VEHICLE FEATURING A POWER HARNESS PROTECTION COVER
The vehicle's reinforced casing with ribs and protuberances protects the power harness from impacts and external threats, addressing vulnerabilities in conventional designs and maintaining electrical integrity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023005696
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-07
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Existing protection devices for high voltage electrical connectors in vehicles fail to adequately protect against frontal and lateral impacts, leading to potential damage and exposure to debris and water splashes, especially when conventional harness placement is vulnerable to suspension components and road debris.
A vehicle design featuring a casing with ribs and protuberances arranged to reinforce protection, positioning the power harness beneath the battery charger and incorporating a configuration that enhances impact resistance and shields the harness from external threats.
The reinforced casing design significantly reduces the risk of damage to the power harness during impacts, maintaining functionality and preventing exposure to debris and water splashes, thereby ensuring reliable electrical connectivity.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: VEHICLE COMPRISING A POWER SUPPLY HARNESS PROTECTION COVER
[0001] The invention relates to the field of electrically powered vehicles comprising an electrical power supply harness protection casing.
[0002] Known from the prior art is a French patent application FR2983360 describing a protection device for an electrical connector of a power module associated with the powertrain of a vehicle, also called an engine block, which is the set of elements of the vehicle necessary for its movement. A power module is a set of semiconductor chips allowing efficient transfer of electrical energy. Electrical connectors are attached to the power module in order to transmit the electrical energy to another element of the vehicle. The objective of the invention is to propose a device ensuring the protection of a high-voltage electrical connector, otherwise called a high-voltage power supply harness, during a frontal impact on the vehicle. To achieve this goal, a casing is present on the power electronics module and a protection device is present on the casing.The device covers, at least partially, the connector. The connector is therefore located between the casing and the protective device. The connector protrudes from the inner face of the casing in order to connect an electrical supply line to said power electronics module. When a force is exerted on the device, in the event of an impact for example, said protective device bears on the casing so as not to deform so as not to damage the connector. The connectors are arranged in front of the engine block, at the front of the vehicle. In the event of a frontal impact on the vehicle, the protective device receives the impact and thus bears on the casing of the power electronics module. In this way, the connectors follow the movement of the engine block. The frontal impact causes the engine block, and consequently the connectors, to move towards the rear of the vehicle without damaging them. However, a disadvantage remains.In the event of a severe frontal impact, the protective device is likely to break. This leaves the connector at least partially exposed. If a second impact occurs, there is a risk that the connector will be damaged. The presence of debris from the breakage of the protective device contributes to this damage. In addition, many vehicle components are located in front of the engine block which are also likely to fragment under the influence of the force generated by a frontal impact and in turn damage the protective device housing the connector.
[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a configuration to improve the protection of the high voltage power harness in the event of an impact.
[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electrically powered vehicle comprising a front running gear and a rear running gear whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane defined by a first longitudinal direction corresponding to straight-line driving, by a second transverse direction orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction and a third vertical direction orthogonal to the first direction and to the second direction and is oriented away from the ground, said vehicle further comprising a casing, a battery, a battery charger,said casing comprising an electrical power supply harness connecting the battery and the battery charger, characterized in that said casing is arranged under the battery charger in the third direction and has a face comprising at least one rib and at least one protuberance oriented vertically along the third axis and capable of preventing deformation of said casing in the event of an impact.
[0005] Thanks to the invention, the power supply harness is located between the charger and the housing. The power supply harness is therefore protected from potential external attacks.
[0006] Advantageously, the face comprises at least one first protuberance and at least one second protuberance, the supply beam being arranged between said at least first protuberance and said at least second protuberance.
[0007] This makes it possible to improve the protection of the power supply harness during an impact.
[0008] Advantageously, the face comprises a third protuberance arranged transversely along the second axis relative to the first protuberance and a fourth protuberance arranged transversely along the second axis relative to the second protuberance, the supply beam being arranged between the third protuberance and the fourth protuberance.
[0009] This configuration makes it possible to obtain improved stiffening of the casing. The protection of the power supply harness is thus reinforced.
[0010] Advantageously, the face comprises at least one first rib and at least one second rib, the supply beam being arranged between said at least first rib and said at least second rib.
[0011] Preferably, the first rib connects the first protrusion and the third protrusion and the second rib connects the second protrusion and the fourth protrusion.
[0012] Advantageously, the face comprises a set of ribs forming a cross.
[0013] This allows for increased stiffening of the casing, therefore the protection of the power supply harness is increased.
[0014] Preferably, the face comprises a set of ribs running along the power supply beam.
[0015] Advantageously, the battery charger is arranged vertically in the third direction of the rear running gear.
[0016] This has the advantage, in the event of a side impact, of preventing the cup carrying the suspension spring arranged on the rear axle from coming into contact with the power supply harness and possibly severing it.
[0017] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figure illustrating a variant of the invention, in which [Fig.l] schematically illustrates, in top view, a casing 2 intended to protect a high-voltage electrical power supply harness 1 for an electrically propelled vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0018] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electrically powered vehicle 100 having a casing 2 intended to protect a high-voltage electrical power supply harness 1.
[0019] The electrically powered land vehicle 100 comprises a front running gear and a rear running gear whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane XY defined by a first longitudinal direction X corresponding to straight-line driving, and by a second transverse direction Y and orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction X and a third vertical direction Z orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction X and to the second transverse direction Y and is oriented away from the ground.
[0020] The casing 2 has a face 3 and an edge 4. An electrically powered land vehicle is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle having a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. According to the invention, the face 3 has at least one rib. The rib is a projecting line arranged on a surface. For the purposes of the invention, the rib is a vertical wall oriented along the third axis Z.
[0021] The face 3 comprises a first protrusion 9a, a second protrusion 9b, a third protrusion 9c and a fourth protrusion 9d. The power supply harness 1 is arranged between the first protrusion 9a and the third protrusion 9c, and between the second protrusion 9b and the fourth protrusion 9d.
[0022] The protrusions 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d protrude from the face 3, thus creating a relief. In the embodiment shown, the protrusions 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d have a parallelepiped shape.
[0023] The casing 2 comprises a first set of ribs 5 comprising four ribs. The first set of ribs 5 is arranged towards the front of the vehicle 100, in the first direction X. A first rib 5a is arranged longitudinally in the first longitudinal direction X, and connected to a second rib 5b. The second rib 5b is arranged at an angle of between 110° and 150° relative to the first rib 5a. A third rib 5c, connecting the second rib 5b and a fourth rib 5d, is arranged at an angle of between 160° and 170° relative to the second rib 5b. The fourth rib 5d is arranged transversely along the second transverse direction Y. The first assembly 5 thus has a geometry running along the curvilinear shape of the power supply beam 1 having the advantage of improving the stiffening of the casing 2 and the protection of the power supply beam 1.
[0024] The casing 2 further comprises a second set of ribs 6 arranged towards the rear of the vehicle 100 in the first longitudinal direction X. A first rib 6a is arranged parallel to the second transverse direction Y. The first rib 6a is connected to the first protrusion 9c and to the fourth protrusion 9d by means of a third rib 6c, a fourth rib 6d, a fifth rib 6e, a sixth rib 6f and a seventh rib 6g. An eighth rib 6h forms the junction between the third protrusion 9c and the fourth protrusion 9d. A ninth rib 6i connects an edge 4 and the third protrusion 9c.
[0025] The casing 2 further comprises a third set of ribs 7. The third set of ribs 7 comprises a first rib 7a and a second rib 7b which intersect to form a cross. The cross is inscribed in a rectangle formed by other ribs 7c, 7d, 7e and 7f. The multiplication of the sets of ribs increases the shock resistance of the casing, and consequently, this reduces the probability of damage to the power supply harness 1.
[0026] A fourth set of ribs 8 comprises a first rib 8a connecting the first protrusion 9a and the second protrusion 9b. A second rib 8b connects the second protrusion 9b and the edge 4. A third rib 8c connects the first rib 8a of the fourth set 8 and the first set of ribs 5. A fourth rib 8d connects the second rib 8b of the fourth set and the third set of ribs 7. In the present embodiment, the battery charger is arranged vertically above the rear axle of the vehicle 100 in the third direction Z. The rear axle supports in particular suspension systems. The suspension systems of a vehicle comprise a suspension spring which promotes the vehicle's grip on the road and consequently comfort for the driver and other users of said vehicle.Conventionally, the power harness 1 connects the battery and the charger by passing on one of the lateral sides in the second transverse direction Y to the charger, opposite a suspension spring. Indeed, the suspension systems each comprise a spring of . suspension having a cup. Usually, the electrical power supply harness 1 is arranged on the lateral side of the charger, opposite the cup of the suspension spring. However, the placement of the electrical power supply harness 1 on the lateral side of the charger is not ideal. Indeed, in the event of a side impact in the second transverse direction Y of the vehicle 100, the cup present on the suspension spring can hit the power supply harness 1. The power supply harness 1 is then broken. The battery therefore no longer receives electrical energy. In the case of an electric vehicle, it is no longer able to operate. In the case of a hybrid vehicle, only driving by thermal traction is possible. In other words, only the thermal engine is operational.To overcome this problem, the invention describes a path for the electrical power supply harness 1 passing through the underside of the charger, i.e. facing the ground. Conventionally, the electrical power supply harness 1 is one of the elements closest to the road, therefore exposed to potential debris present on the road. The debris can cause deterioration of the electrical power supply harness 1. In addition, when the vehicle 100 is traveling on a wet road, water splashes can reach the electrical power supply harness 1 and cause electrical problems and / or premature wear. The present invention has the advantage of protecting the power supply harness 1 by means of the casing 2.Thus, the power supply harness 1 travels through the battery charger to which it is connected, passing through the casing 2, in contact with the face 3, between the rib(s) and between the protrusion(s), protected from debris and water splashes.
Claims
Claims
1. Electrically powered vehicle (100) comprising a front running gear and a rear running gear whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane (XY) defined by a first longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to straight-line travel, by a second transverse direction (Y) orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction (X) and a third vertical direction (Z) orthogonal to the first direction (X) and to the second direction (Y) and is oriented away from the ground, said vehicle (100) further comprising a casing (2), a battery, a battery charger, said casing (2) comprising an electrical power supply harness (1) connecting the battery and the battery charger, characterized in that said casing (2) is arranged under the battery charger in the third direction (Z) and has a face (3) comprising at least one rib and at least one protuberance (9a, 9b, 9c,9d) oriented vertically along the third axis (Z) and capable of preventing deformation of said casing (2) in the event of an impact.,
2. Vehicle (100) according to claim 1 characterized in that the face (3) comprises at least one first protuberance (9a, 9b) and at least one second protuberance (9c, 9d), the power supply beam (1) being arranged between said at least first protuberance (9a, 9b) and said at least second protuberance (9c, 9d).
3. Vehicle (100) according to claim 2 characterized in that the face (3) comprises a third protuberance (9b) arranged transversely along the second axis (Y) relative to the first protuberance (9a) and a fourth protuberance (9d) arranged transversely along the second axis (Y) relative to the second protuberance (9c), the power supply beam (1) being arranged between the third protuberance (9b) and the fourth protuberance (9d).
4. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the face (3) comprises at least one first rib (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) and at least one second rib (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i), the power supply beam (1) being arranged between said at least first rib and said at least second rib.
5. Vehicle (100) according to claim 4 characterized in that the first rib connects the first protuberance (9a) and the third protuberance (9b) and the second rib connects the second protuberance (9c) and the fourth protuberance (9d).
6. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the face (3) comprises a set of ribs (7a, 7b) forming a cross.
7. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the face (3) comprises a set of ribs (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) running along the power supply beam (1).
8. Vehicle (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the battery charger is arranged vertically in the third direction (Z) of the rear running gear.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Protective device for an electrical connector of a power electronics module
FR2983360A1
High-voltage harness connection structure for electrically driven vehicle
US20150217707A1
Motor vehicle floor assembly with recesses for electrical lines and electrical modules
US20210179188A1
Motor vehicle comprising an impact protection deflector
WO2020094931A1
