MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A BATTERY MODULE INCLUDING A SIDE WALL CONTAINING MULTIPLE INTERFACES

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising at least one module (1) having electrochemical cells, said module (1) comprising a side face (2), characterized in that said side face (2) has a first part (3a) and a second part (3b), said first part (3a) having a connection interface (4) configured to accommodate said electrical connector, a first lifting interface (5a) and a first management interface (6a), said second part (3b) having a second lifting interface (5b) and a second management interface (6b), said first lifting interface (5a) and said second lifting interface (5b) being configured to allow the assembly of the module (1) in said battery, said first management interface (6a) and said second management interface (6b) being configured to maintain a cell management controller. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A BATTERY MODULE INCLUDING A WALL LATERAL WITH MULTIPLE INTERFACES

[0001] The invention relates to the assembly of battery modules for electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] Prior art patent application DE102017208056 is known, describing a device designed to efficiently handle battery modules, specifically for mounting them in a dedicated holder. The device comprises a main transport device equipped with at least two auxiliary transport devices. Each auxiliary transport device includes an insertion pin for inserting into a through-hole in the battery module and at least one radially movable cantilever element for engaging in an undercut for secure retention. In addition, at least one auxiliary transport device is equipped with a locking element to fix the cantilever element in the extended position, thus preventing its retraction into the insertion pin.This locking element has a specific structure with a radially wide area and a radially narrow area, movable along the insertion direction to allow or prevent the cantilevered insertion of the element as needed, thus ensuring safe and efficient handling of the battery modules. The invention also relates to a method for handling a battery module by inserting the insertion pin through the through-hole of said battery module. The module is then lifted vertically in the opposite direction of rotation. However, some drawbacks remain. First, battery modules are fragile. Dropping them can damage the electrochemical cells they contain, which are not easily replaceable. The vertical movement is conducive to the direct fall of the battery module if the device is defective.In a second step, the battery modules are configured to include electrical connectors or a cell management controller, for example. However, the assembly of these components is not described in patent application DE102017208056. New structural elements will therefore need to be added to each battery module to accommodate them, which requires additional space in the dedicated support during battery assembly.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to allow the integration of connectors and the cell management controller directly onto the side wall of the modules while ensuring that the module can be lifted.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a front running gear and a rear running gear 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 traction battery comprising at least one module, said module comprising electrochemical cells, said module comprising a lateral face along a plane defined by the first and third directions, notable in that said lateral face comprises a first part and a second part,said first part comprising a connection interface configured to accommodate an electrical connector, a first lifting interface and a first management interface, said second part comprising a second lifting interface and a second management interface, said first lifting interface and said second lifting interface being configured to allow the assembly of the module in said battery, said first management interface and said second management interface being configured to maintain a cell management controller to manage the voltage and temperature information of said electrochemical cells, said first part and said second part having a predetermined thickness along the second direction.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the electrical connector, the cell management controller and the lifting interfaces are compacted at the level of the side wall of the module, which reduces the risk of damage in the event of a lateral impact.

[0006] Preferably, said predetermined thickness is less than 15 mm, preferably 9 mm.

[0007] This allows for easy arrangement of the surface within the battery.

[0008] Advantageously, said first management interface and said second management interface include fixing clips.

[0009] The fixing clips allow for easy assembly and disassembly.

[0010] Preferably, said first lifting interface and said second lifting interface have openings having an internal diameter of 15 mm.

[0011] Advantageously, said connection interface, said first lifting interface and said first management interface are substantially aligned along the third direction.

[0012] Preferably, said second lifting interface and said second management interface are substantially aligned along the third direction.

[0013] In addition, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a battery module for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that said method includes a step of molding the side wall, the first part and the second part in one piece by means of a profile.

[0014] This avoids the need to add additional support or structure to incorporate one of the components.

[0015] The invention will be further detailed by the description of a non-limiting embodiment, and on the basis of the attached figure illustrating the invention, in which [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a side wall of a battery module of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a side wall 2 of a traction battery module 1 of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle comprises a front axle 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. Each battery module 1 comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells configured to store electrical energy in chemical form. The module 1 comprises the side wall 2 along a plane defined by the first direction X and the third direction Z.The side wall 2 of module 1 comprises a first part 3a and a second part 3b. Both the first part 3a and the second part 3b have a predetermined thickness along the second Y direction. This predetermined thickness is less than 15 mm. Preferably, this predetermined thickness is 9 mm. The first part 3a has a connection interface 4 configured to accommodate and retain an electrical connector. For example, the electrical connector is a power harness or a busbar. A busbar is an electrical component used to connect several electrical devices together to form a complete electrical circuit or to efficiently distribute electrical power from one point to another.Busbars are typically made of conductive metal, such as copper or aluminum, and are designed to withstand high electrical currents. Busbars are used in a variety of applications, including electrical distribution systems, electrical panels, battery systems, and electronic circuits. Interconnectors are either flat or tube-shaped, depending on their specific application and the amount of current they must carry. Furthermore, the first part 3a includes a first lifting interface 5a and a first management interface 6a. The connection interface 4, the first lifting interface 5a, and the first management interface 6a are substantially aligned with the first part along the third direction Z. The second part 3b includes a second lifting interface 5b and a second management interface 6b. The second lifting interface 5b and the second management interface 6b are substantially aligned with the second part along the third direction Z. The first lifting interface 5a and the second lifting interface 5b are configured to allow the assembly of module 1 into the battery in the vehicle.To do this, one or two separate instruments are inserted simultaneously into the first lifting interface 5a and the second lifting interface 5b perpendicular to the side wall 2, i.e., along the second direction Y, and Module 1 is lifted upwards along the third direction Z. The first lifting interface 5a and the second lifting interface 5b have openings with an inner diameter of 15 mm. The first management interface 6a and the second management interface 6b are configured to hold a cell management controller. The cell management controller is an electronic component responsible for monitoring the voltage and temperature of the electrochemical cells contained in Module 1. Preferably, the first management interface 6a and the second management interface 6b have retaining clips.Fastening clips are devices used to fix or secure a component in place. The advantage of fastening clips is the ease with which the element they secure can be assembled and disassembled. The side panel 2 of module 1, the first part 3a, and the second part 3b are molded as a single piece using a manufacturing process that involves molding the side panel 2, the first part 3a, and the second part 3b using a profile. The profile is a structure that allows a part of a specific shape to be created during the molding process. Molding is carried out by pouring a liquid or semi-liquid material into a mold. This material can be, for example, plastic or metal.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle 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 driving, 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 comprising a traction battery comprising at least one module (1), said module (1) comprising electrochemical cells, said module (1) comprising a lateral face (2) along a plane defined by the first direction (X) and the third direction (Z), characterized in that said lateral face (2) comprises a first part (3a) and a second part (3b),said first part (3a) comprising a connection interface (4) configured to accommodate an electrical connector, a first lifting interface (5a) and a first management interface (6a), said second part (3b) comprising a second lifting interface (5b) and a second management interface (6b), said first lifting interface (5a) and said second lifting interface (5b) being configured to allow the assembly of the module (1) in said battery, said first management interface (6a) and said second management interface (6b) being configured to maintain a cell management controller to manage the voltage and temperature information of said electrochemical cells, said first part (3a) and said second part (3b) having a predetermined thickness along the second direction (Y).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1 characterized in that said predetermined thickness is less than 15 mm, preferably 9 mm.

3. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2 characterized in that said first management interface (6a) and said second management interface (6b) comprise fastening clips.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said first lifting interface (5a) and said second lifting interface (5b) have openings having an internal diameter of 15 mm.

5. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said connection interface (4), said first lifting interface (5a) and said first management interface (6a) are substantially aligned along the third direction (Z).

6. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that said second lifting interface (5b) and said second control interface (6b) are substantially aligned along the third direction (Z).

7. A method for manufacturing a battery module (1) for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that said method comprises a step of molding the side wall (2), the first part (3a) and the second part (3b) in one piece by means of a profile.

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