Three-part housing for motor vehicle batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination, the combination comprising: a battery (1, 1'), and a housing (2), the housing accommodating the battery (1, 1') so that an air gap is formed around the battery (1, 1'), the housing (2) comprising: a tray (2.1), the tray being used to receive the lower part of the battery (1, 1'), a first closing cover (2.2) for closing the tray (2.1), the first closing cover comprising a first terminal for allowing the positive terminal (V+) and the negative terminal (V-) of the battery (1, 1') to be A hole (14.1) passing through the tray (2.1), and a second closing cover (2.3) for closing the tray (2.1), the second closing cover including a hole (14.2) for allowing the second terminal of the positive terminal (V+) and the negative terminal (V-) of the battery (1, 1') to pass through, the second closing cover (2.3) being a part separate from the tray (2.1) and the first closing cover (2.2), each of the first closing cover (2.2) and the second closing cover (2.3) extending along a part of the total length of the battery (1, 1').

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention claims the priority of French application No. 1910516 filed on September 24, 2019, the content (text, drawings and claims) of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to a three-part housing for a motor vehicle battery. Background Art

[0003] Motor vehicles with a heat engine usually comprise one or more batteries (also called service batteries) connected to the on-board network to power these vehicle equipment (in particular the starter of the heat engine). For other vehicles, if they are electric or hybrid driven, they comprise one or more traction batteries connected to the power network to power the electric traction engine.

[0004] A "battery" is understood to be a combination of at least one battery module, the at least one battery module comprising at least one electrochemical cell, a service battery being considered equivalent to at least one module. The battery optionally comprises electrical or electronic components to manage the electrical energy of the at least one module. When there are a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules are assembled so as to form a battery pack, which is usually expressed in English as "pack batteries", the term "battery" also covering the meaning of "battery pack". In addition, the term "electrochemical cell" is understood to be a battery cell, for example of the lithium ion (or Li-ion) type, Ni-Mh type or Ni-Cd or lead type, which generates electric current by chemical reaction.

[0005] Especially thanks to "Li-ion" lithium-ion technology, the capacity and power of these batteries are constantly increasing. However, this type of battery has problems related to the operating temperature. In fact, lithium-ion type batteries have limited performance at negative temperatures, and high temperatures cause these batteries to degrade rapidly.

[0006] To improve the operation of these batteries when cold, the materials of the electrodes or electrolytes can be modified, but these solutions may reduce some of the battery's performance (especially when hot), which reduces the service life of these batteries. It is also possible to design a greater number of battery cells connected in parallel. These various solutions significantly increase the cost of the battery.

[0007] Another solution is to regulate the temperature of these batteries. For example, from document FR2987499, an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle service battery is known, comprising a closed housing designed to receive the battery, the container having an air intake at a first end and an air exhaust at a second end.

[0008] This system provides satisfactory results, but where the dimensions (particularly the length) of the battery vary according to the alternative implementations present in the vehicle, the configuration of the housing needs to be modified to suit the dimensions of the battery and (where necessary) the positioning of the terminals. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to effectively overcome this disadvantage by providing a combination comprising:

[0010] -Batteries, and

[0011] - a housing that accommodates the battery so that an air gap is formed around the battery, the housing comprising:

[0012] - a tray (bac) for receiving the lower part of the battery,

[0013] - a first closing cover for closing the tray, the first closing cover comprising a hole for passing a first one of the positive and negative terminals of the battery, and

[0014] a second closing cover for closing the tray, the second closing cover comprising a hole for passing a second terminal of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery, the second closing cover being a separate part from the tray and the first closing cover,

[0015] - Each of the first closing cover and the second closing cover extends along a portion of the total length of the battery.

[0016] The invention thus makes it possible, by envisaging the implementation of the housing in three parts, to avoid the need to manage a diversity of components in the entire housing, but only in the closure cover for closing the tray. In fact, the invention makes it possible to standardize the implementation of the tray and one cover, making it possible to adapt to the variable length of the battery by simply adapting the length of the other cover.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the housing comprises fixing means, in particular snap-on means, to ensure the fixing between the first closing cover and the second closing cover.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the length of the second closure cover is adapted to the length of the battery.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the battery is maintained inside the tray by means of a bride.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the length of the connecting element is adapted according to the length of the battery.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the second closure cap comprises an end wall provided with a tab for covering the coupling element.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the air inlet duct is arranged in an end wall of the tray on the one hand and in an end wall of the first closure cover on the other hand.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the fan is partly fixed to an end wall of the tray and partly fixed to an end wall of the first closure cover.

[0024] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a combination as defined above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation of the present invention.

[0026] - Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a combination including a housing and a battery;

[0027] - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first type of battery having a smaller length;

[0028] - Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second type of battery having a greater length;

[0029] - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a housing for accommodating a battery according to the present invention;

[0030] - Figure 5 is a perspective view of parts common to the housing according to the present invention;

[0031] - Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a closing cover for closing a housing and a connecting piece adapted for a shorter battery according to the present invention;

[0032] - Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a closing cover for closing a housing and a connecting piece adapted for a longer battery according to the present invention;

[0033] - Figure 8 is a perspective view of a housing adapted for a shorter battery in an assembled state according to the present invention;

[0034] - Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a housing adapted to fit a longer battery in an assembled state according to the present invention;

[0035] - Fig.10is a perspective view of a location (emplacement) located at the wheel arch position and reserved for accommodating the "housing-battery" combination according to the present invention;

[0036] - Fig.11 is a perspective view showing the placement of the “housing-battery” combination according to the invention in a position retained at the wheel arch location.

[0037] Identical, similar or like elements retain the same reference numerals from one figure to the other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Figure 1 A combination is shown, comprising a battery 1, 1' and a closed housing 2, which houses the battery 1, 1' so that an air gap 3 is formed around the battery 1, 1'. The closed housing 2 is airtight. The air gap 3 is the space reserved between the battery 1, 1' and the inner wall of the housing 2, in which the air circulates. This space advantageously has a thickness of 10 mm, but depending on the available space around the housing 2, this thickness can be reduced to 5 mm or on the contrary increased to 50 mm. More precisely, the battery 1, 1' complies with the general definitions already explained above. The battery 1, 1' corresponds in particular to a parallelepiped battery with electrochemical cells of the lithium-ion type, replacing a lead-acid service battery. The air gap 3 is thus the space reserved between at least three faces of the battery 1, 1' and the inner wall of the housing 2.

[0039] The housing 2 includes an external air inlet 5 leading into the air gap 3 and an air outlet 6 leading from the air gap 3 to the outside of the housing 2, the air inlet and the air outlet passing through the same first end of the ends of the housing.

[0040] The air inlet 5 is fluidically connected by a duct 4 to a source of cold air (not shown), which originates, for example, from the air conditioning of the vehicle's passenger compartment or, very simply, from the (ambient) air outside the vehicle. An inner partition 7 of the housing 2 extends from a first end of the housing 2 to an opposite second end and passes through the air gap 3 while dividing the air gap into two air volumes 9, 10. The air inlet 5 opens into one of these air volumes 9, and the air outlet 6 opens into the other air volume 10, the partition 7 being provided with an air passage 11 between the two air volumes 9, 10. It will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of partitions 7, since there may be more than two air volumes. The partition 7 has a flat form here, but in a variant may have another form, which depends on the architecture of the battery 1, 1' and the closed housing 2.

[0041] A fan 12 can be used, which draws air from outside the housing 2 into the air gap 3. The fan 12 can be provided with a regulated electrical heating resistor. In this case, simply activating or deactivating the electrical heating resistor of the fan is sufficient to heat or cool the battery 1, 1', respectively. The air outlet 6 leads to the outside at the location of the fan 12.

[0042] According to an optional implementation present in a vehicle, said vehicle may integrate batteries 1, 1' of different sizes. In the example described below, two types of batteries 1, 1' are envisaged, which are shown in FIG. Figure 2 and Figure 3 and have the same width I measured along the Y axis, the same height h measured along the Z axis, but different lengths L1 and L2 measured along the longitudinal axis X. Each battery 1, 1' comprises a positive terminal V+ and a negative terminal V-. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen from the above, the positioning of the positive terminal can vary from one battery to another. In the following description, relative terms of the "upper" and "lower" type refer to, in particular, Figure 2 and 3 The upper part of the battery 1, 1' is located on the side where the positive and negative terminals are located, while the lower part is located on the opposite side.

[0043] like Figure 4 As shown, in order to be able to adapt to the size of the battery 1, 1', the housing 2 is made of three parts 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, the three parts are a tray 2.1 for receiving the lower part of the battery 1, 1', a first closing cover 2.2 for closing the tray 2.1, and a second closing cover 2.3 for closing the tray 2.1, the first closing cover includes a hole 14.1 for passing the first terminal (e.g., negative terminal V-) of the battery 1, 1', and the second closing cover includes a hole 14.2 for passing the second terminal (e.g., positive terminal V+). In a variant, the positioning of the negative terminal V- and the positive terminal V+ of the battery 1, 1' can be reversed.

[0044] More precisely, if Figure 5 As can be seen from the top, the tray 2.1 has a basin shape. To this end, the tray 2.1 comprises a lower wall 16 and two side walls 17, 18 extending along the two longitudinal edges of the lower wall 16. The tray 2.1 extends along a length slightly greater than the length of the batteries 1, 1' to allow the batteries to be maintained by means of connecting pieces (latching pieces) 20, 20'.

[0045] In fact, the cells 1, 1' are longitudinally held on one side of the tray 2.1 by means of the end wall 19 of the tray 2.1 and by means of the added links 20, 20' ( Figure 6 and Figure 7The added connecting pieces 20, 20' are used to be inserted into the corresponding receiving portions 21 of the tray 2.1 (see Figure 5 ). The receiving portion 21 is provided in a thickened portion of the end edge of the lower wall 16. The length of the connecting piece 20, 20' is adapted to the length of the battery 1, 1'. Thus, the connecting piece 20 used for the battery 1 with a reduced length L1 is longer than the connecting piece 20' used for the battery 1' with a larger length L2.

[0046] like Figure 5 As shown above, the first closure cover 2.2 has a hollow form for receiving a portion of the upper part of the battery 1, 1 '. The first cover 2.2 comprises an upper wall 23 equipped with a recess 24, in which a hole 14.1 for passing the negative terminal V- of the battery 1, 1 ' is implemented. Two side walls 25, 26 and an end wall 27 extending face to face with each other, especially parallel to each other, come from the upper wall 23. The first cover 2.2 comprises a fixing part 28 for allowing the first cover to be fixed to the tray 2.1, especially at the upper edge of the side walls 17, 18 of the tray 2.1. The fixing part 28 is preferably constituted by a snap-fit ​​part, which for example takes the form of a "complementary deformable tongue-receiving part" combination or any other equivalent means. Preferably, the first cover 2.2 is a separate part from the tray 2.1. However, in a variant, the first cover 2.2 and the tray 2.1 can form the same single-piece part, for example obtained by molding.

[0047] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The second cover 2.3 visible above is a separate piece from the tray 2.1 and the first cover 2.2. The second cover 2.3 has a hollow form for receiving a part of the upper part of the battery 1, 1'.

[0048] The second cover 2.3 comprises an upper wall 30 provided with a recess 31 in which a hole 14.2 for the passage of the positive terminal V+ of the battery 1, 1' is implemented. From the upper wall 30 come two side walls 32, 33 extending face to face with each other and in particular parallel with respect to each other, and an end wall 34. The end wall 34 is provided with a tab 35 intended to cover the connection 20, 20' in order to ensure the leaktightness of the housing 2.

[0049] The second cover 2.3 comprises fixing means 36 for allowing it to be fixed to the tray 2.1, in particular at the upper edges of the side walls 17, 18 of the tray 2.1. The fixing means 36 are preferably constituted by snap-fit ​​means, for example in the form of a "complementary deformable tongue-receiving portion" combination or any other equivalent means.

[0050] The fixing means 38, in particular the snap means, ensure the fixing between the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3. The fixing between the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3 can be performed along a joint area extending along a vertical plane P perpendicular to the side walls 17, 18 of the tray 2.1. The snap means 38 can include, for example, a "complementary deformable tongue-receiving portion" combination or any other device adapted to the application. In a variant, the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3 can be fixed to each other by screwing or welding or any other suitable fixing method.

[0051] Each of the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3 extends along a portion of the total length of the battery 1, 1' measured along the longitudinal axis X. The length of the first cover 2.2 is constant from one configuration of the battery 1, 1' to another configuration. In other words, the length of the first cover 2.2 is constant regardless of the length of the battery 1, 1' housed by the housing 2.

[0052] The length of the second cover 2.3 is adapted according to the length of the battery 1, 1'. The sum of the lengths of the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3 is substantially equal to the length of the corresponding battery 1, 1' plus the thickness of the one or more air channel areas.

[0053] The invention thus makes it possible to standardize the design of the tray 2 . 1 and the first cover 2 . 2 , so that the variable length of the battery 1 , 1 ′ can be adapted by only adapting the length of the second cover 2 . 3 .

[0054] The positioning of the hole 14.2 for passing the positive terminal V+ can also be adjusted from one configuration of the battery 1, 1' to another configuration, such as Figure 8 and Fig. 9 In fact, the distance between the through hole 14.2 and the end face of the cover 2.3 is greater for a battery having a length L1 than for a battery having a length L2 (see distances E1 and E2).

[0055] The air inlet duct 4 is provided in the end wall 19 of the tray 2.1 on the one hand and in the end wall 27 of the first cover 2.2 on the other hand. In other words, the air inlet duct 4 is defined by a portion of the tray 2.1 on the one hand and by a portion of the first cover 2.2 on the other hand.

[0056] The fan 12 is fixed partly on the end wall 27 of the first cover 2.2 and partly on the end wall 19 of the tray 2.1. To this end, the fan 12 comprises a fixing lug 40 provided with a hole for passing a fixing member, such as a screw or a rivet or any other member adapted to the application.

[0057] The tray 2.1, the first cover 2.2 and the second cover 2.3 are preferably made of plastic material. These parts can be made by injection molding. In a variant, these parts 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 can be made of metal material or composite material.

[0058] like Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, the housing 2 is arranged in the front block of the vehicle for accommodating the engine. The housing 2 is fixed via a tray 2.1 to a support 41 integral with a longitudinal beam 42 of the vehicle. A computer 43 is also fixed to the support 41, which limits the available space along the longitudinal axis X.

[0059] The air inlet duct 4 opens into a window 44 arranged in the wheel arch area 45 of the vehicle. This window 44 also allows the passage of the brake line (not shown). The end of the "housing 2-battery 1, 1'" combination is facing the baffle 46, which includes a crossbeam 47, an opening 48 for the passage of the electrical wiring harness and an opening 49 for the passage of the brake amplifier.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising: - a battery (1, 1'), and - a housing (2) which accommodates the battery (1, 1') so that an air gap (3) is formed around the battery (1, 1'), characterized in that the housing (2) comprises: - a tray (2.1) for receiving the lower part of the battery (1, 1'), - a first closing cover (2.2) for closing the tray (2.1), the first closing cover comprising a first hole (14.1) for passing a first of the positive terminal (V+) and the negative terminal (V-) of the battery (1, 1'), and - a second closing cover (2.3) for closing the tray (2.1), the second closing cover comprising a second hole (14.2) for passing a second terminal of the positive terminal (V+) and the negative terminal (V-) of the battery (1, 1'), the second closing cover (2.3) being a separate part from the tray (2.1) and the first closing cover (2.2), Furthermore, each of the first closing cover (2.2) and the second closing cover (2.3) extends along a portion of the total length of the battery (1, 1'), the implementation of the tray (2.1) and the first closing cover (2.2) is standardized, and the length of the second closing cover (2.3) and / or the positioning of the second hole (14.2) are adapted according to the configuration of the battery.

2. The combination according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing (2) comprises fixing means (38) for ensuring the fixing between the first closure cover (2.2) and the second closure cover (2.3).

3. The combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The length of the second closure cover (2.3) is adapted according to the length of the battery (1, 1').

4. The combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The batteries (1, 1') are held inside the tray (2.1) by means of fasteners (20, 20').

5. The combination according to claim 4, characterized in that The length of the connecting member (20, 20') is adapted according to the length of the battery (1, 1').

6. The combination according to claim 4, characterized in that The second closure cap (2.3) comprises an end wall (34) provided with a tab (35) for covering the connecting element (20, 20').

7. A combination according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5 and 6, characterized in that An air inlet duct (4) is arranged on the one hand in an end wall of the tray (2.1) and on the other hand in an end wall of the first closure cover (2.2).

8. A combination according to any one of claims 1, 2, 5 and 6, characterized in that The fan (12) is partially fixed to the end wall of the tray (2.1) and partially fixed to the end wall of the first closure cover (2.2).

9. A vehicle comprising a combination as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

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