Motor vehicle with a drive battery and an underbody panel

Abstract

According to the invention, a motor vehicle has an electric drive, a drive battery mounted on an underside of the body of the motor vehicle, and an underbody paneling that is fastened, in particular from below, at least to the drive battery. The underbody paneling is fastened to the drive battery by means of a coupling device. The coupling device has a vehicle-side coupling element and an underbody paneling-side coupling element. The vehicle-side coupling element of the coupling device is fastened to the drive battery, in particular to an underside of the drive battery or a housing of the drive battery. The vehicle-side coupling element is designed for positive engagement with an underbody paneling-side coupling element.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with an electric drive, a drive battery which is mounted in the region of an underside of a body of the motor vehicle, and an underbody panel which is fastened from below at least to the drive battery.

[0002] It is well known to install underbody paneling on a motor vehicle, especially a passenger car. Underbody paneling is a flat component that is attached to the vehicle from below using bolts or screws. It protects the underbody from dirt and damage and improves the vehicle's aerodynamics.

[0003] Furthermore, a motor vehicle with an electric drive has a drive battery which is mounted on the motor vehicle from below under a passenger compartment and extends in an area from a left sill to a right sill as well as a front end and a rear end.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a motor vehicle with an electric drive, a drive battery and an underbody panel which is mounted from below on the drive battery, wherein the ground clearance of the motor vehicle is restricted as little as possible by the attachment of the underbody panel to the drive battery.

[0005] This object is achieved by a motor vehicle having the combination of the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, a motor vehicle has an electric drive, a drive battery (for the electric drive), which is mounted, for example, from below on a body of the motor vehicle or on an underside of the body of the motor vehicle, and an underbody panel, which is fastened, in particular, from below at least to the drive battery. The underbody panel is fastened to the drive battery by means of a coupling device. The coupling device has a vehicle-side coupling element and an underbody panel-side coupling element. The vehicle-side coupling element of the coupling device is fastened to the drive battery, in particular to an underside of the drive battery or a housing of the drive battery. The vehicle-side coupling element is designed for positive engagement with an underbody panel-side coupling element.

[0007] The positive engagement between the coupling elements enables a space-saving yet reliable connection of the underbody panel to the drive battery. The underbody panel-side coupling element, which is positively coupled to the vehicle-side coupling element, in turn secures the underbody panel to the drive battery.

[0008] The coupling device according to the invention is, in particular, not a force-locking connection. For example, it is not a screw connection or bolt connection. The coupling device according to the invention is, for example, not a rivet connection. The coupling device according to the invention is, in particular, also not a material connection.

[0009] The positive engagement of the coupling element on the underbody panel side is preferably carried out by means of an undercut, i.e. an undercut connection.

[0010] Preferably, the vehicle-side coupling element of the coupling device is integrally connected to the drive battery, in particular by adhesive bonding. The vehicle-side coupling element can also be welded to the drive battery. However, the adhesive bond is advantageous because it can be more easily replaced in the event of a damaged or defective coupling element without impairing or damaging the drive battery or the drive battery housing.

[0011] Preferably, the coupling element on the underbody panel side is designed to be movable.

[0012] This allows the underbody panel to be secured without having to move the underbody panel itself.

[0013] The coupling element on the underbody panel side can be a component that is completely separate from the underbody panel, i.e. the coupling element on the underbody panel side is not connected to the underbody panel.

[0014] Alternatively, the coupling element on the underbody panel side can be movably mounted on the underbody panel, i.e. the coupling element on the underbody panel side can be movably connected to the underbody panel.

[0015] This has the advantage when installing the underbody paneling that the coupling element is already attached to the underbody paneling.

[0016] According to a preferred development, the movable coupling element on the underbody panel side is designed to be displaceable or slidable parallel to the extension of the underbody panel for engagement with the vehicle-side coupling element. For example, the coupling element on the underbody panel side is movable in a plane parallel to an xy plane and / or parallel to the underside of the drive battery and / or parallel to an extension of the underbody panel.

[0017] This allows for dimensional tolerances in the underbody paneling to be easily compensated. Furthermore, a coupling device that saves space in the vertical direction of the vehicle is also possible.

[0018] Preferably, the movable coupling element on the underbody panel side is designed to be rotatable parallel to the extension of the underbody panel for engagement with the coupling element on the vehicle side.

[0019] The coupling device is thus preferably designed in the manner of a so-called bayonet connection. In particular, the coupling device can have a locking mechanism perpendicular to the direction of movement of the coupling element on the underbody panel side.

[0020] This protects the coupling device against unwanted decoupling, i.e. unwanted movement, of the underbody paneling-side coupling element in the opening direction of the coupling.

[0021] The vehicle-side coupling element can in particular have concentrically arranged undercuts which are designed in particular by means of a rotary movement to engage with in particular concentrically arranged wings or projections of the underbody paneling-side coupling element.

[0022] The vehicle-side coupling element can have a plurality of wings, for example three, four, five, six.

[0023] According to a preferred development of the present invention, the drive battery is coated with a corrosion protection layer that overlaps with the vehicle-side coupling element.

[0024] The corrosion protection layer can consist of a sprayed-on polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

[0025] The underbody paneling can be connected to the drive battery via a variety of coupling devices.

[0026] The underbody paneling can consist of several underbody paneling parts, each of which is connected to the drive battery via the coupling device according to the invention.

[0027] Advantageously, the vehicle-side coupling element is preferably made of heat-resistant plastic, in particular polybutylene terephthalate, and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic. Furthermore, the underbody panel-side coupling element is made of plastic, in particular polybutylene terephthalate and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0028] Plastic has the advantage of being lightweight and cost-effective. If the coupling device strikes a surface or an object on the surface while the vehicle is in motion, plastic is also advantageous because it can break or be destroyed before the forces are transferred to the drive battery housing and damaged. A heat-resistant plastic for the vehicle-mounted coupling element is particularly advantageous with regard to a coating process using an oven to produce the anti-corrosive layer. This allows the vehicle-mounted coupling element to pass through the oven together with the battery housing. Polybutylene terephthalate is a particularly suitable heat-resistant plastic.

[0029] According to a preferred development of the invention, the underbody paneling can additionally be non-positively connected to a body of the motor vehicle and / or to a projection present or attached to a lateral edge of the drive battery in a region projecting over the drive battery. Likewise, the vehicle-side coupling element can additionally be non-positively connected to a body of the motor vehicle and / or to a projection present or attached to a lateral edge of the drive battery in a region projecting over the drive battery.

[0030] The projection can be any form of fastening tab suitable for a screw or bolt connection.

[0031] The features mentioned above can be combined with each other as desired, as far as possible and reasonable.

[0032] A brief description of the characters follows. Fig. 1 is a schematic, perspective exploded view of a coupling device for attaching an underbody panel to a drive battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom plan view of an underbody panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle-side coupling element of the coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an underbody panel side coupling element of the coupling device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a schematic bottom plan view of an underbody panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the coupling device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a schematic sectional view of an additional fastening of an underbody panel or an underbody panel-side coupling element according to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0033] Below, with reference to Fig. 1 to 8 embodiments of the present invention are explained.

[0034] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, with an electric drive has a drive battery 1 for the electric drive, which is mounted, for example from below, on an underside or an underbody assembly of a body of the motor vehicle under a passenger compartment, and an underbody panel 3, which is attached from below to the drive battery 1. As in Fig. 1, the underbody panel 3 is attached to the drive battery 1 by means of a coupling device. The coupling device consists of a vehicle-side coupling element 5 and an underbody panel-side coupling element 7. In Fig. 1 only a small section, namely a coupling section, of the underbody paneling can be seen.

[0035] The vehicle-side coupling element 5 is bonded flat to the underside of the drive battery 1 or a drive battery housing of the drive battery 1. The underbody panel 1 has a through-hole 31. Around the through-hole 31, the underbody panel 1 is provided with a recess 33 similar to an embossed portion. In the area of ​​the recess 33, the underbody panel 3 rests against the drive battery 1 when installed. The recess 33 is provided at one point with an aerodynamically effective bevel 35, thereby improving the aerodynamics of the underbody panel 3 in the area of ​​the coupling device. The bevel 35 is arranged behind the coupling device in the direction of travel.

[0036] In Fig. 2, the entire underbody panel 3 is shown from below. As can be seen, the underbody panel 3 consists of three underbody panel elements 301, 302, 303, which are mounted adjacent to each other on the underbody of the motor vehicle and the drive battery 1. The drive battery 1 arranged above the underbody panel 3 is indicated by a dashed line. In total, Fig. 2 shows twelve coupling elements 7 on the underbody panel side, all located in the area of ​​the drive battery 1, i.e., the underbody panel is attached to the drive battery 1 with a total of twelve coupling devices. The underbody panel 3 protects the drive battery 1 from below against mechanical damage and corrosion. Furthermore, the underbody panel 3 improves the aerodynamics of the motor vehicle. The underbody panel 3 or the three underbody panel elements 301, 302, 303 is / are preferably a plastic injection-molded part / parts.

[0037] From the schematic sectional view of Fig. 3, the coupling device is particularly clearly visible. At the top of Fig. 3 shows at least one substantially flat underside of the drive battery 1. The vehicle-side coupling element 5 is glued to it from below with a flat foot 55 or a flat base plate 55. Furthermore, the underside of the drive battery 1 is covered with a PVC layer 9 (polyvinyl chloride layer), which overlaps with the base plate 55 of the vehicle-side coupling element 5. The PVC layer 9 was only applied after the vehicle-side coupling element 5 was attached. The PVC layer 9 serves to protect the underside of the drive battery 1, whose housing is made of steel, from corrosion. The overlapping PVC layer 9 prevents corrosion between the drive battery 1 and the base plate 55. A rear side of the recess 33 (a projection when viewed from the rear) of the underbody paneling 3 rests against the drive battery 1.

[0038] The vehicle-side coupling element 5 has the base plate 55, which can also be referred to as a base plate, from which a projection with wings 53 extends. The wings 53, together with the base plate 55, form an undercut 51. The underbody panel-side coupling element 7 essentially consists of an annular plate 75 with wings 71 arranged in the region of an annular hole 79, which engage with the undercuts 51 of the vehicle-side coupling element 5. An outer edge of the annular plate 75 of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 engages with an edge of the through-opening 31 of the underbody panel 3. Thus, the underbody panel 3 is clamped in the region of the through-opening 31 between the plate 75 of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 and the drive battery housing of the drive battery 1, which is coated with the PVC layer 9, and is thus positively connected.The underbody panel-side coupling element 7 is in turn positively connected to the vehicle-side coupling element 5.

[0039] Based on the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the coupling device according to the first embodiment is explained in more detail below.

[0040] As in Fig. 4, the vehicle-side coupling element 5 has four equally spaced wings 53 that form four undercuts 51 with the base 55. The four wings 53 are formed on an annular cylinder element 59 and each protrude radially outward from the annular cylinder element 59. Furthermore, the vehicle-side coupling element 5 has a projection 57 in the center. The projection 57 serves to attach a masking element (not shown), which is intended to prevent the components of the vehicle-side coupling element 7 for mechanical coupling with the underbody paneling-side coupling element 7 from being coated with the PVC layer 9 during spraying of the PVC layer 9. The projection 57 no longer has any function after the PVC layer 9 has been sprayed on and the masking element has been removed.

[0041] The sprayed-on PVC layer 9 is cured in an oven at approximately 160°C, at least in a range of 140°C to 180°C or greater than 100°C. Therefore, both the vehicle-side coupling element 5 and the bonding of the coupling element 5 to the drive battery 1 must be designed to be appropriately heat-resistant. An appropriately heat-resistant plastic with sufficient strength and rigidity is, for example, polybutylene terephthalate.

[0042] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 has four equally spaced vanes 71 on an inner circumference of the annular hole 79, which protrude radially inward. At one end of each vane 71 there is a stop 73, which serves as a stop to prevent over-rotation of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 and also provides mechanical stability to the respective vane 71. A direction of rotation for opening or locking the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 is indicated by an arrow and the terms "OPEN" and "CLOSE."

[0043] When installing the underbody panel 3, it is positioned on the underside of the drive battery 1 of the motor vehicle. The coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side is then positioned on the vehicle-side coupling element 5. The coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side is then rotated until the stops 73 of the coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side fully engage with the coupling element 5 on the vehicle side, so that the wings 71 of the coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side engage with the undercuts 51 of the coupling element 5 on the vehicle side. Grooves 77 on an outer side of the annular plate 75 are provided for engagement with a corresponding assembly tool for rotating and establishing the positive connection of the coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side. In principle, the coupling element 7 on the underbody panel side can also be rotated without tools using just one hand.On the wings 71 of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7 and on the wings 53 of the vehicle-side coupling element 5, locking projections or locking recesses for mutual engagement are optionally provided, which serve as anti-twist devices after installation of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7. After installation of the underbody panel-side coupling element 7, the outer edge of the plate 75 overlaps with the edge of the through-hole 33 of the underbody panel 3, so that the underbody panel 3 is held in a form-fitting manner between the plate 75 and the drive battery 1.

[0044] Overall, the coupling device of the first embodiment functions similarly to a so-called bayonet connection.

[0045] As can be seen from the figures, the coupling device according to the first exemplary embodiment has a low height in the Z direction, i.e. in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Overall, the fastening of the underbody panel 3 to the drive battery 1 has, for example, an overall height of approximately 5 mm - also and particularly in the area of ​​the coupling device. The underbody panel 3 therefore has little influence on the ground clearance of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, this coupling device enables large tolerances for the fastening of the underbody panel 3 in an xy plane of the motor vehicle. The coupling device is furthermore essentially flush with the underbody panel 3. Furthermore, this coupling device eliminates the need to provide the drive battery 1 or the drive battery housing with a bore for a screw or bolt connection, thereby weakening it or increasing the potential for leaks in the drive battery housing.

[0046] The underbody panel 3 serves to protect the PVC layer 9 on the drive battery 1. Without the underbody panel 3, this PVC layer 9 could easily be damaged from below during operation of the motor vehicle, so that the underside of the drive battery housing would no longer be protected against corrosion.

[0047] According to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment described above, a coupling device is alternatively designed such that an underbody paneling-side coupling element 7' is linearly displaceable relative to a vehicle-side coupling element 5' when an underbody paneling 3' is mounted on a drive battery 1', and in this way a corresponding undercut, positive engagement is produced between the coupling elements 5' and 7'.

[0048] According to the second exemplary embodiment, the underbody panel-side coupling element 7' is a coupling strip that extends across the entire width of the underbody panel 3' and engages with a straight edge 33' of the underbody panel 3'. Preferably, the coupling strip 7' is arranged between two underbody panel elements 301' and 302', so that the positively mounted coupling strip 7' fastens both underbody panel elements 301' and 302' to the drive battery 1' in a positively locking manner.

[0049] The vehicle-side coupling element 5' has a flat base plate 55', which is glued to the underside of the drive battery 1', as well as a mushroom-shaped, circular head 59' on a corresponding stem, which projects downwards from the base plate 55'. The coupling bar 7' has several coupling openings 79', wherein Fig. 6, two coupling openings 79' are shown merely as examples. Each coupling opening 79' is designed in the form of an elongated hole 79', which has a circular diameter extension at one end. The circular-cylindrical stem of the mushroom-shaped head 59' has a slightly smaller diameter than a width of the elongated hole 79'. The mushroom-shaped head 59' has a slightly smaller diameter than a diameter of the circular diameter extension. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, when the coupling strip 7' is mounted, the mushroom-shaped head 59' engages with the coupling strip 7', thereby holding the underbody panel 3' in a form-fitting manner. The mushroom-shaped head 59' is flush with both the coupling strip 7' and the underbody panel 3'.

[0050] When mounting the coupling bar 7', the mushroom-shaped heads 59' of the vehicle-side coupling element 5' are initially aligned with the circular diameter extensions of the corresponding elongated holes 79'. The coupling bar 7' is then brought into contact with the base plate 55' so that the coupling bar 7' can be moved over the elongated holes while engaging the mushroom-shaped heads 59'. The coupling bar 7' is then moved linearly in the xy plane of the motor vehicle so that the mushroom-shaped heads 59' engage positively with the coupling bar 7'.

[0051] The coupling bar 7' is preferably made of metal or plastic, with metal, for example aluminum, being preferred due to its corrosion resistance and its higher rigidity.

[0052] In principle, according to the embodiments described above, the underbody paneling can also be additionally connected to the side of the drive battery, i.e. to the left, right, in front of or behind the drive battery, to the body of the motor vehicle or to a lateral projection of the drive battery housing with a screw or bolt connection. Fig.Figure 8 shows a sectional view of a lateral section of such a drive battery 1, 1'. As can be seen, the underbody panel 3, 3' projects laterally beyond the drive battery 1, 1'. A fastening tab 13, 13' or the like is attached to the side of the drive battery housing, to which the underbody panel 3, 3' is fastened with a screw connection 15, 15'. At this position to the side of the drive battery housing, there is sufficient space in the vertical direction of the vehicle for the screw connection 15, 15' without weakening the drive battery housing itself. The lateral screw connection 15, 15' can thus additionally secure the underbody panel 3, 3'.

[0053] Likewise, the coupling bar 7' according to the second embodiment can be additionally secured laterally with the screw connection 15', which additionally prevents an undesired linear displacement of the coupling bar 7' in a decoupling direction.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with electric drive and a drive battery (1; 1') and an underbody panel (3; 3'), wherein the underbody panel (3; 3') is fastened to the drive battery (1; 1') by means of a coupling device, wherein a vehicle-side coupling element (5; 5') of the coupling device is fastened to the drive battery (1; 1'), which is designed for positive engagement with a coupling element (7; 7') on the underbody panel side. [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the underbody paneling-side coupling element (7; 7') is designed to be movable, and wherein in particular the underbody paneling-side coupling element (7; 7') is movable in a plane parallel to an xy plane and / or parallel to the underside of the drive battery (1; 1') and / or parallel to an extension of the underbody paneling (3; 3'). [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element on the underbody panel side is movably mounted and connected to the underbody panel. [4] Motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the movable underbody panel-side coupling element (7') is designed to be displaceable parallel to the extension of the underbody panel (3') for engagement with the vehicle-side coupling element (5'). [5] Motor vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the movable underbody panel-side coupling element (7) is designed to be rotatable parallel to the extension of the underbody panel (3) for engagement with the vehicle-side coupling element (5). [6] Motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the vehicle-side coupling element (5) has, in particular, concentrically arranged undercuts (51) which are designed to engage with, in particular, concentrically arranged wings (71) of the underbody panel-side coupling element (7). [7] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive battery (9) is coated with a corrosion protection layer (9), in particular polyvinyl chloride, which overlaps with the vehicle-side coupling element (5). [8] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the vehicle-side coupling element (5; 5') and / or the underbody panel-side coupling element (7; 7') are / is made of plastic, in particular of polybutylene terephthalate and / or a fiber-reinforced plastic. [9] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vehicle-side coupling element (5; 5') is integrally connected, in particular glued, to the drive battery (1; 1'). [10] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the underbody paneling (3, 3') and / or the underbody paneling-side coupling element (7') is additionally connected to a body of the motor vehicle in a force-fitting manner by means of a region projecting over the drive battery (1; 1') and / or is connected to a projection (13) present or attached to a lateral edge of the drive battery (1; 1').

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