ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE FEATURING A BATTERY TRAY INCLUDING A FRAME WITH AT LEAST ONE CROSSMEMBER CONFIGURED TO PIVOTE

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid automobile (1000) comprising a battery tray (100), said battery tray (100) comprising a frame (1), a cooling plate (2) and a base plate, said frame comprising at least one side member (3) disposed on either side of the vehicle (1000) along the second direction (Y), a fixed cross member (4) and at least one cross member configured to pivot (5), characterized in that said at least one cross member configured to pivot (5) is capable of having a first position and a second position, said first position being a position in which said at least one cross member configured to pivot is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the plane (XY) and the second position being a position in which said at least one cross member configured to pivot is perpendicular to the plane (XY). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A BATTERY TRAY INCLUDING A FRAME WITH AT LEAST ONE CROSSBAR CONFIGURED TO PIVOTE

[0001] The invention relates to electric or hybrid motor vehicles, and more particularly to the battery tray of these vehicles.

[0002] Prior art patent application WO2023187090 is known, describing a longitudinally clamped battery for an electric or hybrid vehicle. The patent application also deals with a method for assembling such a battery. The battery comprises a casing, or battery tray, having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a housing, a plurality of transverse cross members extending from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge, and a plurality of assemblies, each comprising electrochemical cells joined together. The cross members and assemblies are arranged successively longitudinally within said housing, clamped against each other in a clamping direction perpendicular to the direction in which the battery is mounted. The clamping may be carried out within the housing or outside of it and then incorporated into said housing. However, a drawback remains.The successive insertion of the assemblies and crossbars during tightening may cause friction that could damage the electrochemical cells, which could lead to a battery acid leak, for example.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a means of reducing the risks of cell deterioration during their installation in the battery tray.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a front axle and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane defined by a first longitudinal direction corresponding to straight-line driving, by a second transverse direction orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction, and a third vertical direction orthogonal to the first and second directions and oriented away from the ground, said vehicle comprising a battery tray, said battery tray comprising a frame, a cooling plate, and a base plate, said frame being disposed on said cooling plate and said cooling plate being disposed on said base plate along the third direction, said frame comprising at least one lateral longitudinal member disposed on and on the other side of the vehicle in the second direction, a fixed cross member arranged parallel to said at least one side member and at least one cross member configured to pivot arranged perpendicular to said at least one side member and to said fixed cross member, said at least one side member, the fixed cross member, said at least one cross member configured to pivot and said cooling plate forming at least one housing intended to receive a set of battery cells, notable in that said at least one cross member configured to pivot is capable of presenting a first position and a second position, said first position being a position in which said at least one cross member configured to pivot is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the plane and the second position being a position in which said at least one cross member configured to pivot is perpendicular to the plane.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the battery cells are fixed without having to compress them beforehand. In this way, the risks of damage to the battery cells are reduced.

[0006] Advantageously, said at least one pivoting cross member has a chamfer, said at least one pivoting cross member having a first axis, said chamfer having a second axis, the first axis and the second axis forming an angle between 10 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably 20 degrees.

[0007] The presence of the bevel facilitates the mobility of the cross member configured to pivot from the first position to the second position.

[0008] Advantageously, said at least one housing includes glue for fixing said battery cell assembly.

[0009] The glue allows the battery cells to be fixed in said housing.

[0010] Advantageously, said frame, said cooling plate and said base plate are fixed together by at least four connecting screws.

[0011] The frame, the cooling plate and the base plate are thus securely fixed together.

[0012] Preferably, said predetermined angle is between 40 degrees and 80 degrees, preferably 55 degrees.

[0013] Advantageously, said at least one cross member configured to pivot includes a locking means to hold it in the second position.

[0014] The locking means keeps the pivoting crossmember in the second position. Thus, if a set of battery cells is removed, the adjacent pivoting crossmember will not return to the first position, causing the unintentional decompression of another set of battery cells.

[0015] Preferably, said locking means is a top screw (8a) and an in screw lower, the upper screw being arranged above the lower screw in the third direction, the upper screw and the lower screw allowing the connection of said at least one lateral stringer with said at least one cross member configured to pivot in the second direction.

[0016] Advantageously, said at least one cross member configured to pivot has a height of less than 10 mm.

[0017] A height of 10 mm allows, when said cross member configured to pivot is in first position, to leave sufficient play to allow the insertion of the battery cells into said housing without having to compress them beforehand.

[0018] The invention also relates to a method of installing a set of battery cells in a frame of a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, said frame comprising at least a first cross member configured to pivot and a second cross member configured to pivot, notable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of positioning the frame on said cooling plate according to the third direction; - a step of depositing glue on said cooling plate in said at least one housing; - a step of placing said cooling plate on said base plate in the third direction; - a step of fixing said at least a first cross member configured to pivot into the second position; - a step of fixing said at least a second cross member configured to pivot in the first position; - a step of inserting said set of battery cells into said at least one housing; - a step of compressing said battery cell assembly by flapping said at least a second cross member configured to pivot from the first position to the second position.

[0019] Preferably, during said insertion step, the battery cells forming said battery cell assembly are arranged parallel to each other thus forming a block, said block being inserted into said housing.

[0020] Thus, insertion is faster because all battery cells are installed at the same time.

[0021] 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. 1] schematically illustrates a battery tray of a motor vehicle electric or hybrid comprising a set of cells being installed according to an embodiment; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates the battery tray containing the set of cells is installed; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a detailed view of a cross member configured to pivot.

[0022] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a battery tray 100 of an electric or hybrid automobile 1000 comprising a front and a rear axle whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane XY defined by a first longitudinal direction X corresponding to straight-line travel, a second transverse direction Y orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction X, and a third vertical direction Z orthogonal to the first direction X and the second direction Y and oriented away from the ground. The battery tray 100 comprises a frame 1, a cooling plate 2, and a base plate. For clarity, the base plate is not shown. Preferably, the frame 1, the cooling plate 2, and the base plate are fastened together by at least four connecting screws.Thus, the support of the frame 1, the cooling plate 2, and the base plate is reinforced. Advantageously, the base plate includes a sealing gasket to prevent water infiltration into the battery tray. Indeed, the presence of water in the battery tray 100 could cause short circuits that could lead to a fire. The frame 1 has two lateral stringers 3 arranged opposite each other in the second direction Y. A fixed cross member 4 is located in the center of the battery tray 100, parallel to the two lateral stringers 3. The frame 1 has 10 pivoting cross members 5 arranged perpendicular to the two lateral stringers 3 and the fixed cross member 4. Advantageously, each pivoting cross member 5 has a height of less than 10 mm.The pivoting cross members 5 are able to have a first position in which said pivoting cross member 5 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the XY plane and a second position in which said pivoting cross member 5 is perpendicular to the XY plane. Advantageously, said predetermined angle is between 40 degrees and 80 degrees. Preferably said predetermined angle is 55 degrees. The frame 1 associated with said cooling plate 2 thus forms 8 slots 6. Each slot 6 is intended to receive a set of battery cells 7a, 7b. Advantageously, each slot 6 has adhesive for fixing said set of battery cells 7a, 7b. The adhesive is distributed on the cooling plate 2. In [Fig. 1], a first slot 6a has a first set of battery cells 7a and a second slot 6b has a second set of cells 7a. Battery 7b. The first set of battery cells 7a is permanently installed, with the battery cells compressed between two pivoting cross members 5 in their second position. The second set of battery cells 7b is currently being installed. The cells in the second set of battery cells 7b are not yet compressed because one of the two pivoting cross members 5 is in contact with the second set of battery cells: one of the pivoting cross members 5 is in its first position and the other is in its second position. This creates a gap between the pivoting cross member 5 in its first position and the second set of battery cells 7b.

[0023] In [Fig. 2], the battery tray 100 described above is shown after the compression of the second set of battery cells 7b. Thus, the first set of battery cells 7a and the second set of battery cells 7b are definitively installed respectively in the first compartment 6a and the second compartment 6b. Indeed, the pivoting cross member 5, which was shown in the first position in [Fig. 1], has been folded down so as to compress the second set of battery cells 7b.

[0024] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a detailed view of at least one pivotable cross member 5. Preferably, each pivotable cross member 5 has a chamfer. Each pivotable cross member 5 has a first axis A, and the chamfer of each pivotable cross member has a second axis B. The chamfer is formed such that the first axis A and the second axis B form an angle between 10 degrees and 30 degrees. Preferably, the first axis A and the second axis B form an angle of 20 degrees. Advantageously, each pivotable cross member 5 has a locking means for holding it in the second position. Preferably, the locking means is an upper screw 8a and a lower screw 8b, the upper screw 8a being arranged above the lower screw 8b along the third direction Z.The upper screw 8a and the lower screw 8b allow the connection of said lateral stringer 3 with said at least one cross member configured to pivot 5 in the second direction Y. .

[0025] The method for installing said battery cell assembly 7a, 7b in the frame 1 of the battery tray 100 of said vehicle 1000 is carried out in several steps. Initially, said frame 1 comprises at least a first pivotable cross member 5 and a second pivotable cross member 5. During a positioning step, the frame 1 is placed on said cooling plate 2 in the third direction Z. Thus, the frame 1 and the cooling plate 2 form said at least one housing 6. During a deposition step, adhesive is spread in said at least one housing 6, at the level of the cooling plate 2. The adhesive serves to fix said assembly of battery cells when the latter are assembled in said battery tray 100. During a placement step, the cooling plate 2, to which said frame 1 is affixed, is positioned on the bottom plate of the battery tray in the third direction Z. During a fixing step of said at least one first pivotable cross member 5, said at least one first pivotable cross member 5 is fixed in said second position, i.e., perpendicular to the XY plane. During a fixing step of said at least one second pivotable cross member 5, said at least one second pivotable cross member 5 is placed in said first position, i.e., inclined with respect to the XY plane, thus creating a gap in said housing 6. During an insertion step, said battery cell assembly 7a, 7b is arranged in said at least one housing 6.Preferably, the battery cells forming the battery cell assembly 7a, 7b are arranged parallel to each other, thus forming a block. The block is then fully inserted into the housing 6 in a single operation. This makes battery cell insertion quick and requires minimal handling by the assembly technician. In another embodiment, the battery cells forming the battery cell assembly 7a, 7b are added one by one in the direction of the first direction X. During a compression step, at least one second pivotable cross member 5 is folded down. This causes the second pivotable cross member 5 to move from its first position to its second position. Thus, the second pivotable cross member 5 is completely slack. The battery cell assembly 7a, 7b is then compressed.Following this, the glue dries so that the said set of battery cells 7a, 7b is permanently fixed to the battery tray 100.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1000) comprising a front running gear and a rear running gear whose points of contact with the ground define a base plane (XY) defined by a first longitudinal direction (X) corresponding to straight-line travel, by a second transverse direction (Y) orthogonal to the first longitudinal direction (X) and a third vertical direction (Z) orthogonal to the first direction (X) and to the second direction (Y) and is oriented away from the ground, said vehicle (1000) comprising a battery tray (100), said battery tray (100) comprising a frame (1), a cooling plate (2) and a base plate, said frame (1) being disposed on said cooling plate (2) and said cooling plate (2) being disposed on said base plate along the third direction (Z),said frame comprising at least one lateral longitudinal member (3) disposed on either side of the vehicle (1000) along the second direction (Y), a fixed cross member (4) disposed parallel to said at least one lateral longitudinal member (3) and at least one cross member configured to pivot (5) disposed perpendicular to said at least one lateral longitudinal member (3) and to said fixed cross member (4), said at least one lateral longitudinal member (3), the fixed cross member (4), said at least one cross member configured to pivot (5) and said cooling plate (2) forming at least one housing (6) intended to receive a set of battery cells (7a, 7b), characterized in that said at least one cross member configured to pivot (5) is capable of having a first position and a second position,said first position being a position in which said at least one pivoting cross member is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the (XY) plane, and the second position being a position in which said at least one pivoting cross member is perpendicular to the (XY) plane.

2. Vehicle (1000) according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one pivoting cross member (5) has a chamfer, said at least one pivoting cross member (5) having a first axis (A), said chamfer having a second axis (B), the first axis (A) and the second axis (B) forming an angle between 10 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably 20 degrees.

3. Vehicle (1000) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said at least one housing (6) includes glue for fixing said battery cell assembly (7a, 7b).

4. Vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said frame (1), said cooling plate (2) and said bottom plate are fixed together by at least four connecting screws.

5. Vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said predetermined angle is between 40 degrees and 80 degrees, preferably 55 degrees.

6. Vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said at least one pivoting cross member (5) has a locking means for holding it in the second position.

7. Vehicle (1000) according to claim 6 characterized in that said locking means is an upper screw (8a) and a lower screw (8b), the upper screw (8a) being arranged above the lower screw (8b) in the third direction (Z), the upper screw (8a) and the lower screw (8b) enabling the connection of said at least one side member (3) with said at least one cross member configured to pivot (5) in the second direction (Y).

8. Vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said at least one pivoting cross member (5) has a height of less than 10 mm.

9. A method for installing a set of battery cells (7a, 7b) in a battery tray frame (100) of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle (1000) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said frame comprising at least one first pivotable cross member (5) and a second pivotable cross member (5), characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a step of positioning the frame (1) on said cooling plate (2) in the third direction (Z); - a step of depositing glue on said cooling plate (2) in said at least one recess (6); - a step of placing said cooling plate (2) on said base plate in the third direction (Z); - a step of fixing said at least one first pivotable cross member (5) in the second position; - a step of fixing said at least a second cross member configured to pivot (5) in the first position; - a step of inserting said set of battery cells (7a, 7b) into said at least one housing (6); - a step of compressing said battery cell assembly (7a, 7b) by folding said at least a second cross member configured to pivot (5) from the first position to the second position.

10. Method according to claim 9 characterized in that, during said insertion step, the battery cells forming said battery cell assembly (7a, 7b) are arranged parallel to each other thus forming a block, said block being inserted into said housing (6).

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