motor vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle (1) is proposed with a traction battery (2) which has a plurality of electrically interconnected battery modules (5) each with a module housing (10) and battery cells arranged in the same, wherein the battery modules (5) are separately and detachably attached to the underbody structure (4) of the motor vehicle (1) from below within a receiving space (3) formed between side longitudinal members (6, 7) and the cross members (8, 9) connecting them to each other.Advantageously, a securing device (16) is provided which at least partially covers the battery modules (5) from below the vehicle and which is detachably attached to the underbody structure (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of at least one mechanical fastening element (23), wherein a securing element (25) arranged inside the vehicle and which can be moved from a secured position to an unsecured position and back is associated with the at least one mechanical fastening element (23).

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 of the invention.

[0002] From DE 11 2016 002 474 T5, a vehicle battery unit for a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, or a fuel cell vehicle is known, comprising several battery modules, a DC-DC converter, a battery ESG (Electronic Service Guide), and a battery housing. The battery unit is arranged under a floor panel of the vehicle's passenger compartment. The battery housing comprises a base on which the battery modules, the DC-DC converter, and the battery ESG are mounted, as well as a cover that covers the base from above. The battery unit is suspended from below by the vehicle's floor panel.

[0003] From DE 10 2017 206 566 A1, a battery mounting structure for a vehicle is known, comprising a pair of elongated door sills and a battery pack arranged between and attached to the door sills. For this purpose, several battery modules are arranged side by side in a cuboid housing of the battery pack. The housing comprises a bottom on which the battery modules are arranged, a side wall, and a cover that closes an upper opening of the housing. The housing is connected from below to a floor plate of the vehicle by means of reinforcing elements.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2018 205 948 A1 describes an electrically powered motor vehicle with a traction battery which comprises a plurality of battery modules stacked one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the vehicle within a receiving space formed between longitudinal members (sills) and the cross members connecting them. The battery modules or their housings have a cuboid shape and extend in the transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle from one longitudinal member to the other. In addition to battery cells, the housings of the battery modules each have a maintenance box with a battery cell management control unit, also referred to as CMCe (CMCe = Cell Management Controller extended). The maintenance box or its battery cell management control unit is accessible via a maintenance opening that can be closed with a removable cover. Furthermore, the battery modules or their housings are...The housings of the battery modules are separately and detachably connected to the longitudinal beams via connection flanges. A detachable underride guard is attached beneath the battery modules. After removing the underride guard, individual battery cell management control units and / or battery modules can be selectively removed and replaced from below. There is a need to protect such a traction battery, or its components, from unauthorized removal, particularly theft, when installed on the vehicle.

[0005] From CN 206 451 751 U, a battery for an electric vehicle is known which has a battery box with an open top end in which a plurality of battery modules are arranged. A pressure plate is provided that partially covers the battery modules from above and is connected or connectable to the battery box by means of fastening screws. The fastening screws are so-called anti-theft screws, which require a special tool for handling.

[0006] FR 2 955 077 A1 describes a motor vehicle which has a longitudinal tunnel for accommodating a battery and a reinforcement element. The reinforcement element is arranged laterally on the longitudinal tunnel. On the opposite side of the longitudinal tunnel is an access unit, a pivoting trapdoor (20), for accessing the battery. The reinforcement element is elongated and has a longitudinal axis running parallel to the tunnel axis. The length of the reinforcement element is greater than the length of the battery.

[0007] DE 10 2013 016 824 A1 relates to a vehicle with at least one battery. The battery is designed as a component of a load path of the vehicle for transmitting collision forces acting on the vehicle in the event of a collision.

[0008] DE 10 2012 203 882 A1 describes a motor vehicle body with a floor structure in the passenger compartment area, wherein an energy storage device can be centrally mounted on the underside of the floor structure when viewed transversely. Such an energy storage device can, for example, be a battery module. Viewed transversely, the floor structure has a web plate in the center that extends longitudinally in the vehicle direction and downwards in the vehicle's height direction.

[0009] US 2012 / 0 111 654 A1 discloses an arrangement for a battery in a motor vehicle, comprising: a recess for the battery installed in the vehicle; and a battery that is inserted vertically into the recess in a first installation direction to an installation position. The recess has at least one fixed locking surface that, in the installation position, contacts the circumference of the battery and horizontally secures the battery in every direction.

[0010] German patent DE 10 2011 051 698 A1 relates to a floor structure for a vehicle with mounting means for at least two energy storage modules, wherein the mounting means comprise at least two longitudinal beams and at least two transverse beams. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of such a floor structure in a motor vehicle with an electric and / or internal combustion engine. The technical problem of providing a floor structure that improves the protection of batteries in vehicle floor structures in the event of accidents, particularly side impacts, without negatively impacting weight or cost, is solved by the mounting means having at least one deformation zone with defined deformation behavior between the energy storage modules.

[0011] US Patent 2017 / 0149035A1 provides systems and methods for configuring battery packs in electric vehicles. A battery pack can comprise multiple battery modules, a carrier, and at least one opening in the carrier. The carrier can have a base for receiving the battery modules, side walls, a top, and a receiving space formed by the base, side walls, and top for receiving the battery modules. The opening in the base of the carrier allows the battery modules to be inserted through at least one opening and releasably attached to the base of the carrier, so that they are supported by the base.

[0012] The object of the invention is therefore to provide, starting from the prior art (DE10 2018 205 948A1), a motor vehicle with a traction battery which has an effective means of protecting the traction battery against unauthorized removal and / or manipulation thereof, in particular against theft.

[0013] Starting from a motor vehicle with a traction battery, which has a plurality of electrically interconnected battery modules, each with a module housing and battery cells arranged therein, wherein the battery modules are separately and detachably attached to the underbody structure of the motor vehicle from below within a receiving space formed between side longitudinal members and the cross members connecting them to each other, the stated problem is solved by providing a securing device that at least partially covers the battery modules from below and is detachably attached to the underbody structure of the motor vehicle by means of at least one mechanical fastening element.wherein at least one mechanical fastening element is associated with a locking element arranged inside the vehicle and which can be moved from a locking position to an unlocking position and back.

[0014] This measure ensures that no unauthorized person can manipulate the securing device from the outside of the vehicle and thus detach it, for example, to remove battery modules from the traction battery. To remove and replace battery modules, it is always necessary to first detach the securing element from at least one mechanical fastening element from inside the vehicle.

[0015] The dependent claims describe preferred further developments or embodiments of the invention.

[0016] The locking element is then positively connected or connectable to at least one mechanical fastening element. In the simplest case, the mechanical fastening element can be a known fastening screw, which, for example, has a transverse bore in the screw shank that, when locked, is penetrated by a releasable locking element in the form of a locking pin. Alternatively, the locking element can also be a lock, a latch, or the like.

[0017] As further provided by the invention, the locking element can be manually operated from inside the vehicle and / or remotely operated. In the latter case, for example, it can be operated by means of an electromechanical central locking system that is usually already present.

[0018] In order to provide a space-saving safety device, it is preferably formed by a flat product, for example by a sheet of metal, which has a T-shaped or a planar or plate-shaped form that partially covers the battery modules or a large-area form that completely covers the battery modules.

[0019] In order to protect the battery modules from, in particular, unauthorized manipulation of a battery cell management control unit, the security device is attached to the underbody structure of the vehicle in such a way that it covers at least one inspection hatch of the respective module housing of the battery modules in question, which allows access to the module housing towards the said battery cell management control unit.

[0020] As the invention further provides, the securing device is preferably supported and attached to the cross members and / or to the side longitudinal members, whereby the securing device can additionally function as a load-bearing component of the motor vehicle and thus, for example, increase the torsional stiffness of the same and, for example, also act as a load path in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) and / or transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle.

[0021] In order to make the attachment of the locking device to the motor vehicle particularly simple and convenient, it preferably has at least one positive locking element at one end, viewed in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the vehicle, which corresponds to a counter-positive locking element of the underbody structure of the motor vehicle, and at the other end the at least one mechanical fastening element with the releasable locking element.

[0022] In order to minimize the number of components of the motor vehicle and thus also the assembly effort, one embodiment of the invention provides that the securing device has an underride guard for the motor vehicle or that said underride guard is an integral part of the securing device.

[0023] In order to further minimize the number of components of the motor vehicle and thus also the assembly effort, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the safety device has a collision protection feature or that such a collision protection feature is assigned to the safety device.

[0024] Preferably, the impact protection is formed by a support profile extending in the transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle, which has a ramp directed downwards in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The support profile can, for example, be formed by a hollow profile with a closed cross-section, which has high resistance to deformation.

[0025] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawings. However, it is not limited to these embodiments, but encompasses all configurations defined by the claims. For the purposes of this description, the usual direction of travel of a motor vehicle shall be designated by “-x” (“minus x”), the direction opposite to its usual direction of travel by “+x” (“plus x”), starting from the usual direction of travel (-x), the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the right by “+y”, starting from the usual direction of travel (-x), the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the left by “-y”, the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction upwards by “+z”, and the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction downwards by “-z”.This method of designating spatial directions in Cartesian coordinates corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the automotive industry. Furthermore, terms such as "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," and similar terms, including "right" and "left," are used in the manner commonly employed to indicate direction on a motor vehicle. The following are shown: Fig. 1. A motor vehicle of the type shown in a highly schematic side view according to the state of the art, Fig. 2. an underside view of the motor vehicle according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a more detailed perspective under-view of a motor vehicle designed according to the invention according to the prior art, Fig. 4 the detail “Z” after Fig. 2, Fig. 5 the detail “Z’” after Fig. 2, supplemented by a safety device essential to the invention according to a first advantageous embodiment thereof, Fig. 6 the safety device after Fig. 5 in a single view including advantageous fastening measures for attaching the same to the motor vehicle, Fig. 7 the detail “Z’” after Fig. 2 supplemented by a safety device essential to the invention according to a second advantageous embodiment thereof, Fig. 8 the detail “Z’” after Fig. 2 supplemented by a safety device essential to the invention according to a third advantageous embodiment thereof, Fig. 9 the detail “Z’” after Fig. 2 supplemented by a safety device essential to the invention according to a fourth advantageous embodiment thereof, and Fig. 10 the cut “II” after Fig. 9.

[0026] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a motor vehicle 1 according to the prior art, which is designed, for example, as an electric or hybrid vehicle and is powered or can be powered by a traction battery 2. The traction battery 2 comprises a plurality, in this case seven, of battery modules 5 stacked one behind the other in a receiving space 3 of an underbody structure 4 of the motor vehicle 1, viewed in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the vehicle. The said receiving space 3 is formed between side longitudinal members 6, 7 or sills and a front cross member 8 and a rear cross member 9 arranged at a distance from it of the underbody structure 4 of the motor vehicle 1. The cross members 8 and 9 connect the side longitudinal members 6, 7 to each other, thereby forming a rigid frame surrounding the receiving space 3.The battery modules 5 each have a module housing 10 of cuboid shape and each extend in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y-direction) from one side longitudinal member 6 to the other side longitudinal member 7.

[0027] In addition to battery cells (not shown in the drawing), the module housings 10 of the battery modules 5 each have a maintenance box (not shown in the drawing) containing a battery cell management control unit (also not shown in the drawing), also referred to as CMCe (CMCe = Cell Management Controller extended). The maintenance box, or rather its battery cell management control unit, is accessible via a maintenance opening in the module housing 10, which can be closed with an access panel 11 or a cover. According to this embodiment, the access panels 11 are arranged centrally in the vehicle 1 along a longitudinal vehicle axis 12 extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (x-direction).

[0028] Furthermore, the battery modules 5 or their module housings 10 are preferably detachably connected separately to the side longitudinal members 6, 7 via connection flanges (not shown in the drawing). The battery modules 5 are inserted into the receiving space 3 and attached to the underbody structure 4 or to its side longitudinal members 6, 7, each from below. In addition, the battery modules 5 inserted into said receiving space 3 are conventionally secured by means of a Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The underride guard, not shown in the drawing, is covered from below to protect against, for example, stone chips. This underride guard can, for example, consist of a metal sheet or a circuit board made of a suitable, particularly impact-resistant, plastic or composite material.

[0029] As is known, said battery modules 5 are electrically interconnected and, via said battery cell management control units, are electrically connected to a battery management control unit 13, also referred to as BMCe (BMCe = Battery Management Controller Extended), including connector strip 14 and to an electric motor 15 as the drive motor of the motor vehicle 1.

[0030] The Fig. 3 differs from Fig. 2 essentially by the fact that instead of seven battery modules 4, only six battery modules 4 are installed on the motor vehicle 1.

[0031] The aforementioned underride guard is detachably attached to the vehicle 1. After removing the underride guard, individual battery cell management control units and / or battery modules 5 can be selectively removed from below from the receiving compartment 3 and replaced. As already stated at the outset, there is a need to protect a traction battery 2, or components thereof, arranged in this way on the vehicle 1 from unauthorized removal, and in particular from theft.

[0032] In this regard, according to the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. A securing device 16 is provided from below the vehicle, at least partially covering each of the battery modules 5, and is detachably attached to the underbody structure 4 of the motor vehicle 1. According to this embodiment, the securing device 16 is formed by a flat product having a T-shaped form with a web 16a extending in the longitudinal direction (x-direction) of the vehicle and a flange 16b adjoining one end of the web and extending in the transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle. The securing device 16 is preferably made of sheet metal, in particular sheet steel, but can also be made of a suitable plastic or a composite material, such as a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0033] The free end of the web 16a of the locking device 16 has a positive locking element 17, which corresponds to and is detachably connected to a counter-positive locking element 18 of the underbody structure 4, in this case the front cross member 8 thereof. According to this embodiment, the positive locking element 17 is formed by a hook element which is hinge-likely engaged with the counter-positive locking element 18 in the form of a receptacle formed on the aforementioned front cross member 8 (see in particular the following). Fig. 6).

[0034] At the other end of the locking device 16, according to this embodiment, two first bores 19, 20 are provided on the flange 16b thereof, which are connected to second bores 21, 22 in the rear cross member 9 (cf. Fig. 4) correspond. Preferably, the second bores 21, 22 are designed as threaded bores for receiving a mechanical fastening element 23 each, in the form of a fastening screw passing through the respective first bore 19, 20, which fastening screw typically has a screw head and a screw shank with threads. The second bores 21, 22 or threaded bores extend, for example, into the area of ​​a trunk 24 (cf. Fig. 1 to 3) of motor vehicle 1, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0035] As in Fig. As schematically indicated in Figure 6, at least one of the mechanical fastening elements 23, depicted here in a highly schematic manner, is associated with a locking element 25, also depicted in a highly schematic manner, which is arranged inside the vehicle and can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position and back. If the mechanical fastening element 23 is, for example, a fastening screw, the locking element 25 can be formed, for example, by a locking pin, which is known per se and therefore not shown in detail. In the locked position, this pin is inserted axially into a transverse bore in the screw shaft of the fastening screw (not shown in the drawing). This simple and cost-effective measure effectively prevents the fastening screw from being unscrewed.For the expert, it goes without saying that when the locking pin is manually operated, the screw shaft extends into a free space within the vehicle interior accessible to the user, in particular into the aforementioned trunk 24 of the vehicle 1.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the aforementioned manually operated locking pin, but encompasses any suitable locking measure known per se from inside the motor vehicle 1. For example, the locking element 25 can also be formed by a lock, a latch, or the like (not shown in the drawing). Furthermore, a locking element 25 can also be provided which is remotely operable, for example by means of a commonly existing electromechanical central locking system (not shown in the drawing).

[0037] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to a T-shaped safety device 16 designed as a flat product, but also includes a safety device 16 of a planar or plate-shaped or large-area shape, which partially or completely covers the battery modules 5. Fig. Figure 7 shows a securing device 16 of a planar shape which completely covers the battery modules 5 and is detachably fastened to both the side longitudinal members 6, 7 and the rear cross member 9 by means of mechanical fastening elements 23, in particular fastening screws.

[0038] At least one of the fastening elements 23, according to this embodiment fastening screws, is assigned a locking element 25, for example of the type described above (not shown in the drawing).

[0039] Again Fig. As can be seen further in section 5, the securing device 16 is attached to the underbody structure 4 of the vehicle 1 in such a way that it also partially covers the inspection hatch 11 of the respective module housing 10 of the battery modules 5. This protects not only the respective battery modules 5 as a whole, but also their respective battery cell management control units separately from unauthorized manipulation, since the inspection hatch 11 cannot be opened due to the covering.

[0040] The Fig. Figure 8 further shows a T-shaped locking device 16, which is advantageously supplemented by an underride guard 26. This underride guard 26 is preferably an integral part of the locking device 16. Alternatively, said underride guard 26 can also be designed as an add-on component that can be mounted on the locking device 16. The underride guard 26 can be made of the same material as the locking device 16 or of a different material. For example, the locking device 16 can be made of a metal sheet, and the underride guard 26 can be made of a plastic or a composite material, such as a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0041] In the present case, the traction battery 2 is completely covered from below by the securing device 16 and the underride guard 26. The fastening of the securing device 16 together with the underride guard 26 is based on the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, so that at least one mechanical fastening element 23 is provided here as well, to which a locking element 25 of the type described above is assigned (not shown in the drawing).

[0042] The Fig. 9 and Fig. Figure 10 further shows a safety device 16 which, in addition to the underride guard 26, also has a so-called collision guard 27. According to this embodiment, the collision guard 27 is formed by a support profile extending in the transverse direction (y-direction) of the vehicle, which is arranged or attached to the safety device 16 on the front side of the vehicle and has a ramp 29 directed downwards in the direction of travel 28 of the motor vehicle 1. In this case, the support profile is formed by a hollow profile with a closed cross-section, which has a high resistance to deformation.

[0043] According to this embodiment, and preferably, the aforementioned impact guard 27 is an integral part of the securing device 16, including the underride guard 26. The securing device 16, extended by the underride guard 26 and impact guard 27, is detachably fastened at one end (i.e., the rear of the vehicle 1) by means of mechanical fasteners 23, in particular fastening screws, arranged in the area of ​​the flange 16b of the T-shaped securing device 16, and at the other end (i.e., the front of the vehicle) in the area of ​​the impact guard 27, to the underbody structure 4 of the vehicle 1. Here, too, at least one of the mechanical fasteners 23 or fastening screws is associated with a securing element 25 of the type described above (not shown in the drawing). The impact guard 27 can be made of the same material as the securing device 16 or of a different material.For example, the safety device 16 can be made of a metal sheet and the collision protection 27 can be made of a plastic or a composite material, such as a fiber-reinforced plastic. Reference symbol list 1 motor vehicle 2 traction batteries 3 Recording room 4 Subfloor structure 5 battery module 6 side longitudinal beams 7 side longitudinal beams 8 front crossmember 9 rear crossmember 10 module housings 11 Inspection hatch 12 Vehicle longitudinal axis 13 Battery management control unit 14 power strip 15 Electric motor 16 Safety device 16a Steg 16b flange 17 Form-fitting devices 18 Counterform locking devices 19 first borehole 20 first borehole 21 second bore 22 second bore 23 Fastening element 24 trunk 25 safety element 26 Underride protection 27 Collision protection 28 Direction of travel 29 Ramp

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1) with a traction battery (2) comprising a plurality of electrically interconnected battery modules (5) each with a module housing (10) and battery cells arranged in the same, wherein the battery modules (5) are separately and detachably attached to the underbody structure (4) of the motor vehicle (1) from below within a receiving space (3) formed between side longitudinal members (6, 7) and the same connecting cross members (8, 9), characterized by, that a securing device (16) is provided which at least partially covers the battery modules (5) from below the vehicle, which is detachably attached to the underbody structure (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of at least one mechanical fastening element (23), wherein a securing element (25) arranged inside the vehicle and which can be moved from a securing position to an unsecured position and back is associated with the at least one mechanical fastening element (23). [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the locking element (25) is positively connected or connectable to the at least one mechanical fastening element (23). [3] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the locking element (25) can be manually operated and / or remotely operated from inside the vehicle. [4] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the safety device (16) is formed by a flat product which has a T-shaped or a planar or plate-shaped form that partially covers the battery modules (5) or a large-area form that completely covers the battery modules (5). [5] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the securing device (16) is attached to the underbody structure (4) of the motor vehicle (1) in such a way as to cover the battery modules (5) that an inspection hatch (11) or a cover of the respective module housing (10) of the battery modules (5) in question is at least partially covered by the securing device (16). [6] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the securing device (16) is supported and fastened to the cross members (8, 9) and / or to the side longitudinal members (6, 7) of the underbody structure (4). [7] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the locking device (16) viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (x-direction) has at one end at least a positive locking means (17) which corresponds to a counter-positive locking means (18) of the underbody structure (4), and at the other end the at least one mechanical fastening element (23) with the releasable locking element (25). [8] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the safety device (16) has an underride guard (26) for the motor vehicle (1) or said underride guard (26) is an integral part of the safety device (16). [9] Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the safety device (16) has a collision protection (27) or that such a collision protection (27) is assigned to the safety device (16). [10] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , that said collision protection (27) is formed by a support profile extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle (y-direction), which has a ramp (29) directed in the direction of travel (28) of the motor vehicle (1) and downwards.

Images