REINFORCEMENT PIECE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE FLOOR ASSOCIATED WITH A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
The L-shaped reinforcement piece addresses the deformation issue in vehicle floors by ensuring homogeneous sealing and preventing ingress, enhancing the seal's integrity and effectiveness.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023012225
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-11-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-11-09
AI Technical Summary
The thin thickness of vehicle floors in some motor vehicles causes deformation during screw fixation of battery trays, leading to non-homogeneous sealing and potential liquid or dust ingress, as the screws cannot maintain effective compression of the seal due to non-contact zones in the peripheral rebate.
A reinforcement piece with a generally L-shaped cross-section is installed in the non-contact zones of the peripheral rebate, providing local reinforcement to prevent deformation and ensure homogeneous compression of the sealing joint, using screws to fix the battery tray.
The reinforcement piece ensures regular and homogeneous compression of the sealing joint, preventing liquid and dust ingress by maintaining the integrity of the seal, even with thin floor thicknesses.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: REINFORCEMENT PIECE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE FLOOR ASSOCIATED WITH A RECHARGEABLE BATTERY Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles, and more specifically to floors which are intended to be fixedly secured to the underbody of such vehicles and to be associated with rechargeable batteries. State of the art
[0002] Some motor vehicles include:
[0003] - a base provided with an upper face on which are fixedly secured first nuts above first through holes, and a lower face, and
[0004] - a floor comprising a peripheral wall extended by a peri-rebate spherical provided with second through holes placed respectively under the first through holes (facing the lower face of the base) and crossed like these first through holes by screws which cooperate with the first nuts to fix a battery tray under the floor.
[0005] In this type of vehicle, the floor therefore provides a function of upper cover of a battery assembly (or pack) also comprising the battery tray equipped with the rechargeable battery. The screws serve both to secure the battery tray to the vehicle but also to correctly compress a seal inserted between the peripheral rebate of the floor and a peripheral rebate of the battery tray. This seal is intended, once compressed, to prevent the entry of liquid and dust inside the battery assembly to avoid damage and short circuits of / in the rechargeable battery.
[0006] To obtain a regular and homogeneous compression of the entire sealing joint, capable of guaranteeing effective sealing, the screws must be spaced apart from each other by a certain value. However, in certain vehicles, at least one zone of the peripheral rebate of the floor is not in contact with the corresponding underbody part. In other words, this (each) zone of the peripheral rebate of the floor is locally distant from the underbody, and therefore it is necessary to weld nuts on the upper face of this (each) zone above associated through holes in order to allow local fixing of the battery tray.
[0007] However, to lighten the vehicle, the thickness of the floor is generally thin (typically 0.7 mm), and therefore the screwing of the screws in the (each) area of the rebate The peripheral part of the floor causes deformation of the latter, which locally prevents the desired seal from being achieved, and therefore can allow the entry of liquid and / or dust.
[0008] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention
[0009] It proposes in particular for this purpose a reinforcement part suitable for equipping a motor vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a base provided with an upper face on which first nuts are fixedly secured above first through holes, and, on the other hand, a floor comprising a peripheral wall extended by a peripheral rebate provided with second through holes placed respectively under the first through holes and crossed like the latter by screws cooperating with the first nuts to fix a battery tray under the floor, this peripheral rebate comprising at least one zone where it is distant from the base.
[0010] This reinforcement piece is characterized by the fact that it has a generally L-shaped cross-section and is suitable for being installed in the (one) zone of the peripheral rebate by having first and second walls fixedly secured and respectively to the peripheral wall and peripheral rebate of the floor, to locally reinforce this peripheral rebate.
[0011] Thus, the reinforcing piece defines in an area of the peripheral rebate of the floor a local reinforcement which prevents the latter from deforming when the screws participating in the fixing of the battery tray are screwed in, which allows a compression of the sealing joint (inserted between the peripheral rebates of the floor and battery tray) regular and homogeneous, everywhere, and therefore an effective seal.
[0012] The reinforcement part according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:
[0013] - its second wall can be provided with at least two third through holes and of an upper face on which at least two second nuts are fixedly secured above respectively these third through holes, the latter being suitable for being crossed by screws cooperating with these second nuts to fix the battery tray under the floor, and the second nuts being suitable for being placed between the upper face of the second wall and the base;
[0014] - it may comprise at least one stiffening rib extending between its first and second walls;
[0015] - in the presence of the last two options, it can include three third holes through-members associated with three second nuts, and two stiffening ribs each located between two neighboring second nuts;
[0016] - it can be suitable for being fixedly secured to the floor by welding;
[0017] - it can be made of steel;
[0018] - in the presence of the last option, it can have a thickness between 1 mm and 2 mm.
[0019] The invention also proposes a floor, on the one hand, suitable for being fixedly secured to a base forming part of a motor vehicle and provided with an upper face on which first nuts are fixedly secured above first through holes, and, on the other hand, comprising a peripheral wall extended by a peripheral rebate provided with second through holes suitable for being placed respectively under the first through holes and suitable for being crossed like the latter by screws cooperating with the first nuts to fix a battery tray under the floor, the peripheral rebate comprising at least one zone where it is distant from the base.
[0020] This floor is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one reinforcing piece of the type presented above and fixedly secured to the (one) zone of its peripheral rebate.
[0021] The invention also proposes a motor vehicle comprising, on the one hand, a base provided with an upper face on which first nuts are fixedly secured above first through holes, and, on the other hand, a floor of the type presented above and fixedly secured to the base. Brief description of the figures
[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:
[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, a part of an example of a motor vehicle underbody to which is secured an example of an embodiment of a floor according to the invention, constituting an upper cover of a battery assembly,
[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, the base of [Fig.l], with the battery tray of the battery assembly fixedly secured to the peripheral rebate of the floor and to it,
[0025] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a part of the base of figures 1 and 2 where the peripheral rebate of the floor has a remote zone,
[0026] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, a part of the floor of [Fig.3] where the peripheral rebate has an area distant from the base and in which is fixedly secured an example of an embodiment of a reinforcement piece according to the invention, before its attachment to the base of figures 1 to 3,
[0027] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from above, the part of reinforcement according to the invention, before its attachment to the floor of figures 1 to 3, and
[0028] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, part of the floor of [Fig.3] where the peripheral rebate has an area in which the reinforcing piece of figures 4 and 5 is fixedly secured, and before its securing to the floor of figures 1 to 3. Detailed description of the invention
[0029] The invention aims in particular to propose a reinforcement part PR intended to equip a floor PL which must be fixedly secured to a base SV of a motor vehicle, and making it possible to avoid deformations, when fixing a battery tray BB, of the zone(s) of its peripheral rebate FP distant from this base SV.
[0030] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the motor vehicle is a car, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. But the invention is not limited to this type of motor vehicle. It relates in fact to any motor vehicle comprising a floor fixedly secured to its underbody and providing a function of upper hood (or cover) of a battery assembly (or pack).
[0031] In Figures 1 to 6, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (automobile), which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.
[0032] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a part of an example of a motor vehicle underbody SV to which an example of an embodiment of a floor PL according to the invention is fixedly secured, constituting an upper cover of a battery assembly EB. This fixed securing can be done by welding and / or screwing, for example.
[0033] Although this does not appear in Figures 1 and 2, the base SV is provided with an upper face on which first nuts are fixedly secured, for example by welding, above first through holes, and a lower face, opposite its upper face (and therefore intended to be oriented towards the ground).
[0034] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 to 4 and 6, the PL floor comprises a peripheral wall PP which is extended by a peripheral rebate FP provided with second through holes TT2 which are intended to be placed respectively under the first through holes (facing the lower face FIS of the SV base). These second through holes TT2 are intended to be crossed, like the first through holes, by screws VF (see [Fig.2]) which cooperate with the first nuts to fix a battery tray BB under the PL floor.
[0035] The battery tray BB is part, like a rechargeable battery installed in the latter (BB), of a battery assembly (or pack) EB. The floor PL also provides a top cover function within this battery assembly EB, and therefore a part of the rechargeable battery is housed in the space that it delimits.
[0036] The battery tray BB comprises a peripheral rebate FB which is intended to be pressed against the lower face FIF (intended to be oriented towards the ground) of the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL, with the interposition of a sealing gasket (not shown). This peripheral rebate FB comprises fourth through holes TT4 which are intended to be placed respectively under the first TT1 and second TT2 corresponding through holes, in order to be crossed by the screws VF like the latter (TT1 and TT2).
[0037] As indicated in the introductory part, the screws VF serve both to secure the battery tray BB to the vehicle and also to correctly compress the sealing gasket inserted between the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL and the peripheral rebate FB of the battery tray BB.
[0038] As illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL comprises at least one zone ZF where it is distant from the base SV. In other words, the (each) zone ZF is not in contact with the corresponding part of the base SV, unlike the rest of the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL which is in contact with the base SV.
[0039] In the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.2], the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL comprises two zones ZF. But the number of zones ZF of a peripheral rebate FP can take any value greater than or equal to one.
[0040] In order to locally reinforce the (each) zone ZF to prevent it from deforming when screwing in the corresponding screws VF, the invention proposes using a reinforcement part PR.
[0041] As illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 to 6, a reinforcement piece PR, according to the invention, has a generally L-shaped cross-section and is suitable for being installed in the (one) zone ZF by having first PI and second P2 walls which are fixedly secured and respectively to the peripheral wall PP and peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL.
[0042] Here, the term “general L shape” means a right-angle shape, in which the first PI and second P2 walls make an angle of approximately 90°, for example + / -10°.
[0043] Thanks to the local reinforcement provided by the presence of a reinforcement piece PR in a zone ZF of the peripheral rebate FP of the floor PL, the latter (FP) no longer risks deforming when screwing the screws VF participating in the fixing of the battery tray BB, including when the thickness of the floor PL is thin (for example equal to 0.7 mm). As a result, the compression of the sealing gasket is everywhere regular and homogeneous, which guarantees effective sealing and therefore prevents the entry of liquid and / or dust inside the space delimited by the floor PL and the battery tray BB.
[0044] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 to 6, the second wall P2 may be provided with at least two third through holes TT3 and an upper face FS2 on which are fixedly secured (for example by welding) at least two second nuts EF2 above respectively the third through holes TT3. In this case, the third through holes TT3 are suitable for being crossed, just like the corresponding second through holes TT2 of the zone ZF, by screws VF which cooperate with the second nuts EF2 to fix the battery tray BB under the floor PV. In addition, the second nuts EF2 are suitable for being placed between the upper face FS2 of the second wall P2 and the base SV.
[0045] It will be understood that the second nuts EF2 are housed in the empty space existing between the upper face FS2 of the second wall P2 and the base SV due to the non-contact of the zone ZF.
[0046] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 to 6, each reinforcement part PR may comprise at least one stiffening rib NR extending between the first PI and second P2 walls. This makes it possible to reinforce the overall rigidity of the reinforcement part PR, and in particular to oppose its bending when the screws VF are screwed in.
[0047] Also for example, each stiffening rib NR can be of the so-called “bulldozer” type. It is recalled that a bulldozer rib is a deformation which is created along an axis perpendicular to the bisector of an angle formed by the first PI and second P2 walls of a folded sheet (here in L).
[0048] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 4 to 6, each reinforcement part PR can comprise three third through holes TT3 associated respectively with three second nuts EF2, and two stiffening ribs NR each located between two neighboring second nuts EF2.
[0049] It will be noted that the number of third through holes TT3, and therefore also of second nuts EF2, of a reinforcement part PR can take any value greater than or equal to two. Similarly, the number of stiffening ribs NR of a reinforcement part PR can take any value greater than or equal to one.
[0050] It will also be noted that each PR reinforcement piece can be suitable for being so- fixedly lidarized by welding to the PV floor (and more precisely to its peripheral wall PP (via its first wall PI) and to its peripheral rebate FP (via its second wall P2). This welding can be done by points and / or by bead(s).
[0051] It will also be noted that each PR reinforcement piece can be made from a selected steel, for example that known as DP590. In this case, each PR reinforcement piece can, for example and preferably, have a thickness of between 1 mm and 2 mm. For example, this thickness can be equal to 1.3 mm.
Claims
Claims
1. Reinforcing part (PR) suitable for equipping a motor vehicle comprising i) a base (SV) provided with an upper face on which first nuts are fixedly secured above first through holes, and ii) a floor (PV) comprising a peripheral wall (PP) extended by a peripheral rebate (FP) provided with second through holes (TT2) placed respectively under said first through holes and crossed like the latter by screws (VF) cooperating with said first nuts to fix a battery tray (BB) under said floor (PV), said peripheral rebate (FP) comprising at least one zone (ZF) where it is distant from said base (SV),characterized in that it has a generally L-shaped cross-section and is suitable for being installed in said zone (ZF) by having first (PI) and second (P2) walls fixedly secured and respectively to said peripheral wall (PP) and peripheral rebate (FP), to locally reinforce the latter (FP).,
2. Reinforcing piece according to claim 1, characterized in that said second wall (P2) is provided with at least two third through holes (TT3) and an upper face (FS2) on which are fixedly secured at least two second nuts (EF2) above respectively said third through holes (TT3), the latter (TT3) being suitable for being crossed by screws (VF) cooperating with said second nuts (EF2) to fix said battery tray (BB) under said floor (PV), and said second nuts (EF2) being suitable for being placed between said upper face (FS2) of the second wall (P2) and said base (SV).
3. Reinforcing piece according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one stiffening rib (NR) extending between said first (PI) and second (P2) walls.
4. Reinforcing piece according to the combination of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises three third through holes (TT3) associated with three second nuts (EF2), and two stiffening ribs (NR) each located between two neighboring second nuts (EF2).
5. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is suitable for being fixedly secured to said floor (PV) by welding.
6. Reinforcing piece according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is made of steel.
7. Reinforcing piece according to claim 6, characterized in that it has a thickness of between 1 mm and 2 mm.
8. Floor (PS) suitable for being fixedly secured to a base (SV) forming part of a motor vehicle and provided with an upper face (FS1) on which first nuts (EF1) are fixedly secured above first through holes (TT1), said floor (PV) comprising a peripheral wall (PP) extended by a peripheral rebate (FP) provided with second through holes (TT2) suitable for being placed respectively under said first through holes (TT1) and suitable for being crossed like the latter (TT1) by screws (VF) cooperating with said first nuts (EF1) to fix a battery tray (BB) under said floor (PV), said peripheral rebate (FP) comprising at least one zone (ZF) where it is distant from said base (SV), characterized in that it comprises at least one reinforcing piece (PR) according to one of claims 1 to 7, fixedly secured to said zone (ZF).
9. Motor vehicle comprising a base (SV) provided with an upper face (FS1) on which first nuts (EF1) are fixedly secured above first through holes (TT1), characterized in that it further comprises a floor (PV) according to claim 8, fixedly secured to said base (SV).