# US 11,993,142 B2 · Motor vehicle having a pressure relief device that can be thermally activated, and method for pressure relief > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,142 B2 - Document ID: US11993142B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/045,314 - Filed: 2019-03-11 - Published: 2021-05-20 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-06 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Timo Christ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993142B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/03006: {Gas tanks (B60K15/07 takes precedence)} - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60K 15/063: Arrangement of tanks - B60K 2015/03013: {Control systems for LPG tanks} - B60K 2015/03026: {comprising a valve} - B60K 2015/03256: {characterised by special valves, the mounting thereof} - B60K 2015/03296: {Pressure regulating valves} - B60K 2015/03309: {Tanks specially adapted for particular fuels} - B60K 2015/03315: {for hydrogen} - B60K 2015/03375: {to improve security} - B60K 2015/03381: {for preventing explosions} - B60K 2015/0634: {the fuel tank is arranged below the vehicle floor} - B60K 2015/0638: {the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A motor vehicle has a pressure relief device that can be thermally activated, for the pressure relief of at least one pressure vessel. A body floor element is arranged at least partially between the passenger compartment or the cargo area and the pressure vessel. A pressure relief triggering device is designed to directly or indirectly bring about the pressure relief. The pressure relief triggering device is designed to absorb thermal energy from the passenger compartment or the cargo area in order to trigger the pressure relief device, without the thermal energy absorbed for the triggering having previously been transmitted to the pressure relief triggering device through the body floor element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor vehicle with a pressure relief device which is activatable thermally for pressure relief of at least one pressure vessel, comprising: a vehicle body floor element arranged, at least in regions, between a passenger interior compartment or a trunk and the pressure vessel; a pressure relief trigger configured to bring about the pressure relief directly or indirectly, at least one surface of the pressure relief trigger being arranged at least partially in the passenger interior compartment or in the trunk, or being recessed into the vehicle body floor element; and a triggering medium stored in the pressure relief trigger, wherein the pressure relief trigger is configured to absorb thermal energy from the passenger interior compartment or from the trunk in order to trigger the pressure relief device, without the thermal energy which is absorbed for the triggering having previously been transmitted by way of the vehicle body floor element to the pressure relief trigger, and the pressure relief trigger is configured such that the triggering medium itself is transported for the transport of the thermal energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief device comprises at least one opening element which is activatable thermally, and the pressure relief trigger is configured to activate the opening element thermally. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the pressure relief trigger is configured to output the absorbed thermal energy at least partially to the opening element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief trigger is configured and arranged such that the triggering medium is brought at least partially into contact with the opening element for the thermal activation of the opening element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein at least one of: the triggering medium has a solid or liquid physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium is lower than a limit temperature, the limit temperature being indicative of a thermal event in the passenger interior compartment or in the trunk; and the triggering medium has a liquid or gaseous physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium reaches or exceeds the limit temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the pressure relief trigger is arranged and configured such that the triggering medium flows out for the pressure relief solely by the way of gravity and/or by way of a pressure difference between the triggering medium and surroundings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief trigger has at least one closure, the closure being configured to melt or to burst in case of a triggering temperature being reached or exceeded. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief trigger comprises a triggering line, the triggering line or an element which is operatively connected to the triggering line is guided at least partially through the vehicle body floor element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the triggering medium has a solid or liquid physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium is lower than a limit temperature, the limit temperature being indicative of a thermal event in the passenger interior compartment or in the trunk; and/or the triggering medium has a liquid or gaseous physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium reaches or exceeds the limit temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief trigger is arranged and configured such that the triggering medium flows out for the pressure relief solely by the way of gravity and/or by way of a pressure difference between the triggering medium and surroundings. ### Claim 11 A method for pressure relief of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising a pressure relief device for the pressure relief of at least one pressure vessel, the method comprising: absorbing thermal energy of a thermal event at least partially by a triggering medium in a passenger interior compartment or in a trunk of the motor vehicle; transporting the triggering medium, which is heated by way of the absorption, at least partially to an opening element of the pressure relief device, which opening element is activatable thermally, wherein the transported triggering medium outputs the thermal energy at least partially to the opening element, as a result of which the opening element is activated thermally. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the triggering medium is stored in a pressure relief trigger arranged at least partially in the passenger interior compartment or in the trunk. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the triggering medium has a solid or liquid physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium is lower than a limit temperature, the limit temperature being indicative of a thermal event in the passenger interior compartment or in the trunk; and the triggering medium has a liquid or gaseous physical state if the temperature of the triggering medium reaches or exceeds the limit temperature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the pressure relief trigger has at least one closure, the closure being configured to melt or to burst in case of a triggering temperature being reached or exceeded during the thermal event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the pressure relief trigger comprises a triggering line for transport of the triggering medium at least partially to the opening element.