Arrangement of an underride guard on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) of an underride guard (3) on a traction battery structure (2) of a motor vehicle, the traction battery structure (2) comprising a plate-shaped support element (20) which is configured to support a plurality of high voltage battery modules of a traction battery of the traction battery structure (2), wherein the underride guard (3) has an upper plate (4), which faces the plate-shaped support element (20), and a lower plate (5), and wherein an intermediate space is formed between the upper plate (4) and the lower plate (5) which is filled with a filler, wherein at least the upper plate (4) of the underride guard (3) is trough-shaped and has a flat base portion (40) and two lateral edge portions (41, 42) extending from the base portion (40) towards an underside of the plate-shaped support element (20) facing the upper plate (4), and the plate-shaped support element (20) has a number of supporting means (21, 22) on the underside, which are configured such that they extend between the plate-shaped support element (20) and the flat base portion (40) of the upper plate (4) of the underride guard (3) and brace the plate-shaped support element (20) against the underride guard (3).

Description

[0001] Arrangement of an underrun protection on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to an arrangement of an underrun protection device on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle, wherein the traction battery structure comprises a plate-shaped support element which is designed to support a plurality of high-voltage battery modules of a traction battery of the traction battery structure, wherein the underrun protection device has an upper plate which faces the plate-shaped support element and a lower plate, and wherein an intermediate space which is filled with a filler is formed between the upper plate and the lower plate.

[0003] Battery-electric motor vehicles and hybrid-electric motor vehicles are known from the prior art. A battery-electric motor vehicle has at least one electric machine as its drive device. A hybrid-electric motor vehicle, in contrast, has an internal combustion engine and an electric machine as its drive devices. A common feature of battery-electric and hybrid-electric motor vehicles is that they have a traction battery in which energy for operating the at least one electric machine of the motor vehicle is electrochemically stored. The traction battery operates on a high-voltage basis and comprises a plurality of high-voltage battery modules that are electrically interconnected. For packaging reasons, the traction battery is often arranged in an underfloor area of ​​the motor vehicle.An underrun protection provided in this area of ​​the motor vehicle serves the particular purpose of protecting the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery from damage if, for example, high mechanical loads occur in the event of a collision of the motor vehicle.

[0004] Various embodiments of underrun protection arrangements on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle are known from the prior art. CN 218101495 U discloses a battery protection plate arrangement comprising two substantially planar plates, between which a filling layer made of a foam material is arranged.

[0005] WO 2021 / 185632 A1 and WO 2023 / 006431 A1 each describe a protective element for a battery structure, which comprises two plates between which a foam core is arranged, wherein the upper plate is wave-shaped.

[0006] The invention has for its object to provide a further improved arrangement of an underrun protection on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle.

[0007] The solution to this problem is provided by an arrangement of an underrun protection on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset with the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

[0008] An arrangement according to the invention of an underrun protection device on a traction battery structure of a motor vehicle is characterized in that at least the upper plate of the underrun protection device is shaped like a trough and has a flat base section and two lateral edge sections extending from the base section in the direction of an underside of the plate-shaped support element facing the upper plate, and in that the plate-shaped support element has on the underside a number of support means which are designed such that they extend between the plate-shaped support element and the flat base section of the upper plate of the underrun protection device and support the plate-shaped support element on the underrun protection device.

[0009] The fact that at least the upper plate of the underrun protection is trough-shaped simplifies the design and manufacture of the underrun protection, as no complex and difficult-to-manufacture contours are required in the upper plate. The support elements on the underside of the plate-shaped support element enable secure support of the plate-shaped support element, along with the high-voltage battery cells of the traction battery arranged thereon, against the flat base section of the upper plate of the underrun protection. The number, arrangement, and structural design of the support elements can be easily adapted to the specific mechanical support requirements.

[0010] In order to simplify the manufacture and assembly of the plate-shaped support element, it is proposed in a preferred embodiment that the support means are formed integrally with the plate-shaped support element.

[0011] Preferably, the support means can be designed as support ribs or support webs. Such shapes of the support means can be implemented relatively easily.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the lower plate be trough-shaped and comprise a flat base section and two lateral edge sections extending from the base section to the plate-shaped support element. The fact that the lower plate of the underrun protection is also trough-shaped further simplifies the design and manufacture of the underrun protection, as no complex contouring is required in the lower plate.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, it is possible for the upper plate and the lower plate to be made of plastic, in particular of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the filler is designed to be thermally insulating. This advantageously prevents heat transfer from the environment via the underrun protection and the plate-shaped support element to the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery at high ambient temperatures. In one embodiment, it is possible for the filler to be a preformed, plate-shaped component that is adapted to the contours of the upper and lower plates. This ensures that the filler fits into the space between the upper and lower plates, preferably completely filling the space.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the filler can be a foam filler. Preferably, the foam filler completely fills the gap.

[0016] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the plate-shaped support element forms a base of a battery housing of the traction battery structure, within which the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery are accommodated.

[0017] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the enclosed Fig. 1, which shows a schematically simplified sectional view of an arrangement 1 of an underrun protection 3 on a traction battery structure 2 of a motor vehicle.

[0018] The traction battery structure 2 has a traction battery (not shown in detail in Fig. 1), in which energy for operating at least one electric machine of the motor vehicle is electrochemically stored. The traction battery operates on a high-voltage basis and comprises a plurality of high-voltage battery modules that are electrically interconnected. For packaging reasons, the traction battery is often arranged in an underfloor area of ​​the motor vehicle. The underride guard 3 serves the particular purpose of protecting the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery from damage, for example, in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0019] The traction battery structure 2 comprises a plate-shaped support element 20 on which the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery are arranged. The plate-shaped support element 20 can, for example, form the base of a battery housing of the traction battery, within which the battery modules are housed. However, such a battery housing is not mandatory. It is thus also possible to arrange the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery on the plate-shaped support element 20 without providing a battery housing.

[0020] The underrun protection 3 has a (first) upper plate 4 and a (second) lower plate 5, which can be made, for example, of plastic, in particular of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0021] The upper plate 4 faces the plate-shaped support element 20 and, after assembly, forms an upper side of the underrun protection 3. The upper plate 4 is trough-shaped and has a flat base section 40 and two lateral edge sections 41, 42 extending from the base section 40 in the direction of the plate-shaped support element 20, so that the trough shape of the upper plate 4 is obtained.

[0022] In the embodiment shown here, the lower plate 5 is also trough-shaped and comprises a flat base section 50 and two lateral edge sections 51, 52 extending from the base section 50 to the plate-shaped support element 20, resulting in the trough shape of the lower plate 5. The lower plate 5 forms a bottom side of the underrun protection 3.

[0023] Between the upper plate 4 and the lower plate 5, a gap is formed, which is filled with a filler 6. The filler 6 is preferably designed to be thermally insulating, so that, particularly at high ambient temperatures, heat transfer from the environment via the underrun protection 3 and the plate-shaped support element 20 to the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery can be prevented.

[0024] In one embodiment, the filler 6 can be a preformed, plate-shaped component that is adapted to the contours of the upper plate 4 and the lower plate 5 such that it can be accommodated in the space between the two plates 4, 5 during assembly. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the filler 6 is designed as a foam filler.

[0025] The plate-shaped support element 20 of the traction battery structure 2 has, on a side facing the upper plate 4 of the underrun protection 3, which forms the underside of the plate-shaped support element 20, a number of support means 21, 22, which are preferably formed integrally with the plate-shaped support element 20. The support means 21, 22 are designed in particular as support webs or as support ribs and extend between the plate-shaped support element 20 and the flat base section 40 of the upper plate 4 of the underrun protection 3. With the aid of the support means 21, 22, the plate-shaped support element 20 of the traction battery structure 2, with the high-voltage battery modules arranged thereon, is supported on the underrun protection 3. The number, arrangement, and structural design of the support means 21, 22 can be easily adapted to the specific mechanical support requirements.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Arrangement (1) of an underrun protection (3) on a traction battery structure (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein the traction battery structure (2) comprises a plate-shaped support element (20) which is designed to support a plurality of high-voltage battery modules of a traction battery of the traction battery structure (2), wherein the underrun protection (3) has an upper plate (4) facing the plate-shaped support element (20) and a lower plate (5), and wherein an intermediate space is formed between the upper plate (4) and the lower plate (5), which intermediate space is filled with a filler, characterized in that at least the upper plate (4) of the underrun protection (3) is shaped like a trough and has a flat base section (40) and two lateral edge sections (41, 42) extending from the base section (40) in the direction of an underside of the plate-shaped support element (20) facing the upper plate (4), and in that the plate-shaped support element (20) has a number of support means (21 , 22),which are designed to extend between the plate-shaped support element (20) and the flat base section (40) of the upper plate (4) of the underrun protection (3) and to fix the plate-shaped support element (20) to the underrun protection, (3) support.

2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (20, 21) are formed integrally with the plate-shaped support element (2).

3. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support means (20) are designed as support ribs or as support webs.

4. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower plate (5) is shaped like a trough and comprises a flat base section (50) and two lateral edge sections (51, 52) pointing from the base section (50) to the plate-shaped support element (20).

5. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper plate (4) and the lower plate (5) are made of plastic, in particular of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

6. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the filling means (6) is designed to be thermally insulating.

7. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the filling means (6) is a preformed, plate-shaped component which is adapted to the contours of the upper plate (4) and the lower plate (5).

8. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the filling means (6) is a filling foam.

9. Arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plate-shaped support element (20) forms a base of a battery housing of the traction battery structure (2), within which the high-voltage battery modules of the traction battery are accommodated.

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