Body of an electrically powered motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a body (1) of an electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a receiving space (2) for receiving an energy storage battery (3) of the motor vehicle, wherein the receiving space (2) is designed such that the energy storage battery (3) can be arranged obliquely to a plane defined by a vehicle longitudinal direction (x) and by a vehicle transverse direction (y) within the receiving space (2), wherein at least two securing means (60, 61) are attached in front of a desired mounting position of the energy storage battery (3) in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x), which securing means are designed and arranged such that they can catch the energy storage battery (3) in the event of a rear-end impact.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a body of an electrically driven motor vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Electrically powered motor vehicles are known from the state of the art in various designs and constructions. They can be broadly divided into purely electrically powered motor vehicles (in short: electric vehicles) and so-called hybrid vehicles. Electric vehicles have at least one electric motor and at least one associated rechargeable energy storage battery, often also referred to as a traction battery. In a hybrid vehicle, in addition to an electric motor and an energy storage battery, an additional energy converter is provided, which can be used to power the hybrid vehicle. In currently available hybrid vehicles, this additional energy converter is usually an internal combustion engine.

[0003] The battery cells of the energy storage battery must be protected from damage, particularly in the event of a rear-end collision. For this purpose, the energy storage battery can preferably be housed within a battery protection housing, which can be made, in particular, from extruded profiles. The battery protection housing, which can provide effective protection for the battery cells of the energy storage battery even in the event of a minor rear-end collision, can be arranged, in particular, in a rear area of ​​the body in a correspondingly shaped receiving space in the body.

[0004] Due to the often-prevailing limited space available in motor vehicles, the accommodation space for the energy storage battery can be designed such that the energy storage battery is positioned at an angle, viewed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and thus outside the vertical. In other words, the energy storage battery extends at an angle to a plane defined by the vehicle's longitudinal direction and a transverse direction oriented orthogonally thereto. In the event of a rear-end collision, however, the problem can arise that the energy storage battery, due to its position in the accommodation space at an angle to the plane defined by the vehicle's longitudinal and transverse directions, and due to its mass inertia, has a tendency to deflect upwards at an angle and be accelerated in this direction.The energy storage battery could penetrate into the passenger compartment of the body and thereby potentially endanger the vehicle occupants.

[0005] A body of an electrically powered motor vehicle of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from US 2003 / 0 089 540 A1. Further bodies of electrically powered motor vehicles are disclosed in DE 43 31 900 A1, US 2008 / 0 315 572 A1, and JP 2009-083 591 A.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of developing a body of an electrically driven motor vehicle of the type mentioned above in such a way that it enables a more secure hold of the energy storage battery in the receiving space.

[0007] This object is achieved by a body of the type mentioned above having the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by the features of the independent claim 8. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the present invention.

[0008] A body of an electrically driven motor vehicle is provided, comprising a receiving space for receiving an energy storage battery of the motor vehicle, wherein the receiving space is designed such that the energy storage battery is arranged in a desired mounting position within the receiving space at an angle to a plane defined by a vehicle longitudinal direction and a vehicle transverse direction. Furthermore, it is provided that at least two securing means are attached in the vehicle longitudinal direction in front of the desired mounting position of the energy storage battery, which are designed and arranged such that they can catch the energy storage battery in the event of a rear-end collision. This can prevent the energy storage battery, which is set in motion by the rear-end collision due to its mass inertia, from penetrating a vehicle interior and potentially endangering the vehicle occupants.The securing means comprise, on their surface sections facing the energy storage battery in its intended assembly position, a plurality of obliquely downward-facing catch means, which are designed such that, in the event of a rear-end collision, they can become entangled with an outer wall of a battery protective housing of the energy storage battery facing them. By entangling the catch means with the battery protective housing, a particularly effective hold of the energy storage battery on the securing means can be achieved in the event of a rear-end collision. According to the invention, the catch means are designed as catch teeth or as catch ribs, which can extend, in particular, parallel to one another.

[0009] In order to further improve the hold of the energy storage battery on the securing means in the event of a rear impact, it is proposed in a preferred embodiment that the securing means are arranged at a distance from one another in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the body may comprise a rear axle cross member to which the securing means are attached. This measure ensures that at least part of the kinetic impact energy of the rear impact can be transferred to the rear axle cross member and absorbed by it.

[0011] For a particularly secure hold of the securing means on the rear axle cross member, a particularly advantageous embodiment proposes that the securing means be welded to the rear axle cross member. The welded joints can be produced, in particular, by gas-shielded arc welding.

[0012] In a particularly expedient embodiment, it is possible for each of the securing means to comprise a step-like shoulder, wherein the step-like shoulders are shaped such that the energy storage battery can rest on or abut against them in sections in the desired mounting position.

[0013] In order to prevent the energy storage battery from being pushed laterally past one of the securing means in the event of a collision, it can be provided in a particularly preferred embodiment that each of the securing means has an outer wall section or at least one holding projection on an outer side, which is designed to secure the energy storage battery from evading sideways in the event of a rear-end collision.

[0014] For high mechanical stability of the securing devices, it is particularly advantageous that the securing devices are designed as cast parts. Furthermore, cast parts are very easy and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0015] An electrically driven motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a body and at least one energy storage battery accommodated in a receiving space of the body, wherein the body is designed according to one of claims 1 to 7. The motor vehicle can in particular be a hybrid vehicle.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 a perspective view of a receiving space formed in a rear region of a body of a motor vehicle for receiving an energy storage battery of the motor vehicle with two securing means for securing the energy storage battery, Fig. 2 a further perspective view of the receiving space for accommodating the energy storage battery, Fig. 3 a perspective view of one of the securing means for securing the energy storage battery, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the rear area of ​​the body with the energy storage battery accommodated in the receiving space, Fig. 5 a vertical section through the arrangement according to Fig. 4, Fig. 6 a longitudinal section through the arrangement according to Fig. 4.

[0017] With reference to Fig. 1 to 6, a body 1 of an electrically powered motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle, has a receiving space 2 in a rear area for accommodating an energy storage battery (traction battery) 3 of the motor vehicle. The receiving space 2 for the energy storage battery 3 is formed in a correspondingly shaped body floor panel 10 of the body 1.

[0018] As in Fig. 1, four holding devices 30, 31, 32, 33 for the energy storage battery 3 are mounted in the receiving space 2 for the energy storage battery 3 on the body floor panel 10. The four holding devices 30, 31, 32, 33, which can be designed in particular as holding brackets, are each provided in one of the four lateral corner areas of the receiving space 2 and thus form support means on which the energy storage battery 3 can rest in its intended installation position. Due to the limited installation space available for accommodating the energy storage battery 3, the receiving space 2 is designed such that the energy storage battery 3 can be held in its intended installation position - as shown in particular in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 - is arranged obliquely, as viewed in a vehicle longitudinal direction x, and thus outside the vertical. In other words, the energy storage battery 3 extends obliquely to a plane defined by the vehicle longitudinal direction x and by a vehicle transverse direction y oriented orthogonally thereto.

[0019] To protect the battery cells of the energy storage battery 3 from damage caused by external influences, the battery cells are housed within a battery protective housing 35. This battery protective housing 35, which is preferably made of extruded profile parts, already offers a certain degree of protection for the energy storage battery 3 against damage in the event of a minor rear-end impact. The battery cells can also be housed, for example, in an inner housing (battery housing). The battery protective housing 35 then forms an outer housing for this inner housing.

[0020] In order to further improve the protection of the energy storage battery 3 against damage, the body 1 has at least one impact energy absorption element 4 in the rear region in the vehicle longitudinal direction x behind the first holding device 30 and the second holding device 31, which extends in the vehicle transverse direction y and is designed to deform in the event of a rear impact such that at least part of the kinetic energy of the rear impact can be absorbed. As shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 6, the impact energy absorption element 4 can be designed, for example, as a hollow-chamber profile body with a plurality of hollow chambers 40 and webs 41. This ensures that the impact energy absorption element 4 has high stability with a low overall mass, which has a positive effect on the overall weight of the body 1. In the present case, the impact energy absorption element 4 is fastened to two parallel body longitudinal members 12, 13 by means of two holding elements 50, 51, which in turn are fastened to the impact energy absorption element 4 by means of a number of fastening means 52, 53 at opposite lateral ends. The fastening of the holding elements 50, 51 to the associated body longitudinal members 12, 13 can be effected in particular by welding, in particular by inert gas welding.The impact energy absorption element 4 is capable of deforming in the event of a rear impact in order to provide the energy storage battery 3 with a certain degree of protection against damage.

[0021] In the event of a severe rear-end collision, without suitable protective measures, the problem arises that the energy storage battery 3 is discharged due to the factors explained above and in Fig. 4 to 6, the energy storage battery 3, due to its mass inertia, has a tendency to deflect diagonally upwards and accelerate in this direction. The energy storage battery 3 could penetrate into a passenger compartment of the body 1 and thereby endanger the vehicle occupants.

[0022] To remedy the aforementioned problem, two securing means 60, 61 are arranged in a region of the receiving space 2 adjacent to a rear axle cross member 14 in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in front of the energy storage battery 3, spaced apart from one another in the vehicle transverse direction y. In the present case, the two securing means 60, 61 are attached directly to the rear axle cross member 14 of the body 1. The two securing means 60, 61 are designed such that they can catch the energy storage battery 3 in the event of a rear-end collision, with a portion of the impact energy being introduced into the rear axle cross member 14 of the body 1 and absorbed thereby. This prevents the energy storage battery 3 from passing over the rear axle cross member 14 and penetrating into the passenger compartment in the event of a rear-end collision. The securing means 60, 61 are preferably designed as cast parts to provide high mechanical stability.The securing means 60, 61 are preferably attached to the rear axle cross member 14 by welding, in particular by gas shielded arc welding. The securing means 60, 61 have a contact side 606 that is adapted to the shape of the area of ​​the rear axle cross member 14 to which the securing means 60, 61 are attached.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 2 and Fig.6, further details of the two securing means 60, 61 will be explained in more detail below. Viewed from the side, the two securing means 60, 61 have an L-shaped configuration with a stepped shoulder 600, 601. The battery protection housing 35 has a recess 300 in a front region—as viewed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction x—and is shaped in this region such that, in the intended assembly position, it can rest in sections on the stepped shoulders 600, 601 of the two securing means 60, 61.The two securing means 60, 61 have, on their surface sections 604, 605 facing the energy storage battery 3 after assembly, a plurality of obliquely downwardly pointing catch means 602, which are designed such that, in the event of a rear-end impact, they can catch on an outer wall 301 of the battery protection housing 35 facing them, so that the energy storage battery 3 can be held by the securing means 60, 61 and can thereby be prevented from passing over the rear axle cross member 14 and, under certain circumstances, penetrating the passenger compartment. The obliquely downwardly pointing catch means 602 are designed as catch teeth or as catch ribs, which can extend, in particular, parallel to one another.

[0024] To prevent the energy storage battery 3 from being pushed laterally past one of the securing means 60, 61 in the event of a rear-end collision, the securing means 60, 61 have an outer wall section 603, to which the energy storage battery 3 can be held to prevent lateral deflection. Instead of an outer wall section 603, at least one suitably designed projection or the like can also be provided to effectively prevent the energy storage battery 3 from deflecting laterally in the event of a rear-end collision. For additional mechanical stabilization, the securing means 60, 61 have a plurality of stabilizing means 607, which extend toward the contact side 606 of the respective securing means 60, 61 and can, in particular, be designed in the form of webs or ribs.

Claims

[1] Body (1) of an electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a receiving space (2) for receiving an energy storage battery (3) of the motor vehicle, wherein the receiving space (2) is designed such that the energy storage battery (3) is arranged in a desired mounting position obliquely to a plane defined by a vehicle longitudinal direction (x) and by a vehicle transverse direction (y) within the receiving space (2), wherein in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) in front of the desired mounting position of the energy storage battery (3) at least two securing means (60, 61) are mounted, which are designed and arranged such that they can catch the energy storage battery (3) in the event of a rear-end impact, wherein the securing means (60, 61) have, on their surface sections (604, 605) facing the energy storage battery (3) in its desired mounting position, a plurality of obliquely downward-pointing collecting means (602), which are designed such thatthat in the event of a rear-end collision they can become caught in an outer wall (301) facing them of a battery protection housing (35) of the energy storage battery (3), , characterized by that the collecting means (602) are designed as collecting teeth or as collecting ribs. [2] Body (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the securing means (60, 61) are arranged at a distance from one another in the vehicle transverse direction (y). [3] Body (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the body (1) comprises a rear axle cross member (14) to which the securing means (60, 61) are attached. [4] Body (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the securing means (60, 61) are welded to the rear axle cross member (14). [5] Body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat each of the securing means (60, 61) comprises a step-like shoulder (600, 601), wherein the step-like shoulders (600, 601) are shaped such that the energy storage battery (3) can rest on or abut against them in sections in the desired assembly position. [6] Body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that each of the securing means (60, 61) has on an outer side an outer wall section (603) or at least one retaining projection which is designed to secure the energy storage battery (3) against lateral deflection in the event of a rear-end impact. [7] Body (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the securing means (60, 61) are designed as cast parts. [8] Electrically driven motor vehicle, comprising a body (1) and at least one energy storage battery (3) which is accommodated in a receiving space (2) of the body (1), characterized bythat the body (1) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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