VARIABLE THERMO-INSULATED ASSEMBLY INTEGRABLE INTO AN ELECTRIFIED AUTOMOBILE POWERTRAIN

Abstract

The assembly (EN1) comprises a thermally controlled device (DS1) associated with a vacuum pumping device (DP1). According to the invention, the thermally controlled device comprises an air envelope (EA1) having a vacuum orifice (VD), and the vacuum pumping device is connected to the vacuum orifice and arranged to switch the air envelope into a first state providing thermal insulation by vacuuming it, or into a second state providing no thermal insulation by pressurizing it to atmospheric pressure, according to a variable thermal insulation setpoint (CS) received by the vacuum pumping device. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: VARIABLE THERMO-INSULATED ASSEMBLY INTEGRABLE INTO AN ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAIN OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0001] The present invention relates generally to thermal management in an electrified vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a variable thermal insulation assembly suitable for integration into an electrified motor vehicle powertrain and to a motor vehicle powertrain incorporating such an assembly. The invention finds a preferred, but not exclusive, application in electrified vehicles of the all-electric, hybrid, or fuel cell type.

[0002] In an electrified vehicle, optimizing the vehicle's electric driving range requires minimizing its electrical consumption. Thermal management of the vehicle's passenger compartment and thermoregulation of its traction energy storage system necessitate the use of an electric heat transfer fluid heater in certain vehicle operating conditions. The significant electrical consumption of this heater, known as a "water heater," negatively impacts the vehicle's energy balance and its electric driving range.

[0003] In the prior art, in order to reduce the production of heat by Joule effect in an electrified vehicle, solutions have been proposed to recover calories from the thermal losses of the rotating electric traction machine and the electrical conversion means of the vehicle.

[0004] Thus, in unpublished French patent application FR2309760, filed on September 15, 2023, the applicant proposed a thermal management system designed for an electrified vehicle. The system comprises a multi-position solenoid valve connected to the heat transfer fluid circuit of the vehicle's rotating electric traction machine and power conversion means, as well as to those of the traction electric energy storage system and the vehicle passenger compartment. The multi-position solenoid valve allows for selective coupling between the vehicle's heat transfer circuits, which in particular enable the transfer of heat from the rotating electric machine and the power conversion means to the traction electric energy storage system and the vehicle passenger compartment. This system reduces the need for heat generation by electrical resistance in the vehicle.Electrical heat generation remains necessary when driving conditions are cold, in winter. In particular, as well as during vehicle start-up and initial driving phases, the internal temperature of the traction energy storage unit is low under the aforementioned conditions, and warming it up is therefore necessary to optimize its operation.

[0005] In a thermal management system such as the one described above, allowing heat transfer between the vehicle's separate heat transfer fluid circuits, the vehicle's energy balance would be improved if it were possible to thermally insulate the traction electric storage unit, the rotating electric machine, and the electrical conversion means under cold conditions and to eliminate this thermal insulation under hot conditions. Thermal insulation under cold conditions, by minimizing heat transfer to the ambient air, would allow for the recovery and storage of a maximum of heat to warm the traction electric storage unit and / or the passenger compartment. Under hot conditions, this thermal insulation would impede the necessary dissipation of excess heat to the ambient air, to the detriment of the performance and integrity of the components concerned, and must therefore be eliminated.

[0006] In the prior art, it is known to permanently thermally insulate devices such as an electric motor pump and a thermal battery. For example, document EP1429034A2 discloses thermal insulation for an electric motor pump by means of a removable, two-part, heat-insulating casing designed to externally surround the motor pump. Document CN110544809A describes a composite thermal insulation structure for a thermal battery, formed by a superposition of several thermal insulation components, one of which is a vacuum cavity.

[0007] The aforementioned CN110544809A document illustrates the use of a vacuum cavity for thermal insulation. Vacuum thermal insulation technologies are developing in various fields. Several vacuum thermal insulation applications are commercialized and in use, such as vacuum insulated bottles and containers for beverages and food, vacuum insulated panels for buildings, vacuum-insulated cryogenic piping, and other applications.

[0008] Furthermore, document CN110040037A describes a thermal management system for an electric vehicle battery pack designed to maintain it in good working order, reduce the vehicle's electrical consumption, and thus increase driving range. This system includes a thermal insulation / ventilation panel arranged under the vehicle so as to cover a lower cooling wall of the battery pack. The panel includes a plurality of rotationally adjustable blades that are controlled in opening / closing by a unit of Thermal regulation of the battery pack. The control unit receives ambient temperature information and internal battery pack temperature information, and controls the opening / closing of the panel louvers to regulate the battery pack temperature according to a setpoint. The opening / closing level of the adjustable louvers allows for adjustment of the airflow that passes over the battery pack's cooling wall. The battery pack benefits from maximum heat dissipation for cooling when the adjustable louvers are fully open and is thermally confined when the louvers are fully closed.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a solution to the problem described above, by providing a variable thermal insulation assembly designed to allow increased recovery of thermal energy in an electrified motor vehicle powertrain.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a thermally managed device associated with a vacuum pumping device. According to the invention, the thermally managed device comprises an air envelope having a vacuum orifice, and the vacuum pumping device is connected to the vacuum orifice and is arranged so as to switch the air envelope into a first state providing thermal insulation by vacuuming it or into a second state providing no thermal insulation by pressurizing it to atmospheric pressure, according to a variable thermal insulation setpoint received by the vacuum pumping device.

[0011] According to a particular feature, the vacuum pumping device comprises an electric vacuum pump, at least one pneumatic solenoid valve, a pressure sensor and an electronic control unit, the electronic unit controlling the operation of the electric vacuum pump and the pneumatic solenoid valve according to the variable thermal insulation setpoint and pressure information provided by the pressure sensor.

[0012] According to another particular feature, the device to be thermally managed is a rotating electrical machine, the air envelope being arranged in a casing forming the housing of the rotating electrical machine.

[0013] According to yet another particular feature, the thermally managed device comprises a rotating electrical machine and a power electrical converter, the air envelope comprising first and second communicating air envelopes which are arranged respectively in a casing forming the housing of the rotating electrical machine and a casing forming the housing of the power electrical converter.

[0014] According to yet another particular feature, the device to be thermally managed is an electrical storage unit comprising a cooling plate to which electrical storage cells of the storage unit are thermally coupled, the air envelope being arranged in the cooling plate.

[0015] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an electrified motor vehicle powertrain comprising at least one thermally managed device coupled to a vehicle thermal management system by means of a heat transfer fluid circuit. In accordance with the invention, the powertrain comprises a vacuum pumping device associated with the thermally managed device, the thermally managed device comprising an air jacket having a vacuum vent to which the vacuum pumping device is connected, and the thermally managed device and the associated vacuum pumping device forming a variable thermally insulated assembly as briefly described above.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an electrified powertrain and a thermal management system, wherein the electrified powertrain is an electrified powertrain as briefly described above. According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle's thermal management system comprises a multi-position solenoid valve connected to heat transfer fluid circuits of the electrified powertrain and to a heat transfer fluid circuit of a vehicle passenger compartment, the multi-position solenoid valve allowing selective coupling between heat transfer fluid circuits of the vehicle.

[0017] Other advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description below of a particular embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] The [Fig.1] is a schematic diagram of an assembly with variable thermal insulation according to the invention.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a curve showing the evolution of the thermal conductivity of air as a function of pressure.

[0020] The [Fig.3] is a logic diagram relating to the control of the variable thermal insulation in the whole of the [Fig.1].

[0021] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of another assembly with variable thermal insulation according to the invention comprising a rotating electrical machine and a power electrical converter.

[0022] The [Fig.5] is a schematic diagram of yet another assembly with variable thermal insulation according to the invention comprising an electrical storage unit.

[0023] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a particular embodiment of an electrified powertrain according to the invention coupled to a thermal management system in a motor vehicle.

[0024] With reference to [Fig. 1], a variable thermal insulation assembly EN1 according to the invention essentially comprises a thermally managed DSI device and a vacuum pumping device DPI. In this principle example, the DSI device, schematically represented, is considered to be a rotating electric traction machine of an electrified powertrain of a motor vehicle.

[0025] As shown in [Fig. 1], the rotating electrical machine DSI comprises a rotor and a stator, represented by a central cylinder RS, as well as a heat transfer fluid jacket EC1 and an air jacket EA1. Typically, the jackets EC1 and EA1 are integrated into a housing forming the casing of the machine DSI. The jackets EC1 and EA1 are intended for cooling and thermal insulation of the machine DSI, respectively. Each has one or more communicating cavities.

[0026] The EC1 casing is intended for cooling the DSL machine. It surrounds the central cylinder RS ​​and is designed for the circulation of a cooling heat transfer fluid FC. The EC1 casing is connected, via connecting conduits CC, to a heat transfer fluid circuit CFC of a thermal management system (not shown).

[0027] The EA1 enclosure is intended for the variable thermal insulation of the DSL machine. It surrounds and covers the EC1 enclosure and the central cylinder RS. It is designed to contain air, with walls sufficiently rigid and mechanically resistant to withstand a vacuum. The EA1 enclosure is connected to the DPI vacuum pumping device by a vacuum line CA, via a vacuum port VD provided in the enclosure.

[0028] In the embodiment considered here, the EA1 envelope fulfills its function by taking two states, namely, a state in which the envelope is at atmospheric pressure and does not provide thermal insulation and a state in which the envelope is at vacuum pressure and provides thermal insulation.

[0029] It should be noted that the invention does not exclude embodiments in which the EA1 envelope is placed at one or more other intermediate pressure states, between the aforementioned atmospheric pressure and vacuum pressure, to obtain several levels of thermal insulation.

[0030] The curve in [Fig. 2] shows the evolution of the thermal conductivity X of air, in watts per meter-kelvin (W / mK), as a function of its pressure P, in millibars (mbar). This curve illustrates the excellent thermal insulation capacity of a vacuum, as shown by the decrease in the thermal conductivity λ of air when the pressure P is much lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0031] As seen in [Fig.1], the DPI vacuum pumping device essentially comprises a PAV vacuum pump, a VA1 pneumatic solenoid valve, a CP pressure sensor and an ECU electronic control unit.

[0032] The PAV vacuum pump is an electric pump, for example of the diaphragm or vane type. The PAV pump is connected to the vacuum line CA and is mounted downstream of the solenoid valve VA1 and the pressure sensor CP, in the vacuum direction indicated by the arrow AIR.

[0033] A bypass circuit DE of the PAV vacuum pump is shown in dashed lines in [Fig. 1]. The DE circuit includes a pneumatic solenoid valve VA2. The DE circuit is necessary when the PAV pump is of a type that does not allow free passage of air through it when it is deactivated. In the DE bypass circuit, the solenoid valve VA2 is closed when the PAV pump is activated and evacuates the casing EA1, thus preventing any passage of air from the outside via the DE bypass circuit, and is open when the PAV pump is deactivated, thus allowing the passage of air from the outside and bringing the casing EA1 to atmospheric pressure.

[0034] The solenoid valve VA1 is inserted into the vacuum line CA, at the inlet of the DPI device. It is located upstream of the sensor CP and the pump PAV, in the vacuum direction indicated by the AIR arrow. The sensor CP is mounted on the connecting line CA, between the solenoid valve VA1 and the pump PAV, and indicates the pressure present in the housing EA1 when the solenoid valve VA1 is open.

[0035] The ECU manages the operation of the PAV pump and the VA1 solenoid valve based on a variable thermal insulation setpoint CS and a pressure information PE provided by the CP sensor. In the embodiment described here by way of example, the CS setpoint is a binary setpoint that controls a switching of the EA1 enclosure's state to one of the two aforementioned states, namely, the thermally insulated state or the non-thermally insulated state. Two commands, CD1 and CD2, are issued by the ECU for the actuation of the PAV pump and the VA1 solenoid valve, respectively. Another command, CD3, is also issued by the ECU for the actuation of the VA2 solenoid valve when the DE bypass circuit is present.

[0036] With reference also to the logic diagram of [Fig.3], the operation of the DPI device to place the envelope EA1 in the state of thermal insulation, also referred to as "IT state" hereafter, or to place the envelope EA1 in the state of absence of thermal insulation, also referred to as "NIT state" hereafter, is now described in detail below.

[0037] The logic diagram in [Fig. 3] comprises eight functional blocks B1 to B8. Blocks B1 and B6 correspond to stable states in which the envelope EA1 is in the NIT state of absence of thermal insulation and in the IT state of thermal insulation, respectively. In this flowchart, the notations PAV = "0", VA1 = "0", and VA2 = "0" indicate that the PAV pump is deactivated, the VA1 solenoid valve is open, and the VA2 solenoid valve is open, respectively. The notations PAV = "1", VA1 = "1", and VA2 = "1" indicate that the PAV pump is activated, the VA1 solenoid valve is closed, and the VA2 solenoid valve is closed, respectively.

[0038] In block Bl, the EA1 enclosure is in the NIT state of no thermal insulation. In this stable state, the ECU processing unit keeps the PAV pump deactivated (PAV = "0"), the VA1 solenoid valve open (VA1 = "0"), and the VA2 solenoid valve open (VA2 = "0") if the bypass circuit is present. In this NIT state, the EA1 enclosure does not prevent the dissipation of heat losses from the DSI machine to the outside, into the ambient air.

[0039] Block B2 is a conditional block in which the CS setpoint is monitored by the process. When the CS setpoint takes a binary state CS = "1", which corresponds to a request to switch the EA1 envelope to the IT thermal insulation state, block B2 activates an OK output and the process continues to block B3. Otherwise, CS = "0", block B2 activates a NOK output and the process loops back to block B1 to maintain the NIT state.

[0040] In block B3, the process activates the PAV vacuum pump (PAV = "1") via the CD1 control, keeps the VA1 solenoid valve open (VA1 = "0") via the CD2 control, and, if the DE bypass circuit is present, activates the closing of the VA2 solenoid valve (VA2 = "1") via the CD3 control. Air is then drawn out of the EA1 enclosure (see AIR arrow, [Fig. 1]) by the PAV vacuum pump and sent to the outside.

[0041] Block B4 is a conditional block in which the PE pressure (see [Fig. 1]) in the EA1 envelope, measured by the CP sensor, is monitored by the process. When the PE pressure reaches a target vacuum pressure PV, block B4 activates an OK output and the process continues to blocks B5 and B6. Otherwise, as long as the PE pressure is higher than the PV vacuum pressure, block B4 maintains an active NOK output and the process loops back to block B3 to continue evacuating the EA1 envelope with the PAV pump.

[0042] In block B5, the process closes the solenoid valve VA1 (VA1 = "1") via the command CD2 and then deactivates the vacuum pump PAV (PAV = "0") via the command CD1. The process then activates block B6.

[0043] In block B6, the EA1 enclosure is in the IT state of thermal insulation. In this stable state, the ECU unit processing keeps the VA1 solenoid valve closed (VA1 = "1"). In this IT state, the thermal insulation provided by the EA1 enclosure prevents the dissipation of the machine's heat losses to the outside. DSI. It follows that a larger part of the calories from these thermal losses are recovered by the heat transfer fluid FC circulating in the EC1 envelope, and can be used to heat the electric traction storage of the electrified powertrain and / or heat the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0044] Block B7 is a conditional block in which the CS setpoint is monitored by the process. When the CS setpoint takes a binary state CS = "0", which corresponds to a request to switch the envelope EA1 to the NIT state of no thermal insulation, block B7 activates an OK output and the process continues to block B8. Otherwise, CS = "1", block B7 activates a NOK output and the process loops back to block B6 to maintain the IT state.

[0045] In block B8, the process keeps the vacuum pump PAV deactivated (PAV = "0") via the CD1 control, opens the solenoid valve VA1 (VA1 = "0") via the CD2 control, and, if the DE bypass circuit is present, also opens the solenoid valve VA2 (VA2 = "0") via the CD3 control. The enclosure EA1 fills with air from the outside until it reaches atmospheric pressure. The process then returns to block B1, which corresponds to the stable NIT state of no thermal insulation of the enclosure EA1, as described above.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows another EN2 embodiment of an assembly with variable thermal insulation according to the invention.

[0047] The EN2 assembly comprises a thermally managed DS2 device and a vacuum pumping device DP2. The DS2 device is a subassembly comprising a rotating electrical machine ME and a power electrical converter CONV, such as those included in an electrified motor vehicle powertrain. The vacuum pumping device DP2 is structurally and functionally analogous to the DPI device described with reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2] and will not be detailed here.

[0048] The rotating electrical machine ME, as described for the DSI machine in [Fig. 1], comprises an enclosure EC2 for cooling the ME machine and an enclosure EA2 for variable thermal insulation of the ME machine. Typically, the enclosures EC2 and EA2 are arranged in a housing forming the enclosure of the ME machine.

[0049] The EC2 enclosure is designed for the circulation of a cooling heat transfer fluid FC and is connected, via CC connecting conduits and an EC3 enclosure of the CONV power electric converter, to a CFC heat transfer fluid circuit of a thermal management installation (not shown).

[0050] The EA2 enclosure surrounds and covers the EC2 enclosure and the ME machine. The EA2 enclosure is designed to contain air, with walls sufficiently rigid and mechanically resistant to withstand a vacuum. The EA2 enclosure is connected to the DP2 vacuum pumping device by CA2 and CA4 vacuum lines, via a VD2 vacuum port in the casing.

[0051] The CONV power converter comprises an EC3 enclosure for cooling the CONV converter and an EA3 enclosure for variable thermal insulation of the CONV converter. Typically, the EC3 and EA3 enclosures are housed within a casing that forms the CONV converter housing.

[0052] The EC3 enclosure is designed for the circulation of the FC cooling heat transfer fluid and is connected, via the CC connecting conduits and the EC2 enclosure of the ME machine, to the CFC heat transfer fluid circuit.

[0053] The EA3 enclosure surrounds and covers the EC3 enclosure and the CONV converter. The EA3 enclosure is designed to contain air, with walls sufficiently rigid and mechanically resistant to withstand a vacuum. The EA3 enclosure is connected to the DP2 vacuum pumping device by a CA3 vacuum line and the CA4 line, via a VD3 vacuum port provided in the enclosure.

[0054] The vacuum pumping device DP2, depending on the CS setpoint, operates in a manner analogous to the DPI device described above, to simultaneously place the envelopes EA2, EA3, in the IT state of thermal insulation or simultaneously place the envelopes EA2, EA3, in the NIT state of absence of thermal insulation.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows yet another EN3 embodiment of an assembly with variable thermal insulation according to the invention.

[0056] The EN2 assembly comprises a thermally managed DS3 device and a DP3 vacuum pumping device. The DS3 device is an electrical energy storage device, such as a traction energy storage device in an electrified motor vehicle powertrain. The DP3 vacuum pumping device is structurally and functionally analogous to the DPI device described with reference to [Fig. 1] and [Fig. 2] and will not be detailed here.

[0057] The DS3 electrical storage unit comprises a plurality of electrical storage cells CE thermally coupled with a cooling support plate PR.

[0058] The PR support plate includes an EC4 cooling circuit for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid FC. The EC4 cooling circuit is connected, via CC connecting conduits, to a CFC heat transfer fluid circuit of a thermal management system (not shown).

[0059] According to the invention, an EA4 enclosure for the variable thermal insulation of the DS3 electrical storage unit is also provided in the PR support plate. The EA4 enclosure is arranged to cover a heat dissipation face of the PR cooling support plate. The EA4 enclosure is designed to contain air, with walls sufficiently rigid and mechanically resistant to withstand a vacuum. The EA4 enclosure is connected to the device vacuum pumping DP3 by a vacuum pulling duct CA5, via a vacuum pulling orifice VD4 fitted in the casing.

[0060] The vacuum pumping device DP3, depending on the setpoint CS, operates analogously to the DPI device described above, to place the casing EA4 in the IT state of thermal insulation or in the NIT state of no thermal insulation. When the electrical storage cells CE require heating, the casing EA4 is placed in the IT state of thermal insulation. The CE cells thus retain the generated heat and can fully benefit from a heat input via the heat transfer fluid FC.

[0061] With reference to [Fig.6], a particular embodiment of an electrified powertrain eGMP according to the invention coupled to an IGT thermal management system in a vehicle is described.

[0062] The IGT installation includes in particular three thermal management sections including heat transfer fluid circuits, a VA multi-position solenoid valve, a DP4 vacuum pumping device and a control computer (not shown).

[0063] A first thermal management section of the IGT installation is responsible for the vehicle's passenger compartment. The heat transfer fluid circuit of this first section is connected to ports Al and A2 of the multi-position solenoid valve VA and includes in particular an electric pump PI, as well as an electric heater RE of the type known as a "water heater", a cooler CL of the type known as a "chiller", and an air heater AE, which are connected in series between ports Al and A2 by connecting conduits (not marked).

[0064] A second thermal management section of the IGT system is responsible for a rotating electric machine ME of the vehicle's eGMP powertrain and a CNV power converter associated with the ME machine. The heat transfer fluid circuit of this second section is connected to ports B1, B2 and B3 of the multi-position solenoid valve VA and includes, in particular, an electric pump P2 and a cooling radiator RR.

[0065] A third thermal management section of the IGT installation is responsible for a traction energy storage system for the eGMP powertrain, in this case a high-voltage electrical energy storage system BAT_HV. The BAT_HV storage system is dedicated to storing and supplying the motive energy required for vehicle traction. The internal temperature of the BAT_HV storage system must be regulated to prevent a decrease in its performance, such as a reduced capacity to supply energy to the electric machine ME, an increase in electrical charging times, and an increased risk of thermal runaway. The BAT_HV storage system must be heated or cooled to maintain its internal temperature within an optimal range of operation. The heat transfer fluid circuit of this third section is connected here to port Al and to a port Cl of the multi-position solenoid valve VA.

[0066] The VA multi-position solenoid valve has different positions that control different heat transfer fluid circulation configurations in the thermal management sections of the IGT system. The VA multi-position solenoid valve allows for selective coupling between the heat transfer circuits, which in particular enables the transfer of heat from the ME machine and the CNV converter to the BAT_HV electric storage unit and / or the vehicle passenger compartment. This system reduces the need for heat generation via the RE electric heater.

[0067] According to the invention, the eGMP powertrain comprises a DP4 vacuum pumping device coupled to the ME machine, the CNV converter, and the BAT_HV electrical storage unit. The ME machine, the CNV converter, and the BAT_HV electrical storage unit of the eGMP powertrain each comprise an enclosure for variable thermal insulation, namely enclosures EA5, EA6, and EA7, respectively, shown schematically in [Fig. 6]. Enclosures EA5 and EA6 of the ME machine and the CNV converter are connected via a CA6 vacuum pull line that links them to the DP4 vacuum pumping device. Enclosure EA7 of the BAT_HV electrical storage unit is connected to the DP4 vacuum pumping device by a CA7 vacuum pull line.

[0068] The DP4 vacuum pumping device differs from the DPI vacuum pumping device of [Fig. 1] in that it comprises two pneumatic solenoid valves VAla and VAlb instead of the pneumatic solenoid valve VA1 of the DPI device. The solenoid valves VAla and VAlb are inserted respectively into the vacuum lines CA6 and CA7, at the inlet of the DP4 device. Thus, the lines CA6 and CA7 are connected to the PAV vacuum pump via the solenoid valves VAla and VAlb, respectively. The pressure sensor CP remains positioned upstream of the PAV pump, in the vacuum direction indicated by the AIR arrow, between the PAV pump and the solenoid valves VAla and VAlb. The electronic control unit (ECU) of the DP4 device actuates the solenoid valves VAla and VAlb via commands CD2a and CD2b, respectively.

[0069] In this embodiment, a single vacuum pumping device DP4 is provided to manage the state switching (IT / NIT states) of the communicating envelopes EA5, EA6, and envelope EA7. The ECU unit controls the sequential vacuuming of the communicating envelopes EA5, EA6, and envelope EA7. Other embodiments of the invention may include several vacuum pumping devices for the simultaneous vacuuming of the different air envelopes intended for variable thermal insulation.

[0070] For evacuating the communicating envelopes EA5, EA6, or for pressurizing them to atmospheric pressure, the ECU actuates the solenoid valve VA1 via the control CD2a, in a manner analogous to the actuating of the solenoid valve VA1 via the control CD2 in the DPI device of [Fig. 1], as described with reference to [Fig. 3]. For evacuating the communicating envelope EA7 or for pressurizing it to atmospheric pressure, the ECU actuates the solenoid valve VAlb via the control CD2b, in a manner analogous to the actuating of the solenoid valve VA1 via the control CD2 in the DPI device of [Fig. 1], as described with reference to [Fig. 3]. Here, a variable thermal insulation instruction CS1 is used which differs from that of the DPI device of [Fig.1] in that it includes additional information indicating the component concerned by the instruction, namely, the communicating envelopes EA5, EA6, or the envelope EA7.

[0071] The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein by way of example. Generally, a person skilled in the art, depending on the applications of the invention, may make various modifications and variations falling within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly comprising a thermally managed device (DSI) to which is associated a vacuum pumping device (DPI), characterized in that said thermally managed device (DSI) comprises an air envelope (EA1) having a vacuum draw orifice (VD), and in that said vacuum pumping device (DPI) is connected to said vacuum draw orifice (VD) and is arranged so as to switch said air envelope (EA1) into a first state (IT) providing thermal insulation by vacuuming it or into a second state (NIT) providing no thermal insulation by bringing it to atmospheric pressure, according to a variable thermal insulation setpoint (CS) received by said vacuum pumping device (DPI).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum pumping device (DPI) comprises an electric vacuum pump (PAV), at least one pneumatic solenoid valve (VA1, VA2), a pressure sensor (CP) and an electronic control unit (ECU), said electronic control unit (ECU) controlling the operation of said electric vacuum pump (PAV) and said pneumatic solenoid valve (VA1, VA2) according to said variable thermal insulation setpoint (CS) and a pressure information (PE) provided by said pressure sensor (CP).

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said thermally managed device is a rotating electrical machine (DSI), said air envelope (EA1) being arranged in a casing forming a housing for said rotating electrical machine (DSI).

4. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said thermally managed device (DS2) comprises a rotating electrical machine (ME) and a power electrical converter (CONV), said air envelope comprising first and second communicating air envelopes (EA2, EA3) which are arranged respectively in a housing forming a casing of said rotating electrical machine (ME) and a housing forming a casing of said power electrical converter (CONV).

5. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said thermally managed device is an electrical storage device (DS3) including a cooling plate (PR) to which electrical storage cells (CE) of said storage (DS3) are thermally coupled, said air envelope (EA4) being arranged in said cooling plate (PR).

6. Electrified motor vehicle powertrain comprising at least one thermally managed device (ME, CNV, BAT_HV) coupled to a thermal management system (IDT) of said vehicle by a heat transfer fluid circuit, characterized in that it comprises a vacuum pumping device (DP4) associated with said thermally managed device (ME, CNV, BAT_HV), said thermally managed device (ME, CNV, BAT_HV) comprising an air jacket (EA5, EA6, EA7) having a vacuum draw port to which said vacuum pumping device (DP4) is connected, and said thermally managed device (ME, CNV, BAT_HV) and said associated vacuum pumping device (DP4) forming an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Motor vehicle comprising an electrified powertrain and a thermal management system (TMS), characterized in that said electrified powertrain is an electrified powertrain (ePMS) according to claim 6.

8. Vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that said thermal management system (TMS) comprises a multi-position solenoid valve (MV) connected to heat transfer fluid circuits of said electrified powertrain (ePMU) and to a heat transfer fluid circuit of a passenger compartment of said vehicle, said multi-position solenoid valve (MV) permitting selective couplings between said heat transfer circuits of the vehicle.

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