Deflection sensitive coolant activated drain plug detection system for high voltage battery packs

摘要

A battery pack with a drain plug and a circuit to detect when a liquid coolant has entered the battery pack. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A strain gauge cooperative with the carrier such that a measured resistance change in the strain gauge corresponds to the soluble plug in contact with the liquid coolant. An associated circuit with the drain plug provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems.

主权项

1. A drain plug apparatus comprising:
a carrier defining a cavity therein; an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier, an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier, the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity; a soluble plug disposed within the cavity of the carrier, the soluble plug configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant to allow a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet; and a strain gauge cooperative with carrier such that a measured resistance change in the strain gauge corresponds to the dissolving soluble plug, wherein the strain gauge is placed within the cavity under tension.