Energy storage floor assembly for an electrically powerable motor vehicle

Abstract

To prevent damage to a high voltage storage unit or storage cell during a collision in which a front axle beam is subjected to a load. [Solution] In an energy storage floor assembly, a longitudinal beam is arranged in the storage housing, and its front end is connected to a cross beam member 8 arranged in the area of ​​the front end structure 5, on which a front axle beam 1 is also provided.A load transfer element 10 is provided between the rear area of ​​the front axle beam 1 and the front end of the longitudinal beam 19, and the load transfer element has a front support area at its front end and a rear support area at its rear end, so that when the front axle beam 1 moves backward due to an accident, the front axle beam can be supported on the front support area of ​​the load transfer element 10, and the rear support area of ​​the load transfer element can be supported on the longitudinal beam.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an energy store floor assembly for an electrically drivable motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. [Background technology]

[0002] An energy storage floor assembly of this type for an electrically powerable motor vehicle has already been described in the applicant's as yet undisclosed German patent application with application number 102020102480.0 as a storage housing arranged under the vehicle floor for accommodating an electrical energy storage device, in which at least one longitudinal beam is arranged, the beam being at least indirectly connected at one end to a beam member of the motor vehicle arranged in the region of the front end structure. This contributes to achieving sufficient rigidity of the vehicle floor and the body structure in the region of the safety compartment, unlike earlier prior art such as that described in DE 10 200 04 11 4 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55. This contributes to achieving sufficient rigidity of the vehicle floor and the body structure in the region of the safety compartment, without having to accept a large excess weight of the motor vehicle body and limited structural space in the interior space of the safety compartment, which would also impair the ergonomics of the safety compartment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2468609 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to develop and form such an energy storage floor assembly so that in the event of a collision, the front axle beam is loaded to absorb deformation energy without damaging the high voltage storage unit or storage cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by an energy store floor assembly having the features of claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0006] An energy storage floor assembly for a motor vehicle having an electric drive including an electric energy storage device accommodated in a storage housing and arranged under the vehicle floor, wherein at least one longitudinal beam is arranged in the storage housing, the front end of which, as seen in the direction of the vehicle, is at least indirectly connected to a cross beam member arranged in the area of ​​the front structure, and the cross beam member is also provided with a front axle beam, wherein a load transfer element is arranged between the rear area of ​​the front axle beam and the front end of the longitudinal beam, the load transfer element having a front support area at its front end and a rear support area at its rear end, wherein during a backward movement as a result of a collision of the front axle beam due to an accident, the front axle beam can be supported at the front support area of ​​the load transfer element and the rear support area of ​​the load transfer element can be supported at least on the longitudinal beam.

[0007] This has the advantage that the front axle beam is not directly screwed to the energy store floor assembly, but is supported at each longitudinal beam in the store housing via each load transfer element when it is displaced rearward in a collision, and therefore the further deformation of the front axle beam that cushions the collision energy can be used to cushion the residual energy that would otherwise, in some cases, impinge on the energy store floor assembly at a point other than the position of each front axle beam due to an uncontrolled deformation path of the front axle beam without the load transfer elements. Advantageously, therefore, a structurally and safety-technically very favorable support position of the front axle beam at all longitudinal beams in the store housing is ensured, and a collision-technically favorable deformation of the front axle beam for maximum energy mitigation is made possible for the first time, so that the front axle beam can cushion even greater load levels due to its support via the load transfer elements.

[0008] In this regard, it is particularly advantageous if at least one longitudinal beam is fixed below to the vehicle floor. This allows the longitudinal beam to optimally form a force or load path below the safety compartment, so that each longitudinal beam can be optimally used to support load transfer elements. It is also possible to connect at least one longitudinal beam directly to a crossbeam element. This allows optimal support and transmission of forces, for example, from the front structural area of ​​a motor vehicle to the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0009] Another embodiment of the invention provides a clearance, typically between 5 and 10 millimeters, between the front support area of ​​each load transfer element and the front axle beam or the front axle beam fixing portion in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. Such a clearance between the front axle beam and the load transfer element with the longitudinal beam of the high-voltage store located at the rear of the front axle beam in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle advantageously allows for separate mounting of the front axle beam and the high-voltage store. The load transfer elements are directly connected to the high-voltage store, and a longitudinal beam inside the high-voltage store, capable of supporting collision loads, is located at the rear of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the forces transmitted by the engagement of the front axle beam with the load element due to deformation of the front axle beam, are directly transmitted to the longitudinal beam of the high-voltage store, where the force flow is further transmitted by its connection to the vehicle body structure. Therefore, the load transfer elements, by supporting themselves on the longitudinal beam, prevent further rearward movement of the front axle beam in the direction of the high-voltage store, thus preventing the structure from encroaching on the battery cells of the high-voltage store.

[0010] This can be achieved in a particularly effective and constructionally simple manner if the front axle beam is made up of at least two front axle longitudinal beams, each of which is assigned to one vehicle side and attached to the crossbeam element via two fastening points, with at least one fastening point facing the front bearing area of ​​the load transfer element in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. For this purpose, for example, each load transfer element can be fastened, in particular by means of a bonded connection, in particular by means of a welded, screwed or riveted connection, to a floor element of the storehouse housing, in such a way that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, is positioned with play relative to the axle beam or axle beam fastening, and is towards the rear, towards the longitudinal beam integrated in the high-voltage storehouse.

[0011] The present invention will now be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle partial front structure according to the present invention, looking from below towards the axle beam and floor elements of the energy store floor assembly; FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged partial longitudinal section according to FIG. 1 taken along the section line AA of the rear area of ​​the axle beam and the front area of ​​the energy store floor assembly, as seen in the direction of travel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an energy store floor assembly (platform) 3 for an electrically powered motor vehicle, surrounded by and integrated into a body structure 2, in a plan view from below of a front axle beam (front subframe) 1 of the motor vehicle, as seen in the direction of travel F of the motor vehicle. Visible in this case is an end wall 4 in front of the passenger compartment, to which a front end structure 5 connects in the forward direction and continues downwardly through a cross beam member 8. The front end structure 5 includes, for example, a longitudinal beam or prime mover mount (prime mover subframe) 5' in front of the central longitudinal beam plane. Visible in FIG. 2, the end wall 4 transitions downwardly via the cross beam member 8 into a vehicle floor 6, which defines the passenger compartment downwardly and continues laterally to a side sill 7 (FIG. 1) extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0014] Below the vehicle floor 6, the floor element 11 forms a hollow space together with the vehicle floor, which contains the housing part of the multi-part storage housing 12 and serves to accommodate battery modules (not shown) of an electrical energy storage device. As can be seen in Figure 2, the vehicle floor 6 and the floor element 11 are connected to each other and can be provided with a gas-tight connection (not shown) around the periphery.

[0015] The reservoir housing 12 is therefore formed below the vehicle floor 6 with the latter as an upper wall and is closed from below by the floor element 11 .

[0016] For stiffening and fixing the battery modules, the storage housing 12 incorporates longitudinal beams 19 and cross beams 18 which extend parallel to one another, each longitudinal beam 19 consisting of two overlapping, connectable and detachable longitudinal beam sections 19', 19" which have a screw connection with the floor element 11, the upper longitudinal beam section 19' being connected to the vehicle floor 6 and the lower longitudinal beam section 19" being connected to the floor element 11. The lower longitudinal beam section 19" extends between the cell modules and reaches the floor element 11 as far as the end face of the storage housing 12 towards the front in the direction of travel.

[0017] Outside the floor element 11, the load transfer element continues the lower longitudinal beam portion 19" forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle outside the floor pan 11 and is therefore supported on the floor pan 11 at least jointly with the lower longitudinal beam portion 19" with a rear support area 15, and therefore the load transfer element 10 is welded to the floor element 11 so that when, in the event of a collision, a load based on a displacement or deformation of the front axle beam 1 is applied to the front support area 15' of the load transfer element 10, a flow of force occurs from the front axle beam 1 through the load transfer element 10 and the floor pan 11 to the lower longitudinal beam portion 19".

[0018] In order, on the one hand, to enable a separate mounting of the front axle beam 1 and the reservoir housing 12, and, on the other hand, to provide the front axle beam with a certain degree of freedom of deformation in the event of a frontal collision in the direction opposite to the direction of travel F, i.e. without other elements following to the rear being immediately affected in the floor area, the forward straight connection of the lower longitudinal beam section 19" via the floor pan 11 and the support areas 15, 15' of the load transfer element 10 to the axle beam threaded bushings 13 which connect the rear area of ​​the front axle beam 1 to the cross beam element 8 via the axle beam bolts 9, is In other cases, a gap 14 with a gap width of 5 mm exists between the front support area 15' of the element 10 and the axle beam threaded bush 13. In other cases, the axle beam threaded bush 13 comes into contact with the front support area 15' of the load transfer element 10, which receives the force flow from the front axle beam 1 and transfers it via its rear support area 15 to the wall of the floor pan 11 into the lower longitudinal beam section 19" and from there via the upper longitudinal beam section 19' to the vehicle floor 6 and the body, so that the gap 14 is completely closed by the displacement of the axle beam 1.

[0019] Since the front axle beam 1 consists of two longitudinal beams 1', 1" two load transfer elements 10 are used in FIG. 1, one of which is assigned to each vehicle side and is attached to the cross beam element 8 via two fastening points with axle beam threaded bushings 13. One of these fastening points, i.e. the one inside the vehicle, faces the front support area 15' of the load transfer element 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The present invention may also include the following aspects: 1. An energy store floor assembly for a motor vehicle having an electric drive including an electric energy store housed in a store housing (12) and arranged under the vehicle floor (6), wherein at least one longitudinal beam (19) is arranged in the store housing (12), the front end of which, as seen in the longitudinal direction (F) of the vehicle, is at least indirectly connected to a cross beam element (8) arranged in the area of ​​the front end structure (5), the cross beam element also being provided with a front axle beam (1), An energy storage unit floor assembly, characterized in that a load transfer element (10) is provided between a rearward area of ​​a front axle beam (1) and a front end of a longitudinal beam (19), the load transfer element having a front support area (15') at its front end and a rearward support area (15) at its rear end, such that when the front axle beam (1) moves backward as a result of a collision due to an accident, the front axle beam can be supported by the front support area (15') of the load transfer element (10) and the rearward support area (15) of the load transfer element can be supported by at least the longitudinal beam (19). 2. An energy storage floor assembly as described in 1. above, characterized in that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a gap of, in particular, 5 to 10 millimeters is provided between the front support area (15') of each load transfer element (10) and the front axle beam (1) or the front axle beam fixing part. 3. An energy storage unit floor assembly as described in 1. or 2. above, characterized in that the front axle beam (1) is composed of at least two front axle longitudinal beams (1, 1"), each of which is assigned to one vehicle side and is attached to the cross beam element (8) via two fixing points, each of which is facing the front support area (15') of the load transfer element (10) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 4. An energy storage floor assembly according to any one of 1. to 3. above, characterized in that each load transfer element (10) is attached to the floor element (11) of the storage housing (12), in particular by means of a joint connection.

Claims

1. An energy store floor assembly for a motor vehicle having an electric drive including an electric energy store housed in a store housing (12) and arranged under the vehicle floor (6), wherein at least one longitudinal beam (19) is arranged in the store housing (12), the front end of which, as seen in the longitudinal direction (F) of the vehicle, is at least indirectly connected to a cross beam element (8) arranged in the area of ​​a front end structure (5), the cross beam element also being provided with a front axle beam (1), A load transfer element (10) is provided between the rear region of the front axle beam (1) and the front end of the longitudinal beam (19), the load transfer element having a front support region (15') at its front end and a rear support region (15) at its rear end, so that when the front axle beam (1) moves backward as a result of a collision due to an accident, the front axle beam can be supported on the front support region (15') of the load transfer element (10), and the rear support region (15) of the load transfer element can support the front axle beam (1) at least in the longitudinal beam (19).

1. An energy store floor assembly, characterized in that the front axle beam (1) can be supported on a frame (19), and the front axle beam (1) is made up of at least two front axle longitudinal beams (1, 1"), each of which is assigned to one vehicle side and is attached to the cross beam element (8) via two fastening points, each of which is facing a front support area (15') of the load transfer element (10) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

2. 2. The energy store floor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a gap is provided between the front support area (15') of each load transfer element (10) and the front axle beam (1) or the front axle beam fixing part, in particular a gap of 5 to 10 millimeters.

3. 3. Energy store floor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each load transfer element (10) is provided on a floor element (11) of the store housing (12), in particular by means of a joint connection.

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