VEHICLE BODY WITH ELECTRIC TRACTION BATTERY BOX COVER FORMING THE FLOOR

Abstract

Body of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle having below a support surface forming a closed continuous strip receiving the support of a flat contour (18) of a cover (16) of a traction battery box to form the floor of the passenger compartment, with an interposed sealing joint, this continuous strip comprising flat lower faces of lateral side members (2) of the body, and lower edges of sheets of front (12) or rear (14) side parts of the body which are superimposed under these lower faces, at least one end of the flat lower faces of the side members (2) having just before the superposition of a sheet edge a height offset corresponding to the thickness of this edge. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: VEHICLE BODY WITH ELECTRIC TRACTION BATTERY BOX COVER FORMING THE FLOOR

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle body comprising a cover for a battery box supplying an electric traction machine of the vehicle, forming the floor, as well as a motor vehicle equipped with such a body.

[0002] A known type of motor vehicle comprising a battery box for an electric traction machine, presented in particular by document DE-AÏ-102011017459, comprises a passenger compartment floor receiving underneath a lower tray fixed on its contour, so as to form between the floor and this tray a closed box receiving the battery. A seal arranged between the contour of the tray and the floor forms a seal of the box protecting the battery.

[0003] However, this type of box formed in the middle of the floor of the passenger compartment, in a substantially flat part, has a small volume and little rigidity.

[0004] Furthermore, it is known to form a battery box covering the entire width of the floor of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, between the two side sills, in order to benefit from a large surface area allowing a greater number of electrochemical elements to be housed, giving a battery of greater capacity to obtain better autonomy for the vehicle.

[0005] In particular, it is known to fix the lateral sides of the cover forming the floor, directly under a lower longitudinal flat face of the side members so as to obtain a fixing of these sides on rigid parts of the body while occupying the largest possible space between the side members.

[0006] Generally speaking, the side members of the vehicle body are connected at their ends to front and rear parts of the body sides made from sheets, which make it possible to secure these side members with cross members connecting them to each other, and with the bases of the front and rear uprights framing the side doors.

[0007] In the case where the sheets of the front or rear side parts descend to below the side members to present a lower edge coming under the lower face of the side members, with a superposition so as to obtain by welding a significant joining of these elements together giving the resistance of the body, we obtain a level offset of the support surface forming the continuous strip which is equal to the thickness of the sheet edge coming under this lower face of the side member.

[0008] Furthermore, the passenger compartment of the vehicle, in particular its floor, must have a high sealing to prevent water rising from under the vehicle, and possible smoke in the event of an incident on the battery. A sealing gasket is then placed above the flat contour of the cover which, during assembly, tightens under the support surface of the body, comprising the lower flat faces of the side members, and a front and rear transverse part connecting these side members in order to obtain a complete seal on this contour.

[0009] The floor forming the cover of the box is then clamped under the vehicle body by a device distributed around its contour in order to obtain continuous tightening of the seal. The battery tray comprising the battery is then adjusted under the body, having a similar flat contour which is then fixed below the contour of the cover to in turn ensure a seal of the battery box.

[0010] However, at the ends of the side members, at the level of the thickness offset due to the overlapping of the sheet metal edges of the front and rear side parts under the lower faces of the side members, an irregular tightening of the sealing bead is obtained because of the excess thickness formed by this overlapping.

[0011] There is then a risk of leakage at the thickness offset. To avoid sealing problems, a thicker seal can be provided to compensate for the height offset, which poses problems of greater bulk, quantity of material used and cost.

[0012] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0013] To this end, it proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle body having below a bearing surface forming a continuous strip receiving the support of a flat contour of a traction battery box cover to form the floor of the passenger compartment, with an interposed sealing joint, this bearing surface comprising flat lower faces of lateral side members of the body, and lower edges of sheets of front or rear side parts of the body which are superimposed under these lower faces, this body being remarkable in that at least one end of the flat lower faces of the side members has, just before the superposition of a sheet edge, a height offset corresponding to the thickness of this edge to form a bearing surface which remains on the same plane.

[0014] An advantage of this vehicle body is that the height offset of the lower faces of the side members just before each overlap of a sheet metal edge, corresponding to the thickness of this sheet metal, makes it possible to avoid jumps in level for the support strip under the body when passing between a lower face of the side member and a lower edge of the sheet metal of the front or rear parts.

[0015] For the sealing gasket arranged on the contour of the cover, a continuous surface is obtained under the sides of the bodywork, which does not have a height jump at each overlap of sheet metal, which makes it possible to use for these sides a gasket having a reduced thickness to ensure watertightness. This allows the height of the seal to be minimized, saving space and reducing the amount of material required for the seal.

[0016] The motor vehicle body according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0017] Advantageously, the two ends of each side member comprise a height offset receiving an edge of the front and rear lateral part of the body.

[0018] In particular, the front and rear side parts can each form the base of an upright of this vehicle body.

[0019] Advantageously, the support surface formed along the transverse direction of the vehicle, under a front apron and a rear cross member connecting the two side members, has at the level of sheet metal connections a surface which remains on the same plane.

[0020] Advantageously, the sealing gasket has a constant section over its entire length.

[0021] Advantageously, the sealing gasket has a constant material over its entire length.

[0022] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that it comprises a battery tray containing a battery inside, which is fixed by its contour under the flat contour of the cover (16).

[0023] 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:

[0024] [Fig.l] is a bottom view of a motor vehicle body according to the invention with its floor fixed and the battery tray which is detached;

[0025] [Fig.2] is a bottom view of this box with the floor detached;

[0026] [Fig.3] is a bottom view of a connection of one end of a spar with a side part of the body; and

[0027] [Fig.4] is a bottom view of a side member of the body showing the junctions with the front and rear side parts.

[0028] [Fig.l] shows a vehicle body made with stamped and welded steel sheets, comprising two side members 2 connected to each other towards the front of the vehicle by a front apron 6 separating the passenger compartment from the engine compartment, which is supported by two front side members 4.

[0029] The rear ends of the side rails 2, connected to each other by a rear cross member 10, are extended by rear rails 8 which support the trunk of the vehicle.

[0030] The sides of the vehicle have side doors with a front pillar 12 and a rear upright 14 forming lateral parts made of sheets, the bases of which cover the ends of the side members 2 to ensure a strong connection.

[0031] The floor of the passenger compartment is formed by a battery box cover 16 comprising a large sheet metal which comes under the vehicle to be fixed by its flat contour 18 under the side members 2, the front apron 6 and the rear cross member 10, so as to obtain over the complete contour a rigid and watertight connection closing the base of the passenger compartment.

[0032] A tray containing the battery 20, coming below the box cover 16, also comprises a flat continuous rim 22 which fits under the rim of the cover 18, with a fixing along this contour comprising a seal in order to close this box to protect the battery disposed inside.

[0033] When assembling the vehicle body, the floor forming the box cover 16 is first fixed with its seal under this body. Then the battery tray 20 containing inside the battery with all its equipment, is mounted under the vehicle to be fixed on its contour in order to close the battery box.

[0034] [Fig. 2] shows the underside of the body with the cover 16 detached, comprising a support surface 30 forming a continuous closed strip surrounding the opening in the floor, substantially flat and horizontal, receiving the flat contour of this cover 18 with an intermediate sealing joint 32.

[0035] By tightening the contour of the cover 18 continuously, for example with a series of screws, rivets, crimps or welds, both stiffening of the body and closure of the passenger compartment floor are obtained which is completely watertight around its contour.

[0036] It will be noted that the contour of the cover 18 bears successively on flat and rectilinear lower faces 34 of the side members 2, then on lower edges 36 of the front 12 and rear 14 lateral parts of the body which come under the ends of these lower faces to be welded thereon.

[0037] [Fig. 3] shows the front end of the flat lower face 34 of the side member 2, ending towards the outside of the vehicle by a descending vertical edge 38, comprising a height offset 40 formed by stamping the sheet metal, also called sheet metal grooving, with a thickness equal to that of the lower edge 36 of the front part 12.

[0038] [Fig.4] shows the flat lower faces 34 of the ends of the side member 2, having a height offset 40 which receives a lower edge of sheets 36 of the front 12 or rear 14 part which is superimposed. Under the body of the vehicle, over the entire length of the side member 2, a support surface 30 is obtained forming a continuous strip following a closed contour, which does not have a height offset.

[0039] By producing on the transverse parts of the support surface 30, under the front apron 6 and the rear cross member 10, in a similar manner a continuous strip without offset in height, with at the level of the sheet metal connections a surface arranged on the same plane thanks to height offsets at the level of the sheet metal superpositions, a complete contour of this support surface is obtained which can receive a sealing joint 32 always having the same quality. In particular, the sealing joint 32 has a constant section and material over its entire length.

[0040] The section of the sealing joint 32 can be optimized, which can be minimal, having to achieve constant crushing along its path, which makes it possible to reduce its thickness while saving space, and to improve the quality and reliability of this sealing.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle body having below a bearing surface (30) forming a continuous strip receiving the support of a flat contour (18) of a cover (16) of a traction battery box to form the floor of the passenger compartment, with an interposed sealing gasket (32), this bearing surface (30) comprising flat lower faces (34) of lateral side members (2) of the body, and lower edges of sheets (36) of front (12) or rear (14) lateral parts of the body which are superimposed under these lower faces (34), characterized in that at least one end of the flat lower faces (34) of the side members (2) has just before the superposition of a sheet edge (36) a height offset (40) corresponding to the thickness of this edge (36) to form a bearing surface (30) which remains on the same plane.

2. Vehicle body according to claim 1, characterized in that the two ends of each side member (2) have a height offset (40) receiving an edge (36) of the front (12) and rear (14) lateral part of the body.

3. Vehicle body according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front (12) and rear (14) side parts each form the base of an upright of this vehicle body.

4. Vehicle body according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support surface (30) formed in the transverse direction of the vehicle, under a front apron (6) and a rear cross member (10) connecting the two side members (2), has at the level of sheet metal connections a surface which remains on the same plane.

5. Vehicle body according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing gasket (32) has a constant section over its entire length.

6. Vehicle body according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing gasket (32) has a constant material over its entire length.

7. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a body according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a battery tray (20) containing a battery inside, which is fixed by its contour (22) under the flat contour (18) of the cover (16).

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