BATTERY TRAY WITH A COOLING CHANNEL INCLUDING A CONNECTION ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery tray comprising a plurality of modules including electrochemical cells, said battery tray comprising a housing including at least one cooling channel (1), characterized in that said cooling channel (1) includes a connection assembly (2), said connection assembly (2) including a first male connector (3) and a second male connector (4) positioned on said cooling channel (1), said connection assembly (2) including a first pipe (5) and a second pipe (6), the first pipe (5) and the second pipe (6) being capable of connecting to each other and / or to the cooling channel (1). The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising such a battery tray and a cooling circuit. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: BATTERY TRAY WITH A COOLING CHANNEL INCLUDING A CONNECTION ASSEMBLY

[0001] The invention relates to battery trays for electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] Prior art patent application US2022263162 is known, describing a battery holder and an energy storage device comprising said battery holder. The battery holder comprises a plurality of modules comprising battery cells. The modules are stacked vertically on top of each other. The battery holder includes a housing in which the modules are positioned, a coolant reservoir, a hose connecting the coolant reservoir and the modules, and a valve positioned between said hose and said coolant reservoir. The valve is opened when at least one module has a temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold value. However, a drawback remains. The hose is fixed in such a way that it is impossible to change its connection except by completely disassembling the battery holder.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to facilitate the assembly and connection of a battery tray to a cooling circuit.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a battery tray comprising a plurality of modules comprising electrochemical cells, said battery tray comprising a casing comprising at least one cooling channel, notable in that said cooling channel comprises a connection assembly, said connection assembly comprising a first male connector and a second male connector positioned on said cooling channel, said connection assembly comprising a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe and the second pipe being able to connect to each other and / or to the cooling channel.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the means of connecting the battery tray are modular, which facilitates its assembly and disassembly.

[0006] Advantageously, the first pipe has a female connector and a male connector, said second pipe having two female connectors.

[0007] Advantageously, the first pipe and the second pipe comprise a polymer material such that said first pipe and said second pipe are capable of deforming.

[0008] This makes the work of technicians easier when making connection modifications.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray as previously described and a cooling circuit capable of circulating a fluid, notable in that the battery tray is configured to have a storage configuration in which the first pipe and the second pipe are connected to each other, the first pipe being connected to the cooling channel via the first male connector and the second pipe being connected to the cooling channel via the second male connector, and an operating configuration in which the first pipe is connected to the cooling channel via the first male connector and to the vehicle's cooling circuit so that the fluid circulates in the cooling channel,said second pipe being connected to the cooling channel via the second male connector and to the vehicle's cooling circuit.

[0010] In this way, the battery tray can easily be mounted in a motor vehicle without the need to dismantle other vehicle components.

[0011] Advantageously, the battery tray comprises a first connection set and a second connection set, the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit and a second conduit, the first pipe of the first connection set being connected to the first conduit and the second pipe of the first connection set being connected to the second conduit, the first pipe of the second connection set and the second pipe of the second connection set being connected to each other.

[0012] Alternatively, the battery tray comprises a first connection set and a second connection set, the battery tray comprising two cooling channels, the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit and a second conduit, the first conduit being connected to the cooling channels via the first pipe of the first connection set and the second pipe of the first connection set, the second conduit being connected to the cooling channels via the first pipe of the second connection set and the second pipe of the second connection set.

[0013] Alternatively, the battery tray comprises a first connection set, a second connection set, a third connection set, and a fourth connection set, the battery tray comprising two cooling channels, the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit and a second conduit, the first conduit being connected to the cooling channels via the first pipe of the first connection set and the second pipe of the first connection set, the second conduit being connected to the cooling channels via the first pipe of the second connection set of the connecting pipe and the second pipe of the second connecting set, the first pipe of the third connecting set and the second pipe of the third connecting set being connected to each other, the first pipe of the fourth connecting set and the second pipe of the fourth connecting set being connected to each other.

[0014] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which: - [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a channel connection assembly cooling of a battery tray according to the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a battery tray connected to a circuit cooling of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to a first embodiment; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a battery tray connected to a circuit cooling of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to a second embodiment; - [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a battery tray connected to a circuit cooling of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to a third embodiment.

[0015] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a connection assembly 2 for a cooling channel 1 of a battery tray housing. The battery tray comprises a plurality of modules 12. Each module 12 comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells. The modules 12 are positioned within the housing. The connection assembly 2 comprises a first male connector 3 and a second male connector 4. Figure 1 shows two cooling channels 1. The first male connector 3 is positioned on one of the cooling channels 1, while the second male connector 3 is positioned on the other cooling channel 1. In another embodiment, the battery tray comprises a single cooling channel 1, on which the first male connector 3 and the second male connector 4 are positioned. Furthermore, the connection assembly 2 comprises a first pipe 5 and a second pipe 6.Optionally, the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are made of a flexible polymer material that allows them to be deformed. This facilitates connecting the pipes to each other or to an external component, even in confined spaces. Preferably, the first pipe 5 has a female connector 7 and a male connector 8, while the second pipe 6 has two female connectors 9a, 9b, as shown in [Fig. 1]. The first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are suitable for connecting to each other and / or to the cooling channel 1.

[0016] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit includes a fluid, preferably a heat transfer fluid, and a means of circulating said fluid in the cooling circuit, for example a pump, when the battery tray has a temperature above normal. The battery tray is capable of having two configurations. In a storage configuration, the cooling channel(s) 1 and the connection assembly 2 form a closed circuit. Indeed, the first pipe 5 and the second pipe 6 are connected to each other, the first pipe 5 being connected to the cooling channel 1 via the first male connector 3 and the second pipe 6 being connected to the cooling channel 1 via the second male connector 4.When the battery tray is in its stowed position, it can be easily mounted or removed from the vehicle without affecting other vehicle components. In its operating configuration, the first hose 5 and the second hose 6 are not connected to each other. The first hose 5 is connected to the cooling channel 1 via the first male connector 3, and also to the vehicle's cooling system, for example, via the male connector 8 of the first hose 5. In its operating configuration, the second hose 6 is connected, on one side, to the cooling channel 1 via the second male connector 3 and, on the other side, to the vehicle's cooling system. Thus, the coolant circulates through the first hose 5, the second hose 6, and the cooling channel 1.

[0017] Figure 2 illustrates the battery tray in a first embodiment in which said battery tray comprises two connection assemblies as previously described, hereinafter referred to respectively as a first connection assembly and a second connection assembly. In Figure 2, the battery tray has two separate cooling channels 1. The vehicle's cooling circuit comprises a first conduit 10 and a second conduit 11. The first conduit 10 and the second conduit 11 are positioned close to each other on the same side of the battery tray. The first hose of the first connection assembly 51 is connected to the first conduit 10, while the second hose of the first connection assembly 61 is connected to the second conduit. The first hose of the second connection assembly 52 and the second hose of the second connection assembly 62 are connected to each other.

[0018] Figure 3 illustrates the battery tray in a second embodiment in which, similarly to the first embodiment, the battery tray comprises two connection sets, including the first connection set and the second connection set, and the cooling circuit comprises the The first conduit 10 and the second conduit 11 are positioned on either side of the battery tray. In [Fig. 4], the battery tray has two separate cooling channels 1. The first conduit 10 is connected to the cooling channels 1 via the first pipe of the first connection assembly 51 and the second pipe of the first connection assembly 61. The second conduit 11 is connected to the cooling channels 1 via the first pipe of the second connection assembly 52 and the second pipe of the second connection assembly 62.

[0019] Finally, [Fig. 4] illustrates the battery tray according to a third embodiment in which, similarly to the first embodiment, the battery tray has two connection sets, namely the first connection set and the second connection set, and the cooling circuit has the first conduit 10 and the second conduit 11. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the battery tray has a third connection set and a fourth connection set. The battery tray shown in [Fig. 4] has two separate cooling channels 1. Alternatively, the battery tray has a single cooling channel 1. In [Fig. 4], the first conduit 10 and the second conduit 11 are adjacent to each other, positioned on the same side of the battery tray.The first and second connection assemblies are positioned at one end of the battery tray, while the third and fourth connection assemblies are positioned at the opposite end of the battery tray. The first conduit 10 is connected to the cooling channels 1 via the first pipe of the first connection assembly 51 and the second pipe of the first connection assembly 61. The second conduit 11 is connected to the cooling channels 1 via the first pipe of the second connection assembly 52 and the second pipe of the second connection assembly 62. The first pipe of the third connection assembly 53 and the second pipe of the third connection assembly are connected together.Similarly, the first pipe of the fourth connecting set 54 and the second pipe of the fourth connecting set 64 are connected to each other.

Claims

Demands

1. Battery tray comprising a plurality of modules (12) comprising electrochemical cells, said battery tray comprising a housing comprising at least one cooling channel (1), characterized in that said cooling channel (1) comprises a connection assembly (2), said connection assembly (2) comprising a first male connector (3) and a second male connector (4) positioned on said cooling channel (1), said connection assembly (2) comprising a first pipe (5) and a second pipe (6), the first pipe (5) and the second pipe (6) being capable of connecting to each other and / or to the cooling channel (1).

2. Battery tray according to claim 1 characterized in that the first pipe (5) has a female connector (7) and a male connector (8), said second pipe (6) having two female connectors (9a, 9b).

3. Battery tray according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the first pipe (5) and the second pipe (6) comprise a polymer material such that said first pipe (5) and said second pipe (6) are capable of deforming.

4. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and a cooling circuit capable of circulating a fluid, characterized in that the battery tray is configured to have a storage configuration in which the first pipe (5) and the second pipe (6) are connected to each other, the first pipe (5) being connected to the cooling channel (1) via the first male connector (3) and the second pipe (6) being connected to the cooling channel (1) via the second male connector (4), and an operating configuration in which the first pipe (5) is connected to the cooling channel (1) via the first male connector (3) and to the cooling circuit (1) of the vehicle so that the fluid circulates in the cooling channel (1),said second pipe (6) being connected to the cooling channel (1) via the second male connector (3) and to the vehicle's cooling circuit.

5. Vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the battery tray comprises a first connection set and a second connection set, the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit (10) and a second conduit (11), the first pipe of the first connection set (51) being connected to the first conduit (10) and the second pipe of the first connection set (61) being connected to the second conduit (11), the first pipe of the second connection set (52) and the second pipe of the second connection set (62) being connected to each other.

6. Vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the battery tray comprises a first connection set and a second connection set, the battery tray comprising two cooling channels (1), the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit (10) and a second conduit (11), the first conduit (10) being connected to the cooling channels (1) via the first pipe of the first connection set (51) and the second pipe of the first connection set (61), the second conduit (11) being connected to the cooling channels (1) via the first pipe of the second connection set (52) and the second pipe of the second connection set (62).

7. Vehicle according to claim 4 characterized in that the battery tray comprises a first connection set, a second connection set, a third connection set and a fourth connection set, the battery tray comprising two cooling channels (1), the cooling circuit comprising a first conduit (10) and a second conduit (11), the first conduit (10) being connected to the cooling channels (1) via the first pipe of the first connection set (51) and the second pipe of the first connection set (61), the second conduit (11) being connected to the cooling channels (1) via the first pipe of the second connection set (52) and the second pipe of the second connection set (62),with the first pipe of the third connecting assembly (53) and the second pipe of the third connecting assembly (63) connected to each other, the first pipe of the fourth assembly, connection (54) and the second pipe of the fourth connection assembly (64) being connected to each other.

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