Running battery Vehicle floor

Abstract

To provide a battery vehicle floor for traveling, which has good collision characteristics and which is constructed simple.SOLUTION: A battery vehicle floor 20 for traveling has a plurality of self-support battery modules 25, 251, and 252 arranged in a horizontal plane (X and Y). The battery modules 25, 251, and 252 are directly fastened to two lateral longitudinal supports 21 and 22 of the vehicle floor. An electric battery control module 32 having a self-support battery control module housing 33 is disposed in the horizontal plane (X and Y) of the battery modules so as to be adjacent to the forefront and / or rearmost battery modules 251 and 252. Two traverse ends 37R and 37L of the battery control module housing 33 are structurally connected to the corresponding longitudinal supports 21 and 22 in the state of being supported.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle floor having a traction battery integrated into the vehicle floor. [Background technology]

[0002] Due to the low center of gravity, relatively good crash safety, and relatively good accessibility for maintenance, repair, and replacement, the traction battery of a battery electric vehicle is often accommodated in a plate-like form in the vehicle floor. The traction battery is composed of several identical block-shaped battery modules, each of which can have a module voltage of 20V to 200V. All the battery modules can be arranged in a horizontal plane, grouped together, and accommodated in a single overall housing.

[0003] Alternatively, the battery modules can be grouped together in a horizontal plane by a suitable frame structure and connected to the chassis. From US Pat. No. 5,399,433 a crash-rigid frame structure is known having a rectangular closed frame, in which a number of battery modules, and also an electronic battery controller, are framed and structurally grouped in a crash-resistant manner.

[0004] Other construction concepts for floor side traction batteries are known from US Pat. No. 5,393,633, US Pat. No. 5,493,663, US Pat. No. 5,529,347, US Pat. No. 5,529,671, US Pat. No. 5,529,685, and US Pat. No. 5,613,666. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 3345779 [Patent Document 2] DE 102015216225 A1 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 3267508 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Pat. No. 1,081,1645 [Patent Document 5] China Patent Application Publication No. 20674989 [Patent Document 6] China Patent Publication No. 103538457 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The problem addressed by the present invention is to create a simply constructed traction battery vehicle floor that has good crash properties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a traction battery vehicle floor having the features of claim 1.

[0008] The traction battery vehicle floor according to the invention comprises a plurality of self-supporting battery modules arranged in a single horizontal plane. The battery modules each comprise a crash-stable battery module housing, which can be configured to be substantially fluid-tight. The module housing can be configured to be perfused by a cooling liquid and thus can be part of an active cooling circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the battery modules can be cooled by actively cooled cooling plates below and / or above the battery modules. In either case, the battery module housing has a rigidity and strength that protects the battery module housing against associated deformations in the vehicle longitudinal direction and especially in the vehicle transverse direction in a crash event.

[0009] The battery modules are fastened in a supporting manner directly to two lateral longitudinal supports of the vehicle floor which form a structural part of the self-supporting structure. The battery modules are not fastened directly to the transverse supports. In particular, no transverse supports are provided in the centre of the longitudinal extension of the traction battery. The required crash strength of the traction battery in the transverse direction is substantially or approximately only generated by the battery modules themselves or the battery module housing.

[0010] Further provided is a bar-shaped electric battery control module arranged adjacent to the frontmost and / or rearmost battery module in the horizontal plane of the battery modules. The battery control module also comprises a self-supporting and crash-stable battery control module housing, which is structurally connected in a supporting manner to the corresponding longitudinal supports at each of its two transverse ends. The battery control module housing thus contributes to the structural reinforcement of the entire traction battery network consisting of the battery modules, the battery control module and the two longitudinal supports.

[0011] Preferably, the battery modules or battery module housings are each identical and configured as elongated cubes with their longitudinal extensions aligned in the transverse vehicle direction and arranged in two rows extending in the longitudinal vehicle direction, each of the two rows having at least three battery modules, so that the smallest sidewall of a given battery module housing lies in a vertical longitudinal plane, such that when viewed in the longitudinal vehicle direction, the entire battery module network has a relatively large number of vertical housing sidewalls, all of which lie in a vertical transverse plane, which together with the battery control module housing results in a high structural transverse stiffness of the traction battery network.

[0012] In the event of a side vehicle collision, the opposing portions may be positioned centrally on the vehicle, and a gap may be formed between the front faces of the opposing battery modules, so that two battery modules in a battery module row can move toward each other without directly colliding with each other.

[0013] Preferably, a transverse console is connected to each of the transverse ends of the battery control module housing, each forming a structural connection between a respective vehicle floor longitudinal support and the battery control module housing. Typically, the total traction battery transverse extension is not required to accommodate the battery controller. Thus, the battery control module housing can be substantially smaller in transverse extension than the total transverse extension of the traction battery. The resulting gap between the respective longitudinal support and the centrally located battery control module housing is structurally closed by the two transverse consoles.

[0014] The module housing and the two transverse consoles may be constructed to be substantially integral with one another and, most preferably, may be formed from a single die-cast aluminum section.

[0015] Alternatively, the two transverse consoles and the battery control module housing can be formed in multiple parts and are not assembled until after manufacture. For example, the battery control module housing can be substantially an aluminum die-cast section. Particularly preferably, each transverse console is made of a machine-cut extruded profile body, which is inexpensive to manufacture. Preferably, the two transverse consoles are configured to be substantially mirror images of each other.

[0016] Preferably, the two transverse consoles each comprise a truss structure which provides high structural rigidity at low weight.

[0017] Preferably, the vertical wall of the front or rear battery control module housing and the adjacent opposing rear or front battery module vertical wall are configured to be complementary to one another such that when the two vertical walls come into contact in the event of a collision, a large or almost entire surface area of ​​the two vertical walls abuts one another without forming special pressure points. In the event of a collision, the two vertical walls thus abut one another in a defined and uniform manner, so that deformations of the battery module and the battery control module housing are generally to a large extent prevented.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the two vertical walls are substantially planar in form.Particularly preferably, the two vertical walls facing each other in the non-crash state are spaced apart from each other by a distance of at least 10 mm, so that in the event of a minor collision, the vertical walls do not come into contact with each other.

[0019] Two example embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic top view of a traction battery vehicle floor with a first example embodiment of a battery control module. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a vehicle center longitudinal section II-II of the battery control module of the traction battery vehicle floor of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the battery control module of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 illustrates a second example embodiment of a battery control module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] In Fig. 1, a top view shows diagrammatically a traction battery vehicle floor 20 with a traction battery 250 of a battery electric passenger vehicle 10. The passenger vehicle 10 comprises an electric traction motor 12 and an engine controller 14 which is supplied with electrical energy by the traction battery 250. The traction battery vehicle floor 20 is configured in a plate-like manner lying in a horizontal plane and is arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction X between the front and rear axles of the passenger vehicle 10.

[0022] In the present case, the traction battery vehicle floor 20 comprises two rows 23, 24, each with six identical battery modules 25, 251, 252, so that six rows with two identical battery modules 25, 251, 252 are formed in this manner. All battery modules 25, 251, 252 are arranged in a single horizontal plane XY. In the present case, all battery modules 25, 251, 252 are electrically connected to each other in series. Each battery module 25, 251, 252 has, for example, a module voltage of 70V. However, alternatively, the battery modules can be electrically connected to two electrical strands in parallel with each other, each having, for example, a module voltage of 150V.

[0023] The battery modules 25, 251, 252 are each elongated cuboid in form and are arranged with their longitudinal extension oriented in the transverse vehicle direction Y. At their distal small-area front faces or ends, the battery modules 25, 251, 252 are each fastened, for example screwed in a supporting manner, to the lateral longitudinal supports 21, 22 of the vehicle floor. The battery modules 25, 251, 252 each comprise a fluid-tight and crash-rigid battery module housing 25'. The proximal front faces or ends of the elongated battery modules 25, 251, 252 are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction Y by a few centimeters and are mechanically joined by longitudinal panels (not shown). The two rearmost battery modules 251, 252 forming the rearmost battery module row are connected in the same horizontal plane X, Y with the vehicle-center battery control module 32, 32' to the battery control bar 30 which encloses the battery control electronic system 35 inside a self-supporting and crash-stable battery control module housing 33, 33' for monitoring and controlling the battery modules 25, 251, 252.

[0024] In the first example embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the battery control module housing 33 is a separate die-cast aluminum part formed by a pan and a screw-on lid. At each of the two transverse ends 37R, 37L of the housing 33 there is an abutting and adjacent transverse console 341, 342 having a truss structure. Each transverse console 341, 342 consists of a machine cut extruded profile body 34.

[0025] Each transverse console 341, 342 is structurally connected at one transverse end to the battery control module housing 33 and at the other transverse end to a respective vehicle floor longitudinal support 21, 22, for example by bolts 401, 402, or alternatively by welding. In this way, the battery control bar 30 creates transverse stiffness for the traction battery vehicle floor 20, such that in this region, a large proportion of additional body side stiffening in the transverse direction is not required.

[0026] 2, the front vertical wall 39 of the battery control module housing 33 and the adjacent opposing rear battery module vertical walls 29 of the adjacent battery modules 251, 252 are each perfectly planar in configuration and spaced apart from each other by a distance A of about 15 mm. Thus, in the case of a severe rear impact, minor deformation of the battery control bar 30 will not cause deformation of the adjacent battery modules 251, 252. Even in the case of severe deformation of the battery control bar 30, no selective force is applied to the battery module vertical walls 29 due to the smooth surfaces of the two opposing vertical walls 29, 39.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, an actively liquid cooled cooling plate 21 is disposed on the bottom side of the battery modules 25, 251, 252 and the battery control module 32.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a second example embodiment of a battery control bar 30' in which a battery control module housing 33' and two transverse consoles 341', 342' are configured to be substantially integral with one another and are formed by integrally connected aluminum die-cast sections 33', 34'.

Claims

1. A traction battery vehicle floor (20) having a plurality of self-supporting battery modules (25, 251, 252) arranged in a horizontal plane (X, Y), the battery modules (25, 251, 252) are directly fastened in a supporting manner to the two lateral longitudinal supports (21, 22) of the vehicle floor, an electric battery control module (32) having a self-supporting battery control module housing (33, 33') with a battery control electronic system (35) enclosed therein, disposed in a horizontal plane (X, Y) of the battery modules adjacent to the forward-most and / or rear-most battery modules (251, 252); A traction battery vehicle floor (20), wherein two transverse ends (37R, 37L) of the battery control module housing (33, 33') are each structurally connected to the corresponding longitudinal supports (21, 22) in a supporting manner.

2. A traction battery vehicle floor (20) as described in claim 1, wherein at each of the transverse ends (37R, 37L) of the battery control module housing (33), a transverse console (341, 342, 341', 342') is connected, each forming the structural connection between the respective vehicle floor longitudinal supports (21, 22) and the battery control module housing (33).

3. The traction battery vehicle floor (20) of claim 2, wherein the two transverse consoles (341, 342, 341', 342') comprise a truss structure.

4. 4. The traction battery vehicle floor (20) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the battery control module housing (33') and the two transverse consoles (341', 342') are substantially integrally formed with one another.

5. 4. The traction battery vehicle floor (20) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the battery control module housing (33) and the two transverse consoles (341, 342) are formed in multiple parts.

6. A traction battery vehicle floor (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front or rear battery control module housing vertical wall (39) and the adjacent opposing rear or front battery module vertical wall (29) are shaped to be complementary to each other.

7. A traction battery vehicle floor (20) as described in claim 6, wherein the opposing front or rear battery control module housing vertical wall (39) and the rear or front battery module vertical wall (29) are spaced from each other in a non-collision state by a distance (A) of at least 10 mm.

8. The battery module (25, 251, 252) is elongated in shape, aligned with its longitudinal extension in the vehicle transverse direction (Y) and arranged in two rows (23, 24) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction (X), each of the two rows having at least three battery modules (25, 251, 252).

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