MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY COMPRISING ALIGNED MODULE HOUSINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A CONTROL MEANS, VEHICLE AND METHOD AND PROGRAM BASED ON SUCH A BATTERY

Abstract

The invention relates to a traction battery (B) configured to power a motor vehicle, comprising:- battery modules (M) connected together;- a control means (C) connected to the modules (M);- side members (L) and cross members defining aligned housings (LA, LP, LM),characterized in that the side members (L) and / or the cross members comprise module fixing means (F) for fixing the battery modules (M), and in that the control means (C) is housed in one of said housings (LA, LP, LM). The invention also relates to a vehicle and a method based on such a battery. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE BATTERY COMPRISING ALIGNED MODULE HOUSINGS, ONE OF WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH A CONTROL MEANS, VEHICLE AND METHOD AND PROGRAM BASED ON SUCH A BATTERY

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicle traction batteries.

[0002] The high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle can be recharged when the vehicle is connected to a power source (mains outlet, charging station). The battery only stores direct current (DC). All electric vehicles are therefore equipped with on-board chargers that will rectify alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) because most charging installations offer alternating current.

[0003] High-power charging stations (up to 350Kw) charge quickly because they transform the current themselves in order to send it to the vehicle battery without going through the on-board charger.

[0004] Generally, batteries therefore have two high-voltage connectors: namely a connector for direct current charging when the vehicle is connected to a fast charging terminal; and another alternating current connector which connects the battery to the vehicle's power electronics.

[0005] For practical purposes, it is preferable for car manufacturers to provide a high-voltage architecture for the electric vehicle that is efficient in the sense that the cables that run between the different components (battery, electric motor, charging connector) use simple, short and as direct routes as possible.

[0006] Depending on the type of vehicle architecture: front-wheel drive (or FWD for "Front Wheel Drive" in English), propulsion (or "RWD" for "Rear Wheel Drive" in English) or 4x4 (or "AWD" for "Ail Wheel Drive" in English), the high-voltage architectures of electric vehicles sometimes require cables to be run from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

[0007] This therefore results in several meters of high-voltage electrical cables in a forward and reverse direction depending on the type of vehicle architecture. This requires efficient component integration logic (chargers, charging connectors) which sets a standard for the manufacturer in the sense that a battery corresponds to a single vehicle architecture.

[0008] [Fig.l] illustrates the routing of the high-voltage cables C2 in the vehicle according to the prior art.

[0009] It is also observed among most manufacturers that the shape of the battery is not perfectly rectangular and its contours are adapted to the overall architecture of the vehicle body with the front area differing from the rear area. There are several reasons for this, for example industrial constraints linked to the assembly of the battery in the body.

[0010] In addition, a skateboard-type architecture, with modules installed in the floor of the vehicle, requires the passengers' feet to be raised with a less than optimal seating position. Finally, the batteries generally integrate power electronics and a set of computers for monitoring the battery and the cells that compose it. Most of the time, these electronic components are located on a second level above the modules and form a hump BS in the rear part of the battery pack, illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0011] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a solution for having a battery adaptable to several different architectures of motor vehicles, and to limit the space taken up on top of the batteries.

[0012] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a traction battery configured to power a motor vehicle in a spatial reference frame comprising a longitudinal axis along a longitudinal direction of the battery; a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the lateral axis, the traction battery comprising: - battery modules connected together; - a control means connected to the battery modules; - side members laterally defining housings with reference to the lateral axis; - crosspieces longitudinally defining said housings, the housings being aligned along the longitudinal axis and / or the lateral axis, characterized in that the side members and / or the crosspieces comprise module fixing means making it possible to fix the battery modules, and in that the control means is housed in one of said housings.

[0013] In other words, the control means is on the same level as the battery modules, the housings being aligned in a horizontal plane.

[0014] Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to have a single battery available in terms of external dimensions and fixing interfaces, while maintaining flexibility in vehicle design architecture.

[0015] Indeed, the implementation of housings makes it possible to adapt the battery modules to different architectures and environments around the battery, for example leaving housings without modules to place the control means or the on-board charger.

[0016] Preferably, the traction battery further comprises an on-board charger connected to the battery modules, and the on-board charger is housed in one of said housings.

[0017] This makes it possible to optimize the installation of the on-board charger.

[0018] Preferably, the side members define at least one access to a water jet.

[0019] This makes it possible to limit the damage caused by thermal runaway using a fire hose, for example.

[0020] Preferably, the traction battery further comprises a flat cover.

[0021] This helps to limit the space taken up above the battery.

[0022] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising a traction battery according to the invention.

[0023] Preferably, the motor vehicle comprises a traction system arranged on a first side of the battery with reference to the longitudinal axis, characterized in that the control means is housed in a first housing on said side.

[0024] This allows the battery to be adapted to a vehicle comprising a traction system.

[0025] Preferably, the motor vehicle comprises a propulsion system arranged on a second side of the battery with reference to the longitudinal axis, characterized in that the control means is housed in a second housing on said side.

[0026] This makes it possible to adapt the battery to a vehicle comprising a propulsion system.

[0027] Another subject of the invention relates to a method of assembling a traction battery according to the invention, in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - determine a connection zone to a traction system; - house the control module in a housing at the connection area.

[0028] Preferably, the assembly method further comprises the following step: housing an on-board charger in a housing at the connection zone.

[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 a traction battery arrangement in a motor vehicle according to the prior art; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a view in space showing the top of a traction battery according to the prior art; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a view in space showing the top of a traction battery according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the interior of the traction battery of [Fig.3] in a first arrangement; - [Fig.5] schematically illustrates the interior of the traction battery of figures 3 and 4 in a second arrangement; - [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a rear view of the traction battery of figures 3 to 5.

[0030] The invention proposes to define a battery geometry which is compatible with both low sedan architectures and those of sports utility vehicles (“SUVs, Crossovers” in English); as well as those of front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive (propulsion) vehicles. This is possible by ensuring that the battery can be installed in the vehicle in both directions (forward: X- direction or backward: X+ direction with reference to the longitudinal axis X).

[0031] The battery includes both the power electronics and the on-board charger to preferably eliminate the second stage (the BS hump under the seats illustrated in [Fig.2]).

[0032] The traction battery is described in a reference frame in space comprising a longitudinal axis X along a longitudinal direction of the battery (front on the left, rear on the right of the figures); a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y. The plane defined by the longitudinal axis X and the lateral axis Y can be called a horizontal plane.

[0033] The type of battery according to the invention makes it possible to follow the type of architecture of the vehicle while maintaining a logic of efficiency (weight, volumes) which optimizes the routes of the high-voltage cables running between the battery B and the main components.

[0034] The proposed high voltage battery geometry is adapted to be installed in either direction using compatible fixing interfaces F of the right and left side members L, and cross members T (supports) located on the front and rear blocks of the vehicle.

[0035] The fact of being able to install battery B with the connectors towards the front for a front-wheel drive system architecture, or towards the rear for a rear-wheel drive system architecture, allows automobile manufacturers to develop several different vehicle programs by repeating a battery standard (same battery reference).

[0036] Furthermore, this type of battery is also equipped with several access points A at the four corners of the battery B, allowing the battery modules to be sprayed in the event of a fire (firefighter access). Depending on the direction in which the battery B is installed in the vehicle body, the access points A remain accessible and usable by the rescue.

[0037] Furthermore, the fact of proposing a modular internal design allows the manufacturer to use the same battery concept and to use it for different types of vehicles without making bad compromises such as creating a foot cellar, creating so-called "child" batteries, etc.

[0038] The technical interest is to have a single battery available in terms of external dimensions and fixing interfaces, while maintaining flexibility in the vehicle design architecture.

[0039] The battery being the first organ to be installed and considered in the context of the design of a new vehicle, the proposed invention will allow designers to have more possibilities while renewing a major component.

[0040] The invention therefore proposes to define a principle of battery integration interfacing with the vehicle which can receive the different components (cells, modules, pack, connectors, etc.) and organize them according to the desired type of architecture (front, rear, dimensions, etc.) which defines the layout of the main components of the vehicle.

[0041] [Fig.3] illustrates a flat B battery not having a BS boss under the seats, the control means C being on the same floor as the battery modules M. Battery B has a firefighter access A for fighting fires. Thus, Battery B includes a flat cover CS above the modules M.

[0042] [Fig.4] illustrates the interior of battery B with the main electrical components electronics, namely the M modules, the C control means and the OC on-board charger, as well as a high-voltage AC / DC connector Cl and a high-voltage harness C2.

[0043] The battery comprises side members L laterally defining housings LA, LP, LM with reference to the lateral axis Y; and cross members T longitudinally defining, namely anteriorly and posteriorly, said housings LA, LP, LM in a horizontal plane.

[0044] In the arrangement of this battery B, the control means C and the on-board charger OC are in front housings LA.

[0045] According to the invention, the side members L and the cross members T comprise module fixing means F making it possible to fix the battery modules M. The control means C and the on-board charger OC are each housed in one of said housings LA, LP, LM.

[0046] In particular, the interior of battery B is designed so that it is modular and configurable in order to create batteries with different quantities of energy (child batteries) or different possibilities for installing rear passengers (with or without space to lower the heels of the passengers in the back).

[0047] Depending on the position of the traction system, the control module C can be arranged in a front housing LA or a rear housing LP. In both cases, it is exactly the same battery offering the same characteristics (chemistry, fixing interfaces, electronics, connectors, fireman access, cooling plate, etc.). It can be installed in both directions (longitudinal axis X) in order to meet the requirements of front or rear wheel drive vehicle architectures.

[0048] [Fig.5] illustrates an architecture similar to that of [Fig.4], but where the control means C and the on-board charger OC are in intermediate housings LM.

[0049] [Fig.6] illustrates the external shape of battery B seen from behind. The battery has a double symmetry along a plane in the vertical axis Z and also along a plane in a lateral axis Y.

[0050] The invention also makes it possible to limit the length of the high-voltage cables C2 by keeping the power connectors close to the electronic components which make up the powertrain of the electric vehicle: motor, inverter, charger, charging connector, etc.

Claims

Claims

1. Traction battery (B) configured to power a motor vehicle, in a spatial reference frame comprising a longitudinal axis (X) along a longitudinal direction of the battery; a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), the traction battery (B) comprising: - battery modules (M) connected together; - a control means (C) connected to the battery modules (M); - side members (L) laterally defining housings (LA, LP, LM) with reference to the lateral axis (Y);- crosspieces (T) longitudinally defining said housings (LA, LP, LM), the housings (LA, LP, LM) being aligned along the longitudinal axis (X) and / or the lateral axis (Y), characterized in that the side members (L) and / or the crosspieces (T) comprise module fixing means (F) making it possible to fix the battery modules (M), and in that the control means (C) is housed in one of said housings (LA, LP, LM).;

2. Traction battery (B) according to claim 1, further comprising an on-board charger (OC) connected to the battery modules (M), characterized in that the on-board charger (OC) is housed in one of said housings (LA, LP, LM).

3. Traction battery (B) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the side members (L) define at least one access (A) to a water jet.

4. Traction battery (B) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises a flat cover (CS).

5. Motor vehicle comprising a traction battery (B) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, comprising a traction system (TA) arranged on a first side of the battery (B) with reference to the longitudinal axis (X), characterized in that the control means (C) is housed in a first housing (LA) on said side.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, comprising a propulsion system (TP) arranged on a second side of the battery (B) in reference to the longitudinal axis (X), characterized in that the control means (C) is housed in a second housing (LP) on said side.

8. Method for assembling a traction battery (B) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: - determining a connection zone to a traction system (TA, TP); - housing the control module (C) in a housing (LA, LP, LM) at the connection zone.

9. An assembly method according to claim 9, further comprising the following step: housing an on-board charger (OC) in a housing (LA, LP, LM) at the connection area.

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