Propellant-Actuated Safety Element for Battery Short-Circuit Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid or electrical vehicles, the risk of battery short-circuiting during accidents poses a fire hazard due to deformation of the vehicle body causing direct contact between battery poles, and existing safety devices do not adequately prevent short-circuits.
Innovation Solution
An energy store device with at least two energy sources is designed to prevent direct electrical connection between poles by using a deformable or expandable safety element, activated by a propellant charge triggered by a crash sensor, which exerts pressure on the electrical connection to interrupt it irreversibly, utilizing a preset rupture joint and a propellant charge for efficient disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid knife or separable connection device is used to sever electrical connections in accident situations, then the battery can be separated from the vehicle electrical system, but the device cannot reliably prevent direct contact between battery poles caused by vehicle body deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a safety element as an intermediary component positioned between the battery poles. This safety element can be deformed or expanded under propellant pressure to physically interrupt the electrical connection, serving as a mediator that directly addresses the short-circuit risk without requiring complex external separation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a propellant charge to generate gas pressure that deforms or expands the safety element. This pneumatic mechanism provides a reliable and rapid means of interrupting the electrical connection in accident situations, overcoming the limitations of rigid mechanical knife devices
2Reliability
If the safety element is designed to be deformable or expandable using propellant charge, then direct pressure can be exerted on the electrical connection to interrupt it irreversibly, but the device requires additional components and activation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety element, propellant charge, and trigger unit into an integrated assembly positioned within the battery housing. This merging of components reduces the need for separate external activation mechanisms and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining reliable short-circuit protection
Solution Approach 2:
The safety element is designed to automatically deform or expand when the propellant charge is activated by the trigger unit detecting an accident condition. This self-activating mechanism eliminates the need for external control systems or manual intervention, providing autonomous protection
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 short-circuits by safely disconnecting the battery from the vehicle electrical system, reducing the risk of fire hazards and allowing for repeated use of the safety element, while maintaining operational functionality of the battery cells.
Implementation Method 1
The propellant may be a crash propellant charge and activated, for instance, by a controllable trigger unit in the event of a crash. If the propellant charge has been ignited, the safety element expands, and a force generated by its expansion exerts direct pressure on the electrical connection
Data Source
AI summary
An energy store device, especially for a motor vehicle, includes at least two energy sources, which are connected via an electrical connection, and at least one safety element, the safety element being deformable and/or expandable in order to sever the electrical connection between the energy sources. In a method for severing electrical connections of an energy store device having at least two energy sources, a short-circuit risk is determined with the aid of at least one determination device, a propellant is activated following a determination result of the determination device, and at least one safety element is deformed and/or expanded by the activation of the propellant, in order to sever at least one electrical connection of the energy store device.