Gripping tool for handling a battery module

Abstract

A gripping tool (100) usable for grasping and lifting a battery module (9) weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a vertical shaft near each of its four vertical edges, the gripping tool comprising four arms (2) arranged in a quadrilateral corresponding to the positions of the shafts, each arm being intended to be inserted into a corresponding shaft, each arm comprising two fingers (3) and a control rod (10) equipped with a spacer (8) fixed to its end, the control rod being movable by means of a control element, e.g., a rotating eccentric cam connected to a control lever (7), the control rod and the spacer being axially movable between a retracted position where the fingers can slide freely along the axis of the arm and an expanded position pressing the fingers radially outwards against the inner wall of the shaft. (See diagram: 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 or hybrid vehicle contains a significant amount of electrical energy. The traction battery consists of a set of modules placed side by side in an assembly called a "battery pack." Depending on the possible configurations, each module has a weight that varies, but is generally greater than 15 kilograms. Furthermore, each module rests on a layer of thermally conductive material known in the trade as "thermal grease" or "gap filler." This layer of thermally conductive material is pasty or viscous and exhibits a certain degree of adhesion that must be overcome when attempting to lift and remove a module.

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

[0004] A suction cup-based gripping tool is known in the trade.

[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] To this end, a gripping tool is proposed for use in grasping and lifting a battery module, weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a general parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical shaft, 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 shafts of the module, each arm being intended to be inserted into a corresponding shaft, 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 piece (8) fixed to the free end of the control rod, the spacer piece being interposed between the fingers, the control rod being axially movable under the effect of a control member (e.g. a rotating eccentric cam) connected to a control lever, the control rod and the spacer being movable between a retracted position and an expansion position pressing the fingers radially outwards 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 four arms engaged in the four barrels and the fingers locked in each respective barrel, it is possible to exert a significant upward pulling force. This upward pulling force can overcome both the weight of the module and the adhesive effect generated by the thermal grease.

[0009] The spacer piece 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 locking effect which allows a significant force to be transmitted 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 finger lock can be released and the gripping tool can be easily separated from the module 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 longitudinal members and a central cross member with a lifting point.

[0013] Advantageously, such a structure allows lifting with a hoist or crane-type lifting device. This structure enables the lifting force applied at the central point to be transmitted to the four corners of the frame, where the arms exert a portion of the lifting force relative to the module's shaft. Thanks to the centering of the lifting point, the tensile forces are distributed equally across the four arms.

[0014] The frame of longitudinal members can be manufactured as an assembly of welded type profiles.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the chassis can be lifted using a multi-point and multi-sling lifting system, attached at 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 a locking latch automatic. Alternatively, the second position of the control lever can also be maintained by a support system.

[0017] According to one embodiment, an angular travel of one 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 vertical in the second position.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment, to form a control element connected to a control lever, a screw-nut type system with a crank can be used, the nut being captive, and the crank rotating the threaded rod inside the nut. Screwing the crank causes the rod to rise and thus the fingers to spread apart, and conversely, unscrewing the crank produces the opposite effect and releases the fingers.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a support bushing, integral with the chassis, is provided for each arm, with the control rod passing through a central opening in the bushing. Each bushing rests on its lower face against a mouth-shaped surface of the barrel. Furthermore, the control element rests against the upper part of the bushing.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the depth of the control rod is adjusted via a threaded rod interposed between two eccentric cams. The rod has an external thread, and the threaded rod has an internal thread. By rotating the rod relative to the core, the rod's depth is adjusted, thus adjusting the effect of the eccentric control when the control or operating lever is moved.

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

[0022] According to one embodiment, the axial stroke of the control rod between the retracted and extended positions is less than 2 mm. Consequently, a small axial displacement is sufficient to generate a significant radial force, leading to the locking of the fingers inside the barrel. The eccentric cam system can thus be compact and / or a significant force amplification can be achieved between a moderate force applied to the control lever (long stroke) and an amplified force applied by the control element (short stroke).

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

[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 between 30 and 55 degrees, preferably a value close to 45°.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the arms and chassis do not extend beyond the horizontal footprint L9 x W9 occupied 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 general parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical shaft, and a gripping tool as described above, capable of causing a locking of the fingers in the shafts.

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

[0029] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying 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 a partial top view the plurality of juxtaposed modules; - [Fig.3] shows a perspective view photograph of an example of a gripping tool according to the present invention; - [Fig.4] illustrates an example of a module in elevation view with a section in the area of ​​the barrels according to the section line IV-IV illustrated in [Fig.2]; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates an example of the hex arm of the gripping tool, with the retracted position PI on the left and the expanded 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 control rod depth; - [Fig.8] illustrates in section view on the left the retracted position of the fingers and on the right the expanded position of the fingers; - [Fig.9] shows a schematic view of the locking ring and the rod with the spacer piece; - [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates in perspective view an example of the operation of the control lever; - [Fig. 11] illustrates a variant of the control lever locking mechanism.

[0030] In the various figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements. For the sake of clarity, some elements are not necessarily shown to scale.

[0031] In [Fig.1], 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 coordinate system is defined which comprises a first direction X along the width of the module (and the longitudinal direction of movement of the vehicle), a second direction Y along the length of the module (and the transverse direction of the vehicle), and a third direction Z, along the length, along the height of the module (vertical to the vehicle). It should be noted that the coordinate system of the module coincides with the coordinate system usually used for the vehicle. In the illustrated example, the length of the batteries is aligned with the transverse direction of the vehicle floor.

[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 thermal 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 lower mechanical housing of the battery pack. A layer of thermal grease 94, or generically a layer of thermally conductive material also known in the trade as "gap filler", is provided between the cooling plate and the lower wall 95 of the module.

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

[0037] Figures 2 and 4 show a battery module 9. 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 which, in practice, varies between 10 cm and 30 cm depending on the application. The length L9, in practice, varies between 30 cm and 100 cm depending on the application, for example, approximately 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 which is in practice between 15 cm and 25 cm.

[0040] In the illustrated example, the battery module 9 weighs approximately 30 kg. However, the gripping tool promoted here can be used to lift heavier modules, for example, modules weighing 50 kg. The weight and size values ​​given here are purely indicative and not limiting. It should be noted that a battery module typically weighs at least 15 kg.

[0041] At the four upper corners, there is an upper corner recess 12, of height H2 and with a 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 includes mounting wells 1 in the four corners, otherwise referred to as 'barrels' in this document. The barrels 1 are arranged near the four vertical edges. The barrels 1 open upwards into the upper corner recesses 12 at the level of a barrel opening 21. The barrels 1 open downwards into the lower corner recesses 14.

[0043] It is noted that each shaft 1 is generally a cylinder with a smooth inner wall 11 of diameter Dl. The height H1 of the smooth shaft 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 grip at this point by passing through the inside 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 longitudinal members. The frame of stringers comprises two large stringers 51, 52, corresponding in the illustrated example to the long sides of the rectangle, and two small stringers 53, 54, corresponding to the short sides of the rectangle. The stringers are preferably robust metal profiles assembled at the corners of the frame. The frame can generally be a welded assembly, in the construction configuration.

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

[0047] On the central cross member 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, well-balanced lifting point along a lifting axis denoted C.

[0048] Advantageously, the gripping tool 100 fits within a rectangle defining the horizontal footprint L9xW9 of the battery module 9. Indeed, the arms 2 and the chassis 5 do not extend beyond the horizontal footprint L9xW9 occupied by the module 9. The gripping tool can be used even if there are potentially obstructing foreign objects on the sides of the module to be lifted.

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

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

[0051] Each arm 2 can be inserted inside the barrel 1 to a height denoted 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 bushing 4, a control rod 10 with a spacer piece 8 and a locking ring 3 equipped with fingers 31, 32.

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

[0054] The sleeve 4 has a tubular shape. The sleeve includes a central passage 40 through which the control rod 10 passes and moves axially. The lower face of the sleeve 41 bears against the opening plane 21. Conversely, on the upper face of the sleeve 42, a control member bears against the upper face 42; this control member will be described in more detail below.

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

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

[0057] As can be seen in [Fig.5], this difference in diameter allows a shoulder 48 to be formed naturally against which the discoid base 36 of the locking ring 3 butts.

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

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

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

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

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

[0063] Other shapes are possible with a frustoconical portion having an angle of attack sufficient to spread the fingers outwards in a radial direction against the inner wall 11 of the shaft 1.

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

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

[0066] It is noted that it is not excluded to have more than two fingers, for example three 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) stressed outwards by the olive in the expansion position P2 is slightly greater than the diameter Dl.

[0069] In the illustrated example, the difference in diameter between the diameters of the two positions, without the barrel, is on the order of 0.3 millimeters. This is sufficient to provide the locking 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 illustrated example as an eccentric cam. The axis of rotation of the eccentric cam is denoted B and is perpendicular to the axis of arm A.

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

[0072] On the example of [Fig.5], the eccentric cam 6 comprises on the one hand a circular rim body 60 bearing on the upper face of the sleeve 42 and on the other hand a crankpin 61, offset from the center of the rim, the crankpin 61 protruding on one side of the body.

[0073] In the illustrated example, the crankpin 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 crankpin 61 and the bearing 13 are at their lowest point. On the right side of [Fig. 5], the eccentric cam 6 has been rotated clockwise, and the crankpin 61 and the bearing 13 at the upper end of the rod 10 are in a higher position. This causes the spacer piece 8 to rise and the fingers to press against the inner wall of the barrel, as explained above.

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

[0076]

[0077] As an alternative to the eccentric cam, a screw-nut system (not shown in the figure) with a captive nut can also be used, the pull rod comprising a threaded portion received in the internal thread of the captive nut. Preferably, a fine thread pitch 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 rod inside the nut. Turning the crank causes the rod to rise, thus spreading the fingers, and conversely, turning the crank reverses the effect and frees the fingers.

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

[0080] In summary, the function of the control member is to exert an upward pull on the control rod relative to the bushing by bearing directly or indirectly on the upper surface 42 of the bushing. Any technical solution enabling 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 referred to as a "control member".

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

[0082] The control lever 7 can be moved 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 illustrated example, the lever The control unit 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 stroke of one 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 stroke can also 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 locked position by a spring 66. The latch 16 comprises a front part with a stop surface 62 against which the body 70 of the control lever 7 abuts from the second position E2. The stop surface 62 is the rotational 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, the operator must manually release the latch against the spring action. 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 allows the latch to be pushed back by cam action against the effect of the spring when the control lever is moved to the second position E2. When the body of the control lever has pushed back the latch 16 by means of the ramp 63, it passes beyond the stop surface 62 and then the latch 16 automatically returns to the locking position, thus securing the second position E2.

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

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

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

[0092] The free end of the support 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

Demands

1. A gripping tool (100) usable for grasping and lifting a battery module (9), weighing at least 15 kg, the module having a general parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical shaft (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 shafts of the module, each of the arms being intended to be inserted into a corresponding shaft, 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 piece (8) fixed to the free end of the control rod, the spacer piece 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 piece 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, while in the retracted position, the fingers can slide freely in the barrel along the arm axis, characterized in that the two fingers are metallic and sufficiently axially rigid not to recoil under the effect of the raising of the spacer piece but the two fingers are radially flexible.

2. Gripping tool according to claim 1, comprising a chassis (5) with a frame of longitudinal members and a central cross member with a lifting point, each arm (2) extending from the chassis (5) along an arm axis (A).

3. Gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein each control lever (7) is movable between a first position (E1) and a second position (E2), the second position corresponding to the expansion position, the second position being lockable.

4. A gripping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a support socket is provided, associated with each arm (4), attached to the chassis, the control rod (10) passing through a central passage (40) of the socket.

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

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

7. 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, wherein the spreader piece has an attack zone inclined with respect to the arm axis at an attack angle (01) 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 general parallelepiped shape and comprising, near each of its four vertical edges, a vertical shaft (1), and a gripping tool (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, capable of causing fingers to lock in the shafts.

10. Assembly according to claim 9, wherein each vertical shaft (1) is cylindrical and smooth, with an internal diameter (Dl) between 9 mm and 10 mm.

Images