Battery incorporating means for thermal management of elements of powertrain

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement of an electric vehicle (100) having a thermal management device (1) comprising at least one heat exchanger (2) and at least one element to be thermally conditioned belonging to an electric drive train, in particular a power train (11), the vehicle comprising a battery (13), the invention relates to a battery (13) positioned in particular below the vehicle, in particular below the floor of the passenger compartment, characterized in that the thermal management device (1) is arranged inside the battery (13).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for an electric vehicle having a heat treatment device, the heat treatment device comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one element of the electric drive train to be thermally conditioned. The present invention relates to a vehicle having such an arrangement and a method for producing such an arrangement. Background Art

[0002] Electric motor vehicles conventionally include a chassis, in the central part below which, in particular below the passenger compartment, a modular electrical energy storage assembly is provided, the modular electrical energy storage assembly comprising battery cells. The powertrain (in particular including an electric motor) can be placed at the front of the chassis for a front-wheel drive vehicle, at the rear of the chassis for a rear-wheel drive vehicle, or partly at the front of the chassis and partly at the rear of the chassis for a four-wheel drive vehicle.

[0003] The problems of vehicles with a rear powertrain are partly related to the thermal management of their components, especially when the thermal management involves the flow of a heat transfer fluid in a circuit between at least one element to be thermally managed and located at the rear of the vehicle and at least one heat exchanger located at the front of the vehicle.

[0004] It is known to produce a circuit for the flow of a heat transfer fluid by means of pipes made of plastic (such as ) or steel (such as aluminum), and then to assemble such pipes under the vehicle body.

[0005] It has been found that, given the great limitations of the vehicle body bottom environment due to the presence of the said electrical energy storage assembly, this known solution is difficult to apply to electric vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the above problems.

[0007] The present invention falls within this context and seeks to provide an arrangement for an electric vehicle and a method for producing such an arrangement that overcomes the above disadvantages.

[0008] In particular, the object of the present invention is an arrangement for an electric vehicle having a heat treatment device, the heat treatment device comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one element of the electric drive train to be thermally conditioned, in particular the powertrain, the vehicle having a battery, the battery being particularly positioned below the vehicle, in particular below the floor of the passenger compartment.

[0009] The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the heat treatment device is provided inside the battery.

[0010] According to other specific features, the arrangement may include the following features considered individually or in combination with each other:

[0011] - The battery includes at least one interface element that connects the battery to the vehicle chassis, in particular below the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0012] - The heat treatment device includes at least one pipe, which is particularly composed of a rigid pipe for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, in particular an ethylene glycol-water based fluid, so that at least one element of the electric drive train, in particular the power train, can be heat treated.

[0013] - The rigid pipe is arranged inside the interface element.

[0014] - The rigid pipe is arranged inside the interface element such that at least one end of the rigid pipe protrudes from the interface element.

[0015] - The pipe includes at least one flexible pipe, which is connected to the rigid pipe through a concave connector.

[0016] - The concave connector is assembled at one of the ends of the interface element, in particular by screwing.

[0017] - The rigid pipe includes at least one fixing tab, which is particularly welded to the outer part of the rigid pipe.

[0018] - The battery interface element includes at least one bracket for fixing the heat treatment device, in particular for fixing the rigid pipe via the concave connector or the fixing tab.

[0019] - The rigid pipe includes at least one insulating insert, which is particularly fixed by adhesive bonding so that the insert breaks the thermal bridge between the rigid pipe and the interface element.

[0020] The invention also relates to an electric vehicle comprising an arrangement having any one of the above features.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for producing the arrangement, the method comprising the following steps:

[0022] - Producing the rigid pipe and the interface element.

[0023] - Positioning the rigid pipe inside the interface element, in particular inside a channel longitudinally passing through the interface element, by sliding the rigid pipe into one end of the interface element.

[0024] - Fixing the rigid pipe by one of its ends, in particular by screwing or riveting.

[0025] - Assembling the rigid pipe and the concave connector.

[0026] - Fix the concave connector to the interface element, in particular by screwing or riveting. Description of the Drawings

[0027] Further details, features and advantages will become clearer by reading the following detailed description given by way of non - limiting indication of a number of different exemplary embodiments shown in the following drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic depiction of a vehicle with an arrangement according to the invention,

[0029] Figure 2 is a perspective partial depiction of a battery and a heat treatment device according to the invention,

[0030] Figure 3 is Figure 2 an enlarged view of the rear part of the battery in

[0031] Figure 4 is Figure 2 an enlarged view of the front part of the battery in

[0032] Figure 5 is Figure 3 a longitudinal sectional view of the arrangement in

[0033] Figure 6 is Figure 4 a view of the arrangement in Detailed Description of the Invention

[0034] Figure 1 A motor vehicle 100 equipped with a heat treatment device 1 is schematically shown. The vehicle 100 can be of any type, i.e., it can be a private car, a multi - purpose vehicle, a truck or a bus. The vehicle 100 can also be an autonomous or non - autonomous vehicle. In this case, Figure 1 A sports car is shown, which has a specific design feature with a powertrain located at the rear, and the powertrain needs to be cooled by heat exchange performed near the front of the vehicle, close to the air inlet opening.

[0035] In particular, the vehicle 100 has an electric power unit. In this sense, it includes an electric drive chain, which includes the electric powertrain 11 of the vehicle 100, at least one power electronics component 12, and an electric drive battery 13, which may also be more generally referred to hereinafter as "battery", "battery module" or "battery pack" for storing electrical energy and supplying the electrical energy to at least one component of the drive chain.

[0036] ​​​​​​The vehicle 100 further includes a heat treatment device 1 in which a heat transfer fluid can circulate so as to flow through the electric powertrain 11, at least one power electronic component 12, and / or the battery 13, such that these components can be heated or cooled according to their respective requirements.

[0037] The vehicle 100 includes a front compartment 101 that houses a heat exchanger 2 of the heat transfer fluid / air type. The heat exchanger 2 can be of the front-end radiator type through which ambient air flows to cool the heat transfer fluid. The front compartment 101 can also include at least one power electronic component 12. The vehicle 100 includes a rear compartment 102 that houses the electric powertrain 11. The battery 13 is disposed under the floor of the passenger compartment of the vehicle between the front compartment 101 and the rear compartment 102.

[0038] Since the electric powertrain 11 is located at the rear of the vehicle and the heat exchanger 2 is located at the front of the vehicle, the battery 13 is used to circulate the heat transfer fluid. For this purpose, the battery 13 includes Figure 2 the frame 130 shown. The frame 130 can be generally parallelepipedal, having at least lateral edges that are parallel to each other. The frame 130 includes longitudinal beams 131 that define the lateral edges of the battery 13, particularly on the right and left sides. The frame 130 includes transverse beams 132 that are parallel to each other and connect the longitudinal beams 131 to each other so as to form compartments 133, each of which contains a battery cell module 14. In Figure 2 it, the transverse beams 132 and the longitudinal beams 131 define four longitudinally adjacent compartments 133. The transverse beams 132 are preferably substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal beams 131.

[0039] The longitudinal beams 131 and the transverse beams 132 can be obtained by extrusion of an alloy, particularly an aluminum alloy. They can have a hollow cross-section that has reinforcing walls connecting the inner walls of the beams to each other.

[0040] To connect the battery 13 to the vehicle body from the bottom side, the battery 13 includes interface elements 15 that are preferably fixed to the longitudinal beams 131 by welding. Each interface element 15 is in the form of a one-piece part that extends substantially over the entire length of the longitudinal beam 131. The interface element 15 can also be referred to hereinafter as the battery bottom slide.

[0041] As Figures 3 to 5 shown in detail in, the battery bottom slide 15 has opposite ends 151, 152 on which brackets 153, 154 for fixing the components of the heat treatment device 1 are positioned.

[0042] The heat treatment device 1 includes at least one pipe 20 which is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger 2 and the electric powertrain 11. The at least one pipe 20 is constituted by at least one rigid pipe 22. It may include at least one flexible pipe 21 which may be connected to the rigid pipe 22 or an element of the electric drive chain.

[0043] Figure 3 and Figure 5 The assembly of the heat treatment device 1 on the battery bottom slide 15 is shown. At one end 152 of the battery bottom slide 15, the flexible pipe 21 is connected to the rigid pipe 22 via the concave connector 23.

[0044] The rigid pipe 22 projects from the rear end 152 of the bottom slide 15. The concave connector 23 includes a receiving chamber 26 which receives the free end of the rigid pipe 22, as Figure 5 shown.

[0045] The receiving chamber 26 includes a first sealing zone 27 which forms the part of the inner wall of the concave connector 23 where the ring 25 is present. The receiving chamber 26 may include a second sealing zone 28 which continues the first sealing zone and contains the O-ring 24. The second sealing zone 28 forms another part of the inner wall of the concave connector 23.

[0046] The ring 25 substantially has a conical profile and is made of steel (especially copper, aluminum) or plastic.

[0047] Inserting the rigid pipe 22 into the interior causes the ring 25 to press against the inner wall of the first sealing zone 27, thereby placing the O-ring 24 under load against the shoulder of the inner wall of the second sealing zone 28.

[0048] The receiving chamber 26 for the rigid pipe includes an annular wall which continues the second sealing zone 28, and the free end of the rigid pipe 22 bears against this annular wall, allowing for assembly tolerances.

[0049] The inner wall of the receiving chamber 26 for the rigid pipe 22, the inner walls of the first sealing zone 27 and the second sealing zone 28 which respectively accommodate the sealing ring 25 and the O-ring 24 each have a substantially cylindrical cross-section and are coaxial with each other, especially with respect to the normal to the axis of the rigid pipe 22.

[0050] The concave connector 23 includes a pipe fitting 29 which may be inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the zones 27, 28 and the chamber 26, especially as Figure 5is shown inclined upwards, such that the flexible tube 21 then fitted onto the pipe fitting can be placed as close as possible to the battery 13. The free end of the pipe fitting 29 may include a reverse chamfer which forms a first means for retaining the flexible tube 21 on the female connector 23. The pipe fitting 29 may include an axial stop formed by a flange located at a predetermined distance from the free end of the connector 23. The purpose of such a stop is to limit the length of the flexible tube 21 fitted onto the female connector 23. The pipe fitting 29 may also include retaining ridges provided on the outer face of the pipe fitting 29, in particular between the stop and the free end, such that means are formed for retaining the flexible tube 21 on the female connector 23. In order to improve the fluid connection between the flexible tube 21 and the female connector 23, a clamping collar may be used to subject the flexible tube 21 to a radial load against the pipe fitting 29, as Figure 3 shown.

[0051] To ensure the fixing of the female connector 23 to the bottom slide 15, the female connector 23 includes a radially projecting portion forming a fixing tab 30 which projects from a first sealing zone 27 delimiting the end face of the female connector 23 and is intended to bear against the rear bracket 154 of the bottom slide 15. The fixing tab has an opening through which a clamping screw can extend, the clamping screw having a threaded shank which engages with a tapped hole formed in the rear bracket 154 of the bottom slide 15.

[0052] The female connector 23 is assembled and screwed onto the bottom slide 15 via the fixing tab 30.

[0053] Figure 4 The other end of the rigid tube 22 extending out of the front end 153 of the bottom slide 15 is shown. The protruding end of the rigid tube 22 may be inclined with respect to the straight portion of the rigid tube 22, the other end of which is intended to be received inside the bottom slide 15 and the female connector 23. This makes it possible to reduce the volume of the heat treatment device 1 under the vehicle body.

[0054] Since the rigid tube 22 has dimensions greater than the length of the bottom slide 15, a portion of the rigid tube 22 is provided outside the bottom slide and in this case projects forwards. This protruding portion may be referred to as the outer portion 221 of the rigid tube 22 compared with the straight portion of the rigid tube 22 which is provided inside the bottom slide and may thus be referred to as the inner portion 222 of the tube. The outer portion 221 of the tube 22 may be inclined with respect to the inner portion 222 of the rigid tube 22.

[0055] The external part 221 includes a radially extending fixed tab 31. In the same manner as the connection of the above-mentioned concave connector 23, this external part 221 of the rigid tube 22 is fixed by screwing to a bracket 153 provided at the front end of the bottom slide 15. The front bracket 153 includes tapped holes for screwing the rigid tube 22 in the same manner as the rear bracket 154.

[0056] In a variant of an embodiment, the rigid tube can be fixed by riveting.

[0057] Another flexible tube 21 can be assembled on the front external part 221 of the rigid tube 22, and this front external part has a design that is substantially the same as the design of the above-mentioned concave connector 23. In this sense, the free end of the external part 221 can include a reverse chamfer, which forms a first means for retaining the flexible tube 21 on the rigid tube 22. The external part 221 can include an axial stop formed by a flange, which is located at a predetermined distance from the free end of the rigid tube 22. The purpose of such a stop is to limit the length of the flexible tube 21 assembled on the rigid tube 22. The external part 221 can also include retaining ridges, which are provided on the outer surface of the rigid tube 22, particularly between the stop and the free end, such that means for retaining the flexible tube 21 on the rigid tube 22 are formed. In order to improve the fluid connection between the flexible tube 21 and the rigid tube 22, a clamping collar can be used to subject the flexible tube 21 to a radial load against the rigid tube 22, thereby improving the fixation.

[0058] For example, the bottom slide 15 is produced by extrusion and is particularly made of an alloy (such as aluminum alloy). The front bracket 153 and the rear bracket 154 of the bottom slide 15 can be fixed to the front end and the rear end of the bottom slide 15 by brazing respectively.

[0059] Figure 6 A cross-section of the bottom slide 15 is shown, revealing a channel 155 that extends longitudinally along the bottom slide. The straight part of the rigid tube 22 extends inside the channel at a certain interval from the channel, such that an air circulation space is formed around the perimeter of the rigid tube 22.

[0060] It is important to break the thermal bridge that may exist between the bottom slide 15 and the heat treatment device 1 by means of a gap that allows air to flow naturally between the rigid tube 22 and the bottom slide 15.

[0061] To maintain a peripheral clearance between the rigid tube 22 and the passage of the bottom slide 15 and thus avoid any vibration effects that may generate noise on the rigid tube, at least one isolation insert is fitted on the rigid tube 22. The isolation insert can be fixed, in particular, by adhesive bonding. The isolation insert can be made of plastic, in particular deformable plastic. However, in order to allow the rigid tube 22 to slide through one of the ends, in particular the front end 151 of the bottom slide 15, the material used to manufacture the isolation insert has a reduced coefficient of friction. The material used to manufacture the isolation insert can be, for example, polyamide or polypropylene.

[0062] To minimize the heat transfer between the rigid tube 22 and the bottom slide 15, in addition to the insert that breaks the thermal bridge, the passage 155 also has at least one vent, preferably a number of vents evenly distributed along the bottom slide 15. Using a number of ventilation holes makes it possible to create a turbulent flow around the rigid tube 22 when the vehicle is moving, and this promotes the heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid circulating in the rigid tube and the ambient air. The assembly consisting of the bottom slide 15 and the rigid tube 22 serves as an additional heat exchanger in addition to the heat exchanger of the radiator 2. Thus, air can flow through the passage 155 such that the heat transfer effect from the inner part 222 of the rigid tube 22 to the bottom slide 15 is almost zero or even non-existent.

[0063] A method for installing the heat treatment system 1 on the battery 13 will now be described.

[0064] The method comprises the following steps:

[0065] - Produce the rigid tube 22 and the bottom slide 15,

[0066] - Position the rigid tube 22 inside the bottom slide 15, in particular inside the passage 155 that runs longitudinally through the bottom slide 15, by sliding the rigid tube into the bottom slide from one of its ends, in particular the front end 151, such that the fixing tab of the outer part 222 of the rigid tube 22 bears against the front fixing bracket 153,

[0067] - Fix the outer part 222 to the bottom slide, in particular by screwing or riveting,

[0068] - Place the sealing ring 25 on the opposite end, in particular the rear end, of the rigid tube 22,

[0069] - Assemble the rigid tube 22 and the female connector 23,

[0070] - Fix the female connector 23 to the bottom slide, in particular by screwing or riveting.

[0071] The method for installing the heat treatment device 1 on the battery 13 may further comprise the following steps:

[0072] - Producing a rigid tube 22, the production of the rigid tube including the step of bending one of the ends so as to form an outer portion 221 inclined with respect to the inner portion 222 of the straight line of the rigid tube;

[0073] - Producing a rigid tube 22, the production of the rigid tube including the step of welding a fixing tab 31 of a special bracket, in particular a front bracket 153, designed to fix the tube to the bottom slide;

[0074] - Before the step of assembling the rigid tube 22 and the concave connector 23, arranging an O-ring 24 inside the second sealing zone 26 of the concave connector 23;

[0075] - Fitting the flexible tube 21 onto the concave connector 23, in particular onto the pipe fitting 29, such that the flexible tube 21 bears against an axial stop;

[0076] - Fitting the flexible tube 21 onto the rigid tube 22, in particular onto the outer portion 22, such that the flexible tube 21 bears against an axial stop;

[0077] - Retaining the flexible tube 21 on the concave connector 23 and / or the rigid tube 22 by means of a clamping collar.

[0078] By carrying out in accordance with the above method, an assembly of the heat treatment device 1 and the battery 13 is produced, the assembly being compact, quickly implementable and having no risk of leakage. The compactness is provided by positioning a part of the heat treatment device 1 exactly inside the battery 13, in particular via its bottom slide 15.

[0079] However, the present invention is not limited to the devices and configurations described and shown herein, but also applies to any equivalent devices or configurations and any technically feasible combinations of such devices, provided that they ultimately achieve the functions described and shown.

Claims

1. An arrangement for an electric vehicle (100) having a heat treatment device (1), the heat treatment device comprising at least one heat exchanger (2) and at least one element of the electric drive train to be thermally conditioned, in particular a power train (11), the vehicle having a battery (13), which is particularly positioned below the vehicle, in particular below the floor of the passenger compartment, characterized in that, The heat treatment device (1) is provided inside the battery (13).

2. The arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The battery (13) includes at least one interface element (15) that connects the battery to the vehicle chassis, particularly beneath the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

3. The arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The heat treatment device (1) includes at least one pipe (20), which is particularly constituted by a rigid pipe (22) for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid, particularly an ethylene glycol-water based fluid, such that heat treatment of at least one element of the electric drive train, particularly the powertrain (11), can be performed.

4. The arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The rigid pipe (22) is provided inside the interface element (15).

5. The arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The rigid pipe (22) is provided inside the interface element (15) such that at least one end of the rigid pipe (22) protrudes from the interface element (15).

6. The arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The pipe (20) includes at least one flexible pipe (21) that is connected to the rigid pipe (22) by a concave connector (23).

7. The arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, The concave connector (23) is assembled at one of the ends (151, 152) of the interface element (15), particularly by screwing.

8. The arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that The rigid pipe (22) includes at least one fixing tab (31), which is particularly welded to the outer part (221) of the rigid pipe.

9. The arrangement according to the combination of claims 6 and 8, characterized in that, The battery interface element (15) includes at least one bracket (153, 154) for fixing the heat treatment device (1), particularly for fixing the rigid pipe (22) via the concave connector (23) or the fixing tab (31).

10. The arrangement according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that, The rigid pipe (22) includes at least one insulating insert, which is particularly fixed by adhesive bonding such that the insert breaks the thermal bridge between the rigid pipe (22) and the interface element (15).

11. An electric vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes the arrangement as described in any one of the preceding claims.

12. A method for producing an arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: - Producing the rigid pipe (22) and the interface element (15), - Positioning the rigid pipe (22) inside the interface element (15), particularly inside a channel (155) that longitudinally passes through the interface element, by sliding the rigid pipe into one end (151) of the interface element. - Fixing the rigid pipe by one of its ends, particularly by screwing or riveting. - Assembling the rigid pipe (22) and the concave connector (23). - Fixing the concave connector (23) to the interface element (15), particularly by screwing or riveting.

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