Foldable Battery Puncture Lance for Electric Bus Fire Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric bus fires are difficult to extinguish due to the high temperature and re-ignition risk of high-capacity batteries, and conventional methods like submerging the vehicle in water are impractical due to the size and weight of electric buses.

Innovation Solution

A foldable apparatus with a fire water tank, foldable frame, and fire water injection lance that unfolds and unfolds using hydraulic pressure to puncture the battery and inject extinguishing water directly into the battery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a crane is used to lift and submerge the electric bus in water, then the fire can be extinguished, but the method is impractical due to the weight and size of electric buses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire extinguishing effectivenessVSAvoidpracticality of implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the battery pack from the bus structure and targets it directly for water injection. The puncture injection lance specifically targets the battery pack to inject water directly into the prismatic cells, separating the fire suppression action from the entire bus structure and focusing only on the critical battery component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The puncture injection lance serves as an intermediary device that bridges the water source and the battery pack. It punctures through the bus roof and battery housing to deliver water directly to the prismatic cells, acting as a mediator that enables direct cooling without requiring full bus submersion or complex crane operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If large amounts of fire extinguishing water are continuously injected for a long period, then the fire can be suppressed, but the response time is delayed and resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefire suppression effectivenessVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is pre-positioned at the rear of the bus with the puncture injection lance ready for immediate deployment. The system includes pre-attached hoses and a rapid deployment mechanism that allows the lance to be positioned and activated quickly upon fire detection, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rushes through the critical initial phase of fire suppression by directly puncturing the battery pack and injecting water immediately upon arrival. This bypasses the time-consuming process of conventional firefighting methods and delivers cooling water to the battery cells without delay, addressing the fire at its most critical stage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Productivity

If the apparatus has a fixed structure for rapid deployment, then fire suppression speed is improved, but transportation and storage become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidtransportation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus employs a foldable frame structure that can dynamically transition between a compact folded state for transportation and storage, and an expanded deployed state for fire suppression operations. The foldable design allows the apparatus to be easily stored in the transport vehicle while maintaining the capability for rapid deployment when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus features a nested structure where components are arranged to fit within each other when folded. The foldable frame and puncture injection lance are designed to nest compactly during transportation, similar to nested dolls, maximizing space efficiency in the transport vehicle while maintaining full functionality when deployed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables rapid and effective fire suppression by directly injecting water into the battery while maintaining contact with the electric bus, minimizing re-ignition risk and facilitating easy transportation and deployment.

Implementation Method 1

a foldable frame 120 configured to unfold or fold using hydraulic pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

the fire water injection lance 130 may puncture the battery placed on the roof of an electric bus by using the hydraulic pressure and inject the fire extinguishing water into the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4674487A1Apparatus for extinguishing electric bus fires
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 TANK TECH CO LTD
  • EP4674487A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4674487A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4674487A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Proposed is an apparatus for extinguishing electric bus fires, including a fire water tank (110) provided in a transport vehicle, a foldable frame (120) configured to unfold or fold using hydraulic pressure, and a fire water injection lance (130) configured to puncture a battery placed on a roof of an electric bus and inject fire extinguishing water into the battery.