MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A VENTILATION CAP ON A MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY BOX COVER

Abstract

Assembly for mounting a ventilation plug (26) on a cover (4) of a motor vehicle battery box, comprising a ventilation plug (26), a cover (4) having a folded edge (6), and a tool for positioning this ventilation plug (26) on the cover (4), the positioning tool having shapes for holding the ventilation plug (26), and a groove for receiving the folded edge (6) which is equipped with elastic studs for clamping this edge (6) on one side of the groove. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING A VENTILATION CAP ON A MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY BOX COVER

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for mounting a ventilation cap on a motor vehicle battery box cover, with a tool for positioning this cap, as well as a method for positioning the ventilation cap on the cover with this type of tool.

[0002] A known type of traction battery box for a hybrid motor vehicle, presented in particular by document FR-A1-2949390, comprises a closed box containing electrochemical elements for storing electrical energy, which has a seal in order to protect these elements from external projections, in particular from water projections during driving.

[0003] Electrochemical cells, in particular cells using lithium ion technology, can emit gases which must be evacuated from the box, in particular to avoid a build-up of pressure in this box which could damage it.

[0004] The document presents a pipe starting from a casing of the box, which is connected by a flexible movement compensation means to the exhaust duct of the vehicle's thermal engine in order to evacuate the gases emitted in this duct.

[0005] Generally speaking, the battery box of an electric or hybrid vehicle may comprise a sheet metal cover having on one side a ventilation plug allowing an exchange of gas with the outside, which is fixed to the outside of the cover on a hole in the sheet metal forming a ventilation passage. The ventilation plug comprises a membrane which ensures a balance of pressures in the box while filtering the passage of gases in order to prevent the entry of polluting elements such as water or dust.

[0006] In this case it is known to fix the cap by several fixing screws engaged from the inside of the cover in holes in the sheet metal arranged around the ventilation passage, which are screwed into the ventilation cap fixed to the outside in order to ensure its retention and a seal around this passage.

[0007] For series assembly in a battery box assembly workshop, the operator must then simultaneously hold the ventilation plug on one side of the cover to engage the fixing screws on the other side, before using a device for tightening these screws.

[0008] This operation of positioning and maintaining at the same time the plug of ventilation and fixing screws, requires adjustments of these components in an uncomfortable position using both hands to hold them all, which poses ergonomic problems, and takes a relatively long time.

[0009] The present invention aims in particular to avoid these problems of the prior art.

[0010] To this end, it proposes an assembly for mounting a ventilation plug on a motor vehicle battery box cover, this assembly comprising a ventilation plug, a cover having a folded edge, and a tool for positioning this ventilation plug on the cover, this assembly being remarkable in that the positioning tool has shapes for holding the ventilation plug, and a groove for receiving the folded edge which is equipped with elastic studs for clamping this edge on one side of the groove.

[0011] An advantage of this assembly is that, after having arranged the ventilation cap on the complementary shapes for holding the tool, it allows this tool to be fixed simply and quickly on the edge of the hood by engaging it in the groove.

[0012] We then automatically have the elastic studs which tighten the edge of the hood, which at the same time ensures precise positioning of the ventilation plug held by the tool, and its maintenance. The operator can then easily and ergonomically engage the fixing screws in holes in the hood on the other side of the plug, then tighten them in this plug which is adjusted and maintained in the position allowing these screws to be received.

[0013] The assembly for mounting the cap according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, which may be combined with each other.

[0014] Advantageously, the positioning tool comprises a circular hollow arranged along a main axis, which constitutes the holding shape of a rear part of the ventilation plug.

[0015] In this case, advantageously the hollow comprises tenons parallel to the main axis, which fit into slots in the rear contour of the ventilation cap.

[0016] Advantageously, after its positioning the folded edge rests on the bottom of the groove.

[0017] Advantageously, the positioning tool comprises two elastic pads.

[0018] Advantageously, each elastic stud comprises a ball pushed by a spring onto the folded edge.

[0019] Advantageously, the positioning tool comprises a bar comprising the groove arranged along its length, and on one side of this bar the shape for holding the ventilation plug.

[0020] In this case, advantageously the holding tool comprises a handle arranged parallel to the bar.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for positioning a wind stopper tilation on a battery box cover of an assembly comprising any one of the preceding characteristics, remarkable in that it comprises a step of adjusting the ventilation plug in the shapes for holding this plug, then a step of inserting the folded edge at the bottom of the groove, then a step of tightening screws for fixing this plug to the cover.

[0022] 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:

[0023] [Fig-1] shows a battery box equipped with a ventilation plug, making part of an assembly according to the invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] is an interior view of the upper cover of this box;

[0025] [Fig.3] is a rear view of the tool of this assembly;

[0026] [Fig.4] is a front view of the tool of this assembly; and

[0027] [Fig.5] is a sectional view of this tool at the level of the axis of an elastic stud.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 show a traction battery box of a vehicle electric or hybrid comprising a lower cover 2 and an upper cover 4 formed by stamped sheets, each comprising a continuous flat edge 6 folded at an angle of approximately 90°. The two folded edges 6 are tightened onto each other by a series of screws 8 in order to form a rigid connection between these two covers 2, 4 comprising a seal.

[0029] The upper cover 4 has on one side a flat face 10 receiving an electrical connector 12 fixed on a hole in the sheet metal forming a cable passage 22, which is surrounded by holes 24 receiving screws for fixing this connector coming from the inside of the cover. The electrical connector 12 receives a first cable 14 for connection to electrical boxes 16 fixed on the side of the upper cover 4, and a second cable 18 equipped at its end with a socket 20 for connecting the high voltage circuit of the vehicle to power an electric traction machine.

[0030] The upper cover 4 receives on one side, near the electrical boxes 16, a ventilation plug 26 having a circular shape fixed to the outside of this cover, opposite a ventilation hole 28 for the passage of gases, which is surrounded by four holes receiving fixing screws 30 inserted from the inside to ensure both the retention of the plug and its sealing around this passage of gases.

[0031] The outer circular contour of the ventilation plug 26 has on its rear face four slots 32 forming hollows distributed over the contour. The ventilation plug 26 is arranged substantially halfway up the side of the upper cover 4, between its upper face and the folded edge 6.

[0032] Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a metal tool 40 for positioning the ventilation plug 26, comprising a circular part centered on an axis A, having on one side before AV of this axis a circular hollow 42 surrounded by four tenons 44 which extend parallel to the axis A.

[0033] The rear face of the ventilation plug 26 fits into the front hollow 42 of the tool 40, the tenons 44 entering the slots 32 ensuring both positioning of this plug in the tool, and its maintenance, in particular its blocking in rotation thanks to the tenons adjusted in the slots.

[0034] The circular part of the tool 40 is connected to a bar 46 arranged tangentially, comprising along its length a groove 48 facing forward AV, which is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the axis A.

[0035] A holding handle 50 parallel to the bar 46, has at one end a stud 52 for fixing on the rear face of this bar.

[0036] After having adjusted the ventilation plug 26 in the front hollow 42 of the tool 40, the operator holding the handle 50 in his hand, approaches this tool to the upper cover 4 by engaging its edge 6 at the bottom of the groove 48 in order to position the ventilation plug 26 opposite the ventilation hole of the cover 28. The edge 6 ends with a rounded edge which gives it rigidity.

[0037] The bar 46 comprises two elastic clamping studs 60 arranged in an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hood rim 6, in the side of the groove 64 which is turned towards the circular hollow of the tool 42. Each elastic stud 60 comprises a sleeve 62 arranged along an axis perpendicular to the edge 6, fixed in the thickness of the groove side 64, containing inside a spring 66 then a ball 68 pushed by this spring towards the inside of the groove 48.

[0038] During the positioning of the tool 40 when the cover rim 6 is engaged at the bottom of the groove 48, this rim pushes the ball 68 by compressing the spring 66 to engage between this ball and the opposite face of the groove. At the end of the positioning of the tool 40, the side of the cover rim 6 is in abutment at the bottom of the groove 48, and the two balls 68 hold this rim which is both positioned in abutment on the opposite side of the groove, and tightened to maintain this position.

[0039] We then have a precise positioning of the ventilation plug 26 opposite its ventilation passage 28, with the correct angular orientation allowing the tightening screws 30 to be engaged in the holes surrounding this passage, then to be screwed directly into the corresponding holes of the plug which are correctly oriented.

[0040] The operator can finally tighten the screws with a tightening tool. It will be noted that each operation of placing the ventilation plug 26 in the tool 40, then positioning this tool on the upper cover 4, and finally placing and tightening the fixing screws 30 of the plug, is independent, and can be carried out easily by the operator with good ergonomics.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly for mounting a ventilation plug (26) on a cover (4) of a motor vehicle battery box, comprising a ventilation plug (26), a cover (4) having a folded edge (6), and a tool (40) for positioning this ventilation plug (26) on the cover (4), characterized in that the positioning tool (40) has shapes for holding the ventilation plug (26), and a groove (48) for receiving the folded edge (6) which is equipped with elastic studs (60) for clamping this edge (6) on one side of the groove (48).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning tool (40) comprises a circular hollow (42) arranged along a main axis (A), which constitutes the holding shape of a rear part of the ventilation plug (26).

3. An assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the hollow (42) comprises tenons (44) parallel to the main axis (A), which fit into slots (32) in the rear contour of the ventilation cap (26).

4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after its positioning the folded edge (6) rests on the bottom of the groove (48).

5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning tool (40) comprises two elastic pads (60).

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each elastic stud (60) comprises a ball (68) pushed by a spring (66) onto the folded edge (6).

7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning tool (40) comprises a bar (46) comprising the groove (48) arranged along its length, and on one side of this bar (46) the shape for holding the ventilation plug (26).

8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding tool (40) comprises a handle (50) arranged parallel to the bar (46).

9. Method for positioning a ventilation plug (26) on a battery box cover (4) of an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a step of adjusting the ventilation plug (26) in the shapes of holding the tool (40), then a step of inserting the folded edge (6) at the bottom of the groove (48), then a step of tightening the fixing screw (30) of this cap (26) on the cover (4).

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