Battery tray with anchor points, for one vehicle

Abstract

A tray (BE) is part of a battery assembly (EB) intended to equip a vehicle structure (SV), and comprises a peripheral edge (BP) having two longitudinal parts (PL) designed to be fixedly attached respectively to two longitudinal sides (CL) of this structure (SV), each comprising an external face (FE) to which at least two anchoring parts (PA) are fixedly welded, allowing an air deflector to be screwed in place. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: BATTERY ASSEMBLY TRAY WITH ANCHOR POINTS, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising a structure to which a battery assembly is attached, and more specifically the attachment in such vehicles of an aerodynamic deflector to the tray of their battery assembly. State of the art

[0002] Some vehicles, generally land vehicles (and possibly automobiles), include a structure comprising two longitudinal sides, right and left (frequently defined by longitudinal members) and a battery assembly (or "pack") fixedly attached to these longitudinal sides.

[0003] This battery assembly includes, in particular, a rechargeable battery and a tray housing at least partially this rechargeable battery and comprising a peripheral edge having two longitudinal portions designed to be fixedly attached respectively to the two longitudinal sides of the vehicle structure. It should be noted that when the vehicle has a powertrain (or PWM) of the all-electric or hybrid (thermal and electric) type, the rechargeable battery of its battery assembly is usually responsible for supplying electrical energy to each electric drive unit of this PWM.

[0004] In some of the vehicles described above, the cargo bed and part of the structure are masked by at least one so-called "aerodynamic" deflector, which is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and therefore energy consumption. This aerodynamic deflector comprises two longitudinal edges that are fixedly attached to the two longitudinal sections of the cargo bed's peripheral edge. This fixed attachment is achieved by screwing bolts into nuts that have been previously welded or bonded to the outer (lower) face of the two longitudinal sections of the cargo bed's peripheral edge, or by screwing them into threaded holes in the structural side members.

[0005] Defining threaded holes in the stringers is a delicate operation because a thread that is initially non-compliant or damaged by screwing prevents the installation of the air deflector and therefore requires costly and time-consuming corrective operations.

[0006] Welding or bonding nuts forces the longitudinal edges of the air deflector to have a significant indentation, which generally does not allow for optimal reduction of aerodynamic drag. Furthermore, this prevents full use of the nut threads or can sometimes prevent proper tightening. of the screw because the threaded ends of the screws cannot protrude beyond the external faces (welded or glued) of the corresponding nuts.

[0007] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0008] It proposes in particular for this purpose a tray, on the one hand, intended to be part of a battery assembly suitable for being fixedly attached at least to two longitudinal sides of a vehicle structure, and, on the other hand, comprising a peripheral edge having two longitudinal parts suitable for being fixedly attached respectively to these two longitudinal sides.

[0009] This tank is characterized by the fact that each longitudinal part includes an external face on which at least two anchoring pieces are fixedly joined by welding, arranged so as to allow anchoring, by screwing, of at least one air deflector.

[0010] Thus, there is no longer a need to define threaded holes in the longitudinal sides of the structure, and therefore there is no longer a risk that a thread may initially be non-compliant or damaged by screwing and consequently prevent the installation of the air deflector, and since the screws are screwed in at a distance from the outer face of the peripheral edge of the tray, there is no longer a risk that the threaded ends of these screws may be blocked during screwing by this outer face.

[0011] The container according to the invention may include other features which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - each anchor piece may include a hole in which is fixedly installed a nut adapted for screwing a screw through a corresponding through hole defined in a longitudinal edge of the air deflector;

[0013] - in the presence of the first option, each nut can be fixedly secured by welding in a hole;

[0014] - each anchor piece can be shaped to fit a form (local) of a longitudinal part of the peripheral edge of the tray and to define a substantially flat area including a hole;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, each zone can be spaced from the outer face of a longitudinal part of a predefined distance;

[0016] - five anchoring pieces can be fixedly joined, by welding, to the face external of each longitudinal part of the peripheral edge.

[0017] The invention also proposes a battery assembly, on the one hand, suitable for being fixedly attached to at least two longitudinal sides of a vehicle structure, and, on the other hand, comprising a rechargeable battery and a tray of the type presented above and housing at least partially this rechargeable battery.

[0018] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, comprising, firstly, a structure having two longitudinal sides, secondly, a battery assembly of the type presented above and fixedly attached to these longitudinal sides, and, thirdly, at least one aerodynamic deflector fixedly attached to the anchoring parts of the battery assembly tray. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawings (obtained using CAD / CAM (“Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing”)), in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a part of an example of a motor vehicle structure to which an example of an air deflector is attached,

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a part of an example of the embodiment of a battery assembly tray according to the invention, attached to the structure of [Fig. 1], before the attachment of the air deflector, and

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from below, a part from the right side part of the tray in [Fig.2]. Detailed description of the invention

[0023] The invention aims in particular to provide a BE tray intended to be part of a battery assembly EB to equip a structure SV of a vehicle, and allowing reliable attachment of at least one aerodynamic deflector DA.

[0024] In what follows, the vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be of the automobile type. For example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a structure to which a battery tray assembly can be fixedly attached.

[0025] In figures 1 to 3 the direction X is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (here automobile), which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the direction Y is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the direction Z is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0026] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate, at least partially, part of an example of a vehicle (here, an automobile) SV structure to which a battery pack EB and an example of a deflector are attached. DA aerodynamics. The battery assembly EB is more precisely fixed to at least two longitudinal sides CL right and left of the structure SV. For example, each of these longitudinal sides CL may include a spar.

[0027] It should be noted that the DA air deflector may optionally comprise two parts.

[0028] The battery assembly EB includes a BE tray housing at least part of a rechargeable battery (preferably with its control electronics and part of any conditioning circuit (cooling / heating)). It should be noted that the structure SV also includes a floor that can serve as a protective cover for the BE tray, the rechargeable battery, and any control electronics and conditioning circuit. However, the battery assembly EB could include a dedicated protective cover.

[0029] For example, the rechargeable battery may include at least one cell module comprising at least two electrical energy storage cells. Here, "electrical energy storage cell" means a rechargeable cell and possibly an electrochemical cell (for example, of the lithium-ion (or Li-ion) or Ni-Mh or Ni-Cd type).

[0030] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 2 and 3, a BE tray according to the invention comprises at least one main wall PP defining a base and surrounded by a peripheral edge BP having two longitudinal parts PL, right and left. It will be understood that these longitudinal parts PL extend along the longitudinal direction X.

[0031] These longitudinal portions PL of the peripheral edge BP are designed to be fixedly attached respectively to the longitudinal sides CL. For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, Figures 2 and 3, this fixed attachment can be achieved by screwing with screws VB through through holes TT' defined (in particular) in the longitudinal portions PL and screwed into corresponding threaded holes or nuts in the longitudinal sides CL of the structure SV. This advantageously allows the BE tray to be detached for work on the battery assembly EB, for example, to replace at least part of the rechargeable battery, the control electronics, or the conditioning circuit.

[0032] Furthermore, and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, each longitudinal part PL comprises an external face FE on which at least two anchoring pieces PA are fixedly joined by welding, which are arranged so as to allow anchoring, by screwing (using screws VF), of at least one aerodynamic deflector DA (illustrated in [Fig.1]).

[0033] Thanks to these PA anchoring pieces which are attached by welding, there is no longer any need to define threaded holes in the longitudinal sides CL of the SV structure (and more specifically in its stringers), and therefore there is no longer any risk of a thread being initially non-compliant or damaged by screwing and consequently this prevents at least temporarily the installation of the DA air deflector. Furthermore, since the screwing of the VF screws is carried out on PA anchoring parts which are added and therefore at a distance from the external face FE of the peripheral edge BP of the BE tray, there is no longer a risk that the threaded ends of these VF screws will be blocked during screwing by this external face FE, which guarantees that the screwing of each VF screw will be correct and reliable.

[0034] For example, and as illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 2], five anchoring pieces PA can be fixedly welded to the outer face FE of each longitudinal portion PL of the peripheral edge BP. However, the number of anchoring pieces PA fixedly attached to each longitudinal portion PL can be any value greater than or equal to two. Thus, this number could be three or four, for example.

[0035] Also, for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, each anchoring piece PA may include a hole TF in which a nut EV is fixedly installed, adapted for screwing in a screw VF. In this case, this screw VF passes through a through hole TT corresponding to this nut EV and defined in a longitudinal edge BL of the air deflector DA. It will be understood that each longitudinal edge BL extends along the longitudinal direction X.

[0036] Also, for example, each EV nut can be fixedly joined by welding in the corresponding TF hole. But in an alternative, this fixed joining could be achieved by bonding in the corresponding TF hole.

[0037] Also, for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 3], each anchoring piece PA can be shaped to conform to the local shape of a longitudinal portion PL and to define a zone ZT that is substantially flat and includes a hole TF (for the installation of a nut EV). Each zone ZT is preferably defined in a plane that is substantially parallel to an XY plane and to the outer face FE of a longitudinal portion PL, while being spaced from the latter (FE) by a predefined distance. Thus, the nut EV, which is installed in the hole TF of a zone ZT, is spaced from the outer face FE by a predefined distance that ensures that each screw VF can be screwed in as intended, but above all, allows the longitudinal edges BL of the air deflector DA to be shaped to allow optimal reduction of aerodynamic drag because they are free of indentations.

Claims

Demands

1. Tray (BE) for a battery assembly (EB) suitable for being fixedly attached to at least two longitudinal sides (CL) of a structure (SV) of a vehicle, said tray (BE) comprising a peripheral edge (BP) having two longitudinal parts (PL) suitable for being fixedly attached respectively to said longitudinal sides (CL), characterized in that each longitudinal part (PL) comprises an external face (FE) on which at least two anchoring pieces (PA) are fixedly attached by welding, arranged so as to allow anchoring, by screwing, of at least one air deflector (DA).

2. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that each anchoring piece (PA) includes a hole (TF) in which is fixedly installed a nut (EV) adapted for screwing a screw (VF) through a corresponding through hole (TT) defined in a longitudinal edge (BL) of said air deflector (DA).

3. Tray according to claim 2, characterized in that each nut (EV) is fixedly joined by welding in a hole (TF).

4. Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each anchoring piece (PA) is shaped to fit a shape of a longitudinal part (PL) and to define a substantially flat area (ZT) comprising a hole (TF).

5. Tray according to claim 4, characterized in that each zone (ZT) is spaced from the outer face (FE) of a longitudinal part (PL) by a predefined distance.

6. Tray according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that five anchoring pieces (PA) are fixedly joined, by welding, to said external face (FE) of each longitudinal part (PL) of said peripheral edge (BP).

7. Battery assembly (EB) suitable for being fixedly attached to at least two longitudinal sides (CL) of a structure (SV) of a vehicle and comprising a rechargeable battery, characterized in that it further comprises a tray (BE) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, housing at least partially said rechargeable battery.

8. A vehicle comprising a structure (SV) having two longitudinal sides (CL), characterized in that it further comprises a battery assembly (EB) according to claim 7, secured

9. fixedly to said longitudinal sides (CL), and at least one aerodynamic deflector (DA) fixedly attached to said anchoring parts (PA) of the tray (BE) of said battery assembly (EB). Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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