ADAPTABLE BATTERY DEFLECTOR, FOR A VEHICLE
A deformable deflector with an accordion-fold design addresses the need for multiple molds by adapting to varying level differences, reducing costs and simplifying inventory and assembly line management.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022013085
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-16
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-12-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle battery deflectors require dedicated molds and manufacturing processes for each level difference between the vehicle's underbody and battery, leading to increased costs, complexity, and inventory management issues.
A deformable deflector with a third part, such as an accordion-fold design, that adjusts to varying level differences between the vehicle's underbody and battery, eliminating the need for multiple molds and processes.
Enables adaptable use of a single deflector across vehicles with different level differences, reducing costs and simplifying inventory and assembly line management.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: ADAPTABLE BATTERY DEFLECTOR, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising a structure including a base having an underside to which a battery is attached, and more specifically the deflectors which must be attached to these bases and batteries. State of the art
[0002] Some vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include a structure comprising a base having a first lower (and external) face to which is attached a battery having a second lower face.
[0003] In what follows and what precedes, the term "battery" means the assembly comprising the elements responsible for storing electrical energy, for example electrochemical cells, a support structure for these elements and a container (or housing) housing the support structure with the elements, as well as generally an electronic control and protection box.
[0004] In order to protect the battery and improve airflow beneath it, it is known to permanently attach the first and second lower faces, respectively, of the first and second parts of a deflector that extends from each other. This deflector is generally made of rigid and resistant plastic (or synthetic) material, but it can also be made of metal.
[0005] As those skilled in the art know, the vertical levels at which the first lower face of the underbody and the second lower face of the battery are respectively located can vary from one vehicle to another (even when their models are the same). This can result from the height of the battery (which frequently depends on the driving range offered) and / or the vertical level at which the battery is installed relative to the relevant area of the underbody.
[0006] Currently, a dedicated deflector is defined for each level difference, which requires designing a dedicated mold and / or a dedicated manufacturing process (cutting and stamping) each time. This proves costly and time-consuming, thus increasing the cost of the vehicles. Furthermore, it complicates inventory management and increases space requirements at certain assembly line stations.
[0007] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
[0008] It proposes in particular for this purpose a deflector, on the one hand, intended to equip a vehicle comprising a structure having a base having a first lower face to which is attached a battery having a second lower face, and, on the other hand, comprising first and second parts suitable for being fixedly attached respectively to the first and second lower faces.
[0009] This deflector is characterized by the fact that it includes a third part interposed between the first and second parts, and deformable so as to establish a level difference between these first and second parts which is equal to a level difference between the first and second lower faces.
[0010] Thus, it is now possible to vary the arrangement of the deflector, via its third part, to adapt it to the needs in terms of level difference between the first and second lower faces of the vehicle it is to equip, which makes it possible to avoid having to design several dedicated molds and / or manufacturing processes.
[0011] The deflector according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
[0012] - its third part may have an accordion-folded shape;
[0013] - in the presence of the last option, its third part may comprise at least two accordion folds;
[0014] - in the presence of the last sub-option, its third part may comprise three accordion folds.
[0015] The invention also proposes a vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a structure having a base having a first lower face to which is attached a battery having a second lower face, and, on the other hand, a deflector of the type of that presented above and fixedly attached to the first lower face of the base by its first part and to the second lower face of the battery by its second part.
[0016] For example, this vehicle may be of the automobile type. Brief description of the figures
[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0018] [Fig.1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a first example of a vehicle comprising a base to which are attached a first example of a battery and an example of an embodiment of a deflector according to the invention having a first arrangement,
[0019] [Fig.2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and vertical plane, a second example of a vehicle comprising a base to which are attached a second example of a battery and the deflector of [Fig. 1] with a second arrangement,
[0020] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a front view of the side of the second face lower, an example of a deflector embodiment according to the invention, and
[0021] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view of the side of the face upper, part of the deflector of the [Fig.3]. Detailed description of the invention
[0022] The invention aims in particular to provide an adaptable DB deflector to equip SS underframes of SV structures of V vehicles, and to protect a BV battery and to improve the flow of air under this BV battery.
[0023] In what follows, we consider, by way of illustration, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. This is, for example, a car, as illustrated, without limitation, in Figures 1 and 2. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising a structure including a chassis having a first lower face to which a battery is attached, which must be protected by a deflector. Consequently, the invention relates to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air).
[0024] In figures 1 to 4, direction X is the longitudinal direction of vehicle V, which is parallel to the side sides including the side doors, direction Y is the transverse direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and direction Z is the vertical direction of vehicle V, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and transverse direction Y.
[0025] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate respectively the first and second examples of vehicles V, each comprising a base SS having a first lower (and external) face Fil to which are attached a first or second example of a battery BV and an example of an embodiment of a deflector DB according to the invention having a first or second arrangement.
[0026] The BV battery has a second lower face FI2 (and external), and is fixedly attached to the base SS.
[0027] It is recalled that here “BV battery” means the assembly comprising the elements responsible for storing electrical energy, a support structure for these elements and a tray (or case) housing the support structure with the elements as well as generally an electronic control and protection box.
[0028] In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the BV battery is responsible for supplying electrical energy (which it stores) for at least one electric motive machine forming part of a GM powertrain (or GMP) of the vehicle V. This is therefore what is frequently called a main (or traction) battery.
[0029] For example, this BV battery may include electrical energy storage cells, possibly electrochemical (e.g., lithium-ion (or Li-ion) or Ni-MH or Ni-Cd type). Also, for example, the BV battery may be of the low-voltage type (typically 450 V by way of illustration). But it could also be of the medium-voltage or high-voltage type.
[0030] It should be noted, however, that the BV battery may not provide electrical power to the GM powertrain of vehicle V. Thus, it could, for example, be a service battery.
[0031] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 4, a DB deflector, according to the invention, comprises first P1, second P2 and third P3 parts.
[0032] The first part PI is designed to be fixedly attached to a dedicated area of the first lower face Fil of the subframe SS, for example by screwing. This dedicated area is located at a first vertical level ni (along the vertical direction Z). For example, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this dedicated area can be located in a rear part of the vehicle V, situated downstream of the battery BV (when the front end of the vehicle V is taken as a reference).
[0033] The second part P2 is designed to be fixedly attached to the second lower face FI2 of the battery BV, for example by screwing. This second lower face FI2 is positioned at a second vertical level n2 (along the vertical direction Z). In the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 and 2, this second part P2 is therefore located upstream of the first part PL
[0034] The first PI and second P2 parts have a top face FS2 which is intended to be oriented towards the first Fil and second FI2 bottom faces.
[0035] The third part P3 is intercalated between the first PI and second P2 parts. Moreover, it is deformable so as to establish a level difference env between the first PI and second P2 parts which is equal to the level difference (ni - n2) between the first Fil and second FI2 lower faces (i.e. env = ni - n2).
[0036] Thanks to the deformable capacity of the third part P3, it is now possible to vary its arrangement, and therefore the arrangement of its deflector DB, in order to adapt it to the level difference (ni - n2) between the first Fil and second FI2 lower faces of the vehicle V that this deflector DB is to equip. In other words, the same deflector DB can advantageously be used on several (at least two) vehicles V having different level differences (ni - n2) as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, because it is sufficient to adapt its arrangement, via its third part P3, according to the requirements. This avoids having to design several dedicated molds and / or manufacturing processes, and therefore reduces the cost of the vehicles and the congestion on certain assembly line stations and to simplify inventory management.
[0037] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 to 4, the third part P3 may have an accordion-fold shape. It will be understood that in this embodiment, the more accordion folds the third part P3 has, the more it can be adapted to a greater number of significant level differences.
[0038] Also, for example, the third part P3 may comprise at least two accordion folds. Note that in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in Figures 1 to 4, the third part P3 comprises three accordion folds. However, the number of accordion folds may take any value greater than or equal to one (1).
[0039] The accordion-fold shape is advantageous because it allows for a variation in height (along the vertical direction Z) as well as a possible variation in length (along the longitudinal direction X), thus avoiding the need to provide anchor points in different longitudinal positions on the first lower face Fil and / or the second lower face FI2.
[0040] But the adaptability of the third part P3 can result from any other means known to those skilled in the art, and for example from the use of a deformable material (possibly elastic or extensible).
[0041] It should also be noted that the DB deflector can be made of rigid and resistant plastic (or synthetic) material. However, in an alternative embodiment, it could be made at least partly of metal.
Claims
Demands
1. Deflector (DB) for a vehicle (V) comprising a structure (SV) having a base (SS) having a first lower face (Wire) to which is attached a battery (BV) having a second lower face (FI2), said deflector (DB) comprising first (PI) and second (P2) parts adapted to be fixedly attached respectively to said first (Wire) and second (FI2) lower faces, characterized in that it comprises a third part (P3) interposed between said first (PI) and second (P2) parts, and deformable so as to establish a level difference between said first (PI) and second (P2) parts equal to a level difference between said first (Wire) and second (FI2) lower faces, said third part (P3) having an accordion-fold shape.
2. Deflector according to claim 1, characterized in that said third part (P3) comprises at least two accordion folds.
3. Deflector according to claim 2, characterized in that said third part (P3) comprises three accordion folds.
4. Vehicle (V) comprising a structure (SV) having a base (SS) having a first lower face (Fil) to which is attached a battery (BV) having a second lower face (FI2), characterized in that it further comprises a deflector (DB) according to one of the preceding claims, fixedly attached to said first lower face (Fil) by its first part (PI) and to said second lower face (FI2) by its second part (P2).
5. Vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.