COMPRESSION TOOL FOR ASSEMBLING A BATTERY TRAY INTENDED FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a compression tool (1) for a set of electrochemical cells and a battery tray, characterized in that said compression tool (1) comprises vertical portions (4) configured to have a first configuration in which said vertical portions (4) are strictly perpendicular to the lateral portions (3), said vertical portions (4) being inserted into the openings, and a second configuration in which said vertical portions (4) are inclined towards said central portion (2) at a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral portions (3), said vertical portions (4) being extracted from the openings. The invention also relates to the method of assembling the battery tray using the assembly. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: COMPRESSION TOOL FOR ASSEMBLING A BATTERY TRAY INTENDED FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE

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

[0002] Prior art patent application WO2023187090, which describes a longitudinally clamped battery for an electric or hybrid vehicle, is known. The patent application also deals with a method for assembling such a battery. The battery comprises a casing, or battery tray, having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a housing, a plurality of transverse cross members extending from the first lateral edge to the second lateral edge, and a plurality of assemblies, each comprising electrochemical cells joined together. The cross members and assemblies are arranged successively longitudinally within said housing, clamped against each other in a clamping direction perpendicular to the direction in which the battery is mounted. The clamping may be carried out within the housing or outside of it and then incorporated into said housing. However, a drawback remains.The electrochemical cells must be arranged into modules before they can be assembled in the battery tray. Furthermore, the electrical components must be integrated after the modules have been assembled in the battery tray.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks, to be able to integrate the electrochemical cells directly into the battery tray and to allow the installation of the electrical elements of the electrochemical cells before their assembly within the battery tray.

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a compression tool for a set of electrochemical cells for a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, notable in that said compression tool comprises a longitudinal central portion and two lateral portions perpendicular to said central portion, said lateral portions being each positioned at one end of said central portion, each lateral portion comprising at least two vertical portions, each vertical portion being configured to fit into an opening in a cross member of said battery tray, said compression tool comprising a clamping means configured to increase or decrease the length of said central portion, each vertical portion being configured to have two configurations: - a first configuration in which said vertical portions are strictly perpendicular to the lateral portions, said vertical portions being introduced into the openings; - a second configuration in which said vertical portions are inclined towards said central portion at a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral portions, said vertical portions being extracted from the openings.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to directly assemble a set of electrochemical cells, equipped with their electrical elements, in a battery tray.

[0006] Advantageously, said clamping means is a clamping cylinder or a screw clamping system.

[0007] These clamping means are effective and easy to use.

[0008] Advantageously, said predetermined angle is between 1 and 3.5 degrees.

[0009] Such an angle makes it possible to firmly grasp the entire set of electrochemical cells without risking damage to them.

[0010] Preferably, said compression tool comprises two or three vertical portions for each lateral portion.

[0011] Thus, the set of electrochemical cells is properly maintained.

[0012] Furthermore, the invention relates to a battery tray assembled by means of the compression tool described above, said battery tray comprising two longitudinal walls positioned opposite each other, each longitudinal wall comprising a first end and a second end, the first ends being positioned opposite each other, the second ends being positioned opposite each other, said battery tray comprising a first cross member positioned between the first ends of the longitudinal walls, a second cross member positioned between the second ends of the longitudinal walls and a plurality of intermediate cross members positioned between said first cross member and said second cross member, the longitudinal walls, the first cross member, the second cross member and / or the intermediate cross members forming a plurality of housings configured to contain an electrochemical cell,remarkable in that said first crossbeam and said second crossbeam have openings suitable for receiving said vertical portions of said compression tool.

[0013] Advantageously, said openings of the first cross member are offset with respect to the openings of the second cross member.

[0014] This allows for an even distribution of forces during tightening, to avoid disorganization or deterioration of the electrochemical cells.

[0015] Preferably, said longitudinal walls comprise a layer of compressible foam.

[0016] This protects the electrochemical cells when they are inserted into their housing, while allowing their introduction during the assembly phase.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling a battery tray using the compression tool described above, notable in that said method comprises the following steps: - a preparation step of the electrochemical cells into an assembly during which the electrochemical cells are positioned so that said electrochemical cells can be introduced into said battery tray, said electrochemical cells being connected to each other by electrical elements; - a step of positioning the compression tool so that said vertical portions are positioned on either side of said set of electrochemical cells; - a compression step of the entire set of electrochemical cells by tightening the clamping means; - a step of positioning the compression tool clamping said set of electrochemical cells so that each electrochemical cell is positioned opposite one of said housings and each of the vertical portions is positioned opposite one of the openings of the first cross member or the second cross member; - a step of introducing the vertical parts of the compression tool into said openings of the first cross member and into said openings of the second cross member, resulting in the insertion of the electrochemical cells into said housings, said vertical portions passing from the second configuration to the first configuration; - a step of decompressing the set of electrochemical cells by loosening the clamping means; - a step of removing the compression tool from the openings of the first crossbeam and the openings of the second crossbeam, the vertical portions passing from the first configuration to the second configuration.

[0018] Preferably, said battery tray comprises a base plate and a lid, said lid comprising said housings, the first cross member and the second cross member, the base plate and the lid being positioned opposite each other, the first cross member, the second cross member and the intermediate cross members being positioned between the base plate and the lid, the compression tool clamping said electrochemical cells being positioned opposite the lid during the positioning step, the electrochemical cells entering said housings in a direction oriented towards said lid during the introduction step, said method comprising a closing step of the battery tray during which the base plate is positioned on the first cross member, the second cross member and / or on said longitudinal walls, opposite the lid.

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray as previously described.

[0020] 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 perspective view of a compression tool for a set of electrochemical cells in a battery tray of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a top view of the battery tray of the electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; - [Fig.3] schematically illustrates an exploded view of the battery tray during the method for assembling a battery tray.

[0021] A compression tool 1 for a set of electrochemical cells 6 in a battery tray 5 for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle is schematically illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The compression tool 1 has a longitudinal central portion 2 with two ends. In addition, the compression tool 1 has a lateral portion 3 at each of its ends, i.e., two lateral portions 3. The lateral portions 3 are perpendicular to the central portion 2 and parallel to each other. Each lateral portion has at least two vertical portions 4. Preferably, each lateral portion 3 has two or three vertical portions 4. In [Fig. 1], each lateral portion 3 has three vertical portions 4.The compression tool 1 includes a clamping means configured to increase or decrease the length of the central portion 2 so as to compress the electrochemical cells 6 when they are positioned between the vertical portions 4 of each lateral portion 3. Preferably, the clamping means is a clamping cylinder or a screw clamping system. The clamping cylinder is a device that transforms energy, which can be hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical depending on the type of cylinder, into linear motion, thereby exerting a clamping force on an object, in this case, on the set of electrochemical cells 6. The screw clamping system, notably used in a vise, is a clamping system in which a threaded screw generates a compressive force. The screw clamping system includes a nut and a means for rotating said threaded screw.For example, the means of rotating said threaded screw is a crank. When the screw rotates, it causes a linear movement that lengthens or shortens the length of the central portion 2.

[0022] Figure 2 schematically illustrates the battery tray 5 in top view. The battery tray 5 comprises two longitudinal walls 9, a first cross member 8a, a second cross member 8b, and a plurality of intermediate cross members positioned between said first cross member 8a and said second cross member 8b. The longitudinal walls 9 are positioned opposite each other. Each longitudinal wall 9 has a first end and a second end. The first ends of each longitudinal wall 9 are placed opposite each other. The first cross member 8a is positioned between the first ends of each longitudinal wall 9. Similarly, the second ends of each longitudinal wall 9 are placed opposite each other. The second cross member 8b is positioned between the second ends of each longitudinal wall 9.The longitudinal walls 9, the first cross member 8a, the second cross member 8b, and the intermediate cross members form a plurality of compartments within the battery tray 5. Each compartment is configured to hold an electrochemical cell 6. Preferably, the longitudinal walls 9 have compressible foam that protects the electrochemical cells 6 while allowing their insertion. The first cross member 8a and the second cross member 8b have openings 7 configured to receive the vertical portions 4 of the compression tool 1. Each of the vertical portions 4 is capable of two configurations. In the first configuration, the vertical portions 4 are strictly perpendicular to the lateral portions 3. The vertical portions 4 are in the first configuration when they are inserted into the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a or the second cross member 8b.In a second configuration, the vertical portions 4 are inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the lateral portions 3. Preferably, the predetermined angle is between 1 and 3.5 degrees. The vertical portions 4 exhibit this second configuration when they are extracted from the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a or the second cross member 8b. Preferably, the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a are offset relative to the openings 7 of the second cross member 8b. In this case, the vertical walls 4 of one of the lateral walls 3 are offset relative to the vertical walls 4 of the other lateral wall 3. This allows the compressive forces to be distributed across the electrochemical cells 6 in such a way as to prevent their damage during clamping.

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates the battery tray 5 during the assembly process of a battery tray 5 according to an embodiment of the invention. Optionally, the battery tray 5 comprises a base plate 10 and a cover 11 as illustrated in Figure 3. The base plate 10 and the cover 11 are positioned opposite each other. The first cross member 8a, the second cross member 8b, and the intermediate cross members are positioned between said base plate 10 and said cover. 11. In a preparation step, the electrochemical cells are arranged in an assembly to replicate the arrangement of the compartments in the battery tray 5. In this way, the electrochemical cells 6 can be integrated into the battery tray 5. The electrochemical cells 6 are connected to each other by electrical elements, such as conductivity bars. In a placement step, the compression tool 1 is positioned so that the vertical portions 4 of one of the lateral portions 3 and the vertical portions 4 of the other lateral portion 3 are positioned on either side of the assembly of electrochemical cells 6. In a compression step, the assembly of electrochemical cells 6 is compressed by tightening the clamping means. The electrochemical cells 6 and the electrical elements are thus firmly held together by said compression tool 1.During a positioning step, the compression tool 1, which clamps the assembly of electrochemical cells 6, is positioned so that each electrochemical cell is aligned with one of the battery tray housings 5, and each of the vertical portions 4 of the compression tool is aligned with one of the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a or the second cross member 8b. Preferably, the cover incorporates these housings, and the compression tool 1 is positioned opposite the cover 11. During an insertion step, the vertical portions 4 are inserted into the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a and the second cross member 8b. This results in the insertion of the electrochemical cells into the battery tray housings 5. Upon insertion, the vertical portions 4 transition from the second configuration to the first configuration.Preferably, the electrochemical cells 6 are inserted into said housings in a direction oriented towards said cover 11. During a decompression step, the clamping means is loosened so that the assembly of electrochemical cells 6 is no longer compressed. The electrochemical cells 6 are then each positioned in one of the housings of the battery tray 5. During a removal step, the compression tool 1 is extracted from the openings 7 of the first cross member 8a and the second cross member 8b. The vertical portions 4 then transition from the first configuration to the second configuration. Optionally, said method includes a closing step of the battery tray 5 during which the base plate 10 is fixed to the first cross member 8a, the second cross member 8b and / or to said longitudinal walls 9, opposite the cover 11. In [Fig. 3], fixing screws are shown for fixing the base plate 10 and the cover 11.

[0024] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray 5 as previously described.

Claims

Demands

1. Compression tool (1) for a set of electrochemical cells (6) for a battery tray (5) of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, characterized in that said compression tool (1) comprises a longitudinal central portion (2) and two lateral portions (3) perpendicular to said central portion (2), said lateral portions (3) each being positioned at one end of said central portion (2), each lateral portion (3) comprising at least two vertical portions (4), each vertical portion (4) being configured to fit into an opening (7) in a cross member (8a, 8b) of said battery tray (5), said compression tool (1) comprising a clamping means configured to increase or decrease the length of said central portion (2),Each vertical portion (4) is configured to present two configurations: - a first configuration in which said vertical portions (4) are strictly perpendicular to the lateral portions (3), said vertical portions (4) being inserted into the openings (7); - a second configuration in which said vertical portions (4) are inclined towards said central portion (2) at a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral portions (3), said vertical portions (4) being extracted from the openings (7).

2. Compression tool (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that said clamping means is a clamping cylinder or a screw clamping system.

3. Compression tool (1) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said predetermined angle is between 1 and 3.5 degrees.

4. Compression tool (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that said compression tool (1) comprises two or three vertical portions (4) for each lateral portion (3).

5. Battery tray (5) assembled by means of the compression tool according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said battery tray (5) comprising two longitudinal walls (9) positioned opposite each other, each longitudinal wall (9) comprising a first end and a second end, the first ends being positioned opposite each other, the second ends being positioned opposite each other.

6.

7.

8. looking at the other, said battery tray (5) comprising a first cross member (8a) positioned between the first ends of the longitudinal walls (9), a second cross member (8b) positioned between the second ends of the longitudinal walls (9) and a plurality of intermediate cross members positioned between said first cross member (8a) and said second cross member (8b), the longitudinal walls (9), the first cross member (8a), the second cross member (8b) and / or the intermediate cross members form a plurality of housings configured to contain an electrochemical cell (6), characterized in that said first cross member (8a) and said second cross member (8b) have openings (7) suitable for receiving said vertical portions (4) of said compression tool (1). Battery tray (5) according to claim 5 characterized in that said openings (7) of the first cross member (8a) are offset with respect to the openings (7) of the second cross member (8b). Battery tray (5) according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said longitudinal walls (9) comprise a layer of compressible foam. Method for assembling a battery tray (5) using the compression tool (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps: - a preparation step of the electrochemical cells (6) into an assembly during which the electrochemical cells (6) are positioned so that said electrochemical cells (6) can be introduced into said battery tray (5), said electrochemical cells (6) being connected to each other by electrical elements; - a step of placing the compression tool (1) so that said vertical portions (4) are positioned on either side of said set of electrochemical cells (6); - a compression step of the set of electrochemical cells (6) by tightening the clamping means; - a step of positioning the compression tool (1) enclosing said set of electrochemical cells (6) so that each electrochemical cell (6) is positioned opposite one of said housings and each of the vertical portions (4) is positioned in - a step of introducing the vertical parts (4) of the compression tool (1) into said openings (7) of the first cross member (8a) and into said openings (7) of the second cross member (8b) causing the insertion of the electrochemical cells (6) into said housings, said vertical portions (4) passing from the second configuration to the first configuration; - a step of decompressing the assembly of electrochemical cells (6) by loosening the clamping means; - a step of removing the compression tool (1) from the openings (7) of the first cross member (8a) and from the openings (7) of the second cross member (8b), the vertical portions (4) passing from the first configuration to the second configuration.

9. A method according to claim 8 characterized in that said battery tray (5) comprises a base plate (10) and a cover (11), said cover comprising said housings, the first cross member (8a) and the second cross member (8b), the base plate (10) and the cover (11) being positioned opposite each other, the first cross member (8a), the second cross member (8b) and the intermediate cross members being positioned between the base plate (10) and the cover (11), the compression tool (1) clamping said electrochemical cells (6) being positioned opposite the cover (11) during the positioning step, the electrochemical cells (6) entering said housings in a direction oriented towards said cover (11) during the introduction step, said method comprising a closing step of the battery tray (5) during which the base plate (10) is positioned on the first cross member (8a),the second cross member (8b) and / or on said longitudinal walls (9), opposite the lid (11).

10. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a battery tray (5) according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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