Battery Compartment Fire Access via Heat-Fusible Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electric or hybrid vehicles, the deep placement of batteries under the floor poses challenges for firefighters to access and cool the batteries quickly in case of a fire, as existing solutions require manual intervention and are not efficient for rapid cooling.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle design featuring a battery compartment with a heat-fusible cap covered by a thermo-destructible coating, allowing automatic opening during a fire, enabling direct water injection through a conveniently located orifice for effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the battery is placed deep under the floor for better protection, then vehicle safety is improved, but firefighter access to the battery becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is segmented with a removable section that provides direct access to the battery compartment. This allows the floor to maintain its protective function during normal operation while enabling quick firefighter access when needed by removing the specific segment covering the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable floor section acts as an intermediary element between the firefighter and the battery. This mediator provides a controlled access point that maintains vehicle safety during normal use while enabling rapid intervention during emergencies without requiring firefighters to breach the entire vehicle structure.
2Reliability
If a metal part is used to close the conduit to prevent accidental water injection, then battery protection is improved, but firefighter intervention requires manual removal and close approach to the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism changes its properties based on temperature conditions. At normal temperatures, the heat-fusible cap maintains a sealed state to prevent accidental water injection. When exposed to fire temperatures, the cap automatically melts and opens, enabling water flow without requiring firefighter intervention for removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-fusible cap performs the function of automatic opening itself when exposed to fire conditions, eliminating the need for firefighter intervention to remove the closure. The system serves itself by using the fire's heat to trigger the opening mechanism, allowing immediate water injection while keeping firefighters at a safe distance.
3Reliability
If manual removal of the closure is required for water injection, then accidental injection is prevented, but the cooling response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism transitions from a temperature-insensitive manual closure to a temperature-sensitive automatic closure. The heat-fusible cap remains sealed under normal conditions to prevent accidental injection but automatically opens when fire temperatures are detected, eliminating the time delay associated with manual removal while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system requiring manual crowbar removal is replaced with a thermal-responsive system. The heat-fusible cap uses thermal energy from the fire to automatically open the closure, substituting the need for mechanical intervention with a thermal activation mechanism that responds immediately to fire conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates rapid and efficient cooling of the battery by allowing water to be directed into the compartment without manual intervention, reducing the risk of explosion and enhancing firefighter safety.
Implementation Method 1
a partition comprising a closed orifice, by a thermo-cap fuse covered by a thermo-destructible coating
Implementation Method 2
direct water injection through a conveniently located orifice for effective cooling
Implementation Method 3
direct water injection... for effective cooling
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle, especially an electric or hybrid vehicle, that has a battery (4) arranged in a battery compartment (3) mounted beneath the floor (2), which comprises an opening (5) closed by a thermofusible cover (6), said battery also comprising an opening (11) closed by a thermofusible cover (12), which allows rapid access to the battery in the event of fire.