Hybrid or electric motor vehicle equipped with a propulsion battery protection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a hybrid or electric motor vehicle (1) comprising a load floor (111) extending longitudinally between a train crossmember (112) and a rear panel lining (132) carrying a locking latch (133) for a door or a trunk hatch, and transversely between two rear side members (113, 114);said vehicle also comprising a propulsion battery housed in a casing (210) located above said floor or below a raised portion (111A) of the latter, as well as a protection device (300) for said battery comprising a crosspiece (310) extending fixedly between said side members above a portion (111B) of said floor located behind said casing, said device also comprising a retaining member (320) rigidly fixed to said crosspiece and comprising a wall (322) extending above said crosspiece along at least a portion of this crosspiece located opposite said striker. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1;

Description

Title of the invention: Hybrid or electric motor vehicle equipped with a device for protecting the propulsion battery Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to hybrid or electric type motor vehicles equipped with a propulsion battery. It relates in particular to those whose propulsion battery is located above the load floor or below a raised portion of this load floor. Prior art

[0002] Electric type motor vehicles comprise only an electric motor.

[0003] Hybrid motor vehicles include an electric motor in addition to a heat engine. The two motors operate simultaneously or alternately so as to reduce the total power consumed by the vehicle.

[0004] The propulsion battery of the electric motor is generally housed in a parallelepiped-shaped metal casing located in the rear part of the vehicle under the rear passenger seats or in the trunk area.

[0005] When the casing housing the propulsion battery is arranged in the trunk area, it can be installed above the load floor of the vehicle extending longitudinally between the axle crossmember and the rear panel lining carrying the locking latch of the vehicle's trunk door or tailgate, and transversely between the two rear side members.

[0006] This casing can also be installed below this load floor at the level of a raised portion of the latter in order to maintain sufficient ground clearance.

[0007] Generally speaking, propulsion batteries located in the trunk area are particularly exposed in the event of collisions at the rear of the vehicle. A high-speed rear impact can, for example, cause significant deformation of the rear panel which, as it moves forward, can impact the casing and damage certain cells of the battery, so as to cause liquid leaks which can lead to risks of electrocution or burns for passengers.

[0008] In order to protect the battery in the event of such a rear impact, it is known from the prior art to provide a protection device comprising a cross member extending fixedly between the two rear side members above a portion of the load floor located behind the casing.

[0009] When a rear impact occurs at high speed, this cross member allows transmit a large part of the forces caused by the deformation of the rear panel subassembly to the two rear side members, so as to protect the casing and the battery.

[0010] However, in order to prevent the locking latch, generally consisting of a virtually non-deformable folded steel strand, from passing over this crosspiece when the rear panel advances and impacting the casing, a minimum longitudinal spacing is systematically provided between this crosspiece and the rear panel lining.

[0011] The need to maintain such a spacing actually results in a limitation of the volume of the propulsion battery, resulting in reduced autonomy of the vehicle in electric propulsion mode. Statement of the invention

[0012] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0013] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle of the hybrid or electric type, comprising a load floor extending longitudinally between a train crossmember and a rear panel lining carrying a locking latch for a door or a trunk hatch, and transversely between two rear side members; said vehicle also comprising a propulsion battery housed in a casing located above said load floor or below a raised portion of this same floor, as well as a device for protecting said battery comprising a crossmember extending fixedly between said rear side members above a portion of said load floor located behind said casing; characterized in that said protective device also comprises a retaining member rigidly fixed to said crosspiece and comprising a low wall extending above said crosspiece along at least a portion of this crosspiece located opposite said locking striker.

[0014] In the event of a rear impact at high speed, the wall of this retaining member thus makes it possible to block the advance of the locking striker passing above the cross member and to prevent this striker from impacting the casing, so as to avoid any risk of deformation and piercing of the latter which could lead to the deterioration of certain electrochemical cells of the battery.

[0015] The invention thus makes it possible to significantly reduce or even virtually eliminate the longitudinal spacing between the cross member of the protection device and the rear panel lining, so as to make it possible to increase the volume of the propulsion battery and consequently the autonomy of the vehicle in electric propulsion mode.

[0016] According to preferred characteristics of said vehicle according to the invention: - said low wall is oriented along a substantially vertical transverse plane; - said low wall extends in height to a level at least equal to that of the upper face of said casing; - said retaining member also comprises a guide ramp extending forward from the upper edge of said wall; - said guide ramp extends longitudinally to the rear end of the upper face of said casing; - said retaining member comprises a sole rigidly fixed on top of said crosspiece and from which said low wall extends; - said retaining member comprises at least one stiffening rib in the shape of a square fixedly attached by two of its adjacent sides respectively to said sole and to said wall; - said sole is fixed by bolting to said crosspiece; - said sole is fixed by welding to said crosspiece; and / or - said retaining member is made of sheet metal. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] represents a partial perspective view of the rear part of the body structure of a hybrid type motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention on which a propulsion battery is mounted;

[0019] [Fig.2] is a sectional view taken along a vertical longitudinal plane of the part rear of the body structure of the vehicle of [Fig.l]; and

[0020] [Fig.3] represents a perspective enlargement of the area of ​​implantation of the battery protection device. Description of the embodiments

[0021] [Fig.l] represents a partial perspective view of the rear part of the body structure 100 of a hybrid type motor vehicle on which a propulsion battery 200 is mounted.

[0022] In the description which follows and by convention, the terms “front”, “rear”, “lower”, “upper”, “longitudinal”, “lateral” and “transverse” are taken in relation to a motor vehicle in normal rolling position.

[0023] The terms "external" and "internal" will be used to define the relative position of an element with reference to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle. The element closest to this plane will thus be described as internal as opposed to the other element further from this same plane which will be described as external.

[0024] Furthermore, the term "substantially" will be used to indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially vertical" will indicate that a deviation of the order of 15° from a strictly vertical orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0025] The rear part of the body structure 100 of the vehicle 1 is conventionally constituted by several sub-assemblies produced beforehand and then assembled together on the vehicle's fitting line, namely a base sub-assembly 110, two side silhouette sub-assemblies of which only the right one 120 is partially visible in [Fig.l], a rear panel sub-assembly 130, and a roof sub-assembly not shown in the figures.

[0026] The rear panel subassembly 130 comprises a rear panel 131 (visible in [Fig. 3]) and its lining 132 on which is fixed a locking striker 133 of the door or the trunk hatch not shown.

[0027] The underbody subassembly 110 comprises a load floor 111 extending longitudinally between the landing gear crossmember 112 and the rear panel lining 132, and transversely between two rear side members 113, 114.

[0028] This underbody subassembly 110 also comprises two lateral floor extensions 115 (only the right one being visible in [Fig.l] while the left one is symmetrically similar to it) extending from the external side of the rear parts of the two rear side members 113, 114, as well as two wheel arches 116 extending on either side of the central and front parts of the load floor 111 in front of the lateral floor extensions 115 (only the right wheel arch being visible in [Fig.l] while the left one is symmetrically similar to it).

[0029] The load floor 111 comprises a raised portion 111A defining a cavity of substantially parallelepipedal shape, as well as a rear portion 111B extending longitudinally between its raised portion 111A and the rear panel lining 132.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the propulsion battery 200 is housed in a casing 210 located under the raised portion 11 IA of the load floor 111 while being partially housed in said cavity, so as to allow sufficient ground clearance to be maintained while limiting the reduction in the useful loading volume of the trunk of the vehicle 1.

[0031] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the casing housing the propulsion battery could be installed above the load floor, preferably at the level of a recess defining a cavity partially housing it.

[0032] Having a generally parallelepiped shape, the casing 210 is made up of two upper 211 and lower 212 hollow parts arranged one above the other and bordered by two superimposed peripheral collars.

[0033] The vehicle 1 also comprises a protection device 300 making it possible to limit or even prevent the deformation of the casing 210 of the battery 200 (so as to avoid deterioration of the electrochemical cells of the battery module(s) housed in this casing 210) in response to the deformation of the rear panel subassembly 130 resulting from a high-speed rear impact.

[0034] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, this protection device 300 comprises a cross member 310 extending transversely between the two rear longitudinal members 113, 114 to which it is rigidly fixed, behind the casing 210 and above the rear portion 111B of the load floor 111.

[0035] The crosspiece 310 is preferably made of a hollow metal tubular profile of rectangular section. The material and thickness of this profile can be advantageously modulated according to the resistance to deformation desired for this crosspiece 310.

[0036] The fixing of the cross member 310 to the rear longitudinal members 113, 114 is preferably ensured by means of two metal connecting pieces 311, 312 welded to the two ends of this cross member 310 and fixed by bolting or welding to these two rear longitudinal members 113, 114.

[0037] This cross member 310 is further rigidly fixed to the rear end of the casing 210 and to the rear portion 11 IB of the load floor 111 by bolting at several points (three in this case) distributed along this cross member 310, each bolt B successively passing through a hole made in the cross member 310, an orifice made in the rear portion 11 IB of the load floor 111, a spacer 117 and two superimposed orifices made in the rear portions of the peripheral collars of the upper 211 and lower 212 parts of the casing 210 (see [Fig.2]).

[0038] When a rear impact occurs at high speed (80 km / h or more), this cross member 310 makes it possible to transmit a large part of the forces caused by the deformation of the rear panel subassembly 130 to the two rear side members 113, 114, so as to protect the raised portion 11 IA of the floor 111 and the casing 210 housed underneath.

[0039] According to the invention, the protection device 300 also comprises a retaining member 320 comprising a sole 321 rigidly fixed on the top of said crosspiece 310, as well as a low wall 322 extending from the front edge of this sole 321 above the crosspiece 310 and along at least a portion of this crosspiece 310 located opposite the locking striker 133.

[0040] As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the sole 321 is fixed to the cross member 310 by means of two of the bolting points ensuring the fixing of this cross member 310 at the rear end of the casing 210 and at the rear portion 11 IB of the load floor 111.

[0041] To do this, this sole 321 is provided with two orifices arranged near its two ends.

[0042] As a variant, this sole 321 can be welded to the upper face of the crosspiece 310 between two of the holes in this crosspiece 310, allowing it to be fixed by bolting to the rear end of the casing 210 and to the rear portion 111B of the load floor 111. Such a solution has the advantage of being able to optimize the width of the retaining member 320 by centering it laterally with respect to the locking striker 133.

[0043] In the event of a rear impact at high speed (80 km / h or more), the wall 322 of this retaining member 320 makes it possible to block the advance of the locking latch 133 passing above the crosspiece 310 and to prevent this latch 133 from impacting the casing 210, so as to avoid any risk of deformation and piercing of this casing 210 which could lead to the deterioration of certain electrochemical cells of the battery 200.

[0044] As illustrated in [Fig.2] and in order for its effectiveness to be optimal, the retaining member 320 is advantageously configured so that its wall 322 is oriented along a substantially vertical transverse plane (i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 1).

[0045] For the same purpose of optimizing its efficiency, this wall 322 extends in height to a level at least equal to that of the upper face of the casing 210.

[0046] With reference to [Fig. 3], the retaining member 320 also advantageously comprises a guide ramp 323 extending forward from the upper edge of the wall 322

[0047] The guide ramp 323 thus makes it possible, if ever the locking latch 133 manages to pass above this wall 322, to guide this latch 133 longitudinally to the raised portion 111A of the load floor 111 (or to the top of the casing in the case where the latter is installed above the load floor) while preventing it from being able to descend into the space separating the retaining member 320 from this raised portion 111A of the load floor 111 (or from the casing in the case where the latter is installed above the load floor) and impact the casing 210 while continuing its advance.

[0048] In order to optimize its efficiency, this guide ramp 323 can extend longitudinally to the rear end of the upper face of the casing 210.

[0049] In order to reinforce the mechanical resistance to torsion of the wall 322, the retaining member 320 advantageously comprises one or more stiffening ribs in the shape of a right angle 324, each fixedly attached by two of their adjacent sides respectively to the sole 321 and to the wall 322.

[0050] This retaining member 320 is preferably made of sheet metal by mechanical welding. The sole 321, the wall 322, as well as the guide ramp 323 are for example made from the same sheet of cut and folded metal sheet. The stiffening ribs 324 are made independently and then fixed by welding to the sole 321 and the wall 322.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle of hybrid or electric type (1), comprising a load floor (111) extending longitudinally between a train cross member (112) and a rear panel lining (132) carrying a locking latch (133) of a door or a trunk hatch, and transversely between two rear side members (113, 114); said vehicle (1) also comprising a propulsion battery (200) housed in a casing (210) located above said load floor (111) or below a raised portion (11 IA) of this same floor (111), as well as a protection device (300) of said battery (200) comprising a cross member (310) extending fixedly between said rear side members (113, 114) above a portion (111B) of said load floor (111) located behind said casing (210);characterized in that said protection device (300) also comprises a retaining member (320) rigidly fixed to said crosspiece (310) and comprising a low wall (322) extending above said crosspiece (310) along at least a portion of this crosspiece (310) located opposite said locking striker (133).;

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said wall (322) is oriented along a substantially vertical transverse plane.

3. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said wall (322) extends in height up to a level at least equal to that of the upper face of said casing (210).

4. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said retaining member (320) also comprises a guide ramp (323) extending forward from the upper edge of said wall (322).

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that said guide ramp (323) extends longitudinally to the rear end of the upper face of said casing (210).

6. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said retaining member (320) comprises a sole (321) rigidly fixed on top of said crosspiece (310) and from which said wall (322) extends.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said retaining member (320) comprises at least one stiffening rib in the shape of a square (324) fixedly attached by two of its sides adjacent respectively to said sole (321) and to said wall (322).

8. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said sole (321) is fixed by bolting to said crossmember (310).

9. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said sole is fixed by welding to said crossmember.

10. Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said retaining member (320) is made of sheet metal.

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