BATTERY ARRANGEMENT HAVING AN EXTINGUISHING AGENT SUPPLY DEVICE, MOTOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A BATTERY

Abstract

A battery arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a battery and an extinguishing agent supply device for guiding an extinguishing agent at the extinguishing agent supply device to the battery. The extinguishing agent feed device has a first connector coupling to an extinguishing agent reservoir external to the motor vehicle, a second connector connected to at least one component of the battery, and a line from the first connector to the second connector. The line includes at least one first line section which, with respect to an intended installation position of the battery arrangement in the motor vehicle, has a positive slope in relation to a horizontal and with respect to an extension direction of the line from the first connector to the second connector; and/or the extinguishing agent supply device has a closure element having an active locking mechanism which is unlockable or lockable by an associated unlocking unit.

Claims

1. A battery arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising: a battery and an extinguishing agent supply device for guiding an extinguishing agent provided at the extinguishing agent supply device to the battery, wherein the extinguishing agent supply device has: a first connector for coupling to an extinguishing agent reservoir external to the motor vehicle; a second connector which is connected to at least one component of the battery; and a line from the first connector to the second connector; wherein the line has at least one first line section which, with respect to an intended installation position of the battery arrangement in the motor vehicle, has a positive slope in relation to a horizontal and with respect to an extension direction of the line from the first connector to the second connector; and/or the extinguishing agent supply device has a closure element having an active locking mechanism which is unlockable or lockable by an associated unlocking unit.

2. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line is designed to rise monotonously in the extension direction, at least for the most part, in particular completely.

3. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has at least one second line section which is arranged before the first line section in the extension direction and which has a negative slope with respect to the extension direction, so that at least one depression is provided between the first and second line section.

4. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hole is arranged in the line, preferably between the first and second line sections.

5. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the line has the first or a second closure element for closing the hole in case of fire.

6. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first closure element is designed as an actively activatable valve, wherein the battery arrangement comprises the unlocking unit, which is designed to detect a specific fault in the battery and to open the valve depending on the detected specific fault.

7. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first closure element has a coupling device for mechanical coupling to the unlocking device, which is integrated in particular in an extinguishing instrument of the fire department and/or a separate key of the fire department.

8. A motor vehicle having a battery arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first closure element represents a tank and/or charging connector flap of the motor vehicle, by which the first connector and a tank and/or charging connector of the motor vehicle can be covered from the outside.

10. A method for protecting a battery of the battery arrangement having an extinguishing agent supply device for guiding an extinguishing agent provided at the extinguishing agent supply device to the battery, wherein the extinguishing agent supply device has: a first connector for coupling to an extinguishing agent reservoir external to the motor vehicle; a second connector which is connected to at least one component of the battery; and a line from the first connector to the second connector; wherein the line has at least one line section which, with respect to an intended installation position of the battery arrangement in the motor vehicle, has a positive slope in relation to a horizontal and with respect to an extension direction of the line from the first connector to the second connector, so that a liquid supplied to the first connector is only supplied to the battery from a certain minimum amount and/or at a certain minimum pressure; and/or the extinguishing agent supply device has a closure element having an active locking mechanism which is unlockable or lockable by an associated unlocking unit.

11. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the line has at least one second line section which is arranged before the first line section in the extension direction and which has a negative slope with respect to the extension direction, so that at least one depression is provided between the first and second line section.

12. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein a hole is arranged in the line, preferably between the first and second line sections.

13. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a hole is arranged in the line, preferably between the first and second line sections.

14. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first closure element is designed as an actively activatable valve, wherein the battery arrangement comprises the unlocking unit, which is designed to detect a specific fault in the battery and to open the valve depending on the detected specific fault.

15. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first closure element is designed as an actively activatable valve, wherein the battery arrangement comprises the unlocking unit, which is designed to detect a specific fault in the battery and to open the valve depending on the detected specific fault.

16. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first closure element is designed as an actively activatable valve, wherein the battery arrangement comprises the unlocking unit, which is designed to detect a specific fault in the battery and to open the valve depending on the detected specific fault.

17. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first closure element is designed as an actively activatable valve, wherein the battery arrangement comprises the unlocking unit, which is designed to detect a specific fault in the battery and to open the valve depending on the detected specific fault.

18. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first closure element has a coupling device for mechanical coupling to the unlocking device, which is integrated in particular in an extinguishing instrument of the fire department and/or a separate key of the fire department.

19. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first closure element has a coupling device for mechanical coupling to the unlocking device, which is integrated in particular in an extinguishing instrument of the fire department and/or a separate key of the fire department.

20. The battery arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first closure element has a coupling device for mechanical coupling to the unlocking device, which is integrated in particular in an extinguishing instrument of the fire department and/or a separate key of the fire department.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter. In the figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle having a battery arrangement, which has an extinguishing agent supply device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle having a battery arrangement, which has an extinguishing agent supply device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle having a battery arrangement, which has an extinguishing agent supply device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The exemplary embodiments explained hereinafter are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention to be considered independently of one another, which each also refine the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to comprise combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further ones of the above-described features of the invention.

[0030] In the figures, the same reference signs designate elements that have the same function.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a battery arrangement 12, which comprises an extinguishing agent supply device 14 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In addition to the extinguishing agent supply device 14, the battery arrangement 12 has a battery 16, which is designed as a high-voltage battery 16 in the present example. In this example, the battery 16 has an inner battery housing 18, in which one or more battery cells 20 are arranged. This inner battery housing 18 can in turn be encased by an outer housing 22. The extinguishing agent supply device 14 also has a first connector 24, a second connector 26, and a line 28 which connects the first and second connectors 24, 26 to one another. The first connector 24 is arranged on the motor vehicle 10 in such a way that it is accessible from outside the motor vehicle, at least for authorized persons. In this case, the second connector 26 is coupled to at least one component of the battery 16. In this example, the second connector 26 is arranged with a distribution device 30 which, for example, can also provide a battery cover of the housing 18 or can be arranged under such a housing cover. For example, extinguishing agent can be supplied to the battery 16 via the second connector 26, so that it is introducible directly into the interior of the inner battery housing 18 and, in particular, can be brought into direct contact with the battery cells 20.

[0032] In order to make it easier for the fire department or other rescue personnel to supply extinguishing agent through the first connector 24, this is, as already mentioned, arranged so that it is externally accessible. With conventional extinguishing supply devices, this poses a risk of possible misuse, for example, in that a liquid is poured through such an opening, which could get into the battery and then could cause severe damage therein.

[0033] Possibilities are now advantageously disclosed by the invention or embodiments for being able to provide an anti-misuse device, using which third parties and unauthorized persons can be prevented from gaining direct access to the high-voltage battery 16 using simple means and possibly introducing foreign media or objects there or opening the access for living beings, for example mice or insects.

[0034] According to a first exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the line 28, which represents a supply line, is designed in the form of a siphon so that small amounts of liquids and solids cannot get into the battery. The line 28 thus has a first line section 28a, which has a positive slope in an extension direction from the first connector 24 to the second connector 26. Furthermore, the line 28 also has a second line section 28b, which has a negative slope in this extension direction. As a result, a depression 28c is provided between the first and second section 28a, 28b, in which liquids that are supplied by unauthorized persons through the first connector 24 of the extinguishing agent supply device 14 would then accordingly collect. As an alternative to this siphon geometry, however, other labyrinthine geometries can also be used. For example, multiple such depressions 28c can also be provided by a suitable geometric formation of the line 28. It is also particularly advantageous if the line 28 additionally has an emergency drain valve 32, as is also shown in this example. In the simplest case, this emergency drain valve 32 can simply be in the form of a small hole in the line 28. Small volumes of liquids or solids can be discharged through such a valve 32. The opening provided by this valve 32 can be dimensioned so small that the loss of media is negligible at high inlet pressures, for example if extinguishing agent is supplied to the first connector 24 by the fire department, or the valve 32 is designed to be closable and is then, for example, only to be closed by authorized persons or, for example, only by the fire department. In this way, a particularly efficient protection of the battery 16 can be provided since, for example, due to the corresponding geometric design of the line 28, no additional components to be provided separately are necessary.

[0035] Furthermore, the battery arrangement 12 can also have a corresponding extinguishing agent discharge device 34. This can also comprise a third connector 36, which is coupled to at least one component of the battery 16, and a fourth connector 38, which is also arranged so that it is accessible from outside the motor vehicle 10, and a line 40 connecting the third and fourth connectors 36, 38. In this example, this line 40 is thus led horizontally to the outside out of the vehicle 10 from the battery 16. Nevertheless, the measures described for the extinguishing agent supply device 14 and in particular in relation to the line 28 can also be implemented very analogously for this discharge line 40. The variants described hereinafter for protecting the battery 16 can also be implemented analogously for such an extinguishing agent discharge device 34.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a battery arrangement 12 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention. In general, the battery arrangement 12 can be configured as already described in relation to FIG. 1, except for the differences described hereinafter, which relate above all to the design of the line 28 of the extinguishing agent supply device 14. The line 28 has a first line section 28a having a positive slope viewed in the extension direction in this example as well. In this example, however, the line 28 as a whole is designed to be continuously monotonically rising in the extension direction. This has the result that the filler of the flooding device or the extinguishing agent supply device 14 has to work against gravity or the water column, which means that only media having high inlet pressures, in particular above a limiting value dependent on the rise height, can get into the battery 16. Media poured in without pressure would therefore flow out of the line 28 again due to the force of gravity. This also makes it possible to provide protection for the battery 16 that is particularly advantageous and can be implemented easily and cost-effectively.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a battery arrangement 12 and an extinguishing agent supply device 14 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. The battery arrangement 12 can be designed as described above in this example as well, except for the differences described hereinafter, which again relate fundamentally to the extinguishing agent supply device 14 and in particular to the design of the line 28. In this example, the geometric design of the line 28 is in principle irrelevant. Nevertheless, although the line 28 is shown here extending horizontally, it may also be, for example, designed like a siphon or having a continuously positive slope, as previously described. In this example, the line 28 now advantageously has a closure element 42 which comprises an active locking mechanism. As shown, this closure element 42 can be arranged in the region of the line 28, i.e., somewhere between the first connector 24 and the second connector 26, or for example also directly at the first connector 24 or second connector 26. This closure element is now advantageously designed to close line 28 at the point at which it is located. In this case, this closure element can also be arranged completely outside of the line 28 and can be designed, for example, as a tank and/or charging connector cover. This can be used to cover and lock a tank neck and/or a charging connector of the motor vehicle 10. The first connector 24 for the extinguishing agent supply device 14 can then advantageously also be provided in this region at the same time, so that a particularly efficient protective mechanism for the battery 16 is provided by this double function. Such a tank cap or charging connector cap is typically lockable, for example using a vehicle key. Such unlocking can, for example, also be carried out via an operating element in the vehicle 10 itself. It is also conceivable that such a flap can be unlocked by the fire department by way of a suitable transponder or the like. Alternatively or additionally, however, such a closure element 42 can also be located within the line 28 or can be arranged directly on the filler neck 24. For example, the filler neck 24 can have a separate closable flap or the like. The filler neck 24 can then only be closed and opened using a special key, for example, which can only be provided to the fire department, for example. It is thus possible that only the fire department is able to open this closure device or the closure element 42. Alternatively or additionally, the extinguishing apparatus of the fire department can also dock in the key-lock principle on the filler neck 24 on which this closure element 42 is arranged, which only lets media through if the correct extinguishing apparatus docks. In other words, the locking mechanism can be coupled to a specific coupling mechanism for docking the extinguishing apparatus. The correct coupling also unlocks the closure element 42 at the same time and it can be opened or opens automatically as a result. In a further example, this closure element 42 can also be designed as an actively activatable valve, for example electrically and/or mechanically and/or pneumatically activatable. Activation can be taken over, for example, by a control device (not shown here), which is designed to detect at least one predetermined fault of the battery 16 and as a result to activate the valve to open. These protective measures can also be combined with each other as desired and moreover can also be combined with other protective measures. For example, it is additionally conceivable that a closure mechanism is integrated in the supply line 28, which is designed, for example, as a safety fuse and/or pressure control element. In this way, security can be further increased.

[0038] Overall, the examples show how the invention can prevent misuse for the battery flooding device, which is represented in the present case by the battery arrangement and its extinguishing agent supply device, by which it is advantageously possible to preclude vandalism and misuse, and thus the possibility of damaging a vehicle via misuse can also be precluded. In addition, the fire department and rescue services still have direct access to the battery. Due to the increase in security, an advantage can also be achieved with respect to an insurance rating.