Propeller Shaft Case Routing for Battery Fire Extinguishing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles face challenges in effectively extinguishing battery fires due to vehicle deformation during collisions, which obstructs the supply of fire extinguishing agents to the battery.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design incorporating a propeller shaft covered by a propeller shaft case, with internal spaces of the shaft and battery case connected via fire extinguishing holes, allowing fire extinguishing agents to reach the battery through the propeller shaft case, even in deformed conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fire extinguishing agent is injected from the outside of the vehicle, then the battery fire can be extinguished, but the path for supplying the fire extinguishing agent may be blocked due to vehicle deformation during collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire extinguishing effectivenessVSAvoidpath blockage due to deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The propeller shaft case serves as an intermediary structure that provides an alternative pathway for fire extinguishing agent delivery. When the direct path through the battery case is blocked by collision deformation, the agent can travel through the propeller shaft case's internal space, which remains accessible due to its communication openings with the battery case interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a three-dimensional alternative route for fire extinguishing agent delivery by utilizing the propeller shaft case's internal space. This creates a spatial bypass around deformation-induced blockages in the original path, allowing the agent to reach the battery through a different spatial dimension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the vehicle structure is simplified to reduce components, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the fire extinguishing system may become less reliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfire extinguishing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The propeller shaft case is designed to serve dual functions: its primary function of protecting and housing the propeller shaft, and a secondary function as a fire extinguishing agent delivery pathway. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain reliability without adding separate dedicated components for fire suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the fire extinguishing delivery system with the existing propeller shaft case structure. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the system achieves reliable fire extinguishing capability without increasing overall component count or manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12576293B2Vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 SUBARU CORP

AI summary

A vehicle includes a battery, a battery case accommodating the battery, and a propeller shaft extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The propeller shaft is covered by a propeller shaft case. An internal space of the propeller shaft case communicates with an internal space of the battery case. The vehicle is provided with at least one fire extinguishing hole communicating with the internal space of the propeller shaft case.