Battery Housing Vent Sealing for Post-Fire Re-Ignition Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Batteries on mobile bodies, such as aircraft, remain hot after a fire is extinguished and can re-ignite, making safe collection difficult due to inadequate ventilation and the need for discharge treatments like submersion in water.

Innovation Solution

A mobile body design with a housing and closing members that automatically seal vent holes when a predetermined temperature is exceeded, ensuring ventilation during normal operation and submersion in discharge-treatment liquid after ignition to prevent re-ignition, featuring cooling systems and a fire extinguishing agent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery is kept at a low temperature or subjected to discharge treatment to prevent re-ignition, then safety after fire extinction is improved, but the device complexity and operational procedures become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety after fire extinctionVSAvoiddischarge treatment procedures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closing member automatically closes the vent hole when the battery temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold, eliminating the need for external monitoring and manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the temperature condition to trigger the closing action, thereby preventing re-ignition without adding complex control systems or procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex electronic monitoring and control systems with a simple mechanical closing member that responds directly to temperature changes. This mechanical solution achieves the safety function through physical expansion or phase change of the closing member material, eliminating the need for sensors, controllers, and power sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If vent holes are kept open for ventilation during normal operation, then heat dissipation is improved, but the risk of fire spread and re-ignition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidfire spread risk
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vent hole dynamically changes its state from open to closed based on the battery temperature condition. During normal operation, the vent hole remains open to allow heat dissipation. When the temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold, the closing member automatically closes the vent hole to prevent fire spread, thus adapting to different operational states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the vent hole from open to closed in response to temperature parameter changes. The closing member undergoes physical transformation (expansion or phase change) when the temperature reaches the critical threshold, thereby changing the ventilation parameter to prevent fire spread

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures good ventilation for heat dissipation during normal operation and safe extinguishment and collection of batteries by automatically sealing vent holes and submerging in liquid after ignition, preventing re-ignition and facilitating safe handling.

Implementation Method 1

The closing member is configured to close the vent hole when a temperature of the closing member exceeds a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4475277A1Mobile body
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 SUBARU CORP
  • EP4475277A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4475277A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4475277A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A mobile body includes a battery (51a), a housing (61), and a closing member (62). The housing (61) has a vent hole (52a, 61a) and accommodates the battery (51). The closing member (62) is configured to close the vent hole (52a, 61a) when a temperature of the closing member (62) exceeds a predetermined temperature.