MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A MECHANISM FOR TRANSLATING AN ADDITIONAL BATTERY IN A STORAGE CASE UNDER THE FEET, AND PROCESSES ON THE BASIS OF SUCH A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment including a footrest; - a body delimiting the passenger compartment, comprising body elements (EC), the body including a battery compartment (CV) disposed between the footrest and the body elements (EC), the battery compartment (CV) being covered by a lining; - a battery (B) housed in the battery compartment (CV), characterized in that the motor vehicle further comprises a translation mechanism (GE) for translating the battery (B) towards the underside and rear of the battery compartment (CV), the translation mechanism being triggered by an intrusion of the body elements (EC) into the battery compartment (CV). The invention also relates to a method based on such a vehicle. Figure 7

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A MECHANISM FOR TRANSLATING AN ADDITIONAL BATTERY IN A BASEMENT UNDER FEET, AND PROCESSES ON THE BASIS OF SUCH A VEHICLE

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle batteries, in particular those integrated into a compartment under the floor on the front passenger side.

[0002] The need for greater autonomy led to the addition of such an auxiliary battery under the floor, with floor lining covering the compartment. This type of assembly is illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The auxiliary battery B frees up space in the battery pack (generally the front pack) while maintaining maximum autonomy.

[0003] In this configuration, the front passenger's legs rest on the trim G arranged above the additional battery B, the assembly being positioned above and behind the body elements EC of the motor vehicle. This is illustrated by [Fig. 2],

[0004] In the event of a frontal impact on the passenger side, the front body elements EC move backward under the force of the impact, pulling the auxiliary battery B toward the passenger's foot. These body elements EC can cause a narrowing of the foot-shin angle, with a risk of injury to the passenger's ankle.

[0005] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a solution for a cellar battery under the front floor, limiting the risk of injury to the passenger.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle in a spatial frame of reference comprising a longitudinal axis along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the lateral axis, the motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment which includes a foot receiver; - a box delimiting the passenger compartment, including a battery compartment located at the level of the foot receiver, and body elements located in front of the battery compartment with reference to the longitudinal axis, the battery compartment being covered by a lining on the passenger compartment side; - a battery housed in the battery compartment, characterized in that the motor vehicle further comprises a translation mechanism for translating the battery downwards and to the rear of the battery compartment with reference to the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis, the translation mechanism being triggered by an intrusion of the body elements into the battery compartment.

[0007] Advantageously, in the event of intrusion into the passenger-side footwell, the invention allows for a programmed displacement of the battery. This makes it possible to maintain a sufficiently open foot-shin angle for the passenger, thus limiting the risk of ankle injury.

[0008] In addition, the invention allows for a gain in installation space while guaranteeing the highest level of safety, particularly in the event of a collision on the passenger side with intrusion into the footwell.

[0009] In addition, the invention makes it possible to free up space in the front block of the motor vehicle, and to gain autonomy.

[0010] Moreover, the invention involves mechanical operation, and is therefore reliable.

[0011] According to one variant, the translation mechanism comprises: - at least one external slide attached to the case; and - at least one inner slide attached to the battery, cooperating with said outer slide to move the battery, the slides being arranged in an acute angle with the horizontal along the longitudinal axis, and being configured so that the intrusion of the case elements results in an acute angle configuration with the vertical along the vertical axis, triggering the translation of the battery towards the underside and rear of the battery housing with reference to the longitudinal and vertical axes.

[0012] This allows the passenger's feet to be secured by a simple mechanism to be implemented.

[0013] According to one variant, the translation mechanism comprises two external slides arranged on either side of the battery laterally along the lateral axis.

[0014] This allows for a reinforced and balanced mechanism on both sides of the battery.

[0015] According to one variant, the translation mechanism includes at least one battery holder fixed to the case, including a translation slot, the battery including a translation pin cooperating with the translation slot which forms a friction structure or a tearing structure, configured so that the intrusion of the case elements causes friction or tearing of the translation slot, and the translation of the battery towards the underside and rear of the battery housing with reference to the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis.

[0016] This makes it possible to secure the passenger's feet by means of a mechanism that is simple to implement, and reliable by means of a parameterization according to the force related to the frontal impact.

[0017] According to one variant, the battery support forms a mounting tab which measures 90 to 150 mm, preferably 100 to 140 mm, in length along the longitudinal axis.

[0018] This makes it possible to create a small mechanism occupying a small part of the battery.

[0019] According to one variant, the translation mechanism comprises two battery supports arranged on either side of the battery laterally along the lateral axis.

[0020] This allows for a reinforced and balanced mechanism on both sides of the battery.

[0021] The invention further relates to a battery safety method for a motor vehicle according to the invention, characterized in that it includes a step of translation of the battery towards the underside and rear of the battery housing with reference to the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis, in the event of a frontal impact resulting in an intrusion of the body elements into the battery housing.

[0022] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a view in space of a passenger compartment and a body of a motor vehicle according to the prior art; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view along II-II of the body and passenger compartment of the [Fig.1], before a front impact on the left of the figure, and after a front impact on the right of the figure; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a view in space of a translation mechanism according to a first embodiment in the form of slides; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the translation mechanism of [Fig.3]; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a view in space of the assembly of the translation mechanism in the form of slides, on the battery; - [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a view in space of the operation of the translation mechanism in the form of slides, before a front impact on the left of the figure, and after a front impact on the right of the figure; - [Fig.7] schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view similar to that of [Fig.2], of the operation of the translation mechanism in the form of slides, before a front impact on the left of the figure, and after a front impact on the right of the figure; - [Fig.8] schematically illustrates a view in space of a battery equipped with a translation mechanism according to a second embodiment in the form of a slot and pin; - [Fig.9] schematically illustrates a view in space of the operation of the translation mechanism of [Fig.8] after a frontal impact; - [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates a view in space of a battery equipped with a pawl for the translation mechanism of figures 8 and 9; - [Fig. 11] schematically illustrates a view in space of an alternative variant of the translation mechanism according to the second embodiment.

[0023] The invention relates to a motor vehicle of the type comprising a battery, here an additional battery, located in a CV battery compartment installed under the floor on the front passenger side. This compartment may be referred to equivalently as a housing or footwell.

[0024] The vehicle is described in a coordinate system in space comprising a longitudinal axis X following a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y.

[0025] The motor vehicle includes a passenger compartment which includes a foot receiver RP, on which the feet of the front passenger rest.

[0026] The motor vehicle further comprises a body delimiting the passenger compartment. The CV battery compartment is located under the RP footrest and is covered by a trim panel G on the passenger compartment side. Thus, the CV battery compartment is not visible from inside the passenger compartment.

[0027] The case includes case elements EC arranged in front of the battery housing CV with reference to the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the battery housing CV is arranged between the foot receiver RP and the case elements EC.

[0028] The motor vehicle further includes battery B housed in battery housing CV.

[0029] According to the invention, the motor vehicle further comprises a translation mechanism implemented herein in two embodiments. The translation mechanism is configured to translate battery B downwards and to the rear of the footwell RP and the battery compartment CV with respect to the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Z. Furthermore, the translation mechanism is triggered by an intrusion of the body elements EC into the footwell RP, particularly following a frontal impact. Preferably, this is a rectilinear translation.

[0030] In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 7, the translation mechanism comprises at least one outer slide GE fixed to the casing, in particular via mounting tabs PF; and at least one inner slide GI fixed to the battery B laterally with reference to the lateral axis Y. Said inner slide GI cooperates with said outer slide GE to translate the battery B. In particular, said inner slide GI has a smaller size along the vertical axis Z compared to said outer slide GE, as illustrated in [Fig. 4]. Thus, in this case, said outer slide GE encompasses said inner slide GI.

[0031] In one variant, two external slides GE, GI can be envisaged arranged on either side of battery B laterally along the lateral axis Y, operating as described above.

[0032] Regarding the triggering of the mechanism in this embodiment, the The GE and GI slides are arranged at an acute angle to the horizontal along the longitudinal X axis, for example approximately 30°. In this case, the battery translation is not triggered.

[0033] In the event of intrusion of the body elements EC, for example following a frontal impact on the passenger side, the body elements EC push on the front and top of the battery housing CV so that the latter tilts further towards the vertical, for example at an angle of 60° with respect to the horizontal along the longitudinal axis X.

[0034] This tilt triggers the translation of battery B towards the underside and rear of battery housing CV with reference to the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Z.

[0035] In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, the translation mechanism includes at least one battery holder SB fixed to the casing. The battery holder SB includes a translation slot F that forms a friction structure or a tear-away structure.

[0036] Furthermore, battery B includes a translation pin P, more clearly visible in [Fig. 10]. The translation pin P cooperates with the translation slot F to achieve the translation of battery B.

[0037] In a variant illustrated in [Fig.1 1], the SB support can have the size of the PF fixing tab, i.e. from 100 to 140mm.

[0038] Regarding the triggering of the mechanism in this embodiment, the intrusion of the body elements EC, for example due to a frontal impact, causes the battery B and therefore the pin P which deforms or tears the slot F, and thus moves in translation along the stroke of the slot F. The friction or tearing can be programmed according to a force threshold of the pin P.

Claims

Claims

1. Motor vehicle in a spatial reference frame comprising a longitudinal axis (X) along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle, a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), the motor vehicle comprising: - a passenger compartment which comprises a foot receiver (RP); - a body delimiting the passenger compartment, comprising a battery housing (CV) arranged at the foot receiver (RP), and body elements (EC) arranged in front of the battery housing (CV) with reference to the longitudinal axis, the battery housing being covered by a trim (G) on the passenger compartment side; - a battery (B) housed in the battery housing (CV), characterized in that the motor vehicle further comprises a translation mechanism (GI, GE;F, P) to translate the battery (B) towards the bottom and the rear of the battery housing (CV) with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) and the vertical axis (Z), the translation mechanism being triggered by an intrusion of the body elements (EC) into the battery housing (CV).;

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the translation mechanism comprises: - at least one external slide (GE) fixed to the body; and - at least one internal slide (GI) fixed to the battery (B), cooperating with said external slide (GE) to translate the battery (B), the slides (GE, GI) being arranged in the format of an acute angle with the horizontal along the longitudinal axis (X), and being configured so that the intrusion of the body elements (EC) causes a configuration at an acute angle with the vertical along the vertical axis (Z), triggering the translation of the battery (B) towards the underside and the rear of the battery housing (CV) with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) and the vertical axis (Z).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the translation mechanism comprises two external slides (GE, GI) arranged on either side of the battery (B) laterally along the lateral axis (Y).

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the translation mechanism comprises at least one battery support (SB) fixed to the body, comprising a translation slot (F), the battery (B) comprising a translation pin (P) cooperating with the translation slot (F) which forms a friction structure or a tearing structure, configured so that the intrusion of the body elements (EC) causes friction or tearing of the translation slot (F), and translation of the battery (B) towards the bottom and rear of the battery housing (CV) with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) and the vertical axis (Z).

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the battery holder (SB) forms a fixing lug which measures 90 to 150 mm, preferably 100 to 140 mm, in length along the longitudinal axis (X).

6. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the translation mechanism comprises two battery supports arranged on either side of the battery laterally along the lateral axis.

7. Method for securing a battery for a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step of translating the battery (B) towards the bottom and the rear of the battery housing (CV) with reference to the longitudinal axis (X) and the vertical axis (Z), in the event of a frontal impact causing intrusion of the body elements (EC) into the battery housing (CV).

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