Battery Tray Electronic Unit Mount With Force-Limited Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In motor vehicles, the rigid fixation of electronic boxes to battery trays poses a safety risk during frontal impacts, as the recoil of the battery and its tray can push the electronic box into the passenger compartment, potentially causing injury by intruding into the hydraulic system and pedals.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle design featuring an electronic box linked to a support fixed on the side face of the battery tray, with wedging devices allowing easy vertical descent and limited retaining force, preventing excessive force transmission to the hydraulic system during impacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic box is rigidly fixed to the battery tray, then the electronic box is securely held in position, but during frontal impact the battery tray can push the electronic box into the passenger compartment causing injury

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of electronic boxVSAvoidintrusion into passenger compartment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the fixation system by introducing a force limit (50daN) that transforms the rigid connection into a controlled compliance mechanism. The wedging devices are designed with specific geometric parameters that allow controlled movement when the retention force exceeds the threshold, preventing harmful intrusion while maintaining secure fixation under normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the support is rigidly attached to the battery tray, then the electronic box remains stable during normal operation, but the hydraulic system can be damaged during impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of electronic box positionVSAvoidstrength of hydraulic system
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces wedging devices as intermediary elements between the support and the battery tray. These intermediaries normally provide stable fixation but act as force-limiting mediators during impact, allowing controlled movement when the force exceeds 50daN to protect the hydraulic system while maintaining stability during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the support is easily installable by vertical descent, then the installation process is simplified, but the support must allow movement in forward direction during impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of support installationVSAvoidprotection against impact force transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the fixation function into two independent mechanisms: wedging devices for easy vertical installation and hooks for securing the support in position. This segmentation allows the installation mechanism to provide ease of operation while the hook mechanism ensures reliable protection against impact force transmission by preventing excessive forward movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively prevents the intrusion of the hydraulic system and pedals into the passenger compartment by limiting the force applied to the hydraulic system, ensuring driver safety during frontal impacts.

Implementation Method 1

the support has a front edge resting on the vertical boss having elasticity in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the support comprises lower edges having elasticity in the vertical direction, coming to bear on horizontal bosses of the lateral face of the tray at the end of descent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4288307B1Electric vehicle equipped with an electronic unit
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4288307B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4288307B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4288307B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a motor vehicle equipped with an electronic unit (12) connected to a support (10) fastened to a lateral face (8) of a battery tray (2) of the on-board network (4), which lateral face (8) faces the transverse direction of the vehicle, this lateral face (8) having devices for wedging the support (10) in all directions, allowing this support (10) to be lowered from above, and applying, in the forward direction of the vehicle, a limited force of less than 50 daN for retaining the support (10).