Vehicle Structure with Accumulator

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle structure having an electrical energy accumulator, the vehicle structure having an accumulator accommodation space in which an electrochemical energy accumulator (6) is accommodated, the accommodation space being at least partially defined in the installed position by a lower transverse strut (3) downwardly and by an upper transverse strut (2) upwardly, the vehicle structure having a longitudinal profile (1), a deformation space (9) being geometrically arranged between the longitudinal profile and the electrochemical energy accumulator, the electrochemical energy accumulator having an accumulator pressure plate (4) on the side thereof facing the longitudinal profile. An extended pressure plate (5) is arranged in the deformation space, which has a longitudinal profile contact area (5d), an upper pressure plate transverse strut (5a) and a lower pressure plate transverse strut (5b), the longitudinal profile contact area contacting or being able to contact the longitudinal profile, the upper pressure plate transverse strut extending from the extended pressure plate towards the upper transverse strut, and the lower pressure plate transverse strut extending from the extended pressure plate towards the lower transverse strut.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an accumulator which is accommodated in a vehicle structure, in particular in the structure of a motor vehicle, and interacts with this structure. The present invention starts from a vehicle structure which can also be understood as a so-called crash structure, and DE102011122527A1 further studies crash structures for motor vehicles. Background Art

[0002] The present invention will be described below in connection with battery electric motor vehicles, which should not be understood as limiting the present invention to this form of implementation. Electrochemical accumulators contain so-called active materials which can cause damage in the event of an accident and are therefore protected by the vehicle structure. Protecting the electrical accumulator has a high structural space requirement, thereby reducing the structural space available for arranging the accumulator. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure having an electrical accumulator with improved space utilization.

[0004] This object is achieved by a vehicle structure having an electrical accumulator, wherein the vehicle structure has an accumulator accommodation space in which an electrochemical accumulator is accommodated, and the accumulator accommodation space is at least partially defined in the planned installation position by a lower transverse strut downwardly and an upper transverse strut upwardly, wherein the vehicle structure has longitudinal profiles, and a deformation space is geometrically arranged between the longitudinal profiles and the electrochemical accumulator, and the electrochemical accumulator has an accumulator pressure plate on the side facing the longitudinal profiles.

[0005] It is characterized in that an extended pressure plate is arranged in the deformation space, the extended pressure plate has a longitudinal profile contact area, an upper pressure plate transverse strut and a lower pressure plate transverse strut, and the longitudinal profile contact area contacts or can contact the longitudinal profiles, and

[0006] the upper pressure plate transverse strut extends from the extended pressure plate towards the upper transverse strut, and the lower pressure plate transverse strut extends from the extended pressure plate towards the lower transverse strut.

[0007] In the sense of the present invention, the vehicle structure can be understood as a frame device or a section of a jointly load-bearing vehicle body. In particular, the proposed vehicle structure is applied in connection with battery electric vehicles (BEV). In particular, in such a BEV, the electrochemical accumulator is arranged in the region of the vehicle floor. Further preferably, the vehicle structure can thus be understood in the sense of the present invention as a vehicle floor assembly or a section of a vehicle floor assembly in which the electrochemical accumulator is arranged.

[0008] In the context of the present invention, an electrical energy storage device can be understood as a so-called electrochemical energy storage device, i.e., an energy storage device in which electrical power is stored in the form of chemical energy and can also be released from the energy storage device again. Such energy storage devices are known from the prior art in the form of lithium-ion energy storage devices or the like. In connection with the present invention, the electrochemical energy storage device is at least partially or preferably completely accommodated in an energy storage device accommodation space in the vehicle structure.

[0009] The energy storage device accommodation space is at least partially defined downward by a lower transverse strut and upward by an upper transverse strut in the planned installation position of the vehicle structure. Additionally, the vehicle structure has a longitudinal profile which preferably defines the energy storage device accommodation space at least on one side. Referring to the cross-sectional profile of the energy storage device accommodation space, the energy storage device accommodation space is preferably defined by a C-shaped structure on at least one side, where preferably the upper leg is formed by the upper transverse strut, the lower leg is formed by the lower transverse strut, and the tab of the C is formed by the longitudinal profile. Preferably, the longitudinal profile is connected to at least one of the two transverse struts, preferably form-fittingly and preferably materially locking. Further preferably, the vehicle structure and thus in particular the longitudinal profile are arranged on the longitudinal side or the end side or the dorsal side of the motor vehicle.

[0010] In particular, a deformation space is arranged or configured geometrically between the longitudinal profile and the electrochemical energy storage device. In the context of the present invention, the deformation space can in particular be understood as a region into which the longitudinal profile can deform, in particular without colliding with the electrical energy storage device. In other words, the deformation space can be understood as the intermediate space between the longitudinal profile and the electrochemical energy storage device. Further preferably, the electrochemical energy storage device has an energy storage device pressure plate on the side facing the longitudinal profile. Preferably, such a pressure plate can be understood as a protection for the electrochemical energy storage device, which protection should mechanically protect the electrochemical energy storage device.

[0011] Furthermore, an extended pressure plate is arranged in the deformation space. Here, the extended pressure plate is preferably designed to absorb and distribute forces or deflect forces, preferably to one of the transverse struts, during deformation, especially when the longitudinal profile deforms towards the electrochemical energy storage device, and thus mechanically protect the electrochemical energy storage device. Preferably, the extended pressure plate has a longitudinal profile contact area, an upper pressure plate transverse strut, and a lower pressure plate transverse strut. Here, the longitudinal profile contact area is designed such that the longitudinal profile contacts the longitudinal profile contact area especially when it deforms towards the electrochemical energy storage device, or the longitudinal profile already contacts the longitudinal profile contact area in the undeformed state, so that the deformation of the longitudinal profile towards the electrochemical energy storage device directly or after the longitudinal profile contacts the longitudinal profile contact area results in a load on the extended pressure plate, wherein the force exerted by the longitudinal profile on the extended pressure plate is directed towards the one or more transverse struts by means of the one or more pressure plate transverse struts. If the extended pressure plate is dispensed with, in an otherwise identical structure, the longitudinal profile would deform until it reaches the electrochemical energy storage device or the energy storage device pressure plate of the electrochemical energy storage device. With the present invention, however, the force exerted by the longitudinal profile when deforming towards the electrochemical energy storage device is directed to the upper transverse strut or the lower transverse strut. In particular, in order to enable such a deflection of the force, the extended pressure plate has an upper pressure plate transverse strut and a lower pressure plate transverse strut, which extend from the extended pressure plate towards the upper transverse strut (upper pressure plate transverse strut) or towards the lower transverse strut (lower pressure plate transverse strut). By means of the proposed configuration of the extended pressure plate, a greater resistance acts on the longitudinal profile when it deforms towards the electrochemical energy storage device, or the structural space of the components for enclosing the electrochemical energy storage device can be reduced while maintaining the same resistance and thus the structural space for the electrochemical energy storage device can be increased.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the extended pressure plate or the pressure plate has a pressure plate extrusion strut. Preferably, the pressure plate extrusion strut extends from the extended pressure plate towards the energy storage device pressure plate or relative to the energy storage device pressure plate and further preferably extends from the energy storage device pressure plate towards the extended pressure plate or until the extended pressure plate. In particular, by means of such a pressure plate extrusion strut, further support of the extended pressure plate can be achieved and thus the structural space requirement can be further reduced while maintaining stability.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure plate extrusion strut has a predetermined breaking point. In the sense of the present invention, the predetermined breaking point refers to a weak part of the pressure plate extrusion strut relative to the area surrounding the predetermined breaking point. Such predetermined breaking points are known from the prior art. In particular, it can be achieved by means of the predetermined breaking point that before damage to the accumulator pressure plate occurs, in particular the deformation of the longitudinal profile toward the electrochemical energy accumulator first resists a high resistance, the pressure plate fails and the force is diverted to the transverse struts through at least one of the extrusion struts. Here, the predetermined breaking point is designed in particular so that when the expanded pressure plate is loaded toward the pressure plate extrusion strut, the failure of the pressure plate extrusion strut occurs before at least one of the two pressure plate transverse struts fails. In particular, by means of such a design, a high safety of the electrochemical energy accumulator against mechanical damage and a small structural space requirement for the vehicle structure surrounding the electrochemical energy accumulator can be achieved.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the upper transverse strut has an upper transverse strut stop and, more preferably, the lower transverse strut has a lower transverse strut stop. Preferably, the upper transverse strut stop is in contact with or can be in contact with the upper pressure plate transverse strut and, more preferably, the lower transverse strut stop is in contact with or can be in contact with the lower pressure plate transverse strut. Preferably, such a stop is designed in such a way that a movement of at least one of the extrusion struts in the direction from the longitudinal profile to the electrochemical energy storage device is thereby prevented. In particular, such a design with a transverse strut stop makes it possible to achieve a particularly effective force deflection from the expanded pressure plate to at least one of the two transverse struts.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the accumulator pressure plate has an upper pressure plate stop and a lower pressure plate stop. Further preferably, the upper pressure plate stop contacts the upper transverse support stop, and the lower pressure plate stop contacts the lower transverse support stop. In particular, this design solution enables accurate positioning of the accumulator pressure plate relative to the vehicle structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] An embodiment of the invention and individual features are shown below by way of example, which can also be combined in other combinations than those shown in the figures, and are shown here:

[0017] Figure 1 A partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a vehicle structure with an electrochemical energy storage device accommodated therein,

[0018] Figure 2 A partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a vehicle structure with an electrochemical energy store accommodated therein is shown. Detailed implementation manner

[0019] Figure 1 A partial sectional view showing a vehicle structure having a longitudinal profile 1, an upper transverse strut 2, and a lower transverse strut 3. However, only the "left" edge of the arrangement structure is shown in Figure 1 . The vehicle structure extends in the longitudinal direction 7 of the vehicle. An electrochemical energy storage device 6 is accommodated in the vehicle structure. The electrochemical energy storage device is protected by an energy storage device pressing plate 4, especially against mechanical loads from the direction of the longitudinal profile 1. In the event of a side collision, i.e., when the vehicle structure is loaded in the transverse direction 8 of the vehicle, the longitudinal profile 1 can deform in the direction towards the electrochemical energy storage device 6. In particular, the energy storage device pressing plate 4 mechanically protects the electrochemical energy storage device 6.

[0020] An extended pressing plate 5 is provided in the deformation space 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the extended pressing plate 5 has an upper pressing plate transverse strut 5a, a lower pressing plate transverse strut 5b, and a pressing plate extrusion strut 5c. When the longitudinal profile 1 is correspondingly loaded in the transverse direction 8 of the vehicle, it contacts the extended pressing plate 5 in the longitudinal profile contact area 5d. The extended pressing plate 5 conducts the force applied thereto through the extrusion struts (Figs. 5a, 5b, 5c). In particular, the upper pressing plate transverse strut 5a and the lower pressing plate transverse strut 5b transfer the force to the upper transverse strut 2 and the lower transverse strut 3 through the upper transverse strut stop 2a and the lower transverse strut stop 3a.

[0021] The pressing plate extrusion strut 5c has a predetermined fracture site 5e, which ensures that the pressing plate extrusion strut 5c fails before the upper pressing plate transverse strut 5a and the lower pressing plate transverse strut 5b under corresponding loads, so that the load on the energy storage device pressing plate 4 is limited.

[0022] In Figure 2 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown, and the main differences between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in Figure 1 will be discussed below.

[0023] The energy storage device pressing plate 4 has an upper pressing plate stop 4a and a lower pressing plate stop 4b, which result in the support and centering of the energy storage device pressing plate 4 relative to the upper transverse strut 2 and the lower transverse strut 3. With this design, in particular, additional reinforcement of the vehicle structure can be achieved.

[0024] In other words, in known systems for protecting electrochemical energy storage devices, especially so-called traction batteries, the lateral and longitudinal struts of the vehicle structure are used. These struts prevent damage to the electrochemical energy storage device due to externally acting forces. Here, the principle of operation is that in the case of deformation of the vehicle structure, energy absorption takes place at least substantially through the compression / deformation of the struts (longitudinal profiles, upper lateral struts, lower lateral struts), and the cavities existing between these struts and the electrochemical energy storage device are not utilized or not actively utilized.

[0025] In contrast, the present invention particularly provides for the provision of a so-called extended pressure plate, which, especially in the event of a collision, deflects the force onto the lateral struts. Here, it is further preferred that the extended pressure plate also deforms and thus additionally absorbs deformation energy and leads to an improvement in safety. Preferably, predetermined breaking points are provided on the extended pressure plate, preferably on the pressure plate pressing against the strut. In particular, the predetermined breaking points are designed to decouple the extended pressure plate from the accumulator pressure plate, especially when a predetermined load is reached or exceeded, and thus reduce the load on the electrochemical energy storage device, especially the force acting on the battery in the event of a collision. In other words, with the present invention, it is possible in particular to reduce the structural space requirements for the longitudinal profiles and increase the structural space for the battery module, i.e., the electrochemical energy storage device. In addition, it is advantageous that no additional components are required, but rather the existing components are modified. Preferably, the accumulator pressure plate and the extended pressure plate are constructed as separate components and preferably in one-piece construction. Further preferably, it is possible to arrange electrical conductors, especially electrical wires, preferably cables, in the region of the extended pressure plate.

[0026] According to the design of the described embodiment, the following advantages can be achieved by the proposed invention:

[0027] - Additional energy absorption in the event of a collision,

[0028] - Lower structural space requirements,

[0029] - More space for the battery module of the electrochemical energy storage device, higher electrical range of the vehicle,

[0030] - Lower structural complexity,

[0031] - Additional protected structural space,

[0032] - Reduction of the freely bendable surface for the floor deflection when loaded from below,

[0033] - Additional energy absorption in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

[0034] List of reference numerals

[0035] 1 Longitudinal profile

[0036] 2 Upper transverse strut

[0037] 2a Upper transverse strut stop

[0038] 3 Lower transverse strut

[0039] 3a Lower transverse strut stop

[0040] 4 Pressure plate

[0041] 4a Upper pressure plate stop

[0042] 4b Lower pressure plate stop

[0043] 5 Extended pressure plate

[0044] 5a Upper pressure plate transverse strut

[0045] 5b Lower pressure plate transverse strut

[0046] 5c Pressure plate extrusion strut

[0047] 5d Longitudinal profile contact area

[0048] 5e Predetermined fracture site of pressure plate extrusion strut 5c

[0049] 6 Electrochemical energy storage

[0050] 7 Vehicle longitudinal direction

[0051] 8 Vehicle transverse direction

[0052] 9 Deformation space

Claims

1. A vehicle structure having an electrical energy storage device, wherein, The vehicle structure has an accumulator accommodation space in which an electrochemical accumulator (6) is accommodated. The accumulator accommodation space is at least partially defined in the planned installation position by a lower transverse strut (3) downward and an upper transverse strut (2) upward. The vehicle structure has a longitudinal profile (1), and a deformation space (9) is geometrically arranged between the longitudinal profile (1) and the electrochemical accumulator (6). The electrochemical accumulator (6) has an accumulator pressure plate (4) on its side facing the longitudinal profile. It is characterized in that an extended pressure plate (5) is arranged in the deformation space (9). The extended pressure plate (5) has a longitudinal profile contact area (5d), an upper pressure plate transverse strut (5a), and a lower pressure plate transverse strut (5b). The longitudinal profile contact area (5d) contacts or can contact the longitudinal profile (1), and the upper pressure plate transverse strut (5a) extends from the extended pressure plate (5) towards the upper transverse strut (2), and the lower pressure plate transverse strut (5b) extends from the extended pressure plate (5) towards the lower transverse strut (3).

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein, The extended pressure plate (5) has a pressure plate extrusion strut (5c) that extends from the extended pressure plate (5) to the accumulator pressure plate (4).

3. The vehicle structure according to claim 2, wherein, The pressure plate extrusion strut (5c) has a predetermined fracture site (5e). Before at least one of the two pressure plate transverse struts (5a, 5b) fails, when the extended pressure plate (5) is subjected to a predetermined load towards the pressure plate extrusion strut (5c), the predetermined fracture site causes the failure of the pressure plate extrusion strut (5c).

4. The vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The upper transverse strut (2) has an upper transverse strut stop (2a), and the lower transverse strut (3) has a lower transverse strut stop (3a). The upper transverse strut stop (2a) can contact the upper pressure plate transverse strut (5a), and the lower transverse strut stop (3a) can contact the lower pressure plate transverse strut (5b).

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The accumulator pressure plate (4) has an upper pressure plate stop (4a) and a lower pressure plate stop (4b). The upper pressure plate stop (4a) contacts the upper transverse strut stop (2a), and the lower pressure plate stop (4b) contacts the lower transverse strut stop (3a).

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