Cable duct for pre-fixing a vehicle battery

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable channel for pre-fixing a battery for an electric and / or hybrid motor vehicle.

[0002] Generally, a wiring harness runs above the battery from the charger to power the motor. Since the harness is attached to the vehicle's electric motor, it's impractical to remove the motor to access the battery. Therefore, it's necessary to be able to remove the battery without having to remove the harness. Several solutions exist. Prior art document FR 3 095 843B1 describes a clip with a play-compensating mechanism for attaching components such as cable trays or housings to studs fixed to the body of motor vehicles.

[0003] We also know of document FR 2 995 965B1 which concerns a device for mounting a cable tray on an automotive body part.

[0004] In addition, the state of the art is also known from documents DE 10 2020 101867 B4 and DE 10 2013 009713 A1.

[0005] Other solutions exist, such as battery-powered cable trays with a screw or rivet fastening system. However, these methods are not always compatible because the trays are not removable and their installation requires two people (it's impractical to use a power drill and hold the tray with one hand).

[0006] The invention therefore aims to offer a solution that addresses at least one of these drawbacks.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a cable channel for pre-fixing a battery for a motor vehicle, said channel having an elongated shape, said channel comprising, according to the invention, at each of its ends: at least one means of fixing to a support, at least one clipping means having substantially a U-shape, said clipping means being intended to receive a profiled element of the automobile battery on two opposite external faces, means of positioning said chute on the support and of said battery on the chute, and when the car battery is forced against said chute, said positioning means are put under pressure and each profiled element clips into each clipping means, pre-fixing the position of said car battery.

[0008] The invention relates to a battery tray that clips onto an automotive battery. The battery is held against the tray by positioning elements and clipping means, allowing it to be removed without disconnecting the wiring harnesses. The term "battery" refers to a battery pack in a box or casing, for example. The battery is pre-fixed to the tray and extends longitudinally along the X-axis of a vehicle, based on a standard X, Y, and Z coordinate system. The tray according to the invention also allows the passage of various tubes or cables, such as brake lines. The position of the tray on the battery is secured by the clipping means, ensuring that the brake lines do not contact the metal body (clearance less than 10 mm).As the entire assembly is intended to be automatically fitted under the body during assembly, the invention allows for a wiring harness fixing that guarantees the harness is mounted in the correct position and also allows the battery to be removed in the aftermarket without removing the harness.

[0009] The invention then allows for a saving of working time in after-sales for the dismantling of the battery without removing the front block of the vehicle.

[0010] The invention also mitigates the risk of after-sales costs, resulting in economic gains. Indeed, if a quality issue arises with the batteries, the invention eliminates the need to dismantle the front assembly. This also avoids the need for an additional operator to screw the battery tray onto the battery and prevents reducing the battery's volume to accommodate fasteners and tool access (estimated to increase the battery's range by 50 km).

[0011] The positioning aids can be made of foam. A foam arrangement on and under the channel ensures the Z-shaped position of the battery on the channel at the end of the mounting process. The channel is then held in place between the support and the battery. During the styling phase, the support (above) and the battery (below) compress the positioning aids to recenter the channel in the correct position. "Foam" refers to a flexible foam that exhibits elasticity. For example, it might be made of an elastomeric material and is therefore compressible.

[0012] At least one clipping means may include at least one reinforcing element. The reinforcing element provides greater stiffness to the clipping means and consequently makes it stronger and more rigid.

[0013] At least one clipping means may include a 3 mm gap between one face of said clipping means and one face of the automotive battery. This ensures the correct positioning of the battery tray along the X-axis of the clipping means when the battery is clipped in. The surfaces of the clipping means facing the battery act as stops. The 3 mm gap has been left to accommodate the X-axis tolerances of the battery tray.

[0014] At least one clipping means may include a 1 mm gap between the battery's profiled element and each of the parallel inner faces of the U-shaped clipping means. This ensures correct positioning of the cable tray along the Y-axis of the clipping means when the battery is clipped in. The internal surfaces of the clipping means act as stops. A 1 mm gap has been left on each clipping means to accommodate the Y-shaped tolerances of the cable tray.

[0015] At least one clipping means may include 3 mm of clearance between the battery's profiled element and an upper section of the U-shaped clipping means. This ensures correct positioning of the cable tray along the Z-axis of the clipping means when the battery is clipped in. The inner surface of the U-shaped clipping means acts as a stop. Three mm of clearance has been left on each clipping means to accommodate the Z-shaped tolerances of the cable tray. Generally, when mounting the cable tray onto the battery, the wiring harness lifts, subjected to the stresses of clipping the (very rigid) harness onto the support at the front. With a simple clip, the installer would have to apply considerable force to compress the positioning elements under the cable tray, with the risk of it unclipping before the battery is fully attached.According to the invention, thanks to the Z-lengthening of the clipping means, the clipping effort for assemblers is reduced while guaranteeing the position within the defined tolerances.

[0016] Therefore, each clipping method makes it possible to make the cable tray compatible with each constraint.

[0017] The chute can be positioned along an X-axis or along a Y-axis of a motor vehicle.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the description illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which the figures represent: [ Fig. 1 ] illustrates a general view of a cable tray according to the invention, [ Fig. 2 ] illustrates a general view of a cable tray according to the invention clipped onto an automotive battery, [ Fig. 3 ] illustrates a general view of two clipping means according to the invention, [ Fig. 4 ] illustrates a front view of a clipping means according to the invention, [ Fig. 5 ] illustrates a side view of a clipping means according to the invention.

[0019] These embodiments are not exhaustive; in particular, variants of the invention may be considered that comprise only a selection of features described or illustrated hereafter, isolated from the other described or illustrated features (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other features), provided that this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature without structural details, and / or with only a portion of the structural details if this portion alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0020] We will first describe, with reference to the figure 1 A general view of a cable tray according to the invention. The tray 1 is elongated and, more particularly, substantially rectangular. The tray 1 includes positioning means 7 and at least one clipping means 2. The positioning means 7 are made of foam. The tray 1 also includes at least one means for attaching it to a support. The support corresponds, for example, to the front floor of a motor vehicle. The support is located above the tray 1 (not shown).

[0021] There figure 2 This shows a general view of a cable tray 1 according to the invention clipped onto an automotive battery 6 via clipping means 2. During the clipping phase, the support (above, not shown) and the battery 6 (below) compress the positioning elements 7 to recenter the tray in the correct position. They are then put under pressure.

[0022] We will now describe, with reference to the figure 3 , a general view of two clipping means 2 according to the invention. The figure 3 One end of the cable tray 1 is shown. The end includes two clipping means 2. Each clipping means 2 is fixed to the cable tray 1 by an upper portion of said clipping means 2. The cable tray 1 and the clipping means 2 are made of the same material. Each clipping means 2 has an opening in its lower portion, giving said clipping means 2 a substantially U-shaped form. Each clipping means 2 also includes reinforcing elements 3 and 4. Reinforcing element 3 is a fin fixed to said clipping means 2. A reinforcing element 3 is located on each side of the clipping means 2. Reinforcing element 4 is a piece, here triangular in shape, positioned perpendicular to the clipping means 2 and in a centered manner. Reinforcing elements 3 and 4 are fixed to the clipping means 2 as well as to the cable tray 1.Each clipping means 2 here comprises two reinforcement elements 4, one positioned on the front face (face visible on the . figure 3 ) and one on the rear face of said clipping means 2 (face not visible on the figure 3 ). The rear face of each clip 2 faces one of the side faces of the battery 6. It can also be seen that the battery is pre-attached to said channel 1 as shown in the figure 2 since each clipping means 2 surrounds a profiled element 5 of stud type fixed to the battery 6.

[0023] We will now describe, with reference to the figure 4 , a front view of a clipping means according to the invention. As presented in the figure 3 The clipping means 2 comprises reinforcing elements 3 and substantially a U-shape. This U-shape defines two parallel inner faces 20 and an upper zone 21. The profiled element 5 is clipped into the clipping means 2. A 1 mm gap is left between the profiled element 5 and the two parallel inner faces 20 of the clipping means 2. In addition, a 3 mm gap is left between the profiled element 5 and the upper zone 21 of the clipping means 2.

[0024] We will now describe, with reference to the figure 5 A side view of a clipping means according to the invention. The clipping means comprises a front face and a rear face (battery-side face). A 3 mm gap has been left between the rear face of said clipping means 2 and the lateral face of the battery 6 facing it.

[0025] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Naturally, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

1. Wiring duct for pre-fixing an automotive battery, said duct (1) having an elongated shape, characterized in that said duct (1) comprises, at each of its ends: • at least one fastening means for fastening to a support, • at least one clipping means (2) having substantially a U-shape, said clipping means (2) being intended to receive a profiled element (5) of the automotive battery (6), • on two opposite outer faces, positioning means (7) of said duct (1) on the support and of said battery (6) on the duct (1), And in that, when the automotive battery (6) is force-fitted against said duct (1), said positioning means (7) are put under pressure and each profiled element (5) clips into each clipping means (2), pre-fixing the position of said automotive battery (6).

2. Duct according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means (7) are made of foam.

3. Duct according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one clipping means (2) comprises at least one reinforcing element (3,4).

4. Duct according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one clipping means (2) comprises a 3 mm clearance between one face of said clipping means and one face of the automotive battery (6).

5. Duct according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one clipping means (2) comprises a 1 mm clearance between the profiled element (5) of the battery (6) and each of the parallel inner faces (20) of the U-shape of said clipping means (2).

6. Duct according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one clipping means (2) comprises a 3 mm clearance between the profiled element (5) of the battery (6) and an upper zone (21) of the U-shape of said clipping means (2).

7. Duct according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the duct (1) is positioned along an X-axis or along a Y-axis of a motor vehicle.