Battery protection device for a motor.

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective device (1) designed to equip a motor vehicle, the device (1) being designed to be fixed to a body (2), between an engine cradle (4) and a battery compartment (3), the device (1) comprising a body (9) extending between a first face, designed to be fixed against the body (2), and a second face (11) opposite the first face and forming a ramp (12) shaped to allow the cradle (4) to slide on the ramp (12), when the device (1) is fixed to the body (2) and the cradle (4) moves backward under the effect of a frontal impact, to deflect the recoil of the cradle (4) in order to prevent the battery (3) from being struck by the cradle (4). In the event of a frontal impact, the ramp forces the cradle (4) to slide on the ramp (12), moving it away from the floor (6). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for protecting a motor battery.

[0001] The technical field relates to protective devices for protecting a battery against impact with an engine cradle, vehicle bodies equipped with at least one such device and motor vehicles having such a vehicle body.

[0002] In the area of ​​road safety, car manufacturers must consider numerous concerns and regulations when developing new vehicles. In particular, car manufacturers must ensure the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision. The behavior of motor vehicles in various collision situations is regulated and tested using standardized test procedures. The requirements for the results of these tests are constantly increasing and becoming more difficult to meet, forcing car manufacturers to continually innovate.

[0003] Among the standardized procedures, one of them consists of causing a frontal collision between the vehicle and a barrier, the barrier impacting the vehicle with, depending on the procedures, more or less overlap of the front bumper.

[0004] In a frontal collision, automobile manufacturers strive to control body deformation to best dissipate the energy released during the impact while preventing body parts from entering the passenger compartment. This dissipation is achieved through three distinct force paths: a first path, called the upper path; a second path, called the lower path, involving the subframe; and finally, a third path, simply called the third force path. Thus, when the frontal impact is sufficiently severe, the second force path causes the rear portion of the subframe to detach from the body, allowing the subframe to slide under the vehicle floor. To this end, the subframe is attached to the vehicle floor by rear fastening means with a programmed breakaway. In the event of failure of the rear fastening means, the subframe then slides backward along the floor and descends toward the ground.

[0005] Most electric vehicles have a motor battery housed in a compartment located under the floor. However, in the event of the subframe being pushed back following a frontal impact, experience shows that the subframe is likely to strike the part of the battery protruding under the floor. Such an impact of the subframe on the battery risks causing short circuits and / or damaging the battery, which could then catch fire.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for a solution to protect the battery against impacts with an engine cradle in the event of the latter being pushed back under the effect of a frontal impact.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a protective device for protecting a motor battery against impacts from a recoiling cradle during a frontal collision.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a motor battery protection device designed to equip a motor vehicle, the device being designed to be fixed to a body of the vehicle, between a vehicle engine cradle and a motor battery housing, the device comprising a body extending between a first face, designed to be fixed in support on the vehicle body, and a second face opposite to the first face and forming a ramp, the ramp being shaped to allow the cradle to slide on the ramp, when the device is fixed to the body and when the cradle moves back under the effect of a frontal impact suffered by the vehicle, and to deflect the recoil of the cradle in order to avoid the impact of the battery by the cradle.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle body comprising a housing provided in a floor of the body to accommodate the attachment of a motor battery, disposed under the body, and a motor cradle having a rear part fixed to the floor of the vehicle by rear fixing means with programmed breakage, designed to break in the event of a frontal impact suffered by the body, the breakage allowing the cradle to move towards the rear of the body along the floor, the body further comprising at least one fixing device according to the invention fixed to the body, between a part of the cradle and the housing, each ramp being arranged so that, in the event of recoil of the cradle, it forces the cradle to slide on the ramp away from the floor.

[0010] The invention finally relates to a vehicle having a vehicle body according to the invention.

[0011] Thus, the device according to the invention, when fixed to the vehicle body, deflects the recoil of the cradle by sliding it along the ramp of the device. By deflecting the recoil of the cradle, the ramp of the device protects the battery from impact. Indeed, without the device, the recoil would very likely cause the cradle to impact the part of the battery protruding from the floor. The device according to the invention therefore proves to be a simple and effective solution for protecting the battery.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the device includes fastening means designed to allow the protective device to be fixed to the case.

[0013] Advantageously, the fastening means include a through hole designed to allow the fastening of a first stud to the case through the device.

[0014] According to one possibility of the device, the body includes a reinforcement block extending the ramp.

[0015] According to one possibility of the vehicle body, a fixing bracket connects the rear fixing means of the cradle and the protective device.

[0016] In one embodiment, the casing includes a motor battery fixed in the housing.

[0017] Advantageously then, the ramp extends between a front end and a rear end, arranged on the body behind the front end and in front of the housing, the thickness of the device measured between the first face and the rear end being at least equal to the thickness of the part of the battery protruding from the floor under the body.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a plate of main views of a device protection according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows a bottom view of a crate according to the invention showing the protective device of the [Fig.1] fixed to the case;

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a cross-sectional view along axis AA of [Fig.2];

[0022] In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements.

[0023] A protective device 1 according to the invention, illustrated in [Fig. 1], is designed to equip a vehicle body 2 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, in order to protect a motor battery 3, partially visible in [Fig. 2], against the impact of a motor cradle 4 in the event of the cradle 4 being moved backwards under the effect of a frontal impact sustained by the vehicle. Indeed, in the body 2 according to the invention, a rear portion 5 of the cradle 4 is fixed to the floor 6 of the vehicle by rear fastening means 7 with programmed breakage, that is to say, designed to break in the event of a frontal impact sustained by the body 2, the breakage allowing the cradle 4 to move towards the rear of the body 2 along the floor 6.

[0024] In the application, the adjectives front and rear, above, below and under refer to the usual orientations with respect to the vehicle body 2 in a driving situation, the engine cradle 4 and the vehicle engine being located at the front of the vehicle.

[0025] Device 1 is designed to be attached to the vehicle body 2. Once attached to the body 2, device 1 is positioned between a portion of the engine cradle 4 and a housing 8 for the vehicle's motor battery, provided in the floor 6, to accommodate the attachment of the battery 3 under the floor 6. On the body 2 according to the invention, the device 1 is therefore fixed in front of the housing 8. The motor battery 3 is, for its part, fixed in the housing 8.

[0026] The device 1 comprises a body 9 extending between a first face 10, designed to be fixed against the vehicle body 2, and a second face 11 opposite the first face 10 and forming a ramp 12. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the body 9 further comprises a reinforcing block 13 extending the ramp 12. The reinforcing block 13 has, for example, a substantially parallelepiped shape. The ramp 12 is shaped to allow the cradle 4 to slide on the ramp 12 when the device 1 is fixed to the vehicle body 2 and when the cradle 4 moves backward as a result of a frontal impact on the vehicle. The ramp 12 is also shaped to deflect the recoil of the cradle 4 in order to prevent the battery 3 from being struck by the cradle 4.

[0027] As illustrated in [Fig. 1] and 3, the device 1 includes fastening means designed to allow the fastening of the protective device 1 to the body 2. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the fastening means include an orifice 14 through the body 9 designed to allow the fastening of a first stud 15 to the body 2 through the device 1. In the described embodiment, the orifice 14 is provided in the reinforcement block 13.

[0028] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the cradle 4 has a plurality of fastening arms 16 by which the cradle 4 is fixed to the floor 6, the rear fastening means 7 employing a second stud 17 with programmed breakage, illustrated in the figures. On the body 2, a device 1 according to the invention is arranged opposite each end 18 of each arm 16. Each ramp 12 is then arranged so that, in the event of recoil of the cradle 4, it forces the cradle 4 to slide on the ramp 12 away from the floor 6. Thus, each ramp 12 pushes each end 18 of each arm 16 away from the floor 6 as it slides on the ramp 12.

[0029] According to one possibility, a mounting bracket 19 connects the rear mounting means 7 of the cradle 4 and the protective device 1. The mounting bracket 19 is, for example, attached to the second stud 17 bearing against the cradle 4. The mounting bracket 19 is also attached, for example, to the first stud 15.

[0030] As illustrated in [Fig.3], on the crate 2, the ramp 12 extends between a front end 20 and a rear end 21, arranged on the crate 1 behind the front end 20 and in front of the housing 8. In order to minimize the risk of impact of the cradle 4 on the battery 3, the thickness E of the device 1, measured between the first face 10 and the rear end 21 of the ramp 12, is at least equal to the thickness of the part of the battery 3 protruding from the floor 6 under the crate 2.

[0031] Thus, the device 1 according to the invention, when fixed to the vehicle body 2, deflects the recoil of the cradle 4 by sliding it on the ramp 12 of the device 1. By deflecting the recoil of the cradle 4, the ramp 12 of the device 1 protects the battery 3 from impact with the cradle 4. Indeed, without the device 1, the recoil would very likely cause the ends 18 of each arm 16 of the cradle 4 to impact the part of the battery 3 protruding from the floor 6. The device 1 therefore proves to be a simple solution for protecting the battery 3.

[0032] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the protection device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments may be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Device (1) for protecting a motor battery (3) designed to equip a motor vehicle, the device (1) being designed to be fixed to a body (2) of the vehicle, between a motor cradle (4) of the vehicle and a housing (8) of the motor battery (3), the device (1) comprising a body (9) extending between a first face (10), designed to be fixed in support on the body (2) of the vehicle, and a second face (11) opposite the first face (10) and forming a ramp (12), the ramp (12) being shaped to allow the cradle (4) to slide on the ramp (12), when the device (1) is fixed to the body (2) and when the cradle (4) moves backward under the effect of a frontal impact suffered by the vehicle, and to deflect the recoil of the cradle (4) in order to avoid the impact of the battery (3) by the cradle (4).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises fastening means designed to allow the fastening of the protective device (1) onto the case (2).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening means comprise a through orifice (14) designed to allow the fastening of a first stud (15) to the casing (2) through the device (1).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the body (9) comprises a reinforcing block (13) extending the ramp (12).

5. Motor vehicle body (2) comprising a housing (8) formed in a floor (6) of the body (2) for receiving the attachment of a motor battery (3), disposed under the body (2), and a motor cradle (4) having a rear portion (5) fixed to the floor (6) of the vehicle by rear fastening means (7) with programmed breakage, designed to break in the event of a frontal impact suffered by the body (2), the breakage enabling the cradle (4) to move towards the rear of the body (2) along the floor (6), the body (2) further comprising at least one fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 fixed to the body (2), between a portion of the cradle (4) and the housing (8), each ramp (12) being disposed so that, in the event of recoil of the cradle (4), it forces the cradle (4) to slide on the ramp (12) away from the floor (6).

6.

7.

8.

9. Vehicle body (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that a fixing tab (19) connects the rear fixing means (7) of the cradle (4) and the protective device (1). Vehicle body (2) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a motorization battery (3) fixed in the housing (8). Vehicle body (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the ramp (12) extends between a front end (20) and a rear end (21), disposed on the body (2) behind the front end (20) and in front of the housing (8), the thickness (E) of the device 1 measured between the first face (10) and the rear end (21) being at least equal to the thickness of the part of the battery (3) protruding from the floor (6) under the body (2). Motor vehicle having a vehicle body (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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