Patent Publication Number: US-2023158978-A1

Title: Truck complying with the agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road (adr)

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a truck complying with the Agreement concerning the international carriage of Dangerous goods by Road (ADR) and a method for the management of the trucks which are ADR compliant. 
     The invention can be applied to low-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. In particular, the invention is intended for trucks which are ADR compliant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Today, diesel trucks, and in particular long-haul trucks are equipped with many electrical devices designed for driver comfort. For instance, such electrical devices include HVAC (heating/cooling), fridge, phone/tablet charger, TV, water heater, etc. These electrical devices are often greedy in terms of energy consumption and draw a lot of energy from the battery when the engine is switched off, typically in parked configuration. If there are used simultaneously or for a prolonged period of time, all these devices/loads can severely decrease the battery charging rate, and in the worst case, the driver may not be able to restart the engine. 
     It is therefore known to integrate solar panels for example on a vehicle roof to increase battery charging level, even when the vehicle engine is switched off (alternator nut running). 
     Some trucks which transport hazardous material need to fulfil so called ADR regulations for road transport with regard to packaging, load securing, classification and labelling of dangerous goods. 
     As part of the ADR regulations, the battery has to be isolated in case of emergency such as an accident, a fire, gas leak, bad weather conditions. This is usually achieved by a master switch that opens the electrical circuits located close to the battery. 
     There is thus a need to increase vehicle safety in case of emergency. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is to these disadvantages that the invention aims more particularly to remedy, by proposing a safer truck complying with the ADR regulation wherein the solar panel and the battery may be isolated in case of an emergency situation. Additionally, the invention aims to provide an easy and robust method for the management of this truck in case of an emergency situation. 
     The object is achieved by a truck adapted to transport Dangerous Goods, the truck being characterized in that it comprises:
     a chassis on which is arranged a battery;   a cab mounted on the chassis,   a solar panel for charging the battery, said solar panel being arranged on cab roof;   a first relay configured to disconnect the battery and a second relay, distinctive from the first relay, configured to disconnect the solar panel;   at least one manual control element, located inside the cab, configured to simultaneously open the first and second relays,   a crash sensor for detecting a crash situation and   an electronic control unit which is connected between the crash sensor and the second relay, said electronic control unit being configured to open second relay when it receives a signal from the crash sensor corresponding to a crash situation.   

     By the provision of a truck according to the present invention, the advantage is to offer a safer truck complying with ADR which increases the safety of the driver, surrounding people and emergency services. Additionally, the advantage is to provide an optimized truck comprising a quick and straightforward system able to decrease the risk of fire and/or explosions of dangerous goods. 
     According to the present invention, the terms “disconnect” and “isolate” mean that the battery or solar panel is electrically isolated from the rest of the electrical network of the vehicle. 
     According to the present invention, a relay means an electrically operated switch. 
     According to the present invention, the term “simultaneously” means that the action time is up to few milliseconds. 
     According to one embodiment, the crash sensor is an accelerometer comprising a moving element, such as a ball, configured to close one electrical terminal of the second relay, so that, in a crash situation, the displacement of moving element opens said electrical terminal of second relay. 
     According to one embodiment, the crash sensor is located inside the cab. 
     According to one embodiment, the truck includes another manual control element located on the chassis configured to simultaneously open the first and second relays. In this embodiment, the driver may open the first and the second relays inside the cab or on the exterior surface of the chassis. 
     According to one embodiment, the truck comprises a converter located between the solar panel and the battery. The voltage converter may transform the voltage generated by the solar panel into a lower voltage power which is used to charge the battery. 
     According to one embodiment, the solar panel is configured to match the cab deflector. In particular, the shape of the solar panel is adapted to match the shape of the deflector. 
     Another objective is achieved by the provision of a method for the management of a truck according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the following steps:
     A. Detecting a crash situation while the truck is in motion using the crash sensor and sending a signal of the crash situation to the electronic control unit,   B. Disconnecting the solar panel through the second relay using the electronic control unit,   C. Manually disconnecting the battery through the first relay using at least one manual control element.   

     By the provision of a method for the management of the truck complying with the ADR according to the present invention, the advantage is to provide a quick and straightforward method to increase the safety of the driver, surrounding people and emergency services. According to one embodiment, step C) is performed before step B). 
     According to one embodiment, in step C), the manual opening of the first relay leads to the opening of the second relay. 
     According to one embodiment, in step B), the second relay is opened during a crash situation. 
     According to one embodiment, in step B), the electronic control unit opens the second relay. 
     Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a truck complying with ADR according to one embodiment, 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic representation of the truck complying with ADR according to one embodiment, 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic representation of the truck complying with ADR according to one embodiment and 
         FIG.  4    is top view of a truck complying with ADR according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present description is given in an X, Y, Z referential where X is defined as the longitudinal direction of the vehicle  1 , Y is defined as the transversal direction and Z is defined as the vertical direction of the vehicle  1 . 
       FIG.  1    shows a truck  1  complying with ADR, which is preferably a Diesel truck or more generally a truck equipped with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). In a variant not shown, the truck can also be an electric (EV) or hybrid truck vehicle (HEV), i.e. a truck using at least partly electric energy as a source of power. 
     In the example, the truck  1  comprises front wheels W1. 
     The truck  1  further comprises a cab  2  suitably mounted on a chassis and including an interior space  21  delimited by a right side  22 , a left side  23 , a floor (not shown) and a roof  24 . In this example, the solar panel  3  including solar cells  31  are provided on said roof  24 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the truck  1  also includes at least one battery  5  arranged on the chassis. Typically, battery  5  is a 12V or 24V Acid-Lead battery. Advantageously, the solar cells  31  enable to recharge the battery  5  even when the ICE is off, for example when the truck is parked. This allows supplementing the battery especially for the case in which the occupant/driver of the vehicles uses greedy electrical devices at night, such as HVAC, phone/tablet chargers, TV, fridge and so on. In variant, the battery  5  may also be a Lithiumion battery (for an electric truck). 
     The truck  1  comprises a crash sensor  4  for detecting a crash situation and sending a signal of a crash situation to the electronic control unit (not shown). The electronic control unit then disconnects the second relay in case of crash situation. The crash sensor  4  may be an accelerometer capable of detecting a steep deceleration characteristic of a crash. 
     For example, the truck comprises at least two airbags between the occupants and hard surfaces, for example the dashboard and/or the steering wheel, within the vehicle, which diffuse the energy of the crash across a wider area. Another crash sensor may trigger the inflation of the airbag upon rapid deceleration, and within seconds allows the airbag to deflate. 
     Alternatively, a unique crash sensor is used to detect a crash situation and to automatically disconnect the second relay in case of crash situation and to trigger the inflation of airbags. 
     A first relay  6 , which is better known as “master switch”, is provided to disconnect the battery  5 , i.e. electrically isolate the battery. 
     A second relay  7  is provided to disconnect the solar panel  3 . The second relay  7  is distinctive from the first relay  6 . According to the present invention, the terms “disconnect” and “isolate” refer to the action of isolating the battery  5  or solar panel  3  from the rest of the electrical network, in particular the bus CAN  8 , of the vehicle. 
     For example, first and second relays  6  and  7  are electronically controlled, which means that the two relays  6 ,  7  are controlled as a function of a control signal, preferably a digital or binary signal, that is sent to the relay. 
     In this example, the crash sensor  4  comprises a moving element, such as a ball, configured to close one electrical terminal, typically the negative terminal (mass) of the second relay, so that, in a crash situation, the displacement of moving element opens the mass of second relay. 
     Another manual control element  11  can be provided on vehicle chassis. This manual control element  11  can be operated by the firemen, which induces firstly the disconnection of the battery  5  and secondly, almost simultaneously, the disconnection of the solar panel(s)  3 . 
     A voltage converter  9  may be located between the solar panel  3  and the battery  5 . The voltage converter  9  transforms the voltage generated by the solar panel  3 , for example about 50V, into a lower voltage power, for example 12V or 24V, which is used to charge the battery  5 . 
     Usually, in case of a vehicle accident, firemen manually disconnect the vehicle battery before starting rescue operations. However, there is no way to disconnect the solar panel(s) since it is rare to install solar panels on trucks. Thus, there is a risk of explosions and fires. The truck adapted to transport Dangerous Goods according to the invention solves this problem by providing a system that automatically disconnects the solar panel when a crash situation is detected. 
     According to the present invention, when a crash situation is detected by the crash sensor  4 . The crash sensor  4  sends a signal of the crash situation to an Electronic Control Unit ECU (not shown). The electronic control unit then opens the second relay  7  by sending the appropriate control signal to relay  7 . The second relay  7  is thus open, thereby disconnecting solar panel  3 . 
     Firemen can disconnect the battery  5  by disconnecting the battery terminals. In variant, firemen can disconnect the battery  5  by operating a manual control element  12  (if any) provided on the chassis in close proximity to the battery  5 . In this case, the operation of control element  12  leads to the opening of the first relay  6  which in turn, leads to battery disconnection. 
     In addition, and in order to comply with the regulation in respect of the transport of Dangerous Goods by road, the manual control element  11  provided inside the truck cab  2  allows the driver to disconnect simultaneously the battery  5  and solar panel  3 . Thus, said manual control element  11  may be used by the driver when parking inside a risky site, also known as SEVESO site. Cutting off all electric sources of the vehicle enables to make sure that there is no static electricity remaining and accordingly it prevents the apparition of a spark that may lead to an explosion or a fire in case of gas leak coming from outside of the vehicle. 
     When another manual control element  12  is provided on vehicle chassis, it can be operated by the firemen, which induces firstly the disconnection of the battery  5  and secondly, almost simultaneously, the disconnection of the solar panel(s)  3 . Indeed, both relays  6  and  7  are connected with each other through CAN bus  8 , which means that, if for any reason, second relay  7  is still closed when firemen arrive on crash location, relay  7  subsequently to the opening of first relay  6 . In detail, before starting rescue operations, firemen operate manual control element  12 , which triggers the opening of first relay  6 . In turn, this information is sent through the CAN bus  8 , which involves the opening of second relay  7  (if still closed after crash). Obviously, a reaction time exists, which means that the terms “almost simultaneously” mean that second disconnection occurs a few milliseconds after first disconnection. 
     This is the advantage of having a manual control element  12  in close proximity to the battery  5 . It allows the firemen to manually open both relays  6  and  7  and to ensure that all electrical sources are switched off before starting rescuing operations. However, manual control element  12  remains optional as, normally, second relay  7  is automatically opened after a crash has occurred, which means that firemen normally only need to disconnect the vehicle battery  5  associated to first relay  6 . 
     According to the present invention, a method for the management of the truck  1  comprises a step A) wherein the crash sensor  4  detects a crash situation while the truck is in motion. The crash sensor  4  sends a signal of the crash situation to the electronic control unit. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , in case of emergency situation, in a step B), the electronic control unit disconnects the second relay  7 . The second relay  7  disconnects the solar panel  3 . In step C), the manual control  12  opens the first relay  6  to manually disconnect the battery  5 . 
     In one embodiment, step C) is performed before step B). Preferably, in step C), the manual opening of the first relay  6  leads to the opening of the second relay  7 . 
     Alternatively, in step B), the second relay  7  is opened during a crash situation. Preferably, the second relay  7  is opened during a crash situation. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the solar panel  3  is configured to match the deflector outside surface. In particular, the shape of the solar panel  3  is adapted to match the shape of the deflector  25 . 
     By the provision of the truck and the method for the management of said truck according to the present invention, the advantage is to significantly improve the safety of the driver of the driver, surrounding people and emergency services in case of emergency situation. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.