ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INTEGRATED INTO A POWERTRAIN PROTECTION SCREEN

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a powertrain, said powertrain comprising a shock absorber, an electrical connector, and a protective screen (1) disposed facing the ground in the third direction (Z), said electrical connector being disposed facing said shock absorber, said protective screen (1) comprising a substantially flat surface (2) bordered by at least one rim (3) disposed laterally to the electrical connector in the second direction (Y), characterized in that said rim (3) comprises a protective device (4), said protective device (4) comprising a protective plate (5) covering said electrical connector and at least one fastening means (6). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR PROTECTION OF AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR INTEGRATED INTO A MOTORCYCLE GROUP PROTECTION SCREEN- PROPELLER

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles with fully or partially electric propulsion, and more particularly to the means of protecting the electrical connectors linked to the powertrains of these vehicles.

[0002] Known from the prior art is a patent application EP2782774 which describes a protective device intended to protect an electrical connector making the connection between a high-voltage electrical power supply bus and a power electronics module of an electric powertrain of a vehicle. The protective device, which is formed in a single piece of sheet steel, is inserted into a casing. The casing has a plurality of faces. The connector projects from one of the faces of said casing. The protective device also comprises a plurality of faces, one of the faces of which is capable of at least partially covering said connector. The connector is arranged between one of the faces of said casing and one of the faces of said device. Thus, the connector is protected from impacts coming from the outside.The device comprises a recess through which said power bus passes, exiting the connector in a direction orthogonal to a force exerted towards the casing on said at least one face of the device. However, a drawback remains. The invention is an additional part to be assembled to said vehicle, which adds weight. In addition, the device being made of steel, it has a significant weight. Its attachment requires additional work for the technician in charge of assembling said vehicle, and consequently this results in an increase in the time required for assembling the vehicle.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a means of protecting the electrical connector integrated into a pre-existing element of the vehicle.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a running gear whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane defined by a first longitudinal direction corresponding to straight-line driving, and by a second transverse direction orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction and a third vertical direction orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction and to the second transverse direction and is oriented away from the ground, said vehicle comprising a powertrain, said powertrain comprising a crossmember, an electrical connector and a protective screen arranged facing the ground in the third direction, said electrical connector being arranged facing said crossmember, said protective screen comprising a substantially flat surface bordered by at least one rim arranged laterally to the electrical connector in the second direction, remarkable in that said rim comprises a protective device, said protective device comprising a protective plate covering said electrical connector and at least one fixing means.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the electrical connector is protected so that, if it receives an impact, the risks of causing a fire are greatly reduced.

[0006] Advantageously, said at least one fixing means is a rivet.

[0007] Rivets are fasteners with a long service life. In addition, rivets are inexpensive.

[0008] Advantageously, said fixing means is a layer of glue.

[0009] Gluing is a means of fixing that requires only a very short time for implementation by a technician.

[0010] Advantageously, said at least one fixing means is at least one assembly comprising a screw and a nut.

[0011] Preferably, said protective plate has a rectangular shape.

[0012] The rectangular shape is the simplest shape to make and allows a protection of the connector along its entire length.

[0013] Advantageously, said protective plate has a length greater than or equal to half the length of said rim.

[0014] In this way, the protective plate effectively protects the connector over its entire length.

[0015] Preferably, said protective plate has a height greater than or equal to half the height of said rim.

[0016] Advantageously, said height of the protective plate is equal to the height of said rim.

[0017] This makes it easier to insert the plate into the rim and the connector is protected over its entire height.

[0018] Preferably, said protective plate has a thickness of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm.

[0019] Such a thickness allows the effective absorption of a potential shock, thus protecting said electrical connector.

[0020] Preferably, said protective plate is made of steel or steel alloy.

[0021] The steel material is very resistant to deformation. In the event of an impact, the electrical connector is therefore protected.

[0022] The invention will be further detailed by the description of the non-limiting embodiment, and on the basis of the appended figure illustrating the invention, in which [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a powertrain protection screen of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a protective screen 1 for the powertrain of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 comprises a 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, and by a second transverse direction Y 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. The protective screen 1 comprises a substantially flat surface 2. The protective screen 1 covers the powertrain from below the third direction Z. The powertrain is defined as being all the elements of the motor vehicle 100 allowing movement.For the sake of clarity, the powertrain is not shown. In [Fig.l], said protective screen 1 is shown upside down in the third direction Z. Indeed, when said protective screen 1 is assembled on said powertrain of the vehicle 100, the surface 2 is arranged facing the ground. In addition, the powertrain comprises a crash bar and an electrical connector allowing the transmission of electrical energy to the powertrain of the vehicle 100. The crash bar is a reinforcement arranged between two elements of the vehicle 100 to prevent these two elements from colliding with each other during an external impact. Thus, the risk of damage to the two elements in question is reduced. The protective screen 1 comprises at least one rim 3 arranged laterally to the electrical connector in the second direction Y. The electrical connector is arranged facing the crash bar.Under the effect of an impact, the impact crossmember risks moving until it reaches the electrical connector. However, the risk of deterioration of said electrical connector is to cause a short circuit which would be likely to cause a fire in the powertrain, and consequently in the vehicle 100. To reduce this risk, said rim arranged opposite the electrical connector comprises a protection device 4. The protection device 4 comprises a protection plate 5 laterally covering the electrical connector in the second direction Y. Preferably, the protection plate 5 has a rectangular shape whose length is greater than or equal to half the length . of said rim 3. The protective plate 5 has a height greater than or equal to half the height of said rim 3, or preferably said protective plate has a height equal to the height of said rim 3. Finally, said protective plate 5 has a thickness of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm so that said protective plate 5 is strong and absorbs shock effectively. Preferably, said protective plate is made of steel which is a material very resistant to deformation. In an alternative, said protective plate is made of steel alloy. In addition, the protective device 4 comprises at least one fixing means 6. Preferably, said at least one fixing means 6 is a rivet which is a nail having a head and the end of which is flattened during assembly, which allows for permanent fixing. In [Fig.l], two rivets are shown as means for fixing said protective plate 5 to the rim 3.In another embodiment, said at least one fixing means 6 is a layer of glue. Alternatively, the fixing means 6 is an assembly comprising a screw and a nut. In this case, said protective screen 1 and said protective plate 5 are pierced.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a 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, and by a second transverse direction (Y) 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, said vehicle comprising a powertrain, said powertrain comprising a crossmember, an electrical connector and a protective screen (1) arranged facing the ground in the third direction (Z), said electrical connector being arranged facing said crossmember,said protective screen (1) comprising a substantially flat surface (2) bordered by at least one rim (3) arranged laterally to the electrical connector in the second direction (Y), characterized in that said rim (3) comprises a protective device (4), said protective device (4) comprising a protective plate (5) covering said electrical connector and at least one fixing means (6).,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one fixing means (6) is a rivet.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said fixing means (6) is a layer of glue.

4. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one fixing means (6) is at least one assembly comprising a screw and a nut.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said protective plate (5) has a rectangular shape.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5 characterized in that said protective plate (5) has a length greater than or equal to half the length of said rim (3).

7. Vehicle according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said protective plate (5) has a height greater than or equal to half the height of said rim (3).

8. Vehicle according to claim 7 characterized in that said height of the protective plate (5) is equal to the height of said rim (3).

9. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that said protective plate (5) has a thickness of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm.

10. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said protective plate (5) is made of steel or steel alloy.

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