Device for preventing fire in battery pack used for electric vehicle

• US 8,776,905 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Lim, Hae Kyu, Park, Jin Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US13/323,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130075116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 169/54, 169/62, 169 48- 50, 169/56, 169/60, 169/61, 454/155, 454/156, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 169/49
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/07 in vehicles, e.g. in road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/16 in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for preventing fire in a battery pack used a battery powered vehicle. In particular, a battery pack housing is installed and configured to cover the battery pack, and includes an inlet and an outlet to circulate air therein. A fire sensor is provided in the battery pack housing and detects/senses gas when a fire occurs in the battery pack. In response, a damper installed in each of the inlet and the outlet, is configured to selectively open or close the inlet and the outlet based upon signals from a controller that is configured to send opening signals or a closing signals to the damper depending on whether the fire sensor detects gas or not.

Claims

1. A device for preventing fire in a battery pack used in an electric vehicle, comprising:

a battery pack housing installed and configured to cover the battery pack, the battery pack housing including an inlet and an outlet to circulate air therein;

a fire sensor disposed in the battery pack housing and configured to sense one or more gases when fire occurs in the battery pack;

a damper disposed in each of the inlet and the outlet and configured to selectively open and close the inlet and the outlet depending upon whether or not gas has been sensed; and

a controller configured to transfer an opening signal or a closing signal to the damper depending on whether the fire sensor senses gas or not,

wherein the damper includes;

a rotational shaft installed across an inside of each of the inlet and the outlet;

a cut-off plate configured to rotate together with the rotational shaft and formed so that an outer periphery of the cut-off plate corresponds to inner peripheries of the inlet and the outlet when the damper is shut; and

an actuator connected to the rotational shaft and configured to transfer a rotational force to the rotational shaft upon receiving a signal from the controller.

2. The device for preventing fire in a battery pack of claim 1, wherein the controller transfers a closing signal to the damper when the fire sensor senses gas and transfers an opening signal to the damper when the fire sensor does not sense gas wherein when a the damper is closed the fire is extinguished.

3. The device for preventing fire in a battery pack of claim 1, wherein the controller transfers the opening signal to the damper to cool the battery pack when current for driving the vehicle is consumed in the battery and transfers the closing signal to the damper when the current for driving the vehicle is not consumed in the battery.

4. The device for preventing fire in a battery pack of claim 1, wherein the controller transfers the opening signal to the damper to cool the battery pack when the battery is charged.

5. The device for preventing fire in a battery pack used for an electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein an impurity preventer is installed in upper portions of the inlet and the outlet to cover the inlet and the outlet and prevent impurities from entering the or exiting the inlet or outlet.