Underbody kit for electrified motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a subframe assembly (1) for an electrified motor vehicle, the subframe assembly (1) comprising a side member (14) forming a hollow profile housing a side member reinforcement (12), a battery support (13) for housing an electric traction battery, the battery support (13) being fixed rigidly to the side member reinforcement (12), and at least one reinforcement plate (11) located opposite the battery support (13) and housed between the side member reinforcement (12) and a lower flange (141) of the side member (14). The reinforcement plate (11) is configured to allow attachment through it of the side member reinforcement (12) to the lower flange (141) of the side member (14) on one side, and, on the other side, of the battery support (13). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Underbody assembly for electrified motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of electrified motor vehicles, and in particular devices for reinforcing the physical integrity of the underbody components of such electrified motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to an underbody assembly for an electrified motor vehicle.

[0002] In the prior art, chassis of electrified motor vehicles are known, comprising a battery support housed under a passenger compartment floor and rigidly attached to side members extending from the front and rear of the vehicle on either side of the passenger compartment. Such side members provide the required chassis rigidity. Battery supports, as is known, have peripheral flanges that serve as attachment points for the side members. Thus, known battery supports are rigidly attached by means of screws and / or rivets that extend through the peripheral flange and across the side member.

[0003] In a known manner, each side member takes the form of a hollow body within which a side member reinforcement extends. The side member reinforcement thus forms a prismatic beam that strengthens and ensures the mechanical rigidity of the side member to which it is attached. In a known manner, the battery support is attached directly to the side member reinforcement, since it is the latter that provides the required mechanical rigidity.

[0004] However, in such a known assembly, the battery support is attached – via its peripheral rim – through the hollow body, which leads to rigidity defects during lateral impact tests. Obviously, this situation is undesirable.

[0005] The present invention aims to propose a new base assembly in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to other advantages.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to reinforce the rigidity of the base.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to improve the attachment of a battery holder to the reinforcement of the longeron as well as the attachment of the reinforcement of the longeron to the lateral longeron itself.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the attachment of the battery support to the longitudinal reinforcement.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a subframe assembly for an electrified motor vehicle, the subframe assembly comprising:

[0010] - a lateral stringer forming a hollow profile housing a stringer reinforcement;

[0011] - a battery support for housing an electric traction battery, the battery support being fixed securely to the longitudinal reinforcement;

[0012] - at least one reinforcement plate located opposite the battery support and housed between the spar reinforcement and a lower wing of the lateral spar.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, an electrified motor vehicle may be of the type of an electric vehicle pulled exclusively by an electric motor powered by a traction battery, or of the type of a hybrid motor vehicle comprising both the electric motor powered by the traction battery and associated with another propulsion system, such as an internal combustion engine, to propel the motor vehicle. Among hybrid motor vehicles, a distinction is made between plug-in hybrid vehicles, for which the traction battery can be recharged by connecting to an external power source, and non-plug-in hybrid vehicles, i.e., those not equipped for such recharging of the traction battery from an external electrical grid.

[0014] Generally, the drivetrain of such an electrified motor vehicle is rotated by an electric machine, powered by a traction battery, in order to generate motor torque for propelling the motor vehicle. Complementarily or alternatively, the electric machine is configured to recover mechanical energy from the drivetrain and convert it into electrical energy, thereby producing braking torque on the drivetrain and recharging the traction battery.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the traction battery is a high-voltage electric battery capable of generating a direct current voltage of at least 300V, for example, 400V or 800V. Generally, the traction battery is configured to supply electrical energy to an electric machine that generates motor torque on the traction system of the motor vehicle.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the side member forms a prismatic span extending relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, at each lateral edge of said motor vehicle. The side members form structural elements of the motor vehicle to which other parts of the motor vehicle are attached. The side members thus provide the rigidity necessary for the operation of the motor vehicle, during driving sequences, but also in the event of an accident in order to transmit the forces resulting from said impact towards absorption devices or towards the running gear of the motor vehicle, for example. In the context of the present invention, the side member forms a hollow prismatic bearing surface housing the side member reinforcement

[0017] . In the context of the present invention, the lower flange of the side member forms a lower edge of said side member, delimiting and closing the hollow body relative to a vertical axis and downwards. The lower flange forms a folded edge of the side member. In other words, the lower flange forms a lower flap of the side member.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the side member reinforcement is housed within the side member. The side member reinforcement forms a prismatic span extending relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, within the hollow body formed by the side member to which it is attached. The side member reinforcement forms a complementary structural element of the side member. The side member reinforcement increases the rigidity of the side member.

[0019] In the context of the present invention, the battery support forms a housing for the electric traction battery. The battery support is housed under the floor of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and fixed rigidly to the side rails by means of the reinforcement plate.

[0020] In the context of the present invention, the reinforcement plate forms an interface piece housed in the lateral spar, between the lower wing and the spar reinforcement.

[0021] Thus, the reinforcement plate fills the gap that existed in the side spar, between its lower wing and the spar reinforcement. This advantageous configuration strengthens the battery support attachment and increases the rigidity of the connection between, on the one hand, the spar reinforcement and, on the other hand, the side spar and the battery support.

[0022] The base assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0023] - the reinforcing plate comprises a base and at least one stud extending in The base protrudes such that a bearing face of the base and a free face of at least one stud bear against, respectively, an underside of the spar reinforcement and an inner face of the lower wing of the lateral spar. Specifically, the reinforcement plate has two studs located at one longitudinal end of the reinforcement plate. The two reinforcement studs are spaced apart relative to the longitudinal axis of extension of the reinforcement plate, such that a groove exists between the first and second studs. This advantageous configuration makes it easier to mount and fix the reinforcement plate on the longitudinal reinforcement and to mount and fix the battery support on the longitudinal reinforcement through said reinforcement plate;

[0024] - the base of the reinforcing plate has a general conformation of the shape of tangential;

[0025] - each at least one plot has a general prismatic shape. In in particular, each at least one plot has a square or rectangular cross-section;

[0026] - the reinforcement plate includes means for fixing to the spar reinforcement. In particular, the fastening means comprise at least one rivet extending through at least one opening in the reinforcement plate and an additional hole provided in the spar reinforcement. Preferably, the fastening means comprise (i) a first rivet extending through a first opening in the reinforcement plate located near a first longitudinal end of said reinforcement plate, and a first additional hole provided in the spar reinforcement and located opposite the first opening, and (ii) a second rivet extending through a second opening in the reinforcement plate located near a second longitudinal end of said reinforcement plate, and a second additional hole provided in the spar reinforcement and located opposite the second opening;

[0027] - each at least one stud has a tapped hole passing through said stud in such a way secant, and preferably perpendicular, to the base of the reinforcement plate. This configuration allows the reinforcement plate to be assembled on the spar reinforcement and / or the battery support on said reinforcement plate. In particular, the reinforcement plate comprises (i) a first fixing lug having a first tapped hole collaborating with a fixing screw engaged through a first through hole made on the lower wing of the lateral spar and through the spar reinforcement, and (ii) a second fixing lug having a second tapped hole collaborating with a fixing screw engaged through a second through hole made on the lower wing of the lateral spar, a second fixing hole made on a peripheral edge of the battery support and through the spar reinforcement;

[0028] - the battery support has a peripheral rim along which is arranged at least one second fixing hole allowing the engagement of a battery support fixing screw in the longitudinal reinforcement and through the reinforcement plate, the peripheral rim having a peripheral clearance at each at least a second fixing hole to receive a head of the fixing screw.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed electrified comprising a base assembly conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements.

[0030] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features set out here.

[0031] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0032] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an example of an embodiment of a plate reinforcement of a foundation assembly according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.2] illustrates an example of the realization of a base assembly equipped with the reinforcement plate illustrated in [Fig.1];

[0034] [Fig.3] illustrates a cross-sectional and detailed view of the entire assembly of crudely illustrated on [Fig.2];

[0035] [Fig.4] illustrates a longitudinal cross-sectional and detailed view of the entire assembly of crudely illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0036] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0037] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described are combinable with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0038] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0039] With reference to [Fig. 2], the invention relates to a subframe assembly 1 for an electrified motor vehicle, the subframe assembly 1 comprising:

[0040] - a lateral stringer 14 forming a hollow profile housing a stringer reinforcement 12;

[0041] - a battery support 13 for housing an electric traction battery, the battery support 13 being fixed securely to the longitudinal reinforcement 12;

[0042] - at least one reinforcing plate 11 - not visible in [Fig. 1] - located in battery support 13 is located between the spar reinforcement 12 and a lower wing 141 of the lateral spar 14.

[0043] The battery support 13 extends below a floor 10 of the vehicle at tomobile, between the two side rails 14 which border it. The battery support 13 is configured to house an electric traction battery. The battery support 13 is fixed rigidly to the side rail reinforcement 12 at the lateral sides of the floor 10. For this purpose, the battery support 13 has a peripheral rim 131 which forms a platform for support and attachment to the side rail 14 and its side rail reinforcement 12. In other words, the battery support 13 has a transverse profile in the shape of a “T”, as partially visible in [Fig.3].

[0044] With reference to [Fig.3], the side rail 14 forms a hollow body inside which the side rail reinforcement 12 extends. The side rail 14 has a transverse profile in L, U or circular or rectangular or square.

[0045] The spar reinforcement 12 forms a prismatic span – here in a honeycomb structure – which reinforces the rigidity of the lateral spar 14 into which it is inserted. The spar reinforcement 12 extends between the lower wing 141 and an upper wing of the lateral spar 14.

[0046] The lower flange 141 of the lateral spar 14 forms a lower edge of said lateral spar 14, delimiting the hollow body with respect to a vertical axis and downwards. The lower flange 141 thus forms a folded edge of the lateral spar 14, against which the reinforcing plate 11 is intended to bear.

[0047] The reinforcement plate 11 is described with reference to the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0048] The plate has a general rectangular, or even parallelepiped, shape. It extends along an axis of elongation so as to be able to be inserted into the lateral spar 14, between the spar reinforcement 12 and the lower wing 141 of said lateral spar 14.

[0049] The reinforcement plate 11 comprises a base 111 and at least one stud 112, 112A, 112B extending outward from the base 111, so that a bearing face 116 of the base 111 and a free face 117 of at least one stud 112, 112A, 112B are respectively in contact with an underside face of the spar reinforcement 12 and an inner face of the lower wing 141 of the lateral spar 14.

[0050] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.1], the reinforcement plate 11 comprises a first pad 112A and a second pad 112B, the two pads 112, 112A, 112B being located at one longitudinal end of the reinforcement plate 11. The two reinforcement pads 112, 112A, 112B are located at a distance from each other, relative to the longitudinal axis of extension of the reinforcement plate 11, so that there is a groove 115 between the first pad 112A and the second pad 112B.

[0051] The pads 112, 112A, 112B have a general prismatic shape. In particular, the first pad 112A and the second pad 112B each have a square section.

[0052] The first stud 112A and the second stud 112B each have a tapped hole 114, 114A, 114B passing through said studs 112, 112A, 112B. The tapped holes 114, 114A, 114B pass through both the base 111 and the corresponding studs 112, 112A, 112B of the reinforcement plate IL. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the reinforcement plate 11 comprises:

[0053] - a first fixing stud 112A comprising a first tapped hole 114A col working with a fixing screw 15 engaged through a first through hole made on the lower wing 141 of the lateral spar 14 and through the spar reinforcement 12, and

[0054] - a second fixing stud 112B having a second tapped hole 114B col working with a fixing screw 15 engaged through a second through hole provided on the lower wing 141 of the lateral spar 14, a second fixing hole provided on a peripheral rim 131 of the battery support 13 and through the spar reinforcement 12.

[0055] The cross-sectional views in FIGURES 3 and 4 highlight this assembly configuration.

[0056] Of course, the lower wing 141 of the lateral spar 14 has at least one through hole in a number equivalent to the corresponding tapped holes 114, 114A, 114B provided on the reinforcement plate 11 and according to the number of reinforcement plates 11 mounted on the subframe assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0057] To this end, it is advantageous for the subframe assembly 1 to include at least two reinforcing plates 11 distributed longitudinally along each side member 14, in order to better withstand the mechanical forces associated with the attachment of the battery support 13 or the mechanical stresses occurring during a lateral impact. In this case, each side member 14 has several through holes, in a number equivalent to the geometry of the reinforcing plate 11.

[0058] The reinforcement plate 11 also includes means for attaching it to the spar reinforcement 12, which include at least one rivet extending through at least one opening 113, 113A, 113B of the reinforcement plate 11 and an additional hole provided in the spar reinforcement 12. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 1], the attachment means include:

[0059] - a first rivet extending through a first opening 113A of the plate reinforcement 11 located near a first longitudinal end of said reinforcement plate 11, and a first additional hole provided on the spar reinforcement 12 and located opposite the first opening 113A, and

[0060] - a second rivet extending through a second opening 113B of the reinforcement plate 11 located near a second longitudinal end of said reinforcement plate 11, and of a second complementary hole made on the spar reinforcement 12 and located opposite the second opening 113B.

[0061] The cross-sectional views in FIGURES 3 and 4 highlight this assembly configuration.

[0062] As seen in [Fig.3], the peripheral rim 131 of the battery support 13 along which the second fixing hole is provided allowing the engagement of a fixing screw 15 of the battery support 13 in the longitudinal reinforcement 12 and through the reinforcement plate 11, has a peripheral clearance 132 at each second fixing hole in order to receive a head of the fixing screw 15.

[0063] In summary, the invention relates to a subframe assembly 1 for an electrified motor vehicle, the subframe assembly 1 comprising (i) a side member 14 forming a hollow profile housing a side member reinforcement 12, (ii) a battery support 13 for housing an electric traction battery, the battery support 13 being fixed rigidly to the side member reinforcement 12, and (iii) at least one reinforcement plate 11 located opposite the battery support 13 and housed between the side member reinforcement 12 and a lower flange 141 of the side member 14. The reinforcement plate 11 is configured to allow the side member reinforcement 12 to be fixed through it to the lower flange 141 of the side member 14 on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to the battery support 13.

[0064] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Claims

1. Underbody assembly (1) for an electrified motor vehicle, the underbody assembly (1) comprising: - a lateral side member (14) forming a hollow profile housing a side member reinforcement (12); - a battery support (13) for housing an electric traction battery, the battery support (13) being fixed integrally to the side member reinforcement (12); characterized in that the underbody assembly (1) comprises at least one reinforcement plate (11) located opposite the battery support (13) and housed between the side member reinforcement (12) and a lower wing (141) of the lateral side member (14).

2. Underbody assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing plate (11) comprises a base (111) and at least one stud (112, 112A, 112B) extending projecting from the base (111), so that a bearing face (116) of the base (111) and a free face (117) of the at least one stud (112, 112A, 112B) respectively bear against a lower face of the side member reinforcement (12) and an inner face of the lower wing (141) of the side member (14).

3. Base assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the base (111) of the reinforcement plate (11) has a general rectangular shape.

4. A base assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein each at least one stud (112, 112A, 112B) has a general prismatic shape.

5. Underbody assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fixing means comprise at least one rivet extending through at least one opening (113, 113A, 113B) of the reinforcement plate (11) and a complementary hole provided on the side member reinforcement (12).

6. Base assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims taken in combination with claim 2, in which each at least one stud (112, 112A, 112B) comprises a tapped hole (114, 114A, 114B) passing through said stud (112, 112A, 112B) in a secant manner, and preferably perpendicular, to the base (111) of the reinforcement plate (11).

7. A base assembly (1) according to any one of the claims-

8. preceding indications, in which the battery support (13) comprises a peripheral rim (131) along which at least one second fixing hole is arranged allowing the engagement of a fixing screw (15) of the battery support (13) in the side member reinforcement (12) and through the reinforcement plate (11), the peripheral rim (131) comprising a peripheral clearance (132) at each at least one second fixing hole in order to receive a head of the fixing screw (15). Motor vehicle comprising an underbody assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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