Shock absorption device for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising an induction block

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a device (10) including an induction block (20) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), the device (10) comprising a housing (30) including the induction block (20) and a spacer (40, 40') configured to dampen by elastic deformation a shock experienced in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (X). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR SHOCK ABSORBING AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID VEHICLE COMPRISING AN INDUCTION BLOCK

[0001] The invention relates to damping and fastening devices for inductive charging systems for electric vehicles, that is, vehicles equipped with at least one battery for storing electrical energy for their propulsion. This includes vehicles with a single means of electric propulsion, as well as hybrid vehicles incorporating at least one mode of electric propulsion.

[0002] A device comprising an induction block, a cover and spacers is described in patent application US20160297306A1.

[0003] However, in the event of shocks to such a device, the cover transmits the shocks directly to the induction block, which weakens the mechanical strength of the induction block and risks damaging the induction block.

[0004] The objective of the invention is to overcome this drawback and to offer more complete protection of the vehicle against impacts.

[0005] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a device including an induction block extending along a longitudinal axis, the vehicle being remarkable in that it includes a casing comprising the induction block and a spacer configured to dampen by elastic deformation a shock suffered in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

[0006] Such a device absorbs a shock received in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. For example, when the vehicle drives over a speed bump that strikes the undercarriage, the spacer absorbs the impact energy through elastic rebound. This prevents damage to the induction unit while ensuring the device remains mechanically secure to the vehicle. In another example, such a device protects a vehicle initially parked on a sidewalk when it is moved forward, as the undercarriage risks striking the curb. Furthermore, the housing is designed to secure the induction unit while also providing support for the spacer, thus forming a compact assembly based on the existing vehicle installation, particularly at the front axle, without requiring additional mounting that would further encumber the front axle.Thus, the device is designed so that the force exerted by an obstacle struck by the vehicle is taken from a deflector of the vehicle at . a rigid point of the vehicle via the spacer, ensuring the integrity of the induction block.

[0007] Advantageously, the vehicle includes a deflector having a fixing hole, the housing being configured to be fixed to the deflector (50) by the fixing hole.

[0008] Advantageously, the housing includes a retaining tab, the spacer being configured to be fitted onto the retaining tab.

[0009] Such a retaining tab has sufficient rigidity to provide mechanical resistance, particularly to mechanical stresses such as shocks or mechanical fatigue, while offering sufficient flexibility to accommodate the deformation of the spacer by elastic return when the spacer is fitted onto the retaining tab.

[0010] Advantageously, the spacer is in butt against the deflector.

[0011] When the device is subjected to an impact, the deflector distributes the impact forces more evenly across the surface of the housing. This prevents excessive concentration of stress on any one point of the device, thus reducing the risk of deformation or localized damage. By channeling the mechanical forces due to the impact, the deflector distributes the forces towards the spacer.

[0012] Advantageously, the spacer is made of honeycomb plastic.

[0013] Due to its cellular structure, the honeycomb plastic allows for a homogeneous distribution of shocks. The cells compress under the effect of the impact, thus absorbing the kinetic energy and reducing the transmission of the shock to other components of the vehicle, in particular to the induction block.

[0014] Furthermore, the honeycomb plastic is designed so that its elastic range includes cases of deformation by shocks such as those occurring when the underside of the vehicle hits the curb, the spacer subsequently returning to its initial shape by elastic rebound, thus ensuring protection against an accumulation of shocks without, however, deforming permanently.

[0015] Advantageously, the honeycomb plastic comprises cells having an average size of between 1mm and 10mm.

[0016] Such alveoli have an average size small enough to withstand shocks while remaining in the elastic range without, however, transmitting the shocks throughout the device, thus compromising the protection of the induction block.

[0017] Advantageously, the spacer has a thickness in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of between 1cm and 10cm.

[0018] The spacer is designed so that its thickness is sufficient to effectively absorb shocks; otherwise, the deformation of the spacer would transmit the shocks directly to the induction block without attenuation, while ensuring a compact design. limited in relation to the existing vehicle installation, particularly the vehicle underbody.

[0019] Advantageously, the device includes a deflector configured to be fixed to the housing.

[0020] Advantageously, a predetermined distance separates the housing from the deflector in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0021] This distance allows the deflector to absorb and dissipate some of the forces before they directly reach the housing. This reduces the impact of shocks on the housing while protecting the induction block.

[0022] Advantageously, the predetermined distance is between 1cm and 10cm.

[0023] Advantageously, the honeycomb plastic comprises cells having an average size of between 1mm and 10mm.

[0024] Advantageously, the honeycomb plastic comprises cells having an ellipsoidal shape, the main axis of the ellipsoid forming an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0025] Advantageously, the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

[0026] 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] illustrates a view from below of a vehicle comprising a device including an induction block and a deflector according to an embodiment of the present invention; - [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective view of the device, illustrated in [Fig.1], comprising a housing, an induction block and a spacer in a configuration fitted onto the housing; - [Fig.3] illustrates another perspective view of the device shown in [Fig.2] - [Fig.4] illustrates a perspective view of the device comprising a housing, an induction block and a spacer in a spacer before being fitted onto the housing; - [Fig.5] illustrates another perspective view of the device illustrated in [Fig.4]. - [Fig. 6] illustrates a detailed view of the spacer shown in the figures previous ones.

[0027] Figure 1, which shows a vehicle 1 comprising a device 10 (see Figure 2) including an induction block 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention, is first described. In this case, the device 10 is located in the front axle of the vehicle's underbody. The induction block extends along a longitudinal axis X and has essentially a rectangular prism shape. The longitudinal axis X extends from the rear of vehicle 1 to the front of vehicle 1. The device 10 is fixed to a housing 30 (see [Fig.2]), which is itself fixed to vehicle 1. The housing 30 includes mounting tabs 31.

[0028] Furthermore, the induction block 20 extends along a transverse plane, not shown, comprising the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the induction block 20 comprises a lower surface relative to the transverse plane, the mounting tabs 31 being in contact with the lower surface, and an upper surface, not shown in [Fig. 1], relative to the transverse plane. Moreover, the lower and upper surfaces are parallel to the transverse plane.

[0029] In this case, a mounting tab 31 is in contact with each corner of the lower surface. Thus, since the induction block is configured to be screwed to the mounting tabs 31, the latter ensure good mechanical retention of the induction block 20 to the housing 30.

[0030] The induction block 20 is configured to receive electrical power by induction from an electrical power transmitter. Thus, when the vehicle is positioned so as to align the induction block 20 and the electrical power transmitter, the vehicle is electrically recharged by the transmitted electrical power.

[0031] The vehicle 1 advantageously comprises a deflector 50 having at least one mounting hole configured for attachment to the housing. Generally, impacts are intercepted first by the deflector 50.

[0032] According to the invention, a median plane, not illustrated, is perpendicular to the transverse plane. The elements located on the left side of an observer looking at vehicle 1 in the median plane and along the longitudinal axis X are hereafter defined as being located on the "left". Similarly, the elements located on the right side of an observer looking at vehicle 1 in the median plane and along the longitudinal axis X are hereafter defined as being located on the "right".

[0033] Thus, the deflector 50 includes a right fixing hole 51 and a left fixing hole 51' configured to be fixed to the housing 30. Therefore, by virtue of their screwing, the right fixing hole 51 and the left fixing hole 51' contribute to the mechanical holding of the induction block 20 to the housing 30.

[0034] The vehicle advantageously includes a protective screen 60. In practice, the protective screen 60 is located on the front axle of the vehicle 1.

[0035] The deflector 50 and the protective screen 60 advantageously have shapes that complement the induction block 20. Thus, the induction block 20, as well as the fixing holes of the housing 30 and the deflector 50, are directly accessible from the underside of vehicle 1, facilitating on the one hand the charging of vehicle 1 and on the other hand the maintenance of the induction block 20.

[0036] The housing 30 further comprises at least one retaining tab extending along the longitudinal axis X. According to the invention, the device 10 comprises at least one spacer advantageously having a housing configured to be fitted into the retaining tab. The spacer is configured to absorb, by elastic deformation, an impact sustained in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis X.

[0037] To achieve this, the spacer is advantageously made of honeycomb plastic. Thus, as shown in [Fig. 6], the spacer comprises walls 44 of plastic material, the spacer 40 comprising honeycomb cells 43 between the walls 44.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the cells 43 are filled with air or another material having an elasticity at least 10 times greater than the material of the walls 44.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the alveoli 43 are even more advantageously ellipsoidal in shape. The major axis of the ellipsoids forms an angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis X. Preferably, the angle is approximately 90 degrees.

[0040] Preferably, the alveoli have an average size of between 1mm and 10mm.

[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing 30 comprises a right retaining tab 32 and a left retaining tab 32' extending along the longitudinal axis X. Furthermore, the device 10 comprises a right spacer 40 and a left spacer 40'. The right spacer 40 comprises a right through hole 41 and the left spacer 40' comprises a left through hole 41'. The right through hole 41 and the left through hole 41' extend along the direction of the longitudinal axis X.

[0042] Thus, in [Fig.2], the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' are respectively in a configuration fitted to the right retaining tab 32 and the left retaining tab 32' respectively in contact with the right through hole 41 and the left through hole 41'.

[0043] Consequently, the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' contribute to a more homogeneous distribution of the forces due to shocks.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the invention, the right retaining tab 32 and the left retaining tab 32' comprise respectively a right mounting hole 33 and a left mounting hole 33' configured respectively to be fixed by screwing in particular from the right fixing hole 51 and the left fixing hole 51'. This allows the deflector 50 to be fixed to the housing 30.

[0045] Furthermore, the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' comprise respectively a right orifice 42 and a left orifice 42' respectively connected to the right through hole 41 and left through hole 41'. The right hole 42 and the left hole 42' are configured to access the right mounting hole 33 and the left mounting hole 33' respectively when the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' are respectively in a configuration fitted respectively to the right retaining tab 32 and the left retaining tab 32'.

[0046] It is illustrated in [Fig.4] the device 10 before the right spacer 40 and the spacer 40' are respectively in the configuration fitted with the right retaining tab 32 and the left retaining tab 32'.

[0047] The left spacer 40' is fitted onto the left retaining tab 32' by a translational movement along the longitudinal axis X, the left through hole sliding on the left retaining tab 32', until the left spacer 40' comes to rest against the housing 30.

[0048] Similarly, the right spacer 40 is fitted onto the right retaining tab 32 by a translational movement along the longitudinal axis X, the right through hole 41 sliding on the right retaining tab 32, until it comes to rest against the housing 30.

[0049] The housing 30 thus forms a pre-assembled unit with the right-hand spacer 40 and the left-hand spacer 40'. Subsequently, the pre-assembled unit is fixed to the front axle of the vehicle. Then, the deflector 50 is attached to the pre-assembled unit by fastening the right-hand mounting hole 33 and the left-hand mounting hole 33' to the right-hand mounting hole 51 and the left-hand mounting hole 51', respectively.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' are advantageously configured to be respectively substantially under compression stress by being butted against the deflector 50 in the configuration fitted respectively with the right retaining tab 32 and the left retaining tab 32'.

[0051] This allows the right spacer 40 and the left spacer 40' to remain in contact with the housing 30. In addition, by placing the spacer in this way, the forces generated during a shock are directly transmitted to the spacer.

[0052] In [Fig. 1], the spacer 40 extends along the longitudinal axis X over the entire length of the induction block 20 along the longitudinal axis X. This maximizes the surface area absorbing the forces produced by the shocks relative to the size of the device 10 within the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Electric or hybrid vehicle (1) comprising a device (10) including an induction block (20) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), the vehicle (1) being characterized in that it comprises a housing (30) comprising the induction block (20) and a spacer (40, 40') configured to dampen by elastic deformation a shock suffered along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (X).

2. Vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (30) has a retaining tab (32, 32'), the spacer (40, 40') being configured to be fitted onto the retaining tab (32, 32').

3. Vehicle (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the vehicle (1) comprises a deflector (50) having a fixing hole (51, 51'), the housing (30) being configured to be fixed to the deflector (50) by the fixing hole (51,51').

4. Vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the spacer (40, 40') is abutted against the deflector (50, 50').

5. Vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spacer (40, 40') is made of honeycomb plastic.

6. Vehicle (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the honeycomb plastic comprises honeycombs (43) having an average size between 1mm and 10mm.

7. Vehicle (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the honeycomb plastic comprises honeycombs (43) having an ellipsoidal shape, the principal axis of the ellipsoid forming an angle (a) with respect to the longitudinal axis (X).

8. Vehicle (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that angle (a) is substantially 90 degrees.

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