Energy storage enclosure, vehicle with an energy storage enclosure and set of energy storage enclosures

Abstract

Energy storage housing (2) for mounting on the underside of a vehicle (1), comprising a first partial housing (3) which surrounds a first plurality of electrical energy storage modules (10), a second partial housing (4) which surrounds a second plurality of electrical energy storage modules (11), and a connecting channel (5) which connects the first to the second partial housing, extends rectilinearly from the first partial housing (3) to the second partial housing (4) and forms an elongated cavity in its interior, wherein the connecting channel (5) is variable in length, and wherein the connecting channel (5) is connected to the first partial housing (3) and to the second partial housing (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an energy storage housing for mounting on the underside of a vehicle and to a vehicle with such an energy storage housing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a set of energy storage housings.

[0002] High-voltage storage systems for electric and hybrid vehicles are known to feature continuous flat storage units between the front and rear axles. Especially in low-profile vehicles, the low seating position of the rear seat makes it difficult to find sufficient space between the road surface and the footrest to integrate a continuous storage unit.

[0003] Therefore, it is often necessary to adapt and scale the placement of an energy storage device on the vehicle floor for each vehicle model. These adaptations require a relatively high level of development effort and tooling investment.

[0004] From DE 10 2014 008 312 A1, a vehicle is known with several housings arranged one behind the other in which high-voltage components are arranged.

[0005] From DE 11 2006 002 931 T5 a vehicle is known in which a fuel cell is connected to a hydrogen tank via a flexible pipe which is deformable and extendable.

[0006] Further prior art on the technological background is known from DE 10 2010 014 484 A1, DE 10 2011 102 019 A1 and EP 2 662 230 A1.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an energy storage housing that is universally applicable to all vehicle models and does not impair the arrangement of a footrest associated with the rear seat bench. This object is achieved with an energy storage housing according to claim 1, a vehicle according to claim 5, and a set according to claim 8. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, an energy storage housing is provided for mounting on an underside of a vehicle, comprising a first sub-housing surrounding a first plurality of electrical energy storage modules, a second sub-housing surrounding a second plurality of electrical energy storage modules, and a connecting channel connecting the first to the second sub-housing, extending rectilinearly from the first sub-housing to the second sub-housing and forming an elongated cavity in its interior, wherein the connecting channel is variable in length, and wherein the connecting channel is connected to the first sub-housing and to the second sub-housing.The adjustable-length connecting channel allows for a coherent energy storage housing with a relatively large overall surface area without unduly increasing the footrest area in the rear seat area. This housing is adapted for installation on various vehicle models. This saves tooling costs and also reduces development effort for integration into the vehicle.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the first and second partial housings are each substantially cuboid-shaped.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting channel is provided at least in sections with a bellows.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting channel has telescopically telescopic sections.

[0012] Furthermore, the invention provides a vehicle with an energy storage housing according to one of the preceding embodiments.

[0013] According to a further development of the vehicle, the first and second partial housings each extend over at least half the width of the vehicle underside.

[0014] According to a further development of the vehicle, the second partial housing is arranged behind a foot area which is associated with a seating device arranged behind a driver's seat.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention provides a set of energy storage housings each for mounting on an underside of a vehicle, wherein each energy storage housing is formed with a first sub-housing surrounding a first plurality of energy storage modules, a second sub-housing surrounding a second plurality of electrical energy storage modules, and a connecting channel connecting the first to the second sub-housing, wherein all first sub-housings of the set are identical, all second sub-housings of the set are identical, and the connecting channels of the energy storage housings of the set have different lengths.

[0016] According to a further development of the set, in each of the energy storage housings of the set, the first sub-housing, the second sub-housing and the connecting channel are connected to one another in a non-destructive manner.

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show the following: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle with the energy storage housing according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows an underside of the vehicle with the energy storage housing attached; Fig. 3 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of a set of energy storage housings according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 schematically shows a side view of the set of energy storage housings according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a vehicle 1 with an energy storage housing 2 according to the invention. The vehicle is, for example, a hybrid or electric vehicle. The energy storage housing 2 comprises a first sub-housing 3, a second sub-housing 4, and a connecting channel 5. The vehicle has a front row of seats, which contains a seating device 6, such as a driver and front passenger seat, and a rear row of seats, which, viewed in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, is arranged behind the front row of seats and contains a seating device 7, such as a rear seat bench. A foot area 8 is assigned to the front row of seats, which comprises one or more footwells (one continuous or two separate footwells). A foot area 9 is assigned to the rear row of seats, which comprises one or more footwells (one continuous or two separate footwells).The first sub-housing 3 is arranged between the foot area 8 and the foot area 9 and below the seating arrangement 6 of the front row of seats. The second sub-housing 4 is arranged behind the foot area 9 and preferably below the seating arrangement 7 of the rear row of seats. The area below the foot area 9 is free of the first and second sub-housings. The area below the foot area 9 is also free of electrical energy storage devices that supply electrical energy for driving the vehicle 1.

[0019] The first sub-housing 3 comprises a plurality of energy storage modules 10, and the second sub-housing 4 comprises a plurality of energy storage modules 11. Each of the energy storage modules 10, 11 comprises a plurality of energy storage cells, which are preferably connected in series (a parallel connection is also possible). The energy storage modules 10, 11 are preferably connected in parallel to one another (a series connection is also possible) and together form an electrical energy storage device that supplies electrical energy to drive the vehicle 1. The electrical energy storage device is, in particular, a high-voltage storage device with a voltage level of 48 V and more, preferably more than 150 V. The connecting channel 5 extends in a straight line from the first sub-housing 3 to the second sub-housing 4. In addition, a channel of the same or a similar cross-section can extend in a straight line in front of the first sub-housing 3 and / or behind the second sub-housing 4.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows an underside of the vehicle 1, wherein the placement of the energy storage housing 2 can be seen from this illustration. As can be seen, the first sub-housing 3 and the second sub-housing 4 have essentially the same width (transversely to the vehicle longitudinal direction on the vehicle underside). The minimum width of the respective sub-housings 3 and 4 corresponds to at least half the maximum width of the vehicle underside. The sub-housings 3 and 4 can be mounted directly to a vehicle underbody 12. Preferably, however, a mounting bracket is fastened to the vehicle underbody 12, which, for example, corresponds to the contour of the energy storage housing 2, is plate-shaped, and to which the energy storage housing 2 is fastened, for example by means of a screw connection.

[0021] Fig. Figure 3 schematically shows a set of energy storage housings according to an embodiment of the invention. The set comprises several energy storage housings 2, each with the first sub-housing 3, the second sub-housing 4, and the connecting channels 5 located therebetween. Fig. 3, in addition to the connecting channel 5, a channel 13 is arranged in front of the partial housing 3.

[0022] Preferably, the first sub-housing 3 and the second sub-housing 4 are substantially cuboid-shaped. The connecting channel 5 has a maximum width, which is preferably a maximum of one-third of the maximum width of the sub-housing 3 and the sub-housing 4. Inside, the connecting channel forms an elongated cavity adapted to accommodate electrical connections and cooling lines. The electrical connections comprise, on the one hand, lines for energy extraction and energy supply from / to the energy storage device, and, on the other hand, control lines for electronically controlling the energy storage device. Furthermore, the elongated cavity can optionally be adapted to accommodate other supply and control lines.At the connection point between the first sub-housing 3 and the connecting channel 5, as well as at the connection point between the second sub-housing 4 and the connecting channel 5, the connecting channel is preferably connected to the respective sub-housing via a non-destructively detachable connection, such as a riveted connection, welded connection, soldered connection, or adhesive connection. However, a detachable connection, such as a screw or click connection, can also be provided. Likewise, the connecting channel 5 and the sub-housings 3 and 4 could be formed as a single piece with continuous material.

[0023] The energy storage units 2 differ within the set only in that the connecting channels 5 have a different length when mounted on the vehicle, as can be seen from Fig. 3. This can be achieved by making the connecting channel 5 length-adjustable, by at least one section of the connecting channel 5 being designed to be length-adjustable, for example by means of a bellows, a material-elastic section, or by telescopically telescoping sections. Depending on how far this length-adjustable section is pulled apart, the Fig. 3. The advantage is that an identical energy storage device 2 can be mounted on different vehicle models which, for example, differ in their longitudinal dimensions. This results in synergy effects and adaptation of the energy storage housing 2 to specific vehicle models can be omitted. A further possibility of achieving these advantages is for the connecting channels 5 of the respective energy storage housings 2 within a set to be cut to different lengths or for them to be provided in different lengths. In this case, the length of the connecting channel 5 itself cannot be changed, but a set of energy storage housings 2 of different lengths can be provided simply by providing the connecting channel 5 in different lengths, with an identical first partial housing 3 and second partial housing 4.The respective energy storage housings 2 within a set would then be adapted for different vehicle models.

[0024] Fig.4 shows a side view of the set of energy storage housings 2 and their installation on the respective undersides of vehicles 1 of different vehicle models. The energy storage housings 2 are mounted on respective floor panels 14a, 14b, and 14c. The floor panels 14a to 14c extend above the partial housing 3 in the region of the partial housing 3 with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and above the partial housing 4 in the region of the partial housing 4 with respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. With respect to the vehicle's longitudinal direction, in the area of ​​the footwells 8 and 9, the floor panel extends for the most part (more than half in the vehicle's longitudinal direction) at a height below the connecting channel 5. As can be seen, the floor panels 14a, 14b, and 14c differ in that the floor panel section from a rear end of the first partial housing 3 to a front end of the second partial housing 4 has different lengths in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

[0025] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, this illustration and description is to be understood as illustrative or exemplary rather than restrictive, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the disclosed embodiments. The mere fact that certain features are recited in various dependent claims is not intended to suggest that a combination of these features could not also be used to advantage.

Claims

[1] Energy storage housing (2) for mounting on the underside of a vehicle (1), comprising a first sub-housing (3) enclosing a first plurality of electrical energy storage modules (10), a second sub-housing (4) enclosing a second plurality of electrical energy storage modules (11), and a connecting channel (5) connecting the first to the second sub-housing, extending in a straight line from the first sub-housing (3) to the second sub-housing (4) and forming an elongated cavity inside it, wherein the connecting channel (5) is variable in length, and wherein the connecting channel (5) is connected to the first sub-housing (3) and to the second sub-housing (4). [2] Energy storage housing (2) wherein the first and second sub-housings are each substantially cuboid in shape. [3] Energy storage housing (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting channel (5) is provided at least partially with a bellows. [4] Energy storage housing (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting channel (5) has telescopically telescoping sections. [5] Vehicle (1) with an energy storage housing (2) according to one of the preceding claims. [6] Vehicle (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first and second sub-housings (3, 4) each extend at least half the width of the underside of the vehicle. [7] Vehicle (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second sub-housing (4) is arranged behind a foot area (9) which is associated with a seat arrangement (7) which is arranged behind a driver's seat. [8] Set of energy storage housings (2) for mounting on the underside of a vehicle (1), each energy storage housing (2) comprising a first sub-housing (3) enclosing a first plurality of energy storage modules (2), a second sub-housing (4) enclosing a second plurality of electrical energy storage modules (2), and a connecting channel (5) connecting the first to the second sub-housing (4), wherein all first sub-housings (3) of the set are identical, all second sub-housings (4) of the set are identical, and the connecting channels (5) of the energy storage housings (2) of the set have different lengths. [9] Set according to claim 8, wherein in each of the energy storage housings (2) of the set the first partial housing (3), the second partial housing (4) and the connecting channel (5) are connected to each other in a non-destructively detachable manner.

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