HYBRID AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE EQUIPPED WITH A COOLANT TANK

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a body structure 3 of a hybrid automobile 1 comprising a coolant reservoir 5 for a battery 6 and a wheel arch 2 receiving a wheel 9, said wheel arch 2 being formed of a semi-flange wall 7 disposed opposite a lateral surface of the wheel 9 and a peripheral wall 10 partially surrounding a peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9, the peripheral wall 10 having an upper portion 12 disposed above the wheel 9, a rear portion 13 disposed at the rear of the wheel 9 and a front portion 15 disposed at the front of the wheel 9, said reservoir 5 being disposed between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the front portion 15 or the rear portion 13 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: HYBRID AUTOMOBILE BODY STRUCTURE EQUIPPED WITH A COOLANT TANK

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid motor vehicle body structure comprising a coolant reservoir for a vehicle traction battery. The invention thus relates to the technical field of cooling traction batteries in hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], hybrid vehicles 100 are known to be equipped with a traction battery and an access hatch, on the one hand, to an electrical charging socket 101 for the traction battery and, on the other hand, to a charging socket 102 for a coolant reservoir 103. The coolant is intended to cool the traction battery of vehicle 1.

[0003] More specifically, the electric charging socket 101 and the coolant reservoir 103 are located in a wheel arch 104 and above a wheel 105 of the vehicle 100. In order to be able to position this electric charging socket 101 and this reservoir 103 above the wheel 105, the wheel arch 104 is raised compared to vehicles without a coolant reservoir.

[0004] By way of illustration, document FR-B1-2707237 describes a reservoir forming part of the wheel arch and used to contain fluid, for example, engine coolant. This reservoir is located above the wheel and therefore raises the wheel arch.

[0005] This raising of the wheel arch results in a reduction of the space in the trunk or engine compartment in which the upper part of the wheel arch is positioned.

[0006] The invention offers a solution to the problem mentioned above, by proposing a body structure for a hybrid motor vehicle whose wheel arch is not raised.

[0007] In this context, the invention, in its broadest sense, relates to a hybrid motor vehicle body structure comprising a coolant reservoir for a vehicle traction battery and a wheel arch receiving a wheel, the wheel arch being formed, on the one hand, by a semi-flange wall disposed opposite a lateral surface of the wheel and, on the other hand, by a peripheral wall partially surrounding a peripheral surface of the wheel, the peripheral wall comprising an upper part disposed above the wheel, a part rear arranged at the rear of the wheel and extending between a lower surface of the body structure and the upper part and a front part arranged at the front of the wheel and extending between the lower surface of the body structure and the upper part, the body structure being notable in that the tank is arranged between the peripheral surface of the wheel and the front or rear part of the peripheral wall of the wheel arch.

[0008] Thanks to this particular arrangement, the coolant reservoir is no longer located above the wheel but in an area not normally used, namely in front of or behind the wheel. The height of the wheel arch is thus reduced so that the upper part of the perimeter wall of the wheel arch is as close as possible to the wheel. The available space in the trunk or engine compartment in which the wheel arch is located is therefore increased.

[0009] In addition to the characteristics just mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the box structure according to this aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0010] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the tank includes a filling conduit opening into an orifice through the peripheral wall of the wheel arch.

[0011] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the wheel arch is a rear wheel arch.

[0012] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the body structure includes an electrical charging socket, said electrical charging socket being disposed between the peripheral surface of the wheel and the other of the front or rear part containing the tank. In other words, the electrical charging socket is disposed between the peripheral surface of the wheel and the front or rear part not containing the tank.

[0013] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the body structure includes a traction battery cooling circuit, one end of said cooling circuit being connected to the reservoir and being disposed between the lateral surface of the wheel and the half-flange wall of the wheel arch facing each other.

[0014] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the tank is secured to the wheel arch by clipping or screwing.

[0015] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the peripheral wall of the wheel arch forms overall a half-rectangle partially surrounding the peripheral surface of the wheel.

[0016] Another aspect of the invention relates to a hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a vehicle body structure according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention.

[0017] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle is formed by a utility vehicle equipped with a tipper body, the upper surface of whose peripheral wall of the wheel arch is disposed in said tipper body.

[0018] According to a non-limiting aspect of the invention, the vehicle includes a trim covering at least the upper surface of the peripheral wall of the wheel arch.

[0019] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures.

[0020] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a coolant reservoir for cooling a traction battery according to the prior art.

[0021] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a first example of the realization of a hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a coolant reservoir for cooling a traction battery of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0022] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a top view of a wheel arch that includes the vehicle according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a second example of the realization of a hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a coolant reservoir for cooling a traction battery of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.5] is a schematic three-dimensional view of a motor vehicle hybrid according to the invention.

[0025] [Fig.6] is a schematic three-dimensional view of the hybrid motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.5] fitted with a trim.

[0026] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0027] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0028] In particular, [Fig. 2] illustrates a hybrid automobile vehicle 1 according to the invention and [Fig. 3] illustrates a top view of a wheel arch 2 comprising the vehicle 1 according to the invention. The wheel arch 2 illustrated is a rear wheel arch.

[0029] This hybrid automobile vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body structure 3 according to a non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

[0030] According to the illustrated example, vehicle 1 is formed by a utility vehicle equipped with a tipper 4 (also known by the Anglo-Saxon name "pick-up").

[0031] The body structure 3 includes a coolant reservoir 5 for a traction battery 6 of the vehicle 1. This reservoir 5 is positioned in the wheel arch 2 formed: • A half-flange wall 7 arranged opposite a lateral surface 8 of a wheel 9, and • A peripheral wall 10 partially surrounding a peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9.

[0032] According to this non-limiting embodiment, the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2 forms overall half of a rectangle partially surrounding the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9. It is understood that the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2 may also have another shape, for example of a semi-ovoid or semi-circular type.

[0033] The peripheral wall 10 comprises: • An upper part 12 positioned above the wheel 9, • A rear portion 13 disposed at the rear of the wheel 9 and extending between a lower surface 14 of the body structure 3 and the upper portion 12, and • A front part 15 arranged in front of the wheel 9 and extending between the lower surface 14 of the body structure 3 and the upper part 12.

[0034] It should be noted that advantageously, the tank 5 is arranged between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the rear part 13 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2. Indeed, the tank 5 is arranged in a volume that is not normally used.

[0035] The reservoir 5 is therefore no longer positioned above the wheel 9 so that the upper part 12 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2 is lowered and is located as close as possible to the wheel 9. The height of the wheel arch 2 along the vertical axis Y is therefore reduced.

[0036] According to a different embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the reservoir 5 is disposed between the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2 and the front part 15 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2.

[0037] According to a non-limiting example of embodiment, the reservoir 5 can be secured to the wheel arch 2 by clipping or screwing.

[0038] To facilitate filling the tank 5, the tank 5 includes a filling conduit 16 opening into an orifice 17 passing through the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2. Thus, in the non-limiting embodiment, the tank 5 can be filled from the tipper 4 of the vehicle 1. This filling conduit 16 can be closed by a plug and / or an access hatch (not shown).

[0039] According to this non-limiting embodiment, the case structure 3 according to the invention includes an electrical charging socket 18. The electrical charging socket 18 is arranged between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the other of the rear part 13 or the front part 15 comprising the reservoir 5.

[0040] Thus, in [Fig. 2], as the reservoir 5 is located between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the rear part 13 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2, the electric charging socket 18 is located between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the front part 15 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2. The electric charging socket 18 is therefore positioned as close as possible to the traction battery 6. This positioning makes it possible to reduce the length of the copper wires connecting this electric charging socket 18 to the traction battery 6.

[0041] Conversely, in [Fig.4], as the reservoir 5 is disposed between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the front part 15 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2, the electric charging socket 18 is disposed between the peripheral surface 11 of the wheel 9 and the rear part 13 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2.

[0042] According to a non-limiting embodiment, the body structure 3 includes a cooling circuit 19 for the traction battery 6. One end of the cooling circuit 19 is connected to the reservoir 5 and is positioned between the lateral surface 8 of the wheel 9 and the half-flange wall 7 of the wheel arch 2, facing each other. According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the end of the cooling circuit 19 connected to the reservoir 5 passes behind a shock absorber 20. In other words, it passes between the half-flange wall 7 of the wheel arch 2 and the shock absorber 20.

[0043] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 5], the vehicle 1 is formed by a utility vehicle equipped with a tipper 4, the upper surface 21 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2 being arranged in the tipper 4. As the height of the wheel arch 2 is reduced and the shape of the wheel arch 2 forms an overall half of a rectangle, the user can place objects on the wheel arches 2. This arrangement therefore offers a space saving for the loading volume of the tipper 4.

[0044] The filler neck 16 of the tank 5, opening into the orifice 17 passing through the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2, is accessible from the tipper body 4. Thus, the tank 5 is filled by an operator via this filler neck 16 accessible from the tipper body 4. This filler neck 16 is then sealed by a plug (not shown). Since the user no longer needs to touch it, in order to conceal the filler neck 16 and the orifice 17 passing through the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2, the vehicle 1 may include a trim 22 as illustrated in [Fig. 6], this trim 22 covering the upper surface 21 of the peripheral wall 10 of the wheel arch 2. This trim 22 may, but is not limited to, be formed by a plastic panel or a rubber mat.

[0045] Once the trim 22 is installed, the filling conduit 16 is no longer accessible to the user.

[0046] The invention has been described for application to a "pick-up" type utility vehicle, but it is understood that the body structure according to the invention can also be used for a passenger vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Body structure (3) of a hybrid motor vehicle (1) comprising a coolant reservoir (5) for a traction battery (6) of said vehicle (1) and a wheel arch (2) receiving a wheel (9), said wheel arch (2) being formed, on the one hand, of a half-flange wall (7) disposed opposite a lateral surface (8) of said wheel (9) and, on the other hand, of a peripheral wall (10) partially surrounding a peripheral surface (11) of said wheel (9), said peripheral wall (10) comprising an upper portion (12) disposed above said wheel (9), a rear portion (13) disposed at the rear of said wheel (9) and extending between a lower surface (14) of said body structure (3) and said upper portion (12), and a front portion (15) disposed at the front of said wheel (9) and extending between said lower surface (14) of said box structure (3) and said upper part (12),said body structure (3) being characterized in that said tank (5) is disposed between the peripheral surface (11) of said wheel (9) and said front part (15) or said rear part (13) of said peripheral wall (10) of said wheel arch (2).

2. Body structure (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tank (5) has a filling conduit (16) opening into an orifice (17) passing through the peripheral wall (10) of the wheel arch (2).

3. Body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wheel arch (2) is a rear wheel arch (2).

4. Body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electrical charging socket (18), said electrical charging socket (18) being disposed between the peripheral surface (11) of the wheel (2) and the other of the front part (15) or the rear part (13) comprising the tank (5).

5. Body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cooling circuit (19) for the traction battery (6), one end of said cooling circuit (19) being connected to the reservoir (5) and being disposed between the lateral surface (8) of the wheel (9) and the wall (7) in half-flange of the wheel arch (2) facing each other.

6. Body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (5) is secured to the wheel arch (2) by clipping or screwing.

7. Body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral wall (10) of the wheel arch (2) forms overall a half rectangle partially surrounding the peripheral surface (11) of the wheel (9).

8. Hybrid motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a body structure (3) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is formed by a utility vehicle equipped with a tipper (4) of which an upper surface (21) of the peripheral wall (10) of the wheel arch (2) is disposed in said tipper (4).

10. Vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a trim (22) covering at least the upper surface (21) of the peripheral wall (10) of the wheel arch (2).

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