Vehicle Battery Safety Apparatus with Mechanical Impact Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of large-capacity vehicle batteries in hybrid vehicles poses safety risks due to potential short circuits and fires during accidents, and existing safety apparatuses are unreliable and costly with complex configurations.
Innovation Solution
A safety apparatus for vehicle batteries that includes a fixed and movable housing, an impact sensor, and an elastic member, which senses impact strength and likelihood of danger to mechanically cut off power to the battery pack, using a fracture mechanism and a battery management system to disconnect power upon impact detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electronic impact sensor is used to detect vehicle collision, then the apparatus can sense impact, but the reliability is reduced and the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electronic impact sensor with a mechanical impact sensor consisting of a movable housing that moves upon impact to fracture an impact sensor bar. This mechanical system directly converts impact force into a visible fracture signal, eliminating the need for complex electronic sensing while improving reliability through direct mechanical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of impact detection from complex electronic sensors and implements it through a simple mechanical fracture mechanism. The movable housing isolates and translates the impact detection function into a straightforward mechanical breaking action that is both reliable and easy to interpret.
2Device complexity
If a mechanical impact sensor is used to detect collision, then the structure is simplified and cost is reduced, but the apparatus must reliably sense impact strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the impact sensor bar with a specific fracture point that is strategically positioned to detect impact strength. The fracture point is located where the mechanical stress from movable housing movement is concentrated, allowing the system to sense impact strength through the binary state of fracture occurrence while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If power is continuously supplied from the battery during accidents, then electrical components remain operational, but the risk of short circuit and fire increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the movable housing and impact sensor bar such that upon impact, the fracture occurs automatically before significant damage can propagate. This preliminary mechanical action triggers immediate power cutoff through the battery management system, preventing subsequent short circuits and fire hazards while maintaining normal operation during non-impact 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
Effectively prevents battery-related accidents such as fires and explosions by reliably cutting off power during collisions, while simplifying the structure to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance safety.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to provide a restoring force to the movable housing after the external impact
Implementation Method 2
an impact sensor disposed within the fixed housing and configured to be fractured due to a movement of the movable housing upon impact
Data Source
AI summary
A safety apparatus for a vehicle battery and a method for operating the same capable of preventing accidents such as fire and battery explosion are provided. The safety apparatus includes a fixed housing that is fixed to a vehicle body and a movable housing that is movably disposed in the fixed housing to move due to external impact. An impact sensor is disposed within the fixed housing configured to be fractured due to the movement of the movable housing and an elastic member is configured to provide a restoring force to the movable housing.