Motor vehicle comprising a programmably deformable impact absorption system, and method based on such a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a body that comprises: - at least one cavity (L) that receives battery modules (B), the cavity (L) comprising a lateral face (F) arranged laterally with respect to the battery modules (B) with reference to the lateral axis (Y); and a lower support (S) arranged beneath the battery modules (B) with reference to the vertical axis (Z); - at least one transverse reinforcement part (A) arranged laterally with respect to the cavity (L) with reference to the lateral axis (Y); characterised in that the body comprises: - at least one programmably deformable part (D) arranged between the reinforcement part (A) and the cavity (L), the programmably deformable part (D) being configured to limit the deformation of the cavity (L) in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part (A). The invention further relates to a manufacturing method based on such a vehicle.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING A SHOCK ABSORPTION SYSTEM WITH PROGRAMMABLE DEFORMATION, AND METHOD BASED ON SUCH A VEHICLE

[0003]

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application No. 2310536 filed on 03.10.2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004]

[0002] The invention relates to the field of shock absorption systems for motor vehicle traction batteries, and more particularly to motor vehicle sheet metal around a battery tray.

[0005]

[0003] In the field, the prior art has proposed reinforcements for the underbody of a motor vehicle, to isolate the battery tray from the risk of intrusion of the sheet metal in the event of a side impact towards the battery.

[0006]

[0004] These solutions are not satisfactory because they involve adding non-functional masses which are antagonistic to the principle of a battery-powered electric vehicle, namely limiting the mass of the vehicle as much as possible.

[0007]

[0005] An objective of the present invention is to remedy the defects of the prior art, and in particular to propose a solution for limiting damage in the event of a side impact on the electric vehicle, while limiting the overall mass of the vehicle.

[0008]

[0006] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle having a reference frame in space comprising a longitudinal axis along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the lateral axis, the motor vehicle comprising a body which comprises:

[0009] - at least one housing receiving battery modules, said housing comprising a lateral face arranged laterally to the battery modules with reference to the lateral axis; and a lower support arranged below the battery modules with reference to the vertical axis;

[0010] - at least one transverse reinforcement piece arranged laterally to the housing with reference to the lateral axis; characterized in that the body further comprises: - at least one programmable deformation piece arranged between said reinforcement piece and said housing, said programmable deformation piece being configured to limit the deformations of said housing in the event of an impact on the reinforcement piece.

[0011]

[0007] Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to insert an impact-absorbing part on housings and supports of battery module coolers to limit collisions between the housing and the battery modules during a lateral impact towards the interior of the vehicle where the body parts deform.

[0008] In the new impact scenario, the housings are designed to impact a cooler support, but there are also anterior reinforcing partitions which benefit from a remodeling making it possible to accentuate the deformation of the hollow lower frames of the housing.

[0012]

[0009] Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to have a passive safety system without adding new parts, while retaining the same assembly technologies using electric welding points.

[0013]

[0010] According to a variant, said reinforcement piece is arranged laterally to the lateral face and / or to the lower support.

[0014]

[0011] This allows shocks to be absorbed on the side face or the lower support.

[0015]

[0012] According to a variant, said programmable deformation part comprises a transverse portion extending laterally along the lateral axis, and a projection extending along the longitudinal axis, the transverse portion and the projection extending between said reinforcement part and the lateral face, so that the transverse portion and the projection limit the deformations of said housing in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part.

[0016]

[0013] This allows for a damper extending in multiple directions in space.

[0017]

[0014] According to a variant, said programmable deformation part comprises a vertical finger along the vertical axis, the vertical finger extending between said frame part and a lower support, such that the vertical finger is configured to limit the deformations of said housing in the event of an impact on the frame part.

[0015] This makes it possible to provide cushioning above the frame part with reference to the vertical axis.

[0018]

[0016] According to a variant, the lower support comprises a horizontal finger along the lateral axis, and the horizontal finger extends between said frame part and the vertical finger.

[0019]

[0017] This allows the damping to coincide at a laterally offset point corresponding to the end of the horizontal finger.

[0020]

[0018] According to a variant, the body has a first spacing between the horizontal finger and the vertical finger, between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 10 mm.

[0021]

[0019] This allows hot air from the battery modules to circulate.

[0022]

[0020] According to a variant, said housing comprises a lower housing, and an upper housing arranged above the lower housing, and in that said horizontal finger is arranged on the lower support of the upper housing, and said lateral face is that of the lower housing.

[0023]

[0021] This makes it possible to apply the invention to a two-stage system of battery modules.

[0024]

[0022] According to a variant, the body has a second spacing between said lateral face and the transverse portion of said programmable deformation part, between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 10 mm.

[0025]

[0023] This allows hot air from the battery modules to circulate.

[0026]

[0024] According to a variant, said programmable deformation part comprises a stamped part.

[0027]

[0025] This makes it possible to make said part more resistant without changing the properties of the original materials.

[0028]

[0026] The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle according to the invention, comprising at least the following step: placing at least one programmable deformation part between said reinforcement part and said housing, said programmable deformation part being configured to limit the deformations of said housing in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part.

[0029]

[0027] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which:

[0030] - [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a front view of a body of a vehicle according to the prior art;

[0031] - [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates a front view of a vehicle body according to a first embodiment of the invention, equipped with a programmable deformation part;

[0032] - [Fig. 3] illustrates a front view similar to the previous one, but for a second embodiment of the invention.

[0033]

[0028] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lateral impact absorption system arranged at the traction battery.

[0034]

[0029] The motor vehicle has a reference frame in space comprising a longitudinal axis X along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X, and a vertical axis Z perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and to the lateral axis Y.

[0035]

[0030] The motor vehicle of the invention comprises a body which may comprise battery housings L on one level as illustrated in Figure 3, or on two levels as illustrated in Figure 2. We may speak of two upper and lower housings L with reference to the vertical axis Z. The housings L receive battery modules B.

[0036]

[0031] In the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the lower housing L comprises a lateral face F arranged laterally to the battery modules B with reference to the lateral axis Y. In addition, the upper housing L comprises a lower support S arranged below the battery modules B with reference to the vertical axis Z.

[0037]

[0032] The body further comprises at least one transverse reinforcement part A. Said reinforcement part A is arranged laterally to the housing L with reference to the lateral axis Y. It is this part A which receives the impacts linked to the lateral impacts towards the battery.

[0033] According to the invention, the body further comprises at least one programmable deformation part D.

[0038]

[0034] The invention proposes to create a profiled extension of material from bottom to top near the lateral face F and the lower support S to allow programmed support on these structures in the event of a lateral impact. The extension of material of the programmed deformation part D is defined by calculation to resist bending when the housing L deforms, generating energy consumption allowing the predictive stopping of the movement before a collision between the housing L and the battery modules B.

[0039]

[0035] Regarding the calculation of the bending and torsional resistance, the absorbed energy is counted until the end of the plasticization of the impacted part. However, the elastic limit taken into account in the resistance phase is a result of the material used, for example the 3mm thick FB60 can be characterized as minimal for the applicant's electric vehicles. Alternatively, to improve the quality the 3mm DP780 grade can be preferred.

[0040]

[0036] Said programmable deformation part D is arranged between said reinforcement part A on the one hand, and the lateral face F and the lower support S on the other hand. This part D is configured to limit the deformations of said housing L in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part A.

[0041]

[0037] In particular, said programmable deformation part D comprises a transverse portion DT extending laterally along the lateral axis Y, and a projection P1 extending along the longitudinal axis X. The transverse portion DT and the projection P1 extend between said reinforcement part A and the lateral face F.

[0042]

[0038] Furthermore, said programmable deformation part D comprises a vertical finger D1 along the vertical axis Z. The vertical finger D1 extends between said frame part A and the lower support S. Furthermore, the vertical finger D1 is configured to limit the deformations of said housing L in the event of an impact on the frame part A.

[0043]

[0039] In particular, the lower support comprises a horizontal finger D2 along the lateral axis Y, and the horizontal finger D2 extends between said frame part A and the vertical finger D1.

[0040] In the embodiment of Figure 2, the body has spacings E1, E2 between the horizontal finger D2 and the vertical finger D1, and between said lateral face F and the transverse portion DT. These spacings E1, E2 may be between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 10 mm. They are preferably at least 4 mm.

[0044]

[0041] In the embodiment of Figure 3, the housings L are on one level. Furthermore, the support of the programmable deformation part D is done only on the lateral face F. The part D can overflow onto a front face and / or a rear face.

[0042] The battery modules are not shown in Figure 3.

[0045]

[0043] The invention also relates to a corresponding manufacturing method. The method comprises at least one step consisting of placing at least one programmable deformation part D as described above, between said frame part A and said housing L. In particular, said programmable deformation part D is placed on two lateral sides of the housings L with reference to the lateral axis Y.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Motor vehicle having a reference point in space comprising a longitudinal axis (X) along a direction of movement of the motor vehicle; a lateral axis (Y) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), and a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) and to the lateral axis (Y), the motor vehicle comprising a body which comprises: - at least one housing (L) receiving battery modules (B), said housing (L) comprising a lateral face (F) arranged laterally to the battery modules (B) with reference to the lateral axis (Y); and a lower support (S) arranged below the battery modules (B) with reference to the vertical axis (Z); - at least one transverse reinforcement piece (A) arranged laterally to the housing (L) with reference to the lateral axis (Y); characterized in that the body further comprises: - at least one programmable deformation part (D) arranged between said reinforcement part (A) and said housing (L), said programmable deformation part (D) being configured to limit the deformations of said housing (L) in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part (A).

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame part (A) is arranged laterally to the lateral face (F) and / or to the lower support (S).

3. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said programmable deformation part (D) comprises a transverse portion (DT) extending laterally along the lateral axis (Y), and a projection (P1) extending along the longitudinal axis (X), the transverse portion (DT) and the projection (P1) extending between said reinforcement part (A) and the lateral face (F), so that the transverse portion (DT) and the projection (P1) limit the deformations of said housing (L) in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part (A).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said programmable deformation part (D) comprises a vertical finger (D1) along the vertical axis (Z), the vertical finger (D1) extending between said frame part (A) and a lower support (S), so that the vertical finger (D1) is configured to limit the deformations of said housing (L) in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part (A).

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower support (S) comprises a horizontal finger (D2) along the lateral axis (Y), and the horizontal finger (D2) extends between said frame part (A) and the vertical finger (D1).

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the body has a first spacing (E1) between the horizontal finger (D2) and the vertical finger (D1), between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 10 mm.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said housing (L) comprises a lower housing, and an upper housing arranged above the lower housing, and in that said horizontal finger (D2) is arranged on the lower support (S) of the upper housing, and said lateral face (F) is that of the lower housing.

8. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the body has a second spacing (E2) between said lateral face (F) and the transverse portion (DT) of said programmable deformation part (D), between 3 and 10 mm, more preferably between 3.5 and 10 mm.

9. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said programmable deformation part (D) comprises a stamped part.

10. Method for manufacturing a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising at least the following step: placing at least one programmable deformation part (D) between said reinforcement part (A) and said housing (L), said programmable deformation part (D) being configured to limit the deformations of said housing (L) in the event of an impact on the reinforcement part (A).

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