Traction battery for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising an attachment plate having a fir tree clip

Abstract

The invention relates to a traction battery (1) comprising an attachment plate (2) comprising a first base (3) and a second base (4), the first base (3) and the second base (4), each being configured to receive a connector so as to electrically connect the traction battery (1) to an external component, the attachment plate (2) being attached to the traction battery (1) via a plurality of attachment screws (5), the traction battery being characterised in that the attachment plate (2) comprises a fir tree clip (6), the traction battery (1) comprising a threaded recess, and the fir tree clip (6) being configured to be fitted into the threaded recess. The invention further relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising such a traction battery (1) and to a method for assembling the traction battery (1) in such an electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE OF THE INVENTION: TRACTION BATTERY FOR AN ELECTRIC OR HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING A MOUNTING PLATE WITH A FIR FIR CLIP

[0003] The present invention claims priority from French application No. FR2501331 filed on February 10, 2025, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004]

[0001] The invention relates to the assembly and means of protection, in particular with regard to sealing, of traction batteries of electric or hybrid motor vehicles.

[0005]

[0002] Prior art patent application FR3086464 describes a power connector plate positioned at the front of a high-voltage battery tray of a motor vehicle. The plate has two recesses, each containing a connector to which electrical harnesses are attached. Furthermore, the plate has a bracket fixed to it. The bracket has a device comprising two hooks for attaching the plate in a vertical position. The plate is also screwed to the battery cover. Indexing pins are also present to retain the plate in case the hooks become disengaged. However, drawbacks remain. The hooks are not effective means of retention because there is a high probability of at least one of the hooks becoming disengaged, which can lead to at least partial detachment of the plate. Consequently, sealing is not guaranteed.The battery is generally positioned underneath the vehicle, facing the ground on which the vehicle travels, making it particularly exposed to water spray, for example, in rainy weather. However, the presence of water in contact with the battery or its connectors can create an electrical hazard for vehicle occupants and / or cause a short circuit. Furthermore, mounting the battery plate is a lengthy and complicated process due to the numerous fastening methods used: hooks, screws, and indexing pins.

[0003] The objective of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks and facilitate the mounting of the battery plate, while ensuring the battery remains watertight.

[0006]

[0004] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a traction battery for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, said traction battery comprising a mounting plate including a first base and a second base, said first base and said second base each being configured to receive a connector so as to electrically connect the traction battery to an external component, said mounting plate being fixed to said traction battery by means of a plurality of fixing screws, notable in that the mounting plate includes a fir tree clip, the traction battery having a threaded housing, said fir tree clip being inserted into said threaded housing.

[0007]

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the risks of water infiltration into the traction battery are reduced. In addition, the mounting of the fixing plate is facilitated, and therefore, faster.

[0008]

[0006] Advantageously, the fixing plate has a substantially rectangular shape having a longitudinal axis, said fir clip being substantially positioned at the center of said longitudinal axis.

[0009]

[0007] Thus, the insertion of the fir clip into the threaded housing also allows the centering of the fixing plate at the time of the assembly of the traction battery.

[0010]

[0008] Preferably, said traction battery includes a sealing gasket positioned between said traction battery and said fixing plate, said sealing gasket surrounding said fir clip.

[0011]

[0009] The presence of the sealing gasket further reduces the risk of water infiltration into the threaded housing of the traction battery.

[0012]

[0010] Advantageously, the first base is positioned at a distance from said second base, said distance being less than or equal to 3 mm.

[0013]

[0011] Preferably, the distance is equal to 2.1 mm.

[0014]

[0012] With such a distance between the first base and the second base, the capping of the fixing plate is possible to reinforce the protection of the fixing plate, the bases and the associated connectors.

[0013] The invention also relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a traction battery described above, notable in that said fir tree clip is inserted into said threaded housing.

[0015]

[0014] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of assembling a traction battery of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle previously described, remarkable in that the method comprises the following steps: - a step of inserting said fir clip into said threaded housing; - a step of screwing the fixing screws to fix the fixing plate onto the traction battery.

[0016]

[0015] Preferably, the traction battery includes the sealing gasket, the method including a step of positioning the sealing gasket around said fir clip prior to said plugging step.

[0017]

[0016] The invention will be further detailed by describing non-limiting embodiments, and based on the accompanying figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which:

[0018] - [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a traction battery for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0019] - [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view, the traction battery shown in figure 1.

[0020]

[0017] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a traction battery 1 for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. A traction battery 1 is understood to be a set of electrochemical cells, assembled into modules or not, optionally protected by walls or a frame, but also by one or more covers, so as to form a battery tray. The traction battery 1 includes a mounting plate 2, commonly referred to as a plate in the prior art. The mounting plate has a first base 3 and a second base 4. The first base 3 and the second base 4 are each configured to receive a connector so as to electrically connect the traction battery to an external component, for example, via power supply harnesses. The first base 3 is positioned at a distance d from said second base 4.Preferably, the distance d is less than or equal to 3 mm. Even more preferably, the distance d is equal to 2.1 mm. Such a distance between the first base 3 and the second base 4 allows for sufficient clearance to enable the mounting plate 2 to be fitted. The mounting plate 2 must be securely attached to the traction battery 1 to maintain its watertightness. Indeed, water infiltration could cause an electrical hazard for the vehicle's occupants, and a short circuit could lead to overheating or even a fire in the traction battery 1. Generally, the traction battery is positioned at the bottom of the vehicle, facing the ground. Thus, the traction battery 1 is exposed to the elements, and in particular to water spray when driving in rainy weather.It is therefore necessary to ensure the sealing of all junction areas with said traction battery 1, particularly at the level of the mounting plate 2. Thus, the mounting plate 2 is fixed to said traction battery 1 by a plurality of fixing screws 5. In Figure 1, said mounting plate 2 is fixed to said traction battery 1 by five fixing screws 5. However, it is difficult, if not inconceivable, to integrate a fixing screw 5 between the first base 3 and the second base 4.

[0021]

[0018] In the context of the invention, the objective is to prevent the detachment of said fixing plate 2, particularly between the first base 3 and the second base 4, despite the absence of a fixing screw 5 at this point. To this end, said fixing plate 2 further includes a fir tree clip 6. Indeed, the distance d mentioned previously, and referenced in Figure 1, is a value for which it is not possible to insert a fixing screw, due to its width, between said first base 3 and said second base 4. The addition of the fir tree clip 6 then solves this problem by allowing the removal of said fixing screw initially positioned between the first base 3 and the second base 4. The fir tree clip 6 is a type of fastener in the shape of a fir tree: a longitudinal base and a portion comprising a plurality of anchors intended to be inserted into the thread of the threaded housing 7.Thus, the fir tree clip 6 provides good support and exhibits good pull-out resistance. The fir tree clip 6 is shown in Figure 2, in a cross-sectional view. For information purposes, in Figure 2, the various components of the traction battery 1 are not shown to scale. The battery has a threaded housing 7. The fir tree clip 6 is configured to fit into this threaded housing 7. Inserting the fir tree clip 6 into the threaded housing also has the advantage of freeing the hands of the technician responsible for mounting the mounting plate 2 onto the traction battery 1. Indeed, the positioning of the fir tree clip 6 in the threaded housing 7 allows the mounting plate 2 to be held against the traction battery 1. The technician therefore does not need to hold the mounting plate 2 against the traction battery 1 during assembly. Preferably, the mounting plate 2 has a longitudinal axis.The fir tree clip 6 has a substantially rectangular shape, as illustrated in Figure 1. The fir tree clip 6 has a longitudinal axis. The fir tree clip 6 is substantially positioned at the center of this longitudinal axis. Thus, inserting the fir tree clip 6 into the threaded housing 7 also serves to center the mounting plate 2, which facilitates the mounting of the mounting plate 2 onto the traction battery 1. Optionally, the traction battery 1 includes a sealing gasket 8, illustrated in Figure 2. The sealing gasket is positioned between the traction battery 1 and the mounting plate 2. The sealing gasket surrounds the fir tree clip 6. Thus, the risk of fluid intrusion, particularly water as mentioned previously, into the threaded housing 7 is reduced. Typically, the sealing gasket 8 comprises a water-impermeable polymer material to prevent water from entering the threaded housing 7.

[0022]

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising the traction battery 1 previously described.

[0023]

[0020] The invention also relates to a method for assembling the traction battery 1 in the aforementioned electric or hybrid motor vehicle. The method comprises a step of inserting said fir tree clip 6 into the threaded housing 7 of the traction battery 1 and a step of tightening the fixing screws 5 to secure the fixing plate 2 onto said traction battery 1. When said traction battery 1 includes the sealing gasket 8 mentioned previously and illustrated in Figure 2, then the method includes a step of positioning the sealing gasket around said fir tree clip 6. The positioning step precedes said inserting step. Thus, during said inserting step, the sealing gasket 8 is positioned between the traction battery 1 and the fixing plate 2.During the said screwing step, the sealing gasket 8 is thus clamped between the traction battery 1 and the fixing plate 2 so that no fluid can infiltrate said threaded housing 7.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Traction battery (1) for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, said traction battery (1) comprising a mounting plate (2) comprising a first base (3) and a second base (4), said first base (3) and said second base (4) each being configured to receive a connector so as to electrically connect the traction battery (1) to an external component, said mounting plate (2) being fixed to said traction battery (1) by means of a plurality of fixing screws (5), characterized in that the mounting plate (2) comprises a fir tree clip (6), the traction battery (1) comprising a threaded housing (7), said fir tree clip (6) being inserted into said threaded housing (7).

2. Traction battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing plate (2) has a substantially rectangular shape having a longitudinal axis, said fir clip (6) being substantially positioned at the center of said longitudinal axis.

3. Traction battery (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said traction battery (1) comprises a sealing gasket (8) positioned between said traction battery (1) and said fixing plate (2), said sealing gasket (8) surrounding said fir clip (6).

4. Traction battery (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first base (3) is positioned at a distance (d) from said second base (4), said distance (d) being less than or equal to 3 mm.

5. Traction battery (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance (d) is equal to 2.1 mm.

6. Electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a traction battery (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said fir clip (6) is inserted into said threaded housing (7).

7. Method for assembling a traction battery (1) of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: - a step of inserting said fir clip (6) into said threaded housing - a step of screwing the fixing screws (5) to fix the fixing plate (2) onto the traction battery (1).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the traction battery (1) comprises the sealing gasket (8), the method comprising a step of positioning the sealing gasket around said fir tree clip (6) prior to said plugging step.

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