .Moreover, the reduced strength portion can be realized in different modality, such as a reduced thickness portion or any other suitable way to reduce flexible resistance of the first and second elements .

Claims

CLAIMS1. - Fire detector ( 1 ) comprising a detector system (5) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) thereof and comprising a first extremity (5a) and a second extremity (5b) , said first extremity (5a) being configured to be fixedly carried by a portion (2 ) of a vehicle,said detector system (5) comprising a first and a second detection elements (5' , 5' ) and an insulator layer ( 6) operationally interposed between said first and second detection elements (5' , 5' ’ ) ,wherein said detection elements (5' , 5' ) being fixedly coupled relatively one to the other at their extremities (5a, 5b) and wherein both detection elements (5' , 5' ’ ) comprising a reduced strength portion (7 ) realized between their extremities (5a, 5b) and configured to break at a predefined temperature difference between said first and second elements (5' , 5' ’ ) .

2. - Fire detector according to claim 1, wherein said reduced strength portion (7 ) comprises a reduced thickness portion .

3. - Fire detector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said reduced strength portion (7 ) comprises a reduced inertia portion .

4. - Fire detector according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said reduced strength portion (7 ) comprises at leastone opening ( 8 ) and / or at least one groove ( 9 ) .5 . - Fire detector according to any of the preceding claims , wherein said second extremities ( 5b ) of said first and second elements ( 5 ' , 5 ' ' ) are connected by a fixed mechanical connection ( 4 ) .6 . - Fire detector according to claim 5 , wherein said fixed mechanical connection ( 4 ) comprises welding .7 . - Fire detector according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein said fixed mechanical connection ( 4 ) comprises spot-welding .8 . - Fire detector according to any of the preceding claims , wherein said first and second elements ( 5 ' , 5 ' ’ ) are reali zed in metallic material .9 . - Fire detector according to any of the preceding claims , wherein said insulation layer ( 6 ) is reali zed in thermal insulant material .10 . - Fire detector according to any of the preceding claims , wherein said first and second elements ( 5 ' , 5 ' ’ ) are beam-like elements .11 . - Vehicular portion ( 2 ) comprising a fire detector ( 1 ) according to any of the preceding claims .12 . - Vehicle comprising a vehicular portion ( 2 ) according to claim 11 .

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