FR3103475A1 - SAFETY SYSTEM FOR OPENING A CONTAINER WITH A ROTATING CAP - Google Patents

Abstract

Security system comprising: - a container (13) comprising a neck extending around a central axis (3), - a stopper fixed to this neck, - a cap (5) covering the stopper, - a means of latching (6) of the cap (5) on the container (13), the latching means (6) locking the cap on the container (13) following a rotational movement of one relative to the other bringing the latching means (6) in a latched position, and being arranged so as to break when removing the cap (5) by moving the latching means (6) from its latched position. Figure 1

Description

SAFETY SYSTEM FOR OPENING A CONTAINER BY A ROTATING CAP

The present invention relates to securing the openings of containers closed by a stopper. This invention is more particularly suitable for degassing boxes for cooling circuits, for example for cooling a component such as a thermal or electric combustion engine, or even a battery. The present invention is particularly aimed at the field of motor vehicles comprising this degassing box and whose traction is electric or hybrid energy, and comprising a battery cooled by a first circuit of heat transfer fluid where this heat transfer fluid is in common with a second circuit of cooling of a combustion engine.

Battery will be understood throughout the text of this document to mean electricity storage means mounted, for example, in a motor vehicle, this electricity storage means comprising at least one battery module containing at least one electrochemical cell . This storage means optionally comprises electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of this at least one module. This storage means further comprises a tray or casing forming an envelope of the module or surrounding the module or grouping together all the modules when there are several modules and then forming a battery pack, this battery pack often being designated by the English expression "battery pack", this tray generally containing a mounting interface, and connection terminals.

Furthermore, the term electrochemical cell will be understood throughout the text of this document to mean cells generating current by chemical reaction, for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) type, of the Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd or still lead.

In this area, the degassing box is in fluid communication with this second circuit, and is partially filled with this fluid. This box is for example an upper part of a radiator or a dedicated box. This box comprises a stopper in the upper part. This plug is removable to allow the fluid circuit to be leveled. This plug further comprises a vent to limit the pressure internal to the cooling circuit to a limit value, this pressure increasing with a rise in temperature of this fluid, reduced due to the heating of the battery or of the combustion engine.

Opening this cap by mistake while the cooling circuit is still under pressure is very dangerous, and there is a risk of injury and/or burns.

To avoid this problem, several security systems are known to those skilled in the art. For exemple:

– the so-called “child safety” caps, where it is necessary to be able to combine two movements to unscrew the cap,

– pictograms warning of the danger of opening this cap,

– stopper locking mechanisms, controlled by the internal pressure of the case, or permanent and requiring a removal tool.

For cost reasons, it is advantageous that this safety system allows the use of a standard cap, without having to modify it.

For example, from patent document JP-A-2014069846 such a standard cap is known, this cap being entirely covered with a cap snapped onto the cap on the one hand, and locked in rotation against a degassing pipe on the other hand.

But a new risk has appeared with these electric or hybrid vehicles: the drop in the level of fluid in the degassing box can be the consequence of a fluid leak in the battery, which can cause a short circuit and a risk of the engine starting. 'fire.

This risk is of a completely different nature, and a new problem of maintenance traceability then appears: when an electric or hybrid vehicle arrives at a car dealership for an overhaul or repair, does a topping up of fluid , masking a drop in the fluid level, has already been carried out by a third party?

None of the previously cited solutions solves this problem, because all these caps, once manipulated or removed by tools, leave no trace, no evidence of this manipulation.

The object of the invention is to remedy this drawback, while keeping a standard cap.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a security system comprising:
- a container comprising a neck extending around a central axis,
- a stopper attached to this neck,
- a cap covering the cork,
- a means for snapping the cap onto the container,
this system being such that the snap-fastening means blocks the cap on the container following a rotational movement of one relative to the other bringing the snap-fastening means into a snap-fastened position, and is arranged so as to break when the cap is removed by moving the latching means away from its latched position.

Thus, to open the cap and top up the fluid, the operator will have to remove the cap, the snap-fastening means of which will break. This broken snap means will be the witness or trace that the cap has been opened, and that it may therefore have a fluid leak although the fluid level is correct. In addition, this cap fits on a standard cap.

This cap also makes it possible to warn the operator of the danger of opening the cap, both by its presence, but also not by the difficulty in removing it, thus encouraging him to consult a specialist, for example in a car dealership. when this system is used in an automobile.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cap comprises an internal space larger than a cylinder whose axis is the central axis and whose diameter corresponds to the largest dimension of the cap.

Thus an operator intending to unscrew the cap by rotating the cap will result in failure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cap comprising a gripping surface and the cap completely covers this gripping surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the latching means comprises a projecting lug.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the latching means comprises a guide track in cooperation with the projecting lug.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this track comprises, at the end of the track, a means for blocking the projecting lug.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this blocking means comprises a narrowing of the track.

According to a variant embodiment of the invention, this blocking means comprises a non-return spring blade having a base integral with the track and a free end, this blade having a form of flexibility for the rotational movement causing the means of latching in the latched position, the free end coming to a position bearing against the projecting lug for a rotational movement of the cap bringing the latching means into a position separated from the latched position.

The invention further relates to a degassing box for a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit, this box comprises a safety system as previously described, this neck being a neck of the degassing box for filling the container with the heat transfer fluid .

The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit, such that this vehicle comprises a degassing unit described above and fluidly connected to the cooling circuit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, this motor vehicle comprises a battery and an electric motor powered by this battery, the cooling circuit passing through the battery.

Other features and advantages will appear on reading the description below of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the figures in which:

: Figure 1 shows a partial sectional view of the security system according to the invention.

: Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the cap according to the invention.

: Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the container according to the invention.

In what follows, reference is made to all of Figures 1, 2, and 3 taken in combination. When reference is made to a specific figure or figures, these figures are to be taken in combination with the other figures for the recognition of the designated reference numerals.

These figures illustrate a security system according to the invention, comprising:
- a container 13 comprising a neck 1 extending around a central axis 3,
- a stopper fixed on this neck 1,
- a cap 5 covering the stopper,
- a snap-fastening means 6 of the cap 5 on the container 13.

The cap is not shown, it is for example a standard cap.

The snap-fastening means 6 blocks the cap on the container 13 following a rotational movement of one relative to the other bringing the snap-fastening means 6 into a snap-fastened position, and is arranged so as to break when the the cap 5 is removed by removing the latching means 6 from its latched position.

It will be understood by breaking, throughout the text of this document, the ability of this latching means 6 to deform irreversibly when an attempt is made to remove it from its latched position. It is understood that the latching takes place during a rotational movement of the cap 5 relative to the container 13 bringing the latching means 6 into the latched position, this movement then taking place in a first direction 11. This deformation irreversible, for example a rupture or plastic deformation, makes the cap 5 unfit to be snapped on a second time, but above all this irreversible deformation is detectable by a maintenance agent: the snap-fastening means 6 has a permanent deformation, for example bleaching of a plastic part or its breakage, so that the cap 5 is no longer blocked on the container 13 and can be removed without presenting any effort, or at least an effort less than a predetermined unlatching effort, when by example, the cap 5 is turned in a second direction 12 opposite to the first direction 11. This disengagement force is directly felt by the maintenance operator, and therefore detectable, zero or less force indicating that the cap 5 has already been removed at least once. The maintenance agent will replace the worn cap 5, or the part comprising the broken part, (whether due to a previous operation or by himself) with a new cap 5 or the new part.

The container 13 is part for example of a degassing box fluidly connected to a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit. This circuit is brought to have an internal pressure due to the heating of the heat transfer fluid, for example glycol water, so as to increase the boiling temperature of the fluid. This pressure is found in the degassing box. Thus, to maintain this pressure in complete safety, the neck 1 preferably comprises a thread on its neck, the cap being screwed onto the neck by a rotational movement around the central axis 3. But this is not compulsory, this cap can be simply stuck or clipped on the neck, or even fixed on the neck by a fixing means such as a screw. The container 13 of the degassing unit comprises a lower volume filled with the heat transfer fluid, and an upper volume containing a gas, air for example. Thus gas bubbles forming in the circuit will group together in this upper volume without interfering with heat exchanges with the heat transfer fluid.

Advantageously, this latching means 6 is made of plastic material, as well as the cap 5, but this is not compulsory.

The cap 5 comprises an internal space 14 larger than a cylinder whose axis is the central axis 3 and whose diameter corresponds to the largest dimension of the cap.

The stopper comprises a gripping surface, and the cap 5 entirely covers this gripping surface.

This gripping surface is intended for the operator or maintenance agent or even a manual or automatic tool, to have a grip and allow the stopper to be removed from the neck 1. Thus it is impossible to access the stopper and remove it. , without breaking the latching means 6.

The latching means 6 includes a projecting lug 9, but other variants are possible as we will see later in the description. This projecting pin 9 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being part of the cap 5, but it is not mandatory. Alternatively, not shown, this projecting pin 9 is part of the container 13. This projecting pin 9 is not necessarily of the same material as the cap 5 or the container 13, so that the cut section of this pin 9 is shown in figure 1 with a hatching different from that of the cut section of the cap 5.

The latching means 6 further comprises a guide track 2 in cooperation with the projecting lug 9. This track 2 comprises, at the end of track 2, that is to say at the end of rotation in the first direction 11 , a locking means 4 of the projecting lug 9. This track 2 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being part of the container 13, but this is not mandatory. Alternatively, not shown, this track 2 is part of the cap 5.

This projecting lug 9 is arranged so as to break when the latching means 6 is moved away from its latched position, this latched position corresponding in this example to the position of the projecting lug 9 when it is blocked by the blocking means 4. This clicked position is a relative position between the projecting lug 9 and the locking means 4, that is to say a relative position of the cap 5 with respect to the container 13. In the variant where the lug 9 is part of the container, the track 2 is part of the cap 5 is the snap-fastened position of the snap-fastening means 6 is then the position of the locking means 4 when it locks on the projecting lug 9.

FIG. 3 represents in particular this track 2 in the form of a helical track surrounding the neck 1. The container 13 comprises this track 2, on a flared part of the container 13 around the neck 1, outside the neck 1. But this is not obligatory, in a variant the neck 1 comprises this track 2 around the base of the neck 1. This helical track 2, whether it is part of the container 13 or of the cap 5, forms a thread into which is "screwed" the projecting lug 9. This thread does not necessarily have a non-zero pitch, the track 2 and the projecting lug 9 possibly having a fastening system commonly referred to as a "quarter turn" of which the projecting lug 9 then forms the bayonet . Track 2 therefore surrounds projecting lug 9 at least when this projecting lug 9 is in the engaged position.

The locking means 4 comprises for example a narrowing 7 of the track 2. The track 2 is for example a groove comprising two parallel sides and a bottom, one of the sides approaching the other by a progressive slope 10, in considering the first direction 11 which in this example would be the screwing direction of the cap 5, this progressive slope 10 resulting in a notch 15 of the track 2 in which the protruding lug 9 is trapped.

But this is not mandatory, for example in a variant not shown, the blocking means 4 comprises a non-return spring blade having a base fixed to the track 2 and in particular fixed to one side of the groove, and a free end, this slat having a form of flexibility for the rotational movement (the first direction 11) bringing the latching means 6 into the latched position, the free end coming to a position resting against the projecting lug 9 for a rotational movement of the cap 5 bringing the latching means 6 into a position separated from the latched position (second direction 12).

This projecting lug 9 therefore is arranged so as to break when the latching means 6 is moved away from its latched position. This rupture is predetermined by sizing a breakable section of the projecting lug 9 with respect to the predetermined disengaging force.

This breakable section is for example located at the base of the projecting lug 9, and is smaller than the other neighboring sections, causing a concentration of stresses in this breakable section until the breakage of the projecting lug 9 during unscrewing cap 5.

But the protruding lug 9 is only one embodiment among others. Indeed, this projecting lug 9 can be replaced by a non-breakable abutment, the locking means 4 being the variant comprising the strip previously described, the base of the strip then being breakable, that is to say that it has a local reduction of its section so that a concentration of stress appears in this section and causes an irreversible deformation of the strip when the cap 5 is unscrewed in the second direction 12, and its free end comes to rest against the abutment not divisible when the cap 5 is unscrewed. This strip is not necessarily divisible, but for example plastically deformable. Another variant, not shown, is for example the cap 5 comprising this lamella, the container 13 comprising the track 2, this track 2 comprising the notch, and the free end of the lamella coming to be blocked in this notch.

For example, the lamella will have a resistance to buckling lower than a maximum admissible force for extracting the cap 5, according to the second direction, for a maintenance operator.

In the example illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, only a single projecting lug 9 is shown engaging in a single track 2, but alternatively there are several projecting lugs 9 each engaging in a track 2 respectively. Only the projecting lugs 9 engage in the track 2, so that whatever the direction of movement of the cap 4, whether in the first direction 11, the second direction 12, or a translation along the central axis 3 , any attempt to separate the latching means 6 from its latched position will result in the breaking of the latching means 6, in this specific case the breaking of/of the projecting lugs 9. But in a variant, the cap 5 further comprises a shoe, or even a net, engaging in the guide track 2, preventing the translation of the cap 5 along the axis 3 if there is no rotation of the cap 5, in one of the two directions 11, 12, rotation combined with translation.

Figures 1 and 3 partially disclose the degassing box for the coolant circuit. This box comprises a safety system as described above, neck 1 being a neck of the degassing box for filling the circuit with the heat transfer fluid.

This degassing box comprises the container 13, a fluidic connection to the cooling circuit, possibly a pressure relief valve. The fluidic connection is arranged to connect the container 13 to the cooling circuit. The pressure relief valve is for example integrated into the cap and connects the upper volume containing a gas to the atmosphere.

This invention applies in particular to a motor vehicle. The latter then comprises the heat transfer fluid cooling circuit, and the degassing box as previously described. The degassing unit is fluidly connected to the cooling circuit. This circuit will further comprise a fluid circulation pump, a heat exchanger with the heat transfer fluid, and a member to be cooled or heated by this heat transfer fluid. This member is for example an electric machine, a heat engine, a battery, an inverter, a current converter.

This motor vehicle comprises the battery and an electric motor powered by this battery, the cooling circuit passing through the battery, preferably to cool it but not necessarily.

For example, the battery comprises a tray or casing forming an envelope of at least one module or surrounding the module or grouping together all the modules when there are several modules and then forms a battery pack. The electrochemical cells contained in each module are cooled by the cooling circuit. For example, this cooling circuit comprises cooling plates traversed in their interior by the heat transfer fluid, and in thermal contact with the modules. The cooling circuit therefore passes through the battery, and a leak of this fluid may appear in the battery without it being visible from the outside. A means of detecting this leak then consists in checking the level of the fluid in the degassing box. The invention makes it possible to secure this control, by leaving a trace or a visible index to warn the maintenance agent that the cap 5 has been removed, and therefore that the observation of the level of the fluid in the degassing box is not not representative of a leak or no leak with certainty. Conversely, if cap 5 shows no trace of opening, observation of this level by the maintenance technician will be reliable.

Such a security system also finds applications for a food or drug container, to certify the integrity of its contents.

Claims (10)

Security system including:
- a container (13) comprising a neck (1) extending around a central axis (3),
- a cap fixed to this neck (1),
- a cap (5) covering the cap,
- a snap-fastening means (6) of the cap (5) on the container (13),
characterized in that the snap-fastening means (6) blocks the cap on the container (13) following a rotational movement of one relative to the other bringing the snap-fastening means (6) into a snap-fastened position, and is arranged so as to break when the cap (5) is removed by moving the latching means (6) from its latched position. Security system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (5) comprises an internal space (14) larger than a cylinder whose axis is the central axis (3) and whose diameter corresponds to the largest large cap size. Security system according to one of the preceding claims, the cap comprising a gripping surface, characterized in that the cap (5) completely covers this gripping surface. Security system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snap-fastening means (6) comprises a projecting lug (9). Security system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the snap-fastening means (6) comprises a guide track (2) in cooperation with the projecting lug (9). Safety system according to Claim 5, characterized in that this track (2) comprises, at the end of the track (2), a means (4) for blocking the projecting lug (9). Security system according to Claim 6, characterized in that this blocking means (4) comprises a narrowing (7) of the track (2). Safety system according to Claim 6, characterized in that this blocking means (4) comprises a non-return spring strip having a base integral with the track (2) and a free end, this strip having a form of flexibility for the rotational movement bringing the latching means (6) into the latched position, the free end coming to a position resting against the projecting lug (9) for a rotational movement of the cap (5) bringing the means of latch (6) in a position spaced from the latched position. Degassing box for a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit, characterized in that this box comprises a safety system according to one of the preceding claims, this neck (1) being a neck of the degassing box for filling the circuit by the coolant. Motor vehicle comprising a circuit for cooling by heat transfer fluid, characterized in that this vehicle comprises a degassing box according to Claim 9, this box being fluidically connected to the cooling circuit.