Gripping tool for handling a battery module

Abstract

Gripping tool (100) usable for gripping and lifting a battery module (9), weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a vertical barrel near each of its four vertical edges, the gripping tool comprising four arms (2) arranged in a quadrilateral corresponding to the positions of the barrels, each arm being intended to be inserted into a corresponding barrel, each arm comprising two fingers (3) and a control rod (10) equipped with a spacer piece (8) fixed at its end, the control rod being movable under the effect of a control member, eg eccentric rotating cam connected to a control lever (7), the control rod and the spacer piece being axially movable between a retracted position where the fingers can slide freely along the arm axis and an expansion position pressing the fingers radially outwards against the inner wall of the barrel. Abstract figure: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Gripping tool for handling a battery module

[0001] The present invention relates to a gripping tool for handling a battery module.

[0002] A battery module for an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle contains a significant amount of electrical energy. The traction battery corresponds to a set of modules placed next to each other in an assembly called a "battery pack". Depending on the possible configurations, each module has a more or less significant weight, but generally greater than 15 kilograms. In addition, each module rests on a layer of thermally conductive material called in the trade "thermal grease" or "gap filler". This layer of thermally conductive material is pasty or viscous and has a certain adhesion that must be overcome when one wants to lift and extract a module.

[0003] In certain vehicle life situations, it may be necessary to intervene on the battery modules, and to remove one or more modules from the battery pack. This may be a vehicle repair phase. It may also be a removal at the end of the battery life, i.e. a dismantling operation.

[0004] A gripping tool based on vacuum suction cups is known in the art.

[0005] However, when the upper wall of the module is equipped with ventilation holes or slots, the action of the vacuum suction cups proves ineffective.

[0006] The inventors sought to improve the situation, in particular to propose a solution for handling battery modules, whether or not they have ventilation vents on their upper face.

[0007] For this purpose, a gripping tool is proposed which can be used to grip and lift a battery module, weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a generally parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical barrel, the gripping tool comprising four arms, the four arms being parallel to each other and arranged in a quadrilateral corresponding to the positions of the barrels of the module, each of the arms being intended to be inserted into a corresponding barrel, each arm comprising at least two fingers and a control rod which extends axially along an arm axis (A) and equipped with at least one spacer (8) fixed to the free end of the control rod, the spacer being interposed between the fingers, the control rod being axially movable under the effect of a member of control (eg a rotating eccentric cam) connected to a control lever, the control rod and the spacer being movable between a retracted position and an expanded position pressing the fingers radially outwardly against an inner wall of the barrel, while in the retracted position the fingers can slide freely in the barrel along the arm axis.

[0008] Thanks to these arrangements, with the help of the four arms engaged in the four barrels with the fingers locked in each respective barrel, it is possible to exert a significant upward pulling force. By means of which, the upward pulling force can overcome on the one hand the weight of the module and also the adhesion effect generated by the presence of the thermal grease.

[0009] The spacer acts as a wedge, with a conical or ovoid portion, for example an olive shape which interacts with the fingers to spread them apart.

[0010] Advantageously, the radial pressure of the fingers on the inner wall of the barrel is sufficient to cause a blocking effect which makes it possible to transmit a significant force in the axial direction.

[0011] It is noted that the transition from the retracted position to the expanded position must be reversible, so that after handling the battery module, the locking of the fingers can be released and the gripping tool can be separated from the module easily and the gripping tool can then be reused later to handle other modules.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the tool comprises a chassis with a frame of side members and a central cross member with a lifting point.

[0013] Advantageously, such a structure allows lifting with a hoist-type or goat-type lifting device. Such a structure makes it possible to transmit the lifting force applied to the central point towards the four corners of the frame where the arms exert part of the lifting force relative to the module barrel. Thanks to the centering of the lifting point, the traction forces are distributed equally over the four arms.

[0014] The side member frame can be manufactured as a welded-type profile assembly.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the chassis can be lifted using a multi-point, multi-sling lifting system, attached to the four corners and without using a cross member and a central lifting point.

[0016] According to one embodiment, each control lever is movable between a first position and a second position, the second position corresponding to the expansion position, the second position being lockable. The second position of the control lever is preferably lockable by a latch, for example self-locking. Alternatively, the second position of the control lever can also be held by a crutch system.

[0017] According to one embodiment, an angular travel of a quarter turn is provided between the two extreme positions of the control lever, i.e. between the first and second positions. For example, the control lever is horizontal in the first position and it is vertical in the second position.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, to form a control member connected to a control lever, a screw-nut type system can be used with a crank, the nut being captive, and the crank rotating the threaded section rod inside the nut. By screwing the crank, this causes the rod to rise and therefore the action of spreading the fingers, and conversely, by unscrewing the crank, the opposite effect is obtained and the fingers are released.

[0019] According to one embodiment, there is provided, associated with each arm, a support sleeve, integral with the chassis, the control rod passing through a central passage of the sleeve. Each sleeve comes to bear by its lower face on a mouth plane of the barrel. In addition, the control member bears on the upper part of the sleeve.

[0020] According to one embodiment, a depth adjustment of the control rod is provided via a bar with a threaded hole interposed between two eccentric cams. The rod is equipped with an external thread, the bar with a threaded hole is equipped with an internal thread. By rotating the rod relative to the core, the depth of the rod and therefore the effect of the eccentric control is adjusted when the control or maneuvering lever is operated.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment, a needle screw is provided to block the rotation of the rod inside the bar with a threaded hole.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the axial travel of the control rod between the retracted position and the expanded position is less than 2 mm. As a result, a small axial displacement is sufficient to cause a significant radial force leading to the fingers being locked inside the barrel. The eccentric cam system can thus be compact and / or a significant force amplification can be provided between a moderate force exerted on the control lever (significant travel) and an amplified force exerted by the control member (short travel).

[0023] According to one embodiment, each finger comprises a portion of bearing surface of substantially semi-circular shape. This maximizes the bearing areas, which are well distributed circumferentially around the inner wall of the barrel.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the fingers are part of a locking ring comprising a discoid base with axial drilling, from which said fingers extend downwards.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the spacer piece has an attack zone inclined relative to the arm axis at an attack angle 01 of between 30 and 55 degrees, preferably a value close to 45°.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the arms and the chassis do not protrude beyond the horizontal footprint L9 x W9 taken by the module. In other words, the gripping tool fits within a rectangle delimiting the horizontal footprint of the battery module.

[0027] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a battery module, weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a generally parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical barrel, and a gripping tool as described previously, capable of causing the fingers to be blocked in the barrels.

[0028] According to one embodiment, each barrel is cylindrical and smooth, with an internal diameter of between 9 mm and 10 mm. Most battery modules for electric vehicles have such fixing well diameters and consequently the gripping tool presented here can be used in a wide variety of vehicle battery situations and configurations.

[0029] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an electric vehicle in profile view, the traction battery comprising a plurality of juxtaposed modules; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates in partial top view the plurality of juxtaposed modules; - [Fig.3] shows a perspective view of an example of a tool for gripping in accordance with the present invention; - [Fig.4] illustrates an example of a module in elevation view with section in the barrel area according to section line IV-IV shown in [Fig.2]; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates an example of a helical arm of the tool of grip, with the retracted position PI on the left and the expansion position P2 on the right; - [Fig.6] illustrates a top view of a corner area of ​​the module; - [Fig.7] schematically illustrates an example of a system for adjusting the depth of the control rod; - [Fig.8] illustrates in section view on the left the retracted position of the fingers and on right the finger expansion position; - [Fig.9] shows a schematic view of the locking ring and the rod with the spacer; - [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates in perspective view an example of operation of the control lever; - [Fig.l 1] illustrates a variant of locking the control lever.

[0030] In the various figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity of the description, certain elements are not necessarily represented to scale.

[0031] In [Fig.l], an electric vehicle 99 is shown in profile view, the traction battery comprising a plurality of modules 9. The vehicle in question may be a 100% electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or even a hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle.

[0032] By convention, a spatial geometric reference is defined which comprises a first direction X according to the width of the module (and the longitudinal direction of movement of the vehicle), a second direction Y according to the length of the module (and the transverse direction of the vehicle) and a third direction Z, in length, according to the height of the module (vertical of the vehicle). It is noted that the reference of the module coincides with the reference usually used for the vehicle. In the example illustrated, the direction of the length of the batteries is in the transverse direction of the floor of the vehicle.

[0033] The modules 9, which make up the battery, are juxtaposed.

[0034] The modules 9 rest on a lower casing 97 of the battery pack. A plate heat evacuation 93 is interposed between the lower wall 95 of the module and the lower casing 97 of the battery pack.

[0035] The modules 9 rest on a thermal cooling plate 93, itself resting on or forming part of a mechanical lower casing of the battery pack. A layer of thermal grease 94 is provided between the cooling plate and the lower wall 95 of the module, in other words generically a layer of thermally conductive material also called in the art “gap filler”.

[0036] It should be noted that the lower casing 97 of the battery pack as well as the thermal cooling plate 93 are only partially illustrated in [Fig.4], on the left side.

[0037] In Figures 2 and 4 a battery module 9 appears. In the present context, this is a battery module of a battery pack for an electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0038] The battery module 9 has a generally parallelepiped shape. The battery module has a width W9 comprised in practice depending on the applications between 10 cm and 30 cm. The length L9 is comprised in practice depending on the applications between 30 cm and 100 cm, for example of the order of 50 cm or 60 cm. Larger dimensions are also considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] The battery module has a height H9 of between 15 cm and 25 cm in practice.

[0040] In the illustrated example, the battery module 9 weighs approximately 30 kg. However, the gripping tool promoted here can be used to lift modules of greater weight by example of 50 kg modules. The weight and size values ​​given here are purely indicative and not exhaustive. Note that a battery module generally weighs at least 15 kg.

[0041] At the four upper corners, there is an upper corner recess 12, of height H2 and square footprint of size W2. At the four lower corners, there is also a lower corner recess 14, of similar or different size and shape.

[0042] The battery module 9 comprises fixing wells 1 in the four corners, otherwise called 'barrels' in this document. The barrels 1 are arranged in the vicinity of the four vertical edges. The barrels 1 open upwards into the upper corner recesses 12 at a barrel mouth 21. The barrels 1 open downwards into the lower corner recesses 14.

[0043] It is noted that each barrel 1 is generally a cylinder with a smooth inner wall 11 of diameter D1. The height H1 of the smooth barrel 1 corresponds to the total height of the module H9, from which the height of the upper reinforcement H2 and the height of the lower reinforcement are subtracted.

[0044] Turning to [Fig.4], we notice that in the lower part of the barrel, the corner reinforcement space 14 is occupied by a locating and fixing sleeve marked 96. This prevents any mechanical gripping at this location by passing through the interior of the barrel, which thus underlines the interest of the gripping tool presented by the present invention.

[0045] The gripping tool 100 comprises a chassis 5 with a frame of side members. The frame of side members comprises two large side members 51, 52 corresponding in the example illustrated to the long sides of the rectangle, and two small side members 53, 54 corresponding to the short sides of the rectangle. The side members are preferably robust metal profiles assembled at the corner of the frame. The frame may generally be a mechanically welded assembly, in the he construction configuration.

[0046] In addition, a central cross member 55 is provided, installed between the large side members.

[0047] On the central crosspiece 55, a shackle 59 or any other lifting accessory is generally fixed in a position close to the center of gravity of the gripping tool, that is to say in practice at the center of the rectangle of the main base. This provides a single lifting point that is well balanced along a lifting axis noted C.

[0048] Advantageously, the gripping tool 100 fits within a rectangle delimiting the horizontal footprint L9xW9 of the battery module 9. Indeed, the arms 2 and the chassis 5 do not protrude from the horizontal footprint L9xW9 taken by the module 9. The gripping tool can be used even if there are potentially troublesome foreign elements on the sides of the module to be lifted.

[0049] As illustrated in [Fig.3]. the gripping tool 100 comprises four arms 2, directed downwards. Each arm 2 extends along an arm axis A, from the chassis 5.

[0050] The four arms 2 are parallel to each other and arranged in a quadrilateral corresponding to the positions of the module barrels. Each arm 2 is intended to be inserted into a corresponding barrel 1.

[0051] Each arm 2 can be inserted inside the barrel 1 to a height noted H3. According to a particular example, the height H3 can be between 2 cm and 5 cm.

[0052] As seen in Figures 5 and 9, each arm comprises a socket 4, a control rod 10 with a spacer 8 and a locking ring 3 equipped with fingers 31, 32.

[0053] The control rod 10, the spacer 8 and the locking ring 3 are metal parts.

[0054] The sleeve 4 has a tubular shape. The sleeve comprises a central passage 40 which allows the control rod 10 to pass therein and to move axially. The lower face of the sleeve 41 bears on the mouth plane 21. On the opposite side, on the upper face of the sleeve 42, a control member rests on the upper face 42, this control member will be detailed below.

[0055] The outer wall 44 of the socket 4 may be circular or polygonal, while remaining inscribed in a square of side W2, so as not to exceed the overall size of the module.

[0056] The diameter of the central passage 40 of the sleeve 4 is less than the internal diameter DI of the barrel 1.

[0057] As visible in [Fig.5], this difference in diameter makes it possible to naturally form a shoulder 48 on which the discoid base 36 of the locking ring 3 abuts.

[0058] As seen in [Fig.9], the locking ring 3 comprises the annular discoid base 36 with an axial bore 38. From this base, two fingers 31, 32 extend downwards which are sufficiently rigid axially not to move back under the effect of the elevation of the spacer piece but the fingers are radially flexible. Optionally, the fingers 31, 32 have an intrinsic elasticity which returns them towards the axis A.

[0059] Each of the two fingers 31, 32 is, in the example illustrated, generally semi-circular or even semi-cylindrical in shape. Each finger comprises a peripheral support portion 27 in the shape of an arc of a circle.

[0060] In the example illustrated, the control rod 10 has a diameter of between 3 mm and 4 mm.

[0061] The spacer piece 8 is here shaped like an olive.

[0062] As visible in [Fig.9], the spacer piece 8 has an attack zone 84 inclined relative to the arm axis at an attack angle 01 of between 30° and 55°, preferably a value close to 45°.

[0063] Other shapes are possible with a truncated portion having a sufficient angle of attack to spread the fingers radially outwards, against the inner wall 11 of the barrel 1.

[0064] The olive is fixed to the lower end of the control rod 10, by any suitable means. Thus, the olive may be integral with the rod in a single integral piece. According to an alternative embodiment, the olive may be axially pierced and the rod may pass through it to provide a positive fixing from below.

[0065] The spacer piece 8 is interposed between the fingers 31, 32. The useful axial travel of the spacer piece inside the fingers is in the example illustrated between 1 mm and 2 mm.

[0066] It is noted that it is not excluded to have more than two fingers, for example three fingers or four fingers distributed regularly over almost the entire circumference.

[0067] The diameter presented by the fingers (the peripheral support portion 27) at rest in the retracted position PI is slightly less than the diameter DI of the barrel 1.

[0068] Outside the barrel 1, the diameter presented by the fingers (the peripheral support portion 27) urged outwards by the olive in the expansion position P2 is slightly greater than the diameter D1.

[0069] In the example illustrated, the difference in diameter between the diameters of the two positions, without the presence of the barrel, is of the order of 3 / 10 of a millimeter. This is sufficient to provide the blocking function when the arm 2 with its fingers 31, 32 are inside the barrel 1, under stress in the expansion configuration P2.

[0070] The control member 6 is formed in the example illustrated as an eccentric cam. The axis of rotation of the eccentric cam is denoted B and is perpendicular to the arm axis A.

[0071] The control member 6 bears on the upper face of the socket 42.

[0072] In the example of [Fig.5], the eccentric cam 6 comprises on the one hand a body with a circular rim 60 resting on the upper face of the sleeve 42 and on the other hand a crank pin 61, offset relative to the center of the rim, the crank pin 61 projecting on one side of the body.

[0073] In the example illustrated, the crank pin 61 is received in a bearing 13 arranged on the upper end of the rod 10. This forms an articulation between the eccentric cam and the control rod.

[0074] On the left side of [Fig. 5], the crank pin 61 and the bearing 13 are at the low point. On the right side of [Fig. 5], the eccentric cam 6 has been turned clockwise and the crank pin 61 and the bearing 13 of the upper end of the rod 10 are in a higher position. This causes the spacer 8 to rise and the fingers to press against the inner wall of the was, as explained above.

[0075] According to an optional characteristic, the rod can remain perfectly vertical and aligned with respect to the central passage 40 of the sleeve, for this purpose a framing of the crank pin is provided by walls 67 linked to the sleeve, the rim 60 then slides on the upper face of the sleeve 42. It is noted that a sliding sheet 47 can be provided, for example made of Teflon™.

[0076]

[0077] As an alternative to the eccentric cam, a screw-nut system (not shown in the figure) with captive nut can also be used, the pull rod comprising a threaded part received in the internal thread of the captive nut. Preferably, a fine pitch screw thread is chosen.

[0078] For example, a system with a crank can be used, the internally threaded nut being captive, and the crank rotating the threaded section rod inside the nut. By screwing the crank, this causes the rod to rise and therefore the action of spreading the fingers, and conversely, by unscrewing the crank, the opposite effect is obtained and the fingers are released.

[0079] According to yet another solution, a system of levers and rods can be used to pull the control rod upwards.

[0080] To summarize, the function of the control member is to perform an upward pull on the control rod relative to the socket by bearing directly or indirectly on the upper surface 42 of the socket. Any technical solution allowing the aforementioned function to be fulfilled could be used. The eccentric cam illustrated in the figures is only a non-limiting example of an entity generically called a “control member”.

[0081] In the example illustrated, the eccentric cam 6 is connected to a tilting control lever 7 (also called an operating lever). The control lever 7 is integral with the eccentric cam 6, the control lever is generally mounted to rotate around the axis B perpendicular to the arm axis A.

[0082] The control lever 7 is movable between a first position E1 (here horizontal) and a second position E2 (here vertical). The second position E2 corresponds to the expansion position P2 of the locking ring 3.

[0083] The control lever 7 comprises a body 70, a handle 72 and at least one cylindrical wheel 73 housing the eccentric cam 6. In the example illustrated, the control lever is equipped with two cylindrical wheels 73 housing a bar forming the eccentric cam, the two cylindrical wheels framing the axis A.

[0084] As illustrated, an angular travel of a quarter turn, i.e. 90°, is provided between the two extreme positions of the control lever, i.e. between the first position E1 and the second position E2. A smaller or larger angular travel can also be be adopted, depending on the configuration of the eccentricity and the useful stroke for the control rod.

[0085] The second position E2 of the control lever is lockable. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 10], the control lever is lockable by a latch 16. The latch 16 is returned to the locking position by a spring 66. The latch 16 comprises a front part with a stop surface 62 on which the body 70 of the control lever 7 abuts from the second position E2. The stop surface 62 is a rotation parallax of the lever B.

[0086] The latch 16 is guided in translation along the axis B by a latch guide marked 17 (see figures 3 and 10).

[0087] To unlock the second position E2, a manual action of clearing the latch against the action of the spring must be carried out by the operator. For this purpose, the latch can be equipped with an operating button 18 (see figures 3 and 10).

[0088] According to one option, the locking of the second position is automatic; for this purpose, a ramp 63 is provided which makes it possible to push the latch back by cam effect against the effect of the spring when the control lever is brought towards the second position E2. When the body of the control lever has pushed the latch 16 back thanks to the ramp 63, it passes beyond the stop surface 62 and then the latch 16 automatically returns to the locking position, which secures the second position E2.

[0089] According to an optional feature illustrated in [Fig.7], a depth adjustment of the control rod is provided via a threaded hole bar 68 interposed between two eccentric cams 81, 82. The rod is equipped with an external thread 89, the threaded hole bar 68 is equipped with an internal thread. By rotating the rod relative to the core, the depth of the rod and therefore the effect of the eccentric control is adjusted. A groove 83 is provided on the upper end of the rod for rotating the rod with a screwdriver.

[0090] According to a particular embodiment, a needle screw 74 is provided to block the rotation of the rod inside the bar with a threaded hole.

[0091] Alternatively, the second position E2 of the control lever can also be maintained by a simple and economical crutch system, as illustrated in [Fig.l 1]. A crutch 76 is mounted on a ball joint B2, generally based on the chassis or on one of its side members.

[0092] The free end of the crutch 76 can be received in a notch 78 under the operating lever 7.

[0093] The inventors have found that the gripping device proposed here makes it possible to lift a load of 90 kg.

Claims

Claims

1. Gripping tool (100) usable for gripping and lifting a battery module (9), weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a generally parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical barrel (1), the gripping tool comprising four arms (2), the four arms being parallel to each other and arranged in a quadrilateral corresponding to the positions of the barrels of the module, each of the arms being intended to be inserted into a corresponding barrel, each arm comprising at least two fingers (3) and a control rod (10) which extends axially along an arm axis (A) and equipped with at least one spacer (8) fixed to the free end of the control rod, the spacer being interposed between the fingers, the control rod being axially movable under the effect of a control member (6) connected to a control lever (7),the control rod and the spacer being movable between a retracted position (PI) and an expanded position (P2) pressing the fingers radially outwards against an inner wall (11) of the barrel, whereas in the retracted position the fingers can slide freely in the barrel along the arm axis.,

2. Gripping tool according to claim 1, comprising a chassis (5) with a frame of side members and a central cross member with a lifting point.

3. A gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each control lever (7) is movable between a first position (El) and a second position (E2), the second position corresponding to the expansion position, the second position being lockable.

4. Gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which there is provided, associated with each arm, a support sleeve (4), integral with the chassis, the control rod (10) passing through a central passage (40) of the sleeve.

5. Gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which there is provided a depth adjustment of the control rod (10) a bar with a threaded hole (68) interposed between two eccentric cams.

6. A gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the axial travel of the control rod (10) between the retracted position and the expanded position is less than 2 mm.

7. A gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each finger comprises a bearing portion (27) of substantially semi-circular shape.

8. Gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the spacer piece has an attack zone inclined relative to the arm axis at an attack angle (01) of between 30° and 55°, preferably a value close to 45°.

9. Assembly comprising a battery module (9), weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a generally parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical barrel (1), and a gripping tool (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, capable of causing the fingers to be blocked in the barrels.

10. Assembly in which each barrel (1) is cylindrical and smooth, with an internal diameter (Dl) between 9 mm and 10 mm.

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