FIRE PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN AT LEAST PARTIALLY ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MOTOR VEHICLE, AND FIRE SENSOR

Abstract

A fire protection device (1) is provided for an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle for detecting a fire caused by a battery device (2) of the vehicle. The fire protection device (1) includes a fire sensor (4) that is connected operatively to a monitoring system (3). The fire sensor (4) has a monitoring current conductor (14) that is suitable and configured for being interrupted by fire-induced destruction in the event of a fire. The monitoring system (3) is suitable and configured for detecting the fire by the interrupted monitoring current conductor (14).

Claims

1. A fire protection device for detecting a fire caused by a battery device in a motor vehicle that at least partially is operated electrically, the fire protection device comprising: at least one fire sensor having at least one monitoring current conductor that is configured to be destroyed and interrupted by a fire; and a monitoring system connected to the at least one monitoring current conductor and configured to detect the fire by means of the interrupted monitoring current conductor.

2. The fire protection device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring current conductor is arranged on a battery component of the battery device.

3. The fire protection device of claim 2, wherein the monitoring current conductor is arranged on a module housing of a battery module of the battery component.

4. The fire protection device of claim 3, wherein the monitoring current conductor is arranged on at least one of a cover, a side part and a base of the battery module.

5. The fire protection device of claim 4, wherein the monitoring current conductor extends over at least half of a width and/or length of the cover, the side part and/or of the base.

6. The fire protection device of claim 2, wherein the monitoring current conductor is arranged on an outer side of the battery component.

7. The fire protection device of claim 2, wherein the monitoring current conductor is connected to the battery component permanently and/or in such a manner that it cannot be removed non-destructively.

8. The fire protection device of claim 2, wherein the monitoring current conductor is produced integrally with the battery component.

9. The fire protection device of claim 2, wherein the monitoring current conductor is printed onto the battery component

10. The fire protection device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring current conductor is produced by an additive manufacturing method.

11. The fire protection device (1) of claim 1, comprising a plurality of fire sensors and wherein the battery device comprises a plurality of battery components and wherein at least one fire sensor is allocated at least in part to each of the battery components.

12. The fire protection device of claim 11, wherein the monitoring system is configured for identifying the fire sensor that has an interrupted monitoring current conductor.

13. The fire protection device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is configured for reporting the fire at least to the driver.

14. A fire sensor for a fire protection device of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one monitoring current conductor that is configured to be interrupted by fire-induced destruction in the event of a fire that is to be detected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] FIG. 1 is a highly schematic illustration of a fire protection device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fire protection device 1 for detecting fires that are imminent or that have already broken out in a battery device 2. The battery device 2 is a high-voltage battery (also referred to as a traction battery) and supplies power to an electric drive system in an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle.

[0031] The battery device 2 comprises plural battery modules 5 that are connected together. For the sake of clarity, only one of the battery modules 5 is shown here by way of example. The battery module 5 has a module housing 15 with a cover 25, side parts 35 and a base 45. Battery cells are arranged inside the battery module 15.

[0032] The fire protection device 1 comprises plural fire sensors 4 that are connected via a common monitoring current circuit 24 or each via a monitoring current circuit to a monitoring system 3. For example, each battery module 5 of the battery device 2 is equipped with one or more fire sensors 4. In addition, or alternatively, other battery components 12 of the battery device 2 also can be equipped with one or more such fire sensors 4.

[0033] The fire sensor 4 comprises a monitoring current conductor 14, which, in normal operation, forms part of the monitoring current circuit 24. The monitoring current circuit is provided, for example, with corresponding connection elements 34 for connecting the monitoring current conductor 14 to the monitoring current circuit 24.

[0034] The monitoring current conductor 14 is arranged on an outer side 22 of the battery module 5. In the example shown, the monitoring current conductor 14 is located on the cover 25. In addition, or alternatively, a monitoring current conductor 14 also can also be arranged on one or more side parts 35 and/or on the base 45. In addition, or alternatively, monitoring current conductors 14 can also be arranged on other battery components 12.

[0035] To ensure reliable detection of fires, the monitoring current conductor 14 extends over more than three quarters and over almost the entirety of the length and width of the cover 25. The monitoring current conductor 14 thereby runs in a meandering manner over the cover 25.

[0036] To permit particularly simple production and at the same time ensure safe and reliable fire detection, the monitoring current conductor 14 is printed onto the module housing 15.

[0037] The monitoring current conductor 14 is destroyed intentionally in the case of a fire or a corresponding overheating of the battery module 5 that is likely to result in a fire. The monitoring current circuit 24 thereby also is interrupted and the monitoring system 3 registers a fire. The monitoring system 3 then reports the fire and gives, for example, a warning to the driver.

[0038] The monitoring system 3 can identify the fire sensor 4 with the destroyed monitoring current conductor 14 and thus detects the battery module 5 affected by the fire.