service battery holder

Abstract

A vehicle service battery support, this support comprising: - a base (S) suitable for receiving a base of the service battery, and extending from a first end (1) to a second end (2) along a so-called main axis (XP), - a first wall (P1) orthogonal to the base (S), integral with the first end (1) and suitable for being fixed to a structure of the vehicle, - a second wall (P2) squaring the first wall (P1) with the base (S), the second wall (P2) forming a surface whose generatrix (G) follows a curved and / or broken guideline from the first end (1) to the second end (2). Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: service battery holder

[0001] The present invention relates to a service battery support suitable for receiving a service battery storing electrical energy, in particular for a motor vehicle comprising a passenger compartment.

[0002] This support is generally secured to a part of the bodywork or chassis of the vehicle forming an engine compartment and delimiting this engine compartment from the passenger compartment.

[0003] This service battery is generally between 10 and 40 kg and is rigid and must be easily accessible for maintenance. In anticipation of an accident, in particular in the event of a front impact, this service battery and its support are positioned away from the driving machine(s) so that these driving machines, in particular an internal combustion engine or an electric driving machine and its reducer, can move backward under the effect of this impact without pushing the battery or its support towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0004] Unfortunately, the compactness of today's vehicles, whether they are electric, thermal, fuel cell, or hybrid, and the increase in the size and weight of these service batteries and therefore the size of the support, no longer allow the support to be completely removed. The consequence is that this reduces the possibilities of absorbing front impacts in these vehicles.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to remedy this problem by proposing an improved support.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle service battery support, this support comprising: - a base suitable for receiving a base of the service battery, and extending from a first end to a second end along a so-called main axis, - a first wall orthogonal to the base, secured to the first end and suitable for being fixed to a structure of the vehicle, - a second wall at right angles to the first wall with the base, this second wall forming a surface whose generator follows a curved and / or broken guideline from the first end to the second end.

[0007] This generator is for example rectilinear, but not necessarily. The broken line is for example a succession of straight or curved segments.

[0008] Thus this second squaring wall reinforces the support and allows the support to receive a heavier and / or more bulky service battery, and, during an impact along the main axis, this second wall will be erased on contact for example with the driving machine (or any other rigid organ, for example a reducer or gearbox speeds) which will tend to move back against this second wall. In this case, the second wall is collapsed by buckling thanks to its curved or broken shape, which makes it possible not to transmit the force of the impact directly to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, in particular an apron (structure of the vehicle) for example on which the support is secured.

[0009] It will be noted that, for example, this second end is a free end, the base then being mounted cantilevered relative to the first wall, and stiffened by the squaring of this second wall.

[0010] Thus the second wall can be directly on the path of the driving machine when the latter moves back against the apron during a front impact.

[0011] Throughout the text of this document, the term "square" will be understood to mean a second wall forming a stiffener limiting a variation in the angle between the base and the first wall under the effect of a force, in particular under the effect of the weight of the battery or its inertia. Preferably, this second wall will form, according to a view orthogonal to the main axis and parallel to the plane of the base, a square, that is to say having a first edge in contact with the base, and a second edge in contact with the first wall. More particularly, according to this same view, this second wall forms a triangle whose largest side forms a free edge of this second wall, a free edge intended to come into contact with the prime mover when it recoils in the event of an impact.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guideline is centered on the main axis. It will be understood by this expression, throughout the text of this document, that the line comprises as much length on either side of the main axis. For example, this line follows an axial symmetry along the main axis. For example, this line is a succession of waves alternately on one side or the other of the main axis. These waves form, for example, a sinusoidal line, or a succession of U's inverted with respect to each other (a branch of two successive U's being common to these two U's), or a succession of broken segments whose center is carried by the main axis.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guideline oscillates around a U-shaped trajectory starting from the first wall and returning to the first wall, and the two branches of the U of which are parallel to the main axis.

[0014] The term "trajectory" or "oscillates" will be understood as qualifiers describing the geometric construction of the guideline as if it were drawn by the movement of a pencil, and not as a notion of movement of the line as such, of course. The term "oscillates" takes for example the forms previously described, namely: a sinusoidal line, or a succession of U's inverted with respect to each other, or even a succession of broken segments.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guideline extends on either side of this main axis. For example, if the main axis is a length of the base, the guideline extends over the entire width of the base, and therefore the second wall as well.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main axis is an axis of symmetry of the base.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first wall is furthermore orthogonal to the main axis.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second wall is orthogonal to the base. This is the optimal arrangement for good stiffening of the support (squareness of the base relative to the first wall).

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second wall faces a face of the lower base as opposed to a face of the upper base suitable for receiving the base of the battery.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guideline forms a wave. By analogy with the electrical domain, this wave is, for example, a wave of a “square”, “triangular”, “sawtooth”, or even “sinusoidal” signal. We can take as an illustration the line forming a succession of waves alternately on one side or the other of the main axis, these waves forming, for example, a sinusoidal line, or a succession of U’s inverted relative to each other forming the square signal (a branch of two successive U’s being common to these two U’s), or even a succession of broken segments forming the triangular or sawtooth signal.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a service battery, a structure, and a service battery support as previously described, and secured to the structure, the main axis being an axis oriented in a direction of impact, in particular a front impact of the vehicle. This structure is for example an apron separating an engine compartment from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0022] Throughout the text of this document, the term “service battery” will be understood to mean an assembly comprising at least one battery module containing at least one electrochemical cell, the service battery being considered equivalent to at least one module. This battery is generally a battery having an off-load operating voltage of between 10 and 30V, but this is not mandatory, this battery being able to comprise a voltage or current converter. This battery possibly comprises electrical or electronic means for managing the electrical energy of this at least one module. This service battery may comprise several modules, grouped in a casing. This service battery is intended to power computers or actuators or safety systems of the vehicle. automobile, and is for example the battery of a vehicle whose drive is provided only by an internal combustion engine. For a vehicle with electric or hybrid drive, comprising an electric prime mover and a traction battery powering this electric prime mover, the service battery has its electrical energy storage capacity much lower than that of the traction battery.

[0023] Furthermore, the term electrochemical cell will be understood throughout the text of this document to mean cells generating current by chemical reaction, for example of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) type, of the Ni-Mh, or Ni-Cd or even lead type.

[0024] Other features and advantages will appear on reading the following description of a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the invention, given with reference to Figures 1 to 2 in which:

[0025] [Fig-1]: represents a vehicle service battery support according to a exemplary embodiment of the invention, in perspective view.

[0026] [Fig.2]: represents an example of a second wall according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0027] In the following, reference is made to all figures taken in combination. When reference is made to one or more specific figures, these figures are to be taken in combination with the other figures for the recognition of the designated numerical references.

[0028] These figures 1 to 2 represent a support for a service battery of a vehicle, this support comprising: - a base S suitable for receiving a base of the service battery, and extending from a first end 1 to a second end 2 along a so-called main axis XP, - a first wall PI orthogonal to the base S, integral with the first end 1 and suitable for being fixed to a structure of the vehicle, - a second wall P2 squaring the first wall PI with the base S, the second wall P2 forming a surface whose generator G follows a curved and / or broken guideline from the first end 1 to the second end 2.

[0029] This service battery is for example parallelepiped, its base comprising a peripheral heel which, if the base is placed on the base S, is held in abutment on the base S by means of screwed flanges or tabs bearing both on the heel and the base S. The screw is screwed onto the base. But the service battery can be held on the base S by other means, for example textile or metal straps, straps screwed onto the base S, or any other means known to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The second wall P2 is opposite a face F of the base S from below as opposed to a face of the base S from above suitable for receiving the base of the battery, which defines a top / bottom direction for the entire description which follows.

[0031] The first wall PI illustrated is therefore a wall integral with the first end 1, which will be designated as the rear end, the second end 2 being the front end, the main axis XP being an axis parallel to the axis “X” (not illustrated) of the vehicle, that is to say the axis along which the vehicle moves forward. For example, the main axis XP is a length of the base S. This first wall 1, as well as the base S, are for example stamped sheets welded or screwed together. But these sheets can be made of metal as well as plastic, in particular reinforced plastic and glued together and / or screwed, clipped by any means known to those skilled in the art.

[0032] The first wall 1 illustrated extends in the lower part by a staircase-like shape, the free end F1 of which is secured to a structure of the vehicle and in particular an apron. This first wall 1 also extends in the upper part to form an additional fixing point F2 on the apron, as well as a second square P3 with the base S in the upper part where the service battery is housed.

[0033] The illustrated guideline is centered on the main axis XP, and oscillates around a trajectory J represented by dotted lines in the shape of a U starting from the first wall PI and returning to the first wall PI, and the two branches of the U of which are parallel to the main axis XP. In other words, the main axis XP is the axis of the U shape of the trajectory J.

[0034] It will be noted that the second wall P2 illustrated does not reach the second end 2, but in a variant not illustrated this would be entirely conceivable. The advantage of the second wall P2 illustrated is that it is less bulky. It will also be noted that, in the top / bottom direction previously defined, the height of the second wall 2 at the right of the first end 1 is greater than the height of the second wall 2 close to the second end 2.That is to say that this second wall P2 forms, according to a view orthogonal to the main axis XP and parallel to the plane of the base S, a square having a first edge in contact with the base S, and a second edge in contact with the first wall PI, this second wall P2 forming a triangle whose largest side forms a free edge BL of this second wall P2, free edge BL intended to come into contact with a driving machine of the vehicle during its recoil in the event of an impact, and in particular a so-called "front" or even frontal impact.

[0035] It will be noted that this free edge BL forms a sliding ramp which, for a slight front impact, will have the effect of moving the support away from the recoiling drive machine, whereas for a stronger frontal impact, this free edge BL as well as the second wall 2 will fold back on itself, allowing the drive machine to move further backward without pushing the bulkhead back into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0036] It will be noted that, as illustrated, this second end 2 is a free end, the base S then being mounted cantilevered relative to the first wall PI, and stiffened by the squaring of this second wall P2.

[0037] It will also be noted that this free edge BL comprises a notch 3, making it possible to avoid local contact between the driving machine and the support, for example to avoid damaging a sensitive element of the driving machine such as for example a high voltage electrical connection or a fuel circuit or any other member likely to aggravate the situation after impact if it is impacted.

[0038] The guideline extends on either side of this main axis XP, over the entire width of the base S from the first end 1, then partially over this width as the second wall 2 approaches the second end. The advantage here is to dimension this second wall P2 to the extent necessary so as to minimize its size.

[0039] The first edge in contact with the base S is, for example, fixed to the base S but not necessarily: it can only rest on this base S, which makes it easier to clear the second wall P2 in the event of a front impact and also leaves the rest of the support intact, the battery thus being sufficiently held even after an impact.

[0040] As a variant, the first edge in contact with the base S is for example fixed to the base S only by clips which can be broken in the event of an impact, allowing both the second wall P2 to be erased in the event of a front impact, and the fixing of this first edge to the base S, thus avoiding, for example, unwanted noise.

[0041] This first edge, as illustrated in [Fig.2], is extended by a fallen edge 4 over its entire length to ensure this support and / or its fixing to the base S. The second edge in contact with the first wall PI will be integral, via any fixing means, with the first wall PI so as to be able to ensure the squaring function of this second wall 2.

[0042] This second wall P2 is for example a stamped steel sheet welded to the first wall 1, but can also be made of injected plastic which allows more complex shapes like the one illustrated.

[0043] The main axis XP is also an axis of symmetry of the base S.

[0044] According to the illustrated embodiment, the first wall PI is further orthogonal to the main axis XP and the second wall P2 is orthogonal to the base S. The guideline can form a "triangular", "sawtooth" or even "sinusoidal" wave, but as illustrated it forms a "square" wave: in fact, this guideline as illustrated comprises a succession of U's inverted with respect to each other forming the square wave (a branch of two successive U's being common to these two U's). The attachment to the deck of this second wall P2 is therefore done by a branch of the first U and the last U of this series of U's.

[0045] This invention applies in particular to a motor vehicle comprising the service battery, a structure such as the bulkhead, and the battery support. easement as previously described. This support is integral with the structure, the main axis XP being an axis oriented according to the direction of impact, in particular a front or frontal impact of the vehicle.

[0046] This vehicle comprises the prime mover. This prime mover comprises for example an internal combustion engine and / or an electric prime mover. Whatever the prime mover, the latter comprises multiple rigid members, the prime mover itself being rigid, this rigidity being understood in the sense that this prime mover forms a block that is almost indeformable compared to the structure of the vehicle and which, if it is positioned between the impact and the passenger compartment of the vehicle, will tend to move back during an impact along the main axis XP. This movement is anticipated from the design of the vehicle. However, if the support for the service battery, for reasons of space, is positioned partly between the prime mover and the structure of the passenger compartment, this support must collapse so that this structure, in our example the bulkhead, is not pushed in by the support.The advantage of our solution is that this second wall P2 will disappear upon contact with the prime mover (or any other rigid member) thus avoiding the sinking of the structure and therefore, will preserve the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Thus our invention makes it possible to insert the support of the service battery between the structure and the prime mover. The rigid members are for example and in a non-exhaustive manner: a gearbox, a reducer, an inverter, a current converter, an on-board charger, a traction battery suitable for powering an electric prime mover, a casing of the prime mover, an exhaust manifold.

[0047] It will be noted that the traction battery is distinguished from the service battery by its voltage, generally between 300 and 1000V, and its electrical energy storage capacity which is much greater than that of the service battery. For comparison, the service battery generally weighs between 10 and 30 kg, very rarely more than 40 kg, whereas a traction battery will not weigh less than 250 kg even using Lithium-Ion technology. This service battery can be located in an engine compartment (front or rear), under a seat in the passenger compartment, or even in a luggage compartment. Our invention is of course applicable to a service battery and its support located in an engine compartment of the vehicle.

[0048] [Fig.2] represents the second wall 2 alone, for example in injected plastic. The surface of this second wall 2 is obtained by a rectilinear generatrix G, and the first edge is extended by the fallen edge 4 over its entire length. As explained previously, this generatrix G is not necessarily rectilinear, and similarly other shapes can be considered for the guideline of this generatrix G. The essential thing is that this second wall P2 forms a surface whose generatrix G follows a curved and / or broken guideline from the first end 1 to the second end 2.

Claims

Claims

1. vehicle service battery support, this support comprising: - a base (S) suitable for receiving a base of the service battery, and extending from a first end (1) to a second end (2) along a so-called main axis (XP), - a first wall (PI) orthogonal to the base (S), integral with the first end (1) and suitable for being fixed to a structure of the vehicle, - a second wall (P2) for squaring the first wall (PI) with the base (S), characterized in that the second wall (P2) forms a surface whose generatrix (G) follows a curved and / or broken guideline from the first end (1) to the second end (2).

2. Support according to claim 1, the guideline being centered on the main axis (XP).

3. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the guideline oscillating around a U-shaped trajectory (J) starting from the first wall (PI) and returning to the first wall (PI), and the two branches of the U of which are parallel to the main axis (XP).

4. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the guideline extending on either side of this main axis (XP).

5. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the main axis (XP) being an axis of symmetry of the base (S).

6. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the first wall (PI) being further orthogonal to the main axis (XP).

7. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the second wall (P2) being orthogonal to the base (S).

8. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the second wall (P2) being opposite a face (F) of the base (S) from below as opposed to a face of the base (S) from above suitable for receiving the base of the battery.

9. Support according to one of the preceding claims, the guideline forming a wave.

10. Motor vehicle comprising a service battery, a structure, and a service battery support according to one of the preceding claims and secured to the structure, the main axis (XP) being an axis oriented in a direction of impact, in particular a front impact of the vehicle.

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