Field of invention

Fire risk management related to electric vehicle.

Background of the invention

An electric vehicle battery, EVB, also known as a traction battery, is a rechargeable battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle. Different types of batteries may be used, but typically lithium- ion batteries are used. Lithium-ion batteries are specifically designed for high electric charge or energy capacity.

With the transition to electric transportation comes new challenges. Vehicles with lithium-ion batteries can be especially dangerous when they catch fire and very difficult to fight. When fires do occur, electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries burn hotter, faster and require far more water to reach final extinguishment. A know fire hazard is that the batteries can reignite hours or even days after the fire is initially controlled, leaving salvage yards, repair shops and others at risk.

During a fire, over 100 chemicals are generated from the battery, including toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, which are fatal to humans. If the battery is exposed to excessive heat, or there is a penetration due to a defect in the battery case, an internal short circuit may occur. The short circuit causes excessive heat, which in turn causes a chemical reaction that generates more heat. The excessive heat makes the chemical reaction to develop even faster, which results in more heat etc. This process is called “thermal runaway” and is a primary reason for generating fires in electrical vehicles. The fires are difficult, dangerous and time consuming to fight.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a device to reduce temperature in a battery pack installed in an electrical vehicle, such that a fire can be extinguished more rapidly and subsequent fire harzard can be reduced. The present invention addresses this by providing a battery penetration device for reducing temperature in at least one battery in a battery pack, wherein the battery penetration device comprises a tube having an fluid inlet for fluid, and a nail is arranged in a first end of said tube, wherein the nail is configured to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of said tube, such that the nail is capable of entering said battery pack, wherein the nail has at least one fluid outlet, wherein said fluid inlet is in fluid communication with said fluid outlet, such that fluid is capable of entering said battery pack and thereby reducing a temperature inside the battery pack when cooling the battery pack with said fluid.

The battery penetration device fighting fires or potential fire hazard in battery packs, which is installed in electric vehicles. One way to extinguish fire or reduce temperature in a battery' pack is to flood the battery- pack with cold fluid. The battery pack can be flooded using fluid, such that a fire inside battery pack can be extinguished. Due to the cooling process the temperature inside the battery pack can be reduced and be kept at a low temperature. This process reduces the risk of fire and keeping the damage situation under control. fhe battery penetration device is capable of reducing temperature in at least one battery pack, while the battery is installed inside an electric vehicle. The battery penetration device comprises a tube having an fluid inlet for fluid. The fluid inlet may be provided in a position along the tube. A fluid source may be attached to the fluid inlet. A nail is arranged in a first end of the tube. The nail is configured to enter the battery pack. The nail is configured to enter the battery pack, for example by using operating means to force the nail into the battery pack. The nail has at least one fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. When the nail is inserted into the battery pack, the fluid can enter the battery pack through the fluid outlet in the nail.

A fire in electric vehicle may reignite minutes, hours, or even days after the initial event. This causes a latent fire hazard. One of the reasons for reignition may be thermal runaway in a battery inside the battery pack. If the temperature in the battery/ is remained at a low temperature due to a cooling process, the cooling process will prevent thermal runaway. This will reduce the fire hazard significantly. The continuous flow of fluid thereby reduces the temperature inside the battery pack, when cooling the battery with the fluid and thereby prevents an uncontrolled thermal runaway. The fire can then be extinguished more rapidly, and subsequent fire hazard can be reduced and controlled more easily.

With the use of the battery penetration device, the cooling process will be faster and more efficient to prevent or reduce a fire from speeding inside an electric vehicle. The amount of water required, and the amount of harmful smoke and gases released is reduced during the cooling process, because the cooling is directly related to the batteries inside the battery pack.

The battery penetration device may be use in other arears as well, wherein the purpose is to penetrate a surface for reducing temperature or for extinguishing fires on an opposite side of a surface. For example, so that the battery penetration device may be used for reducing temperature in ships, aeroplanes, compartment, containers or similar.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said tube comprises material having insulating property, such that the tube is electrical insulated from the battery pack, when said nail is entering said battery pack.

A common battery pack in electric vehicle may for example comprise blocks of 18-30 parallel cells or more in series to achieve a desired voltage. For example, a 400V nominal battery pack may have around 100 series blocks. The voltage may even be higher that 400V. These higher voltages allow more power to be transferred to the battery pack with less loss over the same diameter, due to the relationship between current vs resistance in the cables. The cells and blocks may be connected in many different electrical connection patterns, dependent of the manufactory of the battery pack. To prevent a discharge of batteries through the battery penetration device, when entering the battery pack, the tube is electrically insolated, and thereby preventing an electrical path from the batteries to the ground through the battery penetration device. To ensure that the electricity does not damage the battery penetration device or injure a fire fighter when using the battery penetration device, the material of the tube has electrical insulating property. The nail is prevented to have an electrical communication with the opposite end of the battery penetration device. Furthermore, the material of the tube may also comprise thermal insulating property, which also may protect the battery penetration device from the high temperature during firefighting, and also protect the firefighter when using the device during firefighting.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an operating member is arranged relative to a second end of said tube.

The nail of the battery penetration device may be forced inside the battery pack, such that the fluid is capable of entering the battery pack. An operating member is arranged in a second end of the tube opposite the end of the nail. An operating means may be an operating device, which may be capable of hammering or rotating the nail, such that the nail may be forced through any part of an electric vehicle and part of the nail may be forced inside the battery pack. The operating member is arranged, such that the battery penetration device may be operated by a firefighter, robot or others using an operating device.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said nail is a drill unit.

The battery penetration device may comprise a drill unit. The drill unit may be a replaceable drill bit or similar. The drill unit may come in different sizes and shapes. The dril l unit is a cutting tool used to create holes, and at the same time having a fluid outlet which is capable of providing a continuous flow of fluid through the drill unit. The drill unit is capable of rotating around a rotary axis. The rotary/ axis may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Fire fighters may easily penetrate the battery inside an electric vehicle using the battery penetration device operated with an operating device. The operating device may be a operating device. The operating device may be connected to the operating member, which is arranged relative to the second end of said tube. The drill unit may be arranged relative to the first end of the tube. The operating member or part of the operating member may be connected to the drill unit, such that when rotating the operating member or part of the operating member causes the drill unit to rotate.

The drilling unit comprises at least one spiral shaped recess. The spiral shaped recess may also be used as fluid outlet. The fluid from the fluid outlet may cool the drill unit, while drilling through the battery' pack. The fluid from the fluid outlet may reduce the temperature inside the battery’ when the drill unit has entered the battery pack.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said battery penetration device comprises a rotatable inner tube arranged inside said tube, wherein the rotatable inner tube is configured to rotate the nail.

The battery penetration device comprises a rotatable inner tube. The rotatable inner tube may extent from the first end to the second end of the tube. In one end the rotatable inner tube extends towards the nail. In the opposite end of the nail the rotatable inner tube extends towards an operating member. The rotatable inner tube rotation causes the nail to rotate, such that the rotatable inner tube and the nail have a corresponding rotation. The operating member or part of the operating member may be connected to the rotatable inner tube, such that when rotating the operating member or part of the operating member causes the rotatable inner tube and the nail to rotate.

The operating member or part of the operating member may be connected to the drill unit using a rotatable inner tube arranged inside the tube, such that when rotating the operating member causes said rotatable inner tube to rotate the drill unit. The operating member may comprise moveable means, such that said operating member is capable of rotating the drilling unit using said rotating member inside the tube using the moveable means.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said rotatable inner tube comprises insulating property, such that the operating member is electrically insulated from the drill unit.

To ensure that the electricity does not damage the battery penetration device or injure a fire fighter when using the battery penetration device, the material of the tube has electrical insulating property. The rotating member may comprise electrical insulating property, such that the operating member is electrically insulated from the drill unit. The rotating member may comprise thermal insulating property, such that the operating member is thermal insulated from the drill unit.

The material used may be fiber reinforced plastic, also called fiber reinforced polymer. The fiber reinforced plastic is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. The fibers are usually glass, as in fiber glass, carbon, as in carbon fiber reinforced polymer, aramid, or basalt. Rarely, other fibers such as paper, wood, or asbestos have been used. The polymer is usually an epoxy, vinyl ester, or polyester thermosetting plastic, though phenol formaldehyde resins may be used.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said battery penetration device comprises an extension member arranged between said tube and said nail, wherein said extension member has at least one fluid conduits, wherein said fluid communication goes through said tube and through said extension member and through said nail, such that the fluid is capable of entering said battery and thereby reducing the temperature by cooling the battery with said fluid.

The battery penetration device comprises an extension member which may be arranged between the tube and the nail. The nail is attachable to a first end of the extension member. The first end of the tube is attachable in a second end of the extension member. The shape of the extension member or part of the extension member may be substantially cylindric having a longitudinal direction.

Because the cells and blocks may be connected in many different electrical connection patterns, dependent of the manufacturer of the battery pack and the arrangement of the battery pack in the electric vehicle, the need for different length may be required. The extension member may be interchangeable, such that a suitable length of the extension member may be chosen for the task. The length of the extension member may be related to the type of electric vehicle and the placement of the battery inside the electric vehicle. The extension member may easily be replaced with another extension member.

The extension member has at least one fluid conduit. The fluid conduit is arranged inside the extension member in the longitudinal direction. The tube is in fluid communication with the nail through the fluid conduit inside the extension member. The fluid is capable of flowing from the fluid inlet and flow through the fluid outlet of the battery penetration device and into the battery, and thereby reducing temperature by cooling the battery with the fluid.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the battery penetration device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extension member comprises at least one additional fluid outlet arranged through the substantially curved surface of the extension member, wherein said fluid inlet is in fluid communication with said additional fluid outlet, such that fluid is capable of entering said battery pack from the extension member.

The extension member arranged in the first end may comprise at least one additional fluid outlet, which may in this embodiment be arranged through the substantially curved surface of the extension member. The fluid inlet is in fluid communication with both the nails fluid outlet and the extensions members additional fluid outlet, such that fluid is capable of entering said battery pack from the both the nail and the extension member. The battery penetration device is capable of spreading even more fluid into the battery pack in different directions, and thereby providing a more efficient cooling when rotating both the nail and extension member.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, said tube comprises an insulating layer on an outer surface of said tube or part of an outer surface of said tube.

The tube may comprise an insulating layer on the outer surface of the tube, such that the tube is protected from getting damaged by the ambient heat caused by the fire or the electricity from the batteries.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein said operating member and/or fluid inlet comprises an insulating material.

The operating member may comprise an insulating material, such that operating device or the firefighters are protected from getting damaged by the ambient heat caused by the fire, or the electricity from the batteries. The fluid inlet may comprise an insulating material, such that connected fluid hose, or the firefighters are protected from getting damaged by the ambient heat caused by the fire, or the electricity from the batteries.

A second aspect of the invention is provided by a battery penetration system for reducing temperature in at least one battery in a battery pack, wherein the battery penetration system comprises:

- battery penetration device comprising a tube having an fluid inlet for fluid, wherein a nail is arranged in a first end of said tube, wherein the nail is configured to rotate, wherein the nail has at least one fluid outlet, wherein said fluid inlet is in fluid communication with said fluid outlet, such that the nail is capable of entering said battery pack and fluid is capable of flowing from the fluid inlet through the fluid outlet into the battery pack, wherein an operating member is arranged in a second end of the tube opposite to the first end, wherein the operating member is configured to be attached to an operating device,

- an operating device is configured to be connected to the battery penetration device operating member, such that when rotating the operating member or part of the operating member using the operating device causes the battery penetration device’s nail to rotate, such that at least the nail penetrates a surface of a battery pack and fluid enters a volume inside said battery pack through the nail, and thereby reducing a temperature inside the battery pack, when cooling the battery with said fluid.

The battery penetration device may comprise a handle attached to the tube between the first and the second end of the tube. This provides a more firm grip of the battery penetration device during use when penetrating the battery pack, and when holding the battery penetration device when fluid flows into the battery pack, the handle may comprise an isolating material to prevent any electricity for harming firefighters during use. The fluid inlet may comprise a connection part for connecting to a fluid hose or similar. The connection part may be moveable, such that when the firefighters works the battery penetration device the fluid hose may automatically be rested in a correct position relative to the fluid inlet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the operating device is a handheld drilling machine configured to be releasable attached to the battery penetration device operating member.

The operating device may be a handheld drilling machine, wired or powered by the use of battery, the use of a handheld operation device will provide a system which is easy and agile in use. The operating device is configured to be releasable attached to the battery penetration device operating member. The operating device may easily be attached to or removed from the battery penetration device and used for other tasks.

Method of cooling a battery pack using a battery penetration device, such that the temperature inside a battery pack is reduced, comprises the following steps:

- identifying said battery pack to be cooled,

- entering said battery pack using said battery penetration device,

- providing a continuous flow of fluid through said battery penetration device or part of the battery penetration device into said battery pack, such that said battery pack is cooled by said continuous flow of fluid provided by said battery penetration device. An efficient cooling method may be provided by using a battery penetration device according to some steps. The method provides a cooling process which reduces the temperature inside a battery pack in an electric vehicle. The battery pack in an electric vehicle to be cooled is identified and an entrance point is determined. The battery penetration device enters said battery pack at the predetermined entrance point. A continuous flow of fluid is provided through the battery penetration device or part of the battery penetration device into the battery pack. The battery pack is fast and efficiently cooled by said continuous flow of fluid provided through the battery penetration device and into the battery pack.

In an advantageous method of the invention, the method comprises further steps:

- providing an operating device

- connecting the operating device to the battery penetration device,

- drilling an entrance into said battery pack, such that said battery penetration device or part of the battery penetration device enters said battery pack.

The method may alternatively comprise an operating device. The battery penetration device comprises a drill unit. The operating device is releasably attached to the battery penetration device. The operating device drills an entrance into said battery pack using the battery penetration device. The battery penetration device or part of the battery penetration device enters said battery pack at a predetermined entrance point.

This invention has now been explained with reference to a few embodiments and methods, which have only been discussed to illustrate the many varying possibilities achievable with the battery penetration device according to the present invention.

Brief description of the drawings

The embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to: Fig. 1 : Illustrating a first embodiment of a battery penetration device.

Fig. 2a, b: Illustrating a second embodiment of a battery penetration device.

Fig. 3: Illustrating penetration of a battery using a battery penetration system.

Fig. 4: Illustrating a first embodiment of an extension member.

Fig. 5: Showing an exploded view of a battery penetration device.

Fig. 6: Illustrating a third embodiment of a battery penetration device.

In the explanations of the figures, identical or corresponding elements will be provided with the same designations in different figures. Therefore, no explanation of all details will be given in connection with each single figure/embodiment.

Detailed description

Embodiments of the invention are explained in the following detailed description. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

The battery penetration device can be used for firefighting, wherein the battery penetration device is capable of reducing temperature in the battery pack in an electric vehicle. Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a battery penetration device 1. The battery penetration device 1 comprises a tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3. The fluid inlet 3 may be provided in a position along the tube 2, relatively close to one end of the tube 2 as illustrated in fig. 1. A nail 4 is arranged in another end of the tube 2 opposite the fluid inlet 3, as illustrated in fig. 1. The nail 4 is capable of entering the battery pack. The nail 4 has at least one fluid outlet 5. The fluid inlet 3 is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet 5. A fluid source may provide a continuous flow of fluid. The fluid flows, through fluid inlet 3 and into the tube 2 and out through the fluid outlet 5, illustrated with the arrows in fig. 1.

The nail 4 is configured to be inserted into a battery pack, which may be located inside an electric vehicle. The fluid is then capable of entering the battery pack. The continuous flow of fluid reduces the temperature inside the battery pack and thereby cooling the battery pack.

To prevent a discharge of batteries through the battery penetration device and to ensure that the electricity during discharge does not damage the battery penetration device or injure a fire fighter when using the battery penetration device, the tube 2 is electrical insulated. The material of the tube 2 may comprise fibre-reinforced polymer.

Fig. 2a, b illustrates a second embodiment of the battery penetration device 1. Fig. 2a shows the battery penetration device 1 operated using an operating device 8. The battery penetration device 1 comprises a tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3 provided in a position along the tube 2, relatively close to the first end of the tube 2. The nail 4 is arranged in the first end of the tube 2 opposite an operating member 7. The operating member 7 comprises attachment means, such that an operating device 8 can be attached to and thereby operate the operating member 7. The operating device 8 may be a operating device or hammering device.

An extension member 6 is replaceably inserted between the tube 2 and the nail 4, such that the extension member 6 may be replaced if needed. The nail 4 and the extension member 6 are capable of entering a battery pack in an electric vehicle.

Fig. 2b shows an exploded view battery penetration device 1. The battery penetration device 1 comprises the tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3. A rotatable inner tube 9 is arranged inside the tube 2. In one end of the rotatable inner tube 9, the rotatable inner tube 9 is extended using a connection means 16 for connecting the extension member 6 to the rotatable inner tube 9. The connection means 16 is attached to the rotatable inner tube using fastening means 14, such as screw, pin or clips. The nail 4 is attached to extension member 6 in the opposite end of the connection unit 16. When the rotatable inner tube 9 rotates the nail 4 will rotate correspondingly.

The operating member 7 comprises an adaptor unit 10 for attachment to an operating device. The operating member 7 comprises attachment means for attaching the adaptor unit 10 to the rotatable inner tube 9. The attachment means may be washer 12 and locking rings 11 or similar. The operating member 7 is in connection with the rotatable inner tube 9, such that when the operating member 7 is rotated the rotatable inner tube 9 and the nail 4 will rotate correspondingly. The adaptor unit is attached to the rotatable inner tube 9 using fastening means 14, such as screw, pin or clips.

The tube 2 and the rotatable inner tube 9 are sealed to each other in each end, such that a space having a volume is provided between an inner surface of the tube 2 and an outer surface of the rotatable inner tube 9. To seal the first and the second end, each end is provided with at least one O-ring 13,15 in each end, also known as gasket, or packing etc. The fluid flows through the fluid inlet and enters the volume in the space between the tube 2 and the rotatable inner tube 9. The fluid is then forced through the connection unit 16, the extension member 6 and out through the fluid outlet in the nail 4. The fluid pressure is provided by the pressure from the fluid source through the fluid inlet. The fluid source is capable of proving a continuous flow of fluid for cooling the battery pack.

Fig. 3: Illustrating penetration of a batty pack 17 using a battery penetration system 10. The battery penetration system 10 is capable of drilling into the battery pack 17. The battery penetration device may comprise a nail which is a drill unit 4'. The drill unit 4' is a cutting tool which is used to create holes in the battery' pack 17. The drill unit 4" and part of the extension member 6 is inserted into the battery pack 17 to ensure the fluid is directed correctly into the battery pack 17. The drill unit 4' is a cutting tool comprising a fluid outlet. Fire fighters may easily penetrate the battery pack 17 inside an electric vehicle using the battery penetration device 1 operated with an operating device 8, which may be a operating device. The operating device 8 is re- leasably attached relative to the second end of said tube 2.

Battery penetration system comprises a battery penetration device 1 and an operating device for reducing temperature in at least one battery in a battery pack 17.

The battery penetration device 1 comprising a tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3. The nail 4 is arranged in a first end of said tube 2, and an operating member 7 is arranged in a second end of the tube opposite the first end. The operating member 7 is configured to be attached to an operating device 8. The operating device 8 is configured to be connected to the operating member 7, such that when rotating the operating member 7 or part of the operating member 7 with the use of the operating device 8, the nail 4 will rotate, such that at least the nail 4 penetrates a surface of a battery pack 17. The fluid may the enter a volume inside said battery pack 17 through the nail 4, and if present also the extension member 6. The constant flow of fluid reduces the temperature inside the battery pack 17, and thereby cooling the battery and preventing the temperature from rising inside the battery pack 17.

An efficient cooling process can be provided by using a battery penetration system 10. The cooling process reduces the temperature inside a battery pack 17. The battery pack 17 in an electric vehicle to be cooled is identified. The battery penetration device 1 may comprise a drill unit 4', which may be a drill bit or similar. An operating device 8 is releasably attached to the battery penetration device 1. The operating device 8 may be an application of rotary tool powered by electricity. The operating device 8 may be a handheld rotary drilling machine or similar. The operating device 8 drills an entrance into said battery pack 17 using the battery penetration device 1. The battery penetration device 1 or part of the battery penetration device 1 enters the battery pack at a predetermined entrance point. A continuous flow of fluid is provided through the battery penetration device 1 or part of the battery penetration device 1 into said battery pack 17. The battery pack 17 is cooled by said continuous flow of fluid provided by battery penetration device 1.

Fig. 4: Illustrating a first embodiment of an extension member 6. The extension member 6 comprises at least one fluid conduit 18. The fluid conduits direct the fluid to the fluid outlet in the nail, as illustrated with the arrows.

Fig. 5: Showing an exploded view of a battery penetration device 1. The battery penetration device 1 comprises the tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3. The rotatable inner tube 9 is arranged inside the tube 2. The rotatable inner tube 9 comprises apertures 19. The fluid may flow through the apertures 19. To seal the first and the second end, each end is provided with at least one O-ring 13,15 in each end, also known as gasket, or packing etc. The apertures 19 are arranged in the rotatable inner tube 9, such that the apertures 19 are arranged between the first O-ring 13 and the second O-ring 15.

The space is provided between an inner surface of the tube 2 and an outer surface of the rotatable inner tube 9. The fluid is capable of flowing through the fluid inlet and enters the volume in the space between the tube 2 and the rotatable inner tube 9. The fluid is then forced through the apertures 20 in the rotatable inner tube 9, such that the fluid enters an inside volume of the rotatable inner tube 9. The fluid flows towards the extension member 6 and out through the fluid conduits 18 arranged in extension member 6. The drill unit 4' has spiral shaped recesses. The spiral shaped recesses are the fluid outlet.

Fig. 6: Illustrating a third embodiment of a battery penetration device 1. The battery penetration device 1 comprising a tube 2 having a fluid inlet 3. The fluid inlet 3 may comprise a handle 20, which may be electrical isolated from any electricity coming from the battery pack. The fluid inlet 3 may also comprise a connection part for connecting to a fluid hose or similar. The nail 4 is arranged in a first end of the tube 2, and an operating member 7 is arranged in a second end of the tube opposite the first end. The operating member 7 may be replaceable. The operating member 7 may be adapted to an additional extension member arranged between the operating member 7 and the operating device 8. The operating member 7 is configured to be attached to an operating device 8.

The extension member 6 arranged in the first end may comprise at least one additional fluid outlet 5' which may in this embodiment be arranged through the substantially curved surface of the extension member 6. The fluid inlet 3 is in fluid communication with both the nails fluid outlet 5 and the extensions members 6 additional fluid outlet 5', such that fluid is capable of entering said battery pack 17 from the both the nail 4 and the extension member 6.