EV Battery Pack Venting Through Sill Beams During Thermal Runaway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicles face safety issues due to delayed discharge of high temperature and high pressure gas during battery thermal runaway, which can lead to safety accidents, and current solutions complicate the vehicle's structural design and production.

Innovation Solution

The vehicle design utilizes existing structural components like the sill beams and top plate assembly to create exhaust channels for discharging gas and fire flow during thermal runaway, without adding extra components, thereby simplifying the structural design and improving safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate control units are used for different vehicle functions, then functional reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple control functions (steering angle detection, vehicle speed detection, braking force control, and inter-axle differential control) into a single control unit. This single control unit processes signals from various sensors and coordinates control of both rear wheels, achieving functional integration that reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability through centralized control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to perform diverse control tasks: detecting steering angle via sensor, detecting vehicle speed via sensor, controlling braking force on individual rear wheels, and managing inter-axle differential forces. This universal control architecture allows one unit to replace multiple specialized control units, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If active control mechanisms are added to prevent wheel lift and improve stability, then vehicle stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanisms for preventing wheel lift and maintaining vehicle stability are integrated into the same control unit that manages braking force distribution. The control unit coordinates brake application on individual rear wheels to simultaneously prevent wheel lift during acceleration and maintain stability during cornering, achieving multiple stability functions through a unified control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit performs multiple stability-related functions: detecting wheel lift conditions via sensors, adjusting braking force to prevent wheel lift during acceleration, and managing inter-axle differential forces to maintain stability during cornering. This multi-functional approach achieves comprehensive stability control without requiring separate dedicated mechanisms for each stability function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If individual brake control for rear wheels is implemented, then vehicle control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system implements individual brake control for left and right rear wheels through a single control unit that independently manages each wheel's braking force. The control unit receives steering angle and vehicle speed signals, then precisely controls brake application on each rear wheel based on cornering conditions, achieving high control precision while maintaining system simplicity through centralized control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4410591B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 GREAT WALL MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4410591B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4410591B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4410591B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A vehicle (100) including: a chassis (20) including a left sill beam (21), a right sill beam (22), a front beam (23), and a rear beam (24); a bottom plate (30); a top plate assembly (60); and a plurality of battery cells (50); and the top plate assembly (60) is provided with a first exhaust channel (612), at least one of the left sill beam (21) and the right sill beam (22) is provided with a second exhaust channel (223), and the first exhaust channel (612) is in communication with the accommodation chamber (25), the second exhaust channel (223) is in communication with the first exhaust channel (612) as well as an external environment to discharge a gas fire flow after the battery cells (50) are experienced thermal runaway.