Motor vehicle with removable battery

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a chassis (10), - at least one seat (20) mounted on the chassis, - a battery (30), at least a portion of which is removably mounted on the chassis. According to the invention, the vehicle further comprises a support (40) on which the seat is mounted and which is movably mounted on the chassis between a position of use in which a user can sit on the seat and a replacement position in which said portion of the battery can be removed from the motor vehicle. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle with removable battery Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a motor vehicle comprising a chassis, at least one seat mounted on the chassis, and a battery of accumulators, at least part of which is mounted in a removable manner relative to the chassis.

[0003] The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in vehicles having a single seat per row (namely a single seat, or several seats located one behind the other). State of the art

[0004] An electric or hybrid motor vehicle includes a battery of accumulators and at least one electric motor powered by this battery.

[0005] The choice of battery pack during vehicle design is generally a compromise between a large number of constraints such as price, weight, charging time and battery capacity.

[0006] One idea for reducing the number of constraints to be considered is to use an easily removable battery. Such a battery, once discharged, can in fact be immediately replaced by a fully charged one.

[0007] Such a solution is described for example in document US20100181129.

[0008] This solution consists of splitting the battery into several independent modules and equipping the vehicle with means for automatically unloading these modules, which facilitate the removal and replacement of discharged modules with already charged modules.

[0009] These automatic unloading means are intended here for placing the battery modules on the floor of an automated charging and exchange station. This station is designed to automate the module exchange process: it allows for precise positioning of the vehicle relative to the station, extraction of discharged modules, and insertion of new modules via linear actuators.

[0010] This solution has several disadvantages.

[0011] First, it requires the installation of numerous stations to cover the territory, which proves particularly costly. Indeed, without stations, the extraction and removal of the modules would have to be done from underneath the vehicle, which would complicate or even prevent the replacement of these modules.

[0012] Another drawback of this solution is the significant space required to house the battery modules and the automatic module unloading mechanisms within the vehicle. This space is only available at the rear of the vehicle. Consequently, the trunk's cargo volume will be reduced. Furthermore, balancing problems may arise if the vehicle's center of gravity is positioned too far rearward. Presentation of the invention

[0013] In order to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a solution that does not require an automated charging and exchange station.

[0014] More particularly, the invention proposes a motor vehicle as defined in the introduction, which includes a support on which the seat is mounted and which is movably mounted on the chassis between a position of use in which a user can sit on the seat and a replacement position in which said part of the battery can be removed from the motor vehicle.

[0015] Thus, thanks to the invention, each removable module of the battery is located so as to be accessible from under the seat. It can then be easily removed from the vehicle by first moving the seat.

[0016] Thus, replacing a discharged battery module with a charged one can be done manually and without difficulty, without requiring a suitable station or expensive means.

[0017] Other advantageous and non-limiting features of the motor vehicle according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are as follows: - in the operating position, said part of the battery cannot be removed from the motor vehicle; - the chassis forms a stop preventing the removal of said part of the battery when the support is in the position of use; - said part of the battery is mounted on the support; - the support is mounted pivotally on the chassis; - the support being mounted pivoting on the chassis around a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, said part of the battery is mounted sliding along an axis inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis; - an actuator is provided to move the support relative to the chassis between the position of use and the replacement position; - a control interface is provided for said actuator allowing a user to control the movement of the support by the actuator between the position of use and the replacement position; - said actuator is a cylinder, one end of which is articulated on the chassis and the other end is articulated on the support; - the battery pack consists of several independent parts that are mounted removably relative to the chassis; - the seat includes a seat located above said part of the battery; - the seat has a seat fixed to the support and a backrest mounted movable relative to the seat so that it can be folded down onto the seat; - exactly one seat or exactly two seats are planned, one behind the other.

[0018] Of course, the various features, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] The following description with regard to the attached drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be carried out.

[0020] On the attached drawings:

[0021] [Fig-1] is a schematic perspective view of part of a motor vehicle in accordance with the invention, on which appears the chassis, the support, the battery and the seat of this motor vehicle;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective view of the support of [Fig.1];

[0023] [Fig.3] is a front view of the part of the motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.1], on which the support is shown in its normal operating position;

[0024] [Fig.4] is a front view of the part of the motor vehicle illustrated in [Fig.1], on which the support is shown in a replacement position;

[0025] [Fig.5] is a schematic side view of the motor vehicle conforming to the invention, in which the support is shown in its normal operating position and the seat back is shown in the position folded down onto the seat;

[0026] [Fig.6] is a homologous view of that of [Fig.5], in which the support is represented in a replacement position.

[0027] In [Fig.5], a motor vehicle 1 is shown.

[0028] In the description, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used with respect to this motor vehicle, the front of an element designating the side of that element which is turned towards the hood of the vehicle and the rear designating the side of this element which is turned towards the trunk.

[0029] Similarly, the terms "lower" and "upper" will be used in relation to this motor vehicle, the lower side of an element designating the part of that element which is turned towards the floor of the vehicle and the upper side designating the part of that element which is turned towards the ceiling.

[0030] The adjective "longitudinal" shall apply to a direction or axis oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle when the steering wheel is in the neutral position.

[0031] The adjective "transverse" shall apply to a direction or axis oriented orthogonally to the longitudinal and horizontal axes when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal road.

[0032] The motor vehicle 1 could be of any type (truck, bus, airplane, boat, motorcycle). Preferably, it would be a car. Even more preferably, it would be a car with a single seat. Alternatively, it could have two seats located one behind the other.

[0033] This motor vehicle 1 classically comprises a chassis (not visible on [Fig.5]), bodywork elements 80 which delimit a passenger compartment, a seat 20, wheels 90 of which at least two are drive wheels, and a powertrain (not visible) adapted to turn the drive wheels.

[0034] It is preferably without side doors. It then has at least one side opening through which a driver of the vehicle can enter the passenger compartment. Here, it has two symmetrical side openings.

[0035] The powertrain is preferably purely electric, but could alternatively be hybrid. In all cases, it comprises at least one electric motor powered by a battery.

[0036] Figure 1 shows in particular part of the chassis 10 of the motor vehicle 1, the battery 30 and the seat 20.

[0037] The chassis 10 comprises, in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, two longitudinal members 11 which extend substantially longitudinally (from the front to the rear of the vehicle), and two cross members 12 which connect the two longitudinal members 11 and which extend transversely.

[0038] The seat 20 has a seat 21 and a backrest 22.

[0039] Preferably, the backrest 22 is hinged to the seat 21 so that it can be folded down onto it. For this purpose, it includes a hinge allowing this mobility, locking means for locking the backrest 22 in its usual, substantially vertical position, and operating means allowing the driver to unlock these locking means to tilt the backrest into the folded position against the seat (see [Fig.5]).

[0040] In the context of the invention, the seat 20 is placed above the battery of accumulators 30 and the motor vehicle 1 includes a support 40 on which the seat 20 is mounted and which is movably mounted on the chassis 10.

[0041] By "mobile assembly", it is understood that there is a link between the support 40 and the chassis 10 which is such that it does not allow these two elements to be separated (except by using tools in a workshop) but that it allows these two elements to move relative to each other.

[0042] This mobility of the support 40 allows the seat 20 to be retracted as needed in order to access the battery of accumulators 30.

[0043] In practice, the support 40 is here pivotally mounted on the chassis 10 around a longitudinal axis Al, between a so-called use position in which a user can sit on the seat 20 and a so-called replacement position in which the accumulator battery 30 (or at least part of it) can be removed from the motor vehicle 1, preferably without tools.

[0044] It could be envisaged that the battery of accumulators 30 be mounted directly on the chassis 10. However, here it is rather mounted on the support 40. It is thus intended to tilt together with the support 40 around the longitudinal axis Al.

[0045] We can now describe in more detail the different components of the motor vehicle 1.

[0046] The accumulator battery 30 could be monobloc.

[0047] However, to facilitate its handling, it comprises several independent and identical parts, hereinafter referred to as modules 31. Each module 31 comprises a housing which contains electrochemical cells (typically lithium-ion type cells).

[0048] This modularity of the battery accumulator 30 allows for easier handling. Preferably, three to six modules 31 are provided.

[0049] As shown in [Fig. 6], the modules 31 are arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction. In other words, at least two modules 31 are provided, one behind the other.

[0050] The battery of accumulators 30 also includes a rack (not visible), that is to say a receiving element for the modules 31 which not only allows them to be locked but also allows them to be connected together.

[0051] This rack is fixed to support 40.

[0052] It preferably delimits slides to facilitate the sliding of modules 31 out of or into the rack, along axes parallel and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

[0053] This rack further includes means for automatic connection of the modules 31. These means for automatic connection are described as automatic in that they allow the modules 31 to connect automatically to the vehicle's electrical network (and in particular to the powertrain) when these modules are positioned at the bottom of the rack, and they do not obstruct the extraction of the modules 31 from the rack.

[0054] This rack finally includes locking means for the modules 31 at the bottom of the rack, which prevent the modules 31 from disconnecting while rolling, and which can be manually deactivated when the user wishes to remove a module 31 from the rack.

[0055] The support 40 could take various forms. It could thus be formed from a molded plastic part.

[0056] Here, it takes the form of a welded mechanical structure. As shown in [Fig.2], it comprises bars welded together to form a cap that sits over the battery of accumulators 30.

[0057] In practice, the support 40 comprises, on a first lateral side, four bars welded at their ends to form a first rectangle, of which two horizontal bars 41 and two first vertical bars 42.

[0058] It also includes, on the front and rear faces, other bars welded onto these first vertical bars 42 so as to form with them two other rectangles orthogonal to the first rectangle, including two horizontal bars 43 and a second vertical bar 44.

[0059] It finally includes a last bar 45 which extends between the upper ends of the second vertical bars 44.

[0060] On this other lateral side, the support 40 is therefore devoid of a lower bar, so as not to hinder the replacement of the modules 31 of the battery accumulator 30.

[0061] For its mobile mounting on the chassis 10, the support 40 has two small parallel transverse bars 46 which extend from the lower ends of the first vertical bars 42 and which are crossed by a cylindrical bar 47 of revolution fixed to the chassis 10. Thus the support 40 can pivot freely around this bar 47.

[0062] The support further includes means for securing the battery rack 30 (not shown in [Fig.2]). These securing means may, for example, be in the form of bolts threaded through corresponding holes provided in the bars of the support 40 and in the rack.

[0063] The support also includes means for attaching the seat 20 (not shown in [Fig. 2]). These attachment means may, for example, be in the form of bolts threaded through corresponding holes provided in the bars of the support 40 and in the seat 20.

[0064] It should be noted that the seat cushion 21 can be rigidly fixed to the support 40, without any degree of freedom. Alternatively, it could be mounted to slide along a longitudinal axis, allowing the driver to adjust the position of the seat 20 forward or backward, according to their body shape. For this purpose, a system of two parallel slides could be used, each having a first rail screwed to the support 40 and a second rail mounted slidably within the first rail and screwed under the seat cushion 21.

[0065] It could be envisaged that the support 40 be equipped with a locking means which would allow it to be locked in the position of use and which could be deactivated if necessary when the user wished to switch it manually to the replacement position.

[0066] However, taking into account the weight of the battery accumulator 30 and the weight of the seat 20 which exert pressure on the support 40, it is preferably provided an actuator 50 adapted to move the support 40 relative to the chassis 10 between the position of use and the replacement position and to maintain it in one or the other of these two positions.

[0067] Here, this actuator 50 is of the linear type.

[0068] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], it takes the form of a jack, one end of which is articulated on the frame 10 and the other end of which is articulated on the support 40 (here on one of the horizontal bars 43). It thus comprises a sleeve 51 and a rod 52 adapted to extend out of the sleeve 51 to push the support 40 back into its replacement position.

[0069] Any type of cylinder could be used (hydraulic, pneumatic, spring-loaded, electric, screw-loaded...).

[0070] Here, it is an electric jack comprising a screw-nut system (we speak of a helical sliding connection), the nut of which is driven in rotation by an electric motor.

[0071] Therefore, as shown in [Fig.1], the vehicle is further equipped with an interface 60 allowing a user to control the movement by actuator of the support 40 between the position of use and the replacement position.

[0072] Here, this interface 60 is in the form of a two-button switch which is connected to the electric motor in such a way that pressing one of these buttons commands the movement of the support 40 to its position of use when pressing the other button commands the movement of the support 40 to its replacement position.

[0073] As shown in [Fig. 3], in the operating position, the battery 30 extends under the seat 20. An upper part of this battery is housed inside the support 40. Conversely, a lower part extends under the latter, between the two longitudinal members 11 of the chassis 10. Thus, one of these longitudinal members 11 forms a stop preventing to remove the modules 31 of the battery 30 from the rack when the support 40 is in the position of use.

[0074] As shown in [Fig.4], it is therefore necessary to tilt the support 40 into the replacement position in order to be able to extract these modules 31 from the rack.

[0075] Here, the angle between the operating and replacement positions is approximately 30°. In any case, it is preferably less than 45 degrees so that removing the modules 31 from the rack is not too difficult. Furthermore, it is preferably greater than 10° so that the chassis 10 does not obstruct their removal.

[0076] As shown in [Fig.5], in practice, to extract a module 31 from the battery rack 30, it is necessary to proceed in the following manner.

[0077] First, the driver (or any authorized person) folds the backrest 22 of the seat 20 into the folded position against the seat 21.

[0078] Then, he presses one of the buttons on the interface 60 to control the tilting of the support 40 into the replacement position.

[0079] Then, as shown in [Fig.6], it can take hold of this module 31 and replace it with a module already loaded, by sliding the latter relative to the rack.

[0080] Finally, he presses the other of the buttons on the interface 60 to control the tilting of the support 40 into the position of use and then he straightens the backrest 22 so that the driver can sit on the seat 20 again.

[0081] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and represented, but a person skilled in the art will be able to make any variation in accordance with the invention.

[0082] Typically, the support could be mounted to slide movably along a vertical axis relative to the chassis.

[0083] According to another variant, the support could be connected to the chassis by two pairs of parallel connecting rods, thus giving it a rotary translation type movement relative to the chassis.

[0084] According to another variant, the tilting of the support could be operated manually, in which case it would be equipped with a handle to facilitate its manipulation. A spring could then be provided to help the user tilt the support into the replacement position.

[0085] Alternatively, the battery rack could be attached to the chassis (and not to the support), either in front of or behind the seat. In this variant, a free space will be provided under the seat through which the modules can be removed from the rack.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (1) comprising: - a chassis (10), - at least one seat (20) mounted on the chassis (10), - a battery (30) at least part of which is mounted removably from the chassis, characterized in that it further comprises a support (40) on which the seat (20) is mounted and which is movably mounted on the chassis (10) between a position of use in which a user can sit on the seat (20) and a replacement position in which said part of the battery (30) can be removed from the motor vehicle (1).

2. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, wherein said part of the accumulator battery (30) is mounted on the support (40).

3. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the support (40) is pivotally mounted on the chassis (10).

4. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support (40) being pivotally mounted on the chassis (10) about a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, said part of the accumulator battery (30) is slidably mounted along an axis inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis.

5. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an actuator (50) is provided for moving the support (40) relative to the chassis (10) between the position of use and the replacement position, and a control interface (60) for said actuator (50) enabling a user to control the movement by the actuator of the support (40) between the position of use and the replacement position.

6. Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 5, wherein said actuator (50) is a cylinder having one end articulated on the chassis (10) and another end articulated on the support (40).

7. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the accumulator battery (30) comprises several independent parts mounted removably relative to the chassis (10).

8.

9.

10. Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the seat (20) comprises a seat (21) located above said part of the accumulator battery (30). Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the seat (20) comprises a seat (21) fixed to the support (40) and a backrest (22) mounted movable relative to the seat (21) so as to be able to be folded down onto the seat (21). Motor vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein exactly one seat (20) or exactly two seats are provided, one behind the other.

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