Improved cover for a vehicular battery

Abstract

Cover (1) for a vehicle battery (2) provided with a flat blank (3) comprising a plurality of portions (3a, 3b', 3b' ', 3c', 3c' ' ) that can be folded relative to one another, in use, to define a housing space for the battery (2), the blank (3) being made of a fireproof material.

Description

[0001] "IMPROVED COVER FOR A VEHICULAR BATTERY"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102023000018387 filed on September 7, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The invention relates to a cover, in particular a cover for electric batteries.

[0006] The invention preferably, though not exclusively applies to the covering of vehicle batteries. Hereinafter reference will be made to this application by mere way of example.

[0007] Known State of the Art

[0008] Vehicles have a tendency to become more and more electrified in order to reduce the emissions generated by the use of internal combustion engines or to replace them entirely.

[0009] Hybrid, electric or hydrogen vehicles are increasingly used for this purpose. These vehicles, as it is known, store electrical energy used for driving / operating the operating systems of the vehicle or stored by generating means in battery systems.

[0010] These battery systems comprise one or more battery units housed inside a casing that isolates them from the outside and allows the necessary wiring to be housed. As it is also known, the electric batteries used in these vehicles are electrochemical storage devices, which, during use, while they are being charged and as the charge depletes, tend to heat up.

[0011] It is possible for the inner heating of the batteries to reach levels that are such as to generate a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway", in which the temperature triggers exothermic reactions, which further increase the temperature, thus leading to possible disastrous consequences, such as explosions or fires.

[0012] In particular, these explosions involve the propagation of open flames that are particularly dangerous both for the passengers of the vehicle and for the spread of the fire to other parts of the vehicle or around it.

[0013] In order to improve the safety of these battery systems, the EC R100.3 standard provides for very strict criteria regarding the propagation of open flames outside the casing housing the batteries.

[0014] Therefore, known battery systems need to be improved so as to limit the escape of open flames from them, thus avoiding the dangers connected to the known art systems described above.

[0015] The object of the invention is to fulfil the needs discussed above in an optimized and economic fashion.

[0016] Summary of the Invention

[0017] The aforesaid object is reached by a cover and a battery as claimed in the appended claims that are an integral part of this description.

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, which is provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] • Figure 1 is a plan view of a cover in a blank configuration; and

[0021] • Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover of figure 1, in a use condition.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023] The accompanying figures show a cover 1 for a vehicle battery 2, which is schematically shown with a broken line in figure 2.

[0024] With reference to figure 1, the cover 1 is advantageously manufactured by means of a single blank 3, i.e. a foldable sheet.

[0025] In detail, said blank 3 is entirely made of a single fireproof material. In particular, said material can comprise a phyllosilicate, such as mica, or a glass fibre reinforced resin.

[0026] The blank 3 preferably has a constant thickness ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm depending on the dimensions of the battery 2 and on design specifications.

[0027] According to figure 1, the blank 3 comprises a central portion 3a having a substantially rectangular shape extending along a longitudinal axis A and thus provided with a pair of longitudinal edges, parallel to the axis A, and a pair of transverse edges, perpendicular to the axis A.

[0028] The blank 3 further comprises a first and a second lateral portions 3b', 3b'' extending from the central portion 3a on the opposite side of the longitudinal edges thereof. The first and second lateral portions 3b', 3b'' advantageously have a rectangular shape, similarly to the central portion 3a.

[0029] In particular, the lateral portions 3b', 3b'' are connected by respective longitudinal edges to the longitudinal edges of the central portion 3a, defining respective first folding zones 4', 4'’.

[0030] The blank 3 further comprises a first and a second transverse portions 3c', 3c'' extending from the transverse edges, at the front and at the back relative to the axis A, of at least one of the lateral portions 3b', 3b''.

[0031] In particular, in the embodiment described herein, the second lateral portion 3b'' carries both the first and the second transverse portion 3c', 3c''. They are connected by respective transverse edges to the transverse edges of the second longitudinal portion 3b'', defining respective second folding zones 5', 5'’.

[0032] The first lateral portion 3b'' defines, along the respective transverse edges, third folding zones 6', 6'’ configured, in use, to cooperate in contact with the free transverse edges of the first and second transverse portions 3c', 3c''.

[0033] The transverse portions 3c', 3c'', in the embodiment described herein, have a different shape from one another.

[0034] In fact, they both comprise a main portion with a rectangular shape, having an extension in a direction transverse to the axis A that is smaller than the one of the lateral portions 3b', 3b''. As a consequence of the above, the second and third folding zones 5', 5'’, 6', 6'’ have an extension along the transverse direction that is smaller than the edge of the lateral portions 3b', 3b'.

[0035] Both the first and second transverse portions 3c', 3c'' define appendages 3d', 3d'', 3e configured to cooperate in contact, in use, with the central portion 3a, as described below.

[0036] The first transverse portion 3c' defines a protuberance 3d' on the longitudinal edge facing the central portion 3a and having a substantially rectangular shape.

[0037] The second transverse portion 3c' defines a first protuberance 3d' on the longitudinal edge facing the central portion 3a and having a substantially rectangular shape and a second protuberance 3e also with a rectangular shape and extending in the same direction as the first protuberance 3d' starting from the latter.

[0038] In particular, the second protuberance 3e extends in the longitudinal direction to a smaller extent than the first protuberance 3d', thus constituting a profile with "steps". In further detail, the protuberance 3d' extends along the longitudinal axis A to a smaller extent than the first protuberance 3d'' of the second transverse portion 3c''.

[0039] The blank 3 further comprises a first folding portion 7 and a second folding portion 8 extending from the transverse edges of the central portion 3a and configured to cooperate, in use, in contact with the first and second transverse portion 3c', 3c'', respectively.

[0040] In detail, the first folding portion 7 has a substantially rectangular shape and is arranged in the middle relative to the extension of the transverse edge of the central portion 3a. The first folding portion 7 further defines a through opening 9, which advantageously has a rectangular shape as well.

[0041] The second folding portion 8 comprises a main portion with a rectangular shape, advantageously extending to a greater extent than the first folding portion 7 along the transverse edge, and a protuberance 11 extending along the axis A from the main portion and also having a rectangular shape.

[0042] Advantageously, both the first and the second folding portion 7, 8 define, in use, at least two corners, i.e. they are potentially foldable along two fold lines.

[0043] Advantageously, the folding lines of the first and second folding portions 7, 8 are perpendicular to the axis

[0044] A. The first, second and third folding zones 4', 4'', 5',

[0045] 5'', 6', 6'' are preferably configured, in use, to define a corner, i.e. they are potentially foldable along one single folding line.

[0046] Advantageously, the folding lines of the second and third folding zones are perpendicular to the axis A. The first folding lines are parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

[0047] The first, second and third folding zones 4', 4'’, 5', 5'’, 6', 6'’ and the first and second folding portions 7, 8 are advantageously covered, at least in the space facing, in use, the battery 2, with an additional layer.

[0048] In particular, said additional layer is an adhesive layer applied in the area of the aforementioned folding portions and advantageously made of material comprising phyllosilicates such as mica.

[0049] The use of the cover 1 according to the invention described above is the following.

[0050] Figure 2 shows the blank 3, i.e. the cover 1, in a closed configuration, thus defining a space designed to accommodate the battery 2.

[0051] The central portion 3a of the blank 3 defines an upper wall of the cover 1, which is open on the opposite side in order to allow it to be fixed on a support surface (which is not shown) for the battery defined by the vehicle battery pack (which is not shown). The transverse portions 3c', 3c'' define a rear and front wall of the cover 1, whereas the lateral portions 3b', 3b'' define lateral walls of the cover 1.

[0052] The first and second folding portions 7, 8 create a plurality of accesses to the battery 2, for example for the passage of cables or to allow other elements of the battery pack to be fixed. In particular, thanks to the shape of the first and second folding portions 7, 8 and of the second and third folding zones 5', 5'’, 6', 6'’, the upper corners of the battery 2 are accessible from the outside.

[0053] These openings are also useful to allow gas to escape in case of thermal runaway events.

[0054] Owing to the above, the advantages of a cover according to the invention are evident.

[0055] The cover 1 allows the batteries to be sheltered from the external environment, thus avoiding flame propagation towards the adjacent batteries.

[0056] In particular, the transmission of heat outside a single battery can be avoided, hence preventing thermal runaway from propagating to adjacent batteries.

[0057] In detail, the material suggested herein can withstand 1000°C for 10 minutes, allowing rescuers or emergency systems of the battery to cool it down and avoiding the transmission of flames to adjacent batteries.

[0058] Furthermore, the manufacturing of a cover by means of one single blank is particularly cost-effective and scalable to different battery sizes.

[0059] The use of an additional adhesive layer also makes it possible to strengthen the overall structure of the blank, in use, and makes the folding portions more thermally resistant.

[0060] Finally, the cover according to the invention can clearly be subject to changes and variants, which, though, do not go beyond the scope of protection set forth in the appended claims.

[0061] For example, the shape of the blank can be different subject to the limits claimed herein or the connections between the portions can be different or the folding lines described herein can vary in number.

Claims

CLAIMS1.- Cover (1) for vehicle battery (2), said cover (1) comprising a flat blank (3) manufactured as one single piece and comprising a plurality of portions (3a, 3b',3b'', 3c', 3c'') foldable one with respect to the other, in use, to define a housing space for said battery (2), said blank (3) being made of fireproof material, wherein said blank (3) is made of phyllosilicate or a glass fiber reinforced resin, wherein said plurality of portions (3a, 3b', 3b'',3c', 3c'') are connected to each other by folding portions (4', 4'’, 5', 5'’, 6', 6'’, 7, 8), said folding portions defining at least one folding line, said cover (1) comprising an additional layer in the vicinity of said folding portions (4', 4'’, 5', 5'’, 6', 6'’, 7, 8), said additional layer being turned towards said battery (2) and being made of a material comprising a phyllosilicate .2.- Cover according to claim 1, wherein said blank (3) has a constant thickness.3.- Cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said additional layer is an adhesive layer.4.- Cover according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said blank (3) comprises a central portion (3a) extending along a longitudinal axis (A), a pair of side portions (3b', 3b'’) extending from longitudinal edges of the central portion (3a) and a pair of transverse portions(3c', 3c'') carried by at least one of the side portions (3b', 3b'') starting from respective transverse edges with respect to said longitudinal axis (A ).5.- Cover according to claim 4, wherein said lateral portions (3b', 3b'’) are connected to said central portion (3a) through first folding zones (4', 4'') defining at least one folding line parallel to said axis (A).6.- Cover according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said transverse portions (3c', 3c'’) are connected to at least one of said lateral portions (3b', 3b'’) through second folding zones (5', 5'’) defining at least one folding line perpendicular to said axis (A).7.- Cover according to claim 3 to 6, wherein the free edges of said lateral portions (3b', 3b'’) define third folding zones (6', 6'’) defining at least one folding line perpendicular to said axis (A) and configured to cooperate in contact, in use, with the free edges of said transverse portions (3c', 3c'').8.- Cover according to one of claims from 3 to 6, wherein said blank (3) comprises a first and a second foldable portion (7, 8) configured, in use, to cooperate in contact with the longitudinal edges of said transverse portions (3c', 3c'').9.- Cover according to claim 8, wherein said transverse portions (3c', 3c'') define respective protuberances (3d', 3d'';3e) configured to cooperate in contact respectively with said first and second foldingportions (7 , 8).10.- Cover according to claim 4 or 9, wherein said first and second folding portions (7, 8) define a plurality of folding lines parallel to each other. 11.- Cover according to one of the claims from 8 to10, in which said first and second folding portions (7, 8) define a through opening (9).12.- Arrangement comprising a vehicle battery (2) and a cover (1) according to one of the preceding claims. 13.- Battery pack defining a support surface and provided with a battery (2) carried by said support surface and housed within Cover (1) according to one of claims 1 to

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