Patent ID: 12246202

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A fire suppression system according to the present disclosure includes a first suppressor100, a cooler200, and a third suppressor400.

First, the fire suppression system according to the present disclosure is installed in an electric vehicle parking area. In the electric vehicle parking area, a charger is typically installed and as described above, a fire may break out.

FIG.1is a side view illustrating a fire suppression system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a view illustrating the fire suppression system in operation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3is a view illustrating the fire suppression system inFIGS.1and2, when viewed from the front, respectively. For convenience of description, the parking area includes a ground surface1and a ceiling2.

The first suppressor100, in turn, includes a frame110, a support120, an auxiliary frame130, and a screen140.

The frame110is positioned to have a predetermined height in a vertical direction from the ground surface1. In this case, the auxiliary frame130is formed to extend from an upper portion of the frame110, and the auxiliary frame130is preferably installed by being fixed, through a bolt600, to the ceiling2. The bolt600may be, for example, an anchor bolt. This allows the frame110to be installed by using only the bolt600, without an additional installation member, thereby reducing the installation difficulty for an operator.

More specifically, the frame110is preferably configurated as a square frame with a hollow portion formed therein. Thus, the frame110is preferably formed in a configuration that surrounds both sides and front and rear portions of an electric vehicle10in the parking area (strictly speaking, a configuration in which the screen140extending from a lower portion of the frame110surrounds both sides and front and rear portions of the electric vehicle10).

The support120is located on the frame110, and the screen140is formed between the frame110and the support120. Thus, an upper portion of the screen140is coupled to the frame110, and a lower portion of the screen140is coupled to the support120.

In this case, the support120may descend in a vertical direction with respect to the frame110.FIG.4is referenced for a description of this.FIG.4is an enlarged view of section “a” inFIG.1.

At each corner of the frame110, a connector111is formed to extend downward in a vertical direction and protrude therefrom, and a spring112is positioned in the connector111. An upper end of the spring112is coupled to the frame110, and a lower end of the spring112is coupled to the support120. Thus, before the screen140is unfolded, the connector111and the support120are coupled (illustrated as being spaced apart a certain distance from each other inFIG.4for convenience of description). In addition, the screen140is folded in a space between the frame110and the support120, and the spring112is contracted.

In this case, the connector111and the support120are magnetically coupled. In addition, as will be described later, the magnetic coupling is adjusted to an on/off state, and in an off state, the support120is detached from the connector111.

Due to the contraction of the spring112described above, a pulling force is generated in a vertical direction from downward to upward, which enhances a coupling strength between the connector111and the support120, thereby minimizing the occurrence of unfolding of the screen140due to a malfunction before the screen140is intended to unfold.

As an example of magnetic coupling, the support120may be made of a magnetic material, and a control structure that may regulate an electrical flow may be formed in the connector111to establish a coupling configuration.

Thus, when a fire detection sensor (not illustrated) detects a fire in an electric vehicle, the electrical flow is controlled to be cut off and switches from an on state to an off state, thereby causing the support120to be detached from the connector111. In this case, the support120descends in a vertical direction by gravity, and the screen140, which has been folded, is unfolded to form a shape shown inFIG.2.

In this case, the spring112performs a role as a damper to prevent a rapid descent of the screen140, thereby minimizing the probability of the support120colliding with the ground surface1and being damaged. This is because, without the role as a damper, the support120may collide with the ground surface1and be damaged, and the structure in which the screen140surrounds the electric vehicle10may not be established.

As described above, when the screen140is unfolded, the screen140is formed to surround both sides and front and rear portions of the electric vehicle10in which a fire breaks out. Thus, the screen140may quickly prevent the fire from spreading beyond the parking area, and may block the airflow to prevent the flames from intensifying. The screen140is preferably made of, for example, a flame-retardant, fire-resistant material.

In addition, water is sprayed from the cooler200to suppress the fire.

The cooler200includes a pipe210and a nozzle220. The pipe210is preferably formed to extend along the ceiling2, and is preferably interconnected with an external water tank to receive water. The pipe210may be fixed, through the bolt600, to the ceiling2.

A plurality of the nozzles220are coupled at a plurality of points of the pipe210, respectively. As a result, water W flowing into the pipe210is sprayed, through the nozzle220, downward in the vertical direction. More specifically, the nozzle220is positioned upward in a vertical direction of the frame110, but is preferably positioned to spray the water W into the frame110. The spraying of the water W is preferably turned on/off through the fire detection mechanism described above.

In this case, an exhaust outlet800may be coupled at one point of the auxiliary frame130. Smoke produced in the event of a fire, or smoke produced after fire suppression may be discharged through the exhaust outlet800. The exhaust outlet800is preferably designed to communicate with a building's exhaust outlet (not illustrated) such that smoke may be discharged to the outside. The exhaust outlet800may be, for example, in the form of bellows, which enables easy shape adjustment and reduces limitations on the installation location of the exhaust outlet800.

Such a configuration has the following effects.

First, the most effective fire suppression method may be established by spraying water directly onto the electric vehicle10in which a fire breaks out.

Next, the water is sprayed into the frame110as described above, and the sprayed water is also sprayed into a partition wall formed by the screen140, thereby creating a configuration similar to spraying water into a water tank formed by the screen140and resulting in the concentrated spraying of water onto the electric vehicle10(e.g., the water reflected from the screen140is directed back to the electric vehicle10, thereby maximizing fire suppression efficiency).

Finally, as will be described later, the suppression effect is maximized through the synergistic effect with the third suppressor400, which will be described later.

Next, the third suppressor400will be described.

The third suppressor400includes a tube410.FIG.5is a view illustrating the tube410before expanding.

Preferably, the ground surface1of the parking area on which the screen-type fire suppression system for an electric vehicle according to the present disclosure is to be installed is preferably pre-constructed such that a vertically recessed groove1ais formed to form a step on the ground surface1. The groove1ais preferably formed along both sides of the parking area, and the tube410is embedded in the groove1a. In addition, although not illustrated, a temporary cover is preferably coupled to an upper portion of the tube410.

In addition, the screen140and the tube410are preferably installed to be arranged in the sequence of the screen140followed by the tube410from the outside to the inside, when the screen140described above descends. As the support120coupled to the lower portion of the screen140may ultimately not be coupled to the ground surface1, a gap inevitably appears between the support120and the ground surface1. Thus, water may be lost during the fall.

Thus, fire suppression concentration may be maximized by first confining water through the tube410and allowing the screen140to assist in preventing the outflow of falling water from the outside of the tube410.

As described above, when a fire in the electric vehicle10is detected, the tube410is preferably controlled to expand. The tube410is vertically raised and expands to surround both sides of the electric vehicle10. In the process, the temporary cover is removed due to an expansion force.

In this case, through controlling, water is preferably controlled to be sprayed after the tube410expands to surround both sides of the electric vehicle10. When the tube410expands to form a predetermined partition wall and then water is sprayed, the outflow of water may be minimized, thereby increasing fire suppression concentration.

As described above, the present disclosure increases fire suppression concentration by minimizing the outflow of water being sprayed through the combination of the tube410and the screen140. Thus, since a two-layer partition is established, there is no need to build the tube410to match a full vertical height of an electric vehicle, as in a related art. Thus, cost reduction is achieved compared to the related art. In addition, fire suppression concentration may be increased.

In addition, as described above, the first suppressor100and the cooler200are installed on the ceiling2, and thus not pose any risk of obstructing the movement of the electric vehicle10parked in the parking area. The third suppressor400is embedded in a groove recessed in the parking area under normal conditions, and thus does not pose any risk of obstructing the movement of the electric vehicle10either. Thus, miniaturization is achievable, and the fire suppression system according to the present disclosure does not require much space for installation in an actual parking area, thereby demonstrating practicality.

FIG.6is a view illustrating a fire suppression system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Unlike the one embodiment, the first suppressor100and the cooler200may be installed by being coupled to a structure700rather than to the ceiling. To be more specific, the auxiliary frame130of the first suppressor100may be fixed, through the bolt600, to the structure700installed in the form of a column in a vertical direction from the ground surface1. At the same time, the cooler200may also be installed by being coupled to the structure700. In this way, since the installation area is not necessarily limited to the ceiling2, it is easy to install the fire suppression system according to the present disclosure in a customized manner depending on the environment.

FIG.7is a view illustrating a fire suppression system according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

A fire suppression system according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a configuration of the fire suppression system according to the one embodiment, wherein an auxiliary tube420is formed to extend from an inner side of the tube410. The auxiliary tube420is further formed on the inner side of the tube410toward the electric vehicle10, wherein after an upward movement of the tube410, the auxiliary tube420preferably further expands from the inner side of the tube410, as shown inFIG.7.

According to yet another embodiment, a space for accommodating the water W through a tube becomes smaller than in the one embodiment. Accordingly, a smaller amount of the water W flows into the space than in the one embodiment, and thus, the space may be filled with the water W more quickly than in the one embodiment. The principle of fire suppression involves filling the tube with the water W sequentially from the bottom to the top in the vertical direction until the water W comes into contact with a battery. Thus, the faster the water W fills the tube, the faster the water W comes into contact with the battery, thereby accelerating fire suppression. In addition, the amount of the water W required for fire suppression is smaller than in the one embodiment, thereby facilitating energy saving.

In this case, more preferably, the auxiliary tube420expands to have a lower height in the vertical direction than the tube410, such that a stepped space in the vertical direction is formed between the tube410and the auxiliary tube420. Thus, the auxiliary tube420and the wheels of the electric vehicle become spaced apart from each other to secure a space therebetween, thereby forming a flow path through which the falling water W may be quickly supplied to the electric vehicle10without being blocked by the auxiliary tube420.

In addition, although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims. Furthermore, such modifications should not be understood individually apart from the technical spirit or perspective of the present disclosure.