ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE POWERTRAIN WITH ON-BOARD NETWORK BATTERY SUPPORT

Abstract

Motor vehicle powertrain comprising for the traction of the vehicle only an electric machine (2), comprising a speed reducer (4), comprising elastic connections (6) for fixing this powertrain, and comprising an on-board network battery (20) linked to a support (30) which is rigidly fixed to the powertrain. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE POWERTRAIN WITH ON-BOARD NETWORK BATTERY SUPPORT

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric motor vehicle powertrain equipped with an on-board network battery support, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such a powertrain.

[0002] Certain electric motor vehicles have a front compartment receiving a powertrain equipped with an electric traction machine, and a very low voltage battery supplying the on-board network.

[0003] In the case of an electric machine arranged transversely, there is generally a reducer fixed at the end of this machine, leaving a free space above to receive the battery of the on-board network.

[0004] A known type of battery support, presented in particular by document FR-A1-3045533, comprises a support forming a horizontally arranged plate, fixed to a structural element of the vehicle body, which receives above a flat-laid fuse box comprising on one side a guide channel for the electrical cables coming out of this box.

[0005] In the case of a battery arranged in the upper part of the engine compartment above the reducer, on the left side of the vehicle, there is then, for left-hand driving, an assisted braking system arranged in front of the brake pedal and fixed to the bulkhead separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment, which, depending on the space available in this compartment, can be located in alignment with the battery in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0006] In particular, to leave sufficient space between the battery and the upper part of the powertrain, necessary to ensure the movements of this powertrain on its elastic connections with the body of the vehicle, it is necessary to leave a certain distance which pushes the battery in the transverse direction of the vehicle towards the outside, with a risk of positioning it in front of the braking system.

[0007] Motor vehicles are approved to withstand standardized impacts while protecting passengers. In particular, a frontal impact on the vehicle causes its front end to move backward, moving mechanical parts in the engine compartment backward, with a risk of parts entering the passenger compartment which could injure the feet of the front passengers.

[0008] In the case of a battery placed in front of the braking system, there is then, for a sufficiently significant frontal impact, a risk of seeing the battery forming a rigid block pushing on this braking system by pushing it back into the passenger compartment and causing risks of injury to the driver's feet.

[0009] In addition, the braking systems of electric vehicles can have a greater length than those of a vehicle with a thermal engine, in order to form a specific assistance device on these vehicles, while the compactness of the motorization allows the front of the vehicle to be moved back, which reduces the space available for the battery in front of these systems.

[0010] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0011] To this end, it proposes a motor vehicle powertrain comprising, for traction of the vehicle, only an electric machine, comprising a speed reducer, and comprising elastic connections for fixing this powertrain, this vehicle being remarkable in that it comprises an on-board network battery linked to a support which is rigidly fixed to the powertrain.

[0012] An advantage of this powertrain is that by fixing the battery rigidly directly on this group by means of its support, this battery, when the vehicle is moving, follows the movements of the entire group on its elastic connections, without relative displacement.

[0013] It is thus possible, along the transverse direction of the vehicle, to bring the battery as close as possible to the upper part of the powertrain, which makes it possible to offset this battery transversely in relation to a braking system fixed in the engine compartment on one side of the bulkhead.

[0014] In the event of a major front impact, the moving battery does not hit the braking system, thus ensuring the safety of the passengers. In addition, for these impacts, the battery follows the kinematics provided for the movement of the powertrain, which guides this assembly in order to slide it under the passenger compartment, thus avoiding intrusions into this passenger compartment.

[0015] Furthermore, with the battery fixed directly and rigidly to the powertrain, thanks to an increase in the overall mass of this group, there is an improvement in the vibration problems and noise generated by the engine in operation.

[0016] A motor vehicle equipped with the powertrain according to the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0017] Advantageously, the electric traction machine has an axis arranged in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

[0018] In this case, advantageously the battery support can form a tray which is fixed above the reducer.

[0019] In addition, the electric motor vehicle may comprise a current converter fixed above the electric machine, the battery being arranged against this current converter.

[0020] Advantageously, the battery support plate comprises a front wedge and a rear wedge forming a lock for the battery in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0021] In this case, advantageously the front wedge or the rear wedge comprises fixings on the support which are adjustable with several positions in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] In addition, the support plate may comprise several grooves in the transverse direction which open onto one side of this support plate, each having a section having a width greater than the opening, the adjustable wedge comprising a base wider than the opening which is engaged in one of the transverse grooves.

[0023] Advantageously, the support plate comprises a lateral wedge forming a lock for the battery in the transverse direction.

[0024] Advantageously, the battery support comprises a receiving plate for the base of the battery forming a rectangle whose width is arranged in the transverse direction.

[0025] In particular, in the transverse direction, the battery may have clearance with a braking system fixed to a bulkhead of the vehicle separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment.

[0026] The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear more clearly on reading the description below given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] is a top view of an engine compartment for a vehicle comprising a powertrain according to the prior art;

[0028] [Fig.2] is a top view of the engine compartment for a group powertrain according to the invention;

[0029] [Fig.3] is a rear view of the on-board network battery support fixed on this powertrain; and

[0030] [Fig.4] is a side view of this battery holder.

[0031] Throughout the document the expressions above, below, upper, lower, right side and left side relate to a vehicle placed on horizontal ground, looking in the forward direction of the vehicle, indicated by the AV arrow.

[0032] [Fig. 1] shows a powertrain comprising only an electric machine 2 for traction of the vehicle, arranged transversely in the vehicle, receiving on the top a current converter 18 ensuring its power supply, and at its left end a reducer 4 connected by wheel shafts to the front drive wheels. The power unit is fixed on each side in the transverse direction by elastic connections 6 to side members 8 arranged on the sides of the compartment.

[0033] An apron 10 behind the engine compartment is crossed by a steering column 12 arranged on the left side of the vehicle in the case of left-hand drive. A braking system arranged on the left side 14, opposite the brake pedal, comprises a control passing through the apron, and an assistance device fixed in the engine compartment on this apron. As a variant for vehicles with right-hand drive, a braking system arranged on the right of the vehicle 16 is fixed on the apron symmetrically with respect to the braking system on the left.

[0034] A power supply battery for an on-board network 20 delivering a very low voltage, generally 12 or 24V, has a parallelepiped shape placed horizontally on a plate forming a support which is directly fixed to the body of the vehicle. In top view, the battery 20 has a rectangular shape elongated in the transverse direction, comprising two power connectors 22 arranged near the front face.

[0035] The battery 20 arranged in the vertical direction a little above the electric machine 2, at the height of the current converter 18, has in the transverse direction a distance D with respect to this converter forming a necessary clearance due to the vibrations of the powertrain which is held in the vehicle in a flexible manner. This distance D shifts the battery 28 sufficiently to the left to place it in front of the braking system 14.

[0036] In the event of a significant impact on the front of the vehicle, its front face R recoils, pushing the engine compartment components backwards. In particular, the battery 20 hits the braking system 14 located just behind it, which can then enter the passenger compartment, risking injuring the driver's feet.

[0037] [Fig.2] shows the battery 20 fixed directly to the powertrain 2 by a support 30, which is attached as closely as possible to the left side of the current converter 18. The width of the rectangular shape of the battery 20, arranged transversely and clamped on the current converter 18, frees a significant space towards the left of this battery. The length of the battery 20 arranged longitudinally, does not exceed in this direction of the current converter 18. The connectors 22 are arranged on the left side of the battery 20.

[0038] In the transverse direction, a clearance J is obtained between the left side of the battery 20 and the braking system 14, which allows this battery, in the event of a front impact and significant recoil, to pass alongside the braking system, avoiding hitting it and moving it back towards the passenger compartment.

[0039] Figures 3 and 4 show a support 30 forming a horizontal plate arranged just above the reducer 4, attached to the left side of the current converter 18, which is rigidly fixed to the powertrain.

[0040] The support 30 comprises on its front edge a front wedge 32, on its right lateral edge a transverse wedge 34 and near its rear edge a rear wedge 36, these wedges each forming a rim for holding the battery 20 not shown, which is adjusted between these wedges.

[0041] A strap 38 passing over the battery 20, has at each end a fixing 40 coming on one side of the front 32 or rear 36 wedge, which covers this battery in a fitted manner to keep it in position in the event of an accident on the vehicle, preventing it from lifting.

[0042] The support 30 comprises in its thickness towards the rear two transverse grooves 42 which open onto the left side of the plate, each having a section in the form of an inverted “T” having a width greater than its upper opening. The rear wedge 36 comprises a wider base engaged and adjusted in a transverse groove 42, which allows it to slide along the axis of this groove while ensuring support in both the longitudinal and vertical directions of this rear wedge.

[0043] In this way, it is possible to maintain several types of battery 20 having different lengths, by choosing for each length the corresponding groove 42 so as to ensure longitudinal positioning of the rear wedge 36 to adjust it on the battery in this direction. The figures show two grooves 42 spaced approximately 30 mm apart; alternatively, three of them can be arranged, for example, to meet three battery dimension standards.

[0044] The powertrain according to the invention requires few modifications, only the attachment of the battery support 30 is moved from the vehicle body to the powertrain, with substantially comparable costs. In addition, an increase in the total mass of the powertrain is obtained which reduces the vibrations of this group, which improves the acoustic performance of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle powertrain comprising for the traction of the vehicle only an electric machine (2) having an axis arranged in the transverse direction of the vehicle, comprising a speed reducer (4), and comprising elastic connections (6) for fixing this powertrain, characterized in that it comprises an on-board network battery (20) linked to a battery support plate (30) rigidly fixed to the powertrain, comprising a front wedge (32) and a rear wedge (36) forming a blocking of the battery (20) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. Electric motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the battery support plate (30) is fixed above the reducer (4).

3. Electric motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a current converter (18) fixed above the electric machine (2), the battery (20) being arranged against this current converter (18).

4. Electric motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front wedge (32) or the rear wedge (36) comprises fixings on the support plate (30) which are adjustable with several positions in the longitudinal direction.

5. Electric motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the support plate (30) comprises several grooves in the transverse direction (42) which open onto one side of this support plate (30), each having a section having a width greater than the opening, the adjustable wedge (36) comprising a base wider than the opening which is engaged in one of the transverse grooves (42).

6. Electric motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support plate (30) comprises a lateral wedge (34) forming a blocking of the battery (20) in the transverse direction.

7. Electric motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery support plate (30) receiving the base of the battery (20) forms

8. a rectangle whose width is arranged in the transverse direction. Motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the transverse direction, the battery (20) has a clearance (J) with a braking system (14) fixed on an apron of the vehicle (10) separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment.

Images