Vehicle with hybrid electric powertrain equipped with reinforcement device coupled with front longitudinal member

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid electric vehicle comprising a floor (1) having a central tunnel (3), at least two longitudinal side members (5), a rear floor (7) extending laterally below the floor and between the at least two longitudinal side members (5), at least two longitudinal members (9, 11, 13) extending below the floor towards the rear floor (7), at least two front longitudinal members (9) of the at least two longitudinal members being arranged on either side of the central tunnel (3), characterized in that the vehicle further comprises one or more reinforcement devices (15, 17) being an elongated body comprising two end portions, one of the end portions being fixed to a longitudinal member (9, 11, 13), and in that the one or more reinforcement devices (15, 17) are fixed below the floor (1) of the vehicle and configured to extend in a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention claims priority to French application 2101268, filed on February 10, 2021, the contents of which (text, drawings and claims) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This invention relates to the field of vehicles with hybrid electric power systems. Background Technology

[0003] Hybrid vehicles include both an electric motor and a thermal motor. These two motors operate simultaneously or alternately to reduce the total power consumed by the vehicle. The battery for the electric motor is generally parallelepiped in shape and is either mounted under the vehicle floor and at the location of the front seat crossbeam, or housed in the rear portion of the vehicle and in the trunk or under the body.

[0004] When mounted under the vehicle's floor, the battery typically has limited dimensions and a mass generally less than 150 kg. This configuration is typical of hybrid vehicles with limited range, referred to as an MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) type powertrain. These hybrid vehicles have a battery that assists a heat engine.

[0005] When housed in the rear section of the vehicle, a more bulky battery can be installed, resulting in a weight greater than 150 kg (or even greater than 250 kg). This type of hybrid vehicle has a greater range than MHEV type vehicles because the battery is a rechargeable battery that can be recharged from an external power source. This is thus referred to as a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) type powertrain.

[0006] When the battery is mounted under the floor, it must, for example, cross the underside brace, which limits the size of the battery that can be installed. A solution to increase the size of the underside battery in the vehicle is to truncate the underside brace instead of crossing it. However, in the event of a frontal collision, the transfer element through which the force passes is thus carried by the battery housing or by a protective frame designed and configured for this purpose. However, due to the fact that the underside brace is truncated, there is a risk of performance degradation of the base during a frontal collision, particularly due to the increased probability of shearing of the floor.

[0007] In addition, in the event of a violent collision, there is a significant risk that the longitudinal member may move backward until it comes into contact with the battery housing or “battery tray”, which is undesirable given the risk of battery damage (after the battery tray is perforated).

[0008] When the battery is housed in the rear section of the vehicle, this significantly increases the battery's mass and thus its power. However, in the event of a frontal collision, the transfer mechanism for the force is typically supported by a heel plate, positioned below the floor and in front of the battery. Depending on the severity of the collision, the floor plate may also be sheared, as the battery, due to its large mass, can push and crush it.

[0009] To reinforce the floor, document DE102014006718 describes the presence of a reinforcing structure arranged to extend laterally between the passage and the longitudinal beam and longitudinally from the rear portion of the passage to the front portion of the longitudinal beam. This reinforcing structure enables a floor with a certain degree of resistance during a frontal collision with low width overlap. This particular configuration is especially effective in preventing front wheels from intruding into the passenger compartment of the vehicle during a frontal collision with low coverage.

[0010] However, when energy accumulators are stacked in the described reinforcing structure, the movement of the lower longitudinal member of the floor plate during a frontal collision is not taken into account, and such a structure does not solve the problem when the energy accumulator is housed in the rear region of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The object of this invention is to improve the above-described situation. In particular, the invention seeks to find a component to dissipate the energy introduced by a frontal collision on the longitudinal member, in order to reduce or avoid shearing of the floor of the hybrid electric vehicle.

[0012] Therefore, and according to a first aspect, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle having a hybrid electric powertrain system, the vehicle comprising a floor having: a central passage; at least two longitudinal beams respectively disposed at each lateral edge of the floor; a heel plate extending laterally below the floor and between the at least two longitudinal beams; at least two longitudinal members extending below the floor toward the heel plate, at least two of the at least two longitudinal members being front longitudinal members disposed on either side of the central passage, characterized in that the vehicle further comprises one or more reinforcing devices selected from at least one contournement device and / or at least one ancrage device, and the one or more reinforcing devices being elongated bodies including two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of the ends being fixed to a longitudinal member, and the one or more reinforcing devices being fixed below the floor of the vehicle and configured to extend in a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0013] As can be understood from the given limitations, the present invention proposes the creation of at least one additional force path to mitigate the forces experienced by one or more longitudinal members in the event of a frontal collision. The energy received during the impact is dissipated via one or more reinforcing devices, and is no longer directed directly toward the rear of the vehicle onto the heel plate. Due to the addition of reinforcing devices according to the configuration of the invention, the path of the experienced forces is lengthened, which allows for the dissipation of energy and thus reduces the load on the heel plate, and also prevents shearing of the floor plate within the limits of the severity of the frontal collision.

[0014] According to a first embodiment, the vehicle further includes at least one lower outer longitudinal member under the floor, the at least one lower outer longitudinal member extending parallel to the front longitudinal member and disposed between the front longitudinal member and the longitudinal beam, and the vehicle includes at least one bypass device, the at least one bypass device being fixed to the outer longitudinal member by one of its ends. Preferably, the at least one bypass device is fixed to the outer longitudinal member by its front end. Preferably, the at least one bypass device is fixed to the front longitudinal member by its rear end.

[0015] Preferably, the vehicle further includes a battery mounted below the floor, and at least one front longitudinal member or outer longitudinal member is a truncated longitudinal member; the truncated longitudinal member includes two portions defining a front portion and a rear portion, the battery being disposed between the front portion and the rear portion, the rear portion including a rear end fixed to the heel plate, and at least one bypass device being fixed to the rear portion of the truncated longitudinal member. For example, at least one truncated longitudinal member is a front longitudinal member.

[0016] Advantageously, the vehicle includes at least one hybrid reinforcement device comprising a bypass device and a fastening device, the bypass device and the fastening device being arranged end-to-end to form a single part, one or more hybrid reinforcement devices being fixed to the outer longitudinal member by their front ends and to the heel plate by their rear ends. Preferably, at least one hybrid reinforcement device is configured to cross over and be fixed to the front longitudinal member.

[0017] According to a second embodiment that replaces the first embodiment, the vehicle includes a battery housed behind the heel plate, and at least two fastening devices are fixed to the same front longitudinal member.

[0018] Regardless of the chosen embodiment, the following features advantageously define one or more reinforcing devices:

[0019] Preferably, at least one reinforcing device is a hollow body.

[0020] Preferably, at least one reinforcing device has a height of less than 30 mm (or less than 25 mm, or less than 20 mm).

[0021] Preferably, one or more reinforcing devices are steel parts; for example, the steel parts have a tensile strength, for example, between 400 MPa and 1200 MPa (or between 500 MPa and 1100 MPa, or between 600 MPa and 1000 MPa), as determined by standard ISO 6892-1.

[0022] Preferably, one or more reinforcing devices are U-shaped profiles, and at least one end of the profile has an elbow bend.

[0023] Furthermore, regardless of the chosen embodiment, the vehicle preferably includes at least one fastening device, which is secured to the front longitudinal member by its front end and to the heel plate by its rear end. For example, at least two fastening devices are secured to the same front longitudinal member.

[0024] Furthermore, regardless of the chosen embodiment, the vehicle includes at least one fastening device, which is secured to the front longitudinal member by its front end and to the heel plate by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to ( (à) longitudinal beams, and / or, the vehicle further includes an inner longitudinal member under the floor, the inner longitudinal member extending parallel to the front longitudinal member and arranged between the front longitudinal member and the central passage, and the vehicle includes at least one fastening device, the at least one fastening device being fixed to the front longitudinal member by its front end and to the heel plate by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the inner longitudinal member.

[0025] Furthermore, regardless of the chosen embodiment, the vehicle includes a rear seat crossbeam disposed on the floor, with one end of one or more reinforcing devices fixed to the front longitudinal member below the rear seat crossbeam. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given with reference to the figures. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become clearer in the drawings:

[0027] - Figure 1 This is a bottom view of the floor of a vehicle of the MHEV type with a hybrid electric power system according to the present invention.

[0028] - Figure 2 This is a bottom view of the floor of a PHEV type vehicle with a hybrid electric power system according to the present invention.

[0029] - Figure 3 A reinforcing device according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the present specification, the term "comprising" is a synonym of "including" and is not limited to allowing the presence of other elements in the referenced vehicle. Of course, the term "comprising" includes the term "consisting of".

[0031] Similarly, the terms “lower,” “upper,” “higher,” and “lower” will be understood according to their conventional definitions, where “lower” and “lower” respectively indicate that the terms “upper” and “higher” are closer to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms “upper” and “higher.”

[0032] The terms “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “front,” and “rear” will be understood relative to the general orientation of the vehicle (which is used, for example, along the normal direction of travel of the vehicle).

[0033] In different figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar elements.

[0034] During a frontal collision, the longitudinal members beneath the vehicle's floor transmit energy toward the rear of the vehicle. In the case of vehicles with hybrid electric powertrains (where battery protection is essential for occupant safety), it is necessary to dissipate this energy to maintain the integrity of the floor within the limits of the intensity of the frontal collision, ensuring that the battery itself is not affected during the collision. Therefore, by fixing one or more underfloor reinforcements to the longitudinal members and by configuring these reinforcements to extend at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the present invention enables the energy to dissipate toward the rear of the vehicle. Shear stress on the floor is thus reduced (or even eliminated) due to deformation of the vehicle's structural elements.

[0035] The present invention therefore relates to a vehicle having a hybrid electric powertrain system, wherein the floor 1 of the vehicle is shown in a bottom view. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The base plate 1 therefore includes: a central passageway 3; at least two longitudinal beams 5, which are respectively arranged at each lateral edge of the base plate 1; and a heel plate 7, which is located below the base plate and is positioned above the at least two longitudinal beams 5 (in...). Figure 1 and Figure 2 Each of the above (only one is shown) extends laterally between; at least two longitudinal members 9, 11, 13, said at least two longitudinal members extending below the base plate toward the heel plate 7, at least two of the at least two longitudinal members 9 (in Figure 1 and Figure 2 (Only one of each is shown) is arranged on both sides of the central passage 3. The vehicle according to the invention also includes one or more reinforcing devices 15, 17 selected from at least one bypass device 15 and / or at least one fastening device 17, the one or more reinforcing devices 15, 17 being elongated bodies comprising two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of said ends being fixed to longitudinal members 9, 11, 13. Furthermore, the one or more reinforcing devices 15, 17 are fixed below the floor 1 of the vehicle and configured to extend along a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0036] For example, at least one reinforcing device is a hollow body.

[0037] One or more reinforcing devices have a height of, for example, less than 30 mm (or less than 25 mm, or less than 20 mm). This distance is sufficient to maintain adequate ground clearance for the vehicle's floor.

[0038] One or more reinforcing devices are advantageously steel parts; for example, said steel parts have a tensile strength, for example, between 400 MPa and 1200 MPa (or between 450 MPa and 1150 MPa, or between 500 MPa and 1100 MPa, or between 550 MPa and 1050 MPa, or between 600 MPa and 1000 MPa), as determined by standard ISO 6892-1. One or more reinforcing devices are fixed to the base plate, one of the longitudinal members, and / or the heel plate, for example, by welding (preferably by means of electric welding points).

[0039] One or more reinforcing devices are advantageously U-shaped profiles, and at least one of the ends of the profile has an elbow bend 19 (in... Figure 3 (As can be seen above), and can rest on the lateral surface of the longitudinal member and / or the lateral surface of the heel plate (especially the lateral surface facing the front of the vehicle). One or more reinforcing devices are thus fixed to the longitudinal member and / or one of the heel plates at the elbow 19 location by welding (especially by means of an electric welding point). However, it is possible to fix the reinforcing device by any means (e.g., by threaded connection).

[0040] Figure 3 It also allows the presence of at least one reinforcing groove 23, which is arranged along the main direction of one or more reinforcing devices. The presence of this groove helps to ensure the proper stiffness of one or more reinforcing devices.

[0041] Since the one or more reinforcing devices are fixed beneath the base plate, the one or more devices can be guided to overlap cables and / or overlap the slots (moulures) provided by the base plate. Thus, at least one edge of the one or more reinforcing devices according to the invention may have at least one notch 25 for allowing one or more cables and / or one or more slots of the base plate to pass through.

[0042] Finally, one or more reinforcing devices may be provided with one or more holes 27, which are used during the electrophoresis process to remove excess paint.

[0043] In the reinforcement device, the bypass device is arranged to prevent the forces from being directly directed toward specific components of the vehicle (e.g., the battery or heel counter). The bypass device can also be used to redirect the forces experienced by the vehicle to another structural element of the vehicle.

[0044] The fastening device itself is arranged to prevent structural elements (e.g., heel plates) from deforming to the extent that they would shear the base plate during the impact. The fastening device is arranged to distribute the force to different locations on the structural element.

[0045] One or more reinforcing devices are configured to extend along a direction forming an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. For example, this angle may be between 20° and 70° (or between 30° and 60°, or between 35° and 55°).

[0046] Advantageously, the vehicle includes at least one fastening device 17, which is secured to the front longitudinal member 9 by its front end and to the heel plate 7 by its rear end. Indeed, during a frontal collision, the longitudinal member, through its connection to the heel plate, allows the force to be transmitted to the heel plate. The presence of the fastening device 17 (secured to the front longitudinal member at one end and to the heel plate at the other end) creates an additional point on the heel plate 7 to which the force can be transmitted, thus reducing the load on the heel plate because the energy induced in the vehicle's structure will be at least partially dissipated.

[0047] More preferably, the vehicle includes at least two fastening devices 17, which are fixed to the same front longitudinal member 9. This enables the acquisition of three locations on the heel plate to which the force can be transmitted in the event of a frontal collision.

[0048] For example, the vehicle includes at least one fastening device 17, which is secured to the front longitudinal member 9 by its front end and to the heel plate 7 by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the longitudinal beam 5. The fact that the fastening device is fixed to the heel plate at a location farther away from the location where the front longitudinal member is fixed to the heel plate further optimizes the dissipation of energy during the frontal collision and further reduces the load on the heel plate.

[0049] For example, the vehicle includes an inner longitudinal member 11 under the floor, which extends parallel to and is arranged between the front longitudinal member 9 and the central passage 3. In this case, the vehicle may include at least one fastening device 17, which is fixed to the front longitudinal member 9 by its front end and to the heel plate 7 by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the inner longitudinal member 11.

[0050] Preferably, one or more reinforcing devices are fixed to the longitudinal member (e.g., the front longitudinal member 9) at a location located below the rear crossbeam arranged on the floor of the vehicle (that is, in the vertical direction).

[0051] according to Figure 1 The first embodiment shown above describes a vehicle with a hybrid electric powertrain system of the MHEV type. The vehicle includes at least one underfloor outer longitudinal member 13, which extends parallel to the front longitudinal member 9 and is arranged between the front longitudinal member 9 and the longitudinal beam 5. The vehicle includes at least one bypass device 15, which is fixed to the front longitudinal member 9 by one of its ends and to the outer longitudinal member 13 by its other end.

[0052] One or more bypass devices 15 thus provide additional force tracks so that the forces experienced by the outer longitudinal member are not directly directed to the heel plate 7.

[0053] For example, MHEV type vehicles include a battery 21 mounted under the floor, meaning that at least one of the front longitudinal member 9 or the outer longitudinal member 13 (preferably the front longitudinal member 9) is a truncated longitudinal member. For example, the battery 21 may be mounted under the floor and below the front seat crossbeam. The truncated longitudinal member includes two portions defining a front portion and a rear portion, with the battery 21 disposed between the front portion and the rear portion, the rear portion including a rear end fixed to the heel plate 7. Advantageously, at least one bypass device 15 is fixed to the rear portion of the truncated longitudinal member, and the energy generated during a frontal collision (within the limits of the collision's intensity) will thereby bypass the battery and no longer cause one or more longitudinal members to intrude into the battery. Preferably, the at least one bypass device 15 is fixed to the outer longitudinal member 13 by its own front end.

[0054] When a hybrid electric vehicle of the MHEV type advantageously includes at least one fastening device, it is possible to associate the bypass device 15 with the fastening device 17. These two devices are arranged end-to-end and thus can be connected by welding (e.g., via the formation of an electrical weld joint). This results in a hybrid reinforcement device comprising two devices arranged end-to-end. The hybrid reinforcement device is fixed to the outer longitudinal member by its front end and to the heel plate by its rear end.

[0055] Advantageously and economically, the hybrid reinforcement device is a single component. This simplifies the assembly of these devices on the vehicle. Preferably, the hybrid reinforcement device is configured to span across and be fixed to the front longitudinal member.

[0056] according to Figure 2The second embodiment shown above is a PHEV type vehicle with a hybrid electric powertrain system. The vehicle includes a battery 21 housed behind the heel plate 7, and at least two fastening devices 17 are fixed to the same front longitudinal member 9.

[0057] During a frontal collision, the energy generated in the vehicle will therefore dissipate at three different locations on the heel plate, which can reduce the load on the heel plate and reduce (or even eliminate) the shear on the floor plate.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a hybrid electric powertrain, the vehicle comprising a floor (1) having: a central passage (3); at least two longitudinal beams (5) respectively arranged at each lateral edge of the floor (1); a heel plate (7) extending laterally below the floor and between the at least two longitudinal beams (5); at least two longitudinal members (9, 11, 13) extending below the floor toward the heel plate (7), at least two of the at least two longitudinal members (9) being front members arranged on both sides of the central passage (3), characterized in that, The vehicle also includes one or more reinforcing devices selected from at least one bypass device (15) and / or at least one fastening device (17), and the one or more reinforcing devices are elongated bodies including two ends defining a front end and a rear end, one of the ends being fixed to a longitudinal member (9, 11, 13), and the one or more reinforcing devices are fixed below the floor (1) of the vehicle and configured to extend in a direction forming an angle with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The vehicle includes at least one fastening device (17) fixed to the front longitudinal member (9) by its front end and to the heel plate (7) by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the longitudinal beam (5); and / or, the vehicle also includes an inner longitudinal member (11) under the floor, the inner longitudinal member under the floor extending parallel to the front longitudinal member (9) and arranged between the front longitudinal member (9) and the central passage (3), and the vehicle includes at least one fastening device (17) fixed to the front longitudinal member (9) by its front end and to the heel plate (7) by its rear end, the rear end being adjacent to the inner longitudinal member (11) under the floor.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one reinforcing device is a hollow body.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein, At least one reinforcing device has a height of less than 30 mm.

4. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, At least two fastening devices (17) are fixed to the same front longitudinal member (9).

5. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a rear seat crossbeam disposed on the floor, one of the ends of one or more reinforcing devices being fixed below the rear seat crossbeam to a front longitudinal member (9), and / or, one or more reinforcing devices are U-shaped profiles, and at least one of the ends of the profiles has an elbow (19).

6. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, One or more reinforcing devices are steel parts.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein, The steel parts have tensile strengths between 400 MPa and 1200 MPa as defined by standard ISO 6892-1.

8. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 7, characterized in that, The vehicle also includes at least one under-floor outer longitudinal member (13), which extends parallel to the front longitudinal member (9) and is arranged between the front longitudinal member (9) and the longitudinal beam (5), and the vehicle includes at least one bypass device (15), which is fixed to the under-floor outer longitudinal member (13) by one of its ends.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein, At least one bypass device (15) is fixed to the lower outer longitudinal member (13) of the base plate by its front end.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, The vehicle also includes a battery (21) mounted below the floor, and at least one front longitudinal member (9) or an outer longitudinal member (13) below the floor is a truncated longitudinal member; The truncated longitudinal member comprises two parts defining a front portion and a rear portion, the battery (21) being disposed between the front portion and the rear portion, the rear portion including a rear end fixed to the heel plate (7), and at least one bypass device (15) being fixed to the rear portion of the truncated longitudinal member.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein, At least one truncated longitudinal member is a front longitudinal member (9).

12. The vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that, The vehicle includes at least one hybrid reinforcement device, which includes a bypass device (15) and a fastening device (17), the bypass device and the fastening device being arranged end to end to form a single part, and one or more hybrid reinforcement devices being fixed by their front end to the underside of the bottom plate and by their rear end to the heel plate (7).

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein, At least one hybrid reinforcement device is configured to cross the front longitudinal member (9) and be fixed to the front longitudinal member.

14. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 7 and 9 to 13, characterized in that, The vehicle includes a battery (21) housed behind the heel plate (7), and at least two fastening devices (17) are fixed to the same front longitudinal member (9).

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