EP2681784A1

EP2681784A1 - System for controlling access to the terminals of a vehicle battery module, battery module and vehicle associated therewith

Info

Publication number: EP2681784A1
Application number: EP12711946.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sebastien NICOLAS
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
Current assignee: PSA Automobiles SA
Priority date: 2011-03-03
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2014-01-08
Also published as: CN103380516A; WO2012117193A1; FR2972302A1; FR2972302B1; CN103380516B

Abstract

The invention pertains chiefly to a system for controlling access to the positive and negative terminals of a vehicle battery module comprising a first and a second protective cover respectively for the positive and negative terminals. The system of the invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises: - locking means (7) preventing the displacement of the first (5) and second (6) protective covers as long as a release part (17) is not situated opposite an orifice (16) made on a locking part (7), and - unlocking means (10) comprising a drive part (10) whose travel causes the displacement of the release part (17) relative to the locking part (7) or vice versa, until the orifice (16) of the locking part (7) is situated opposite the release part (17). The invention also pertains to a battery module and a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one such system.

Description

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE ACCESS TO TERMINALS OF A VEHICLE BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY MODULE AND VEHICLE THEREFOR

The invention primarily relates to a system for controlling access to the positive and negative terminals of a vehicle battery module.

The invention also relates to a battery module comprising such a system and to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provided with this system.

A traction battery consists of a set of modules called battery modules. The connection and disconnection of the modules between them is an operation which is delicate and dangerous for the user with regard to the risks of short-circuiting, electric shocks and electrocutions which can be generated both by the laying bare of the terminals, by the proximity of the positive and negative terminals.

However, the aforementioned risks must be avoided, especially during the factory assembly phase.

The only known protections are individual protections such as tools made of insulating materials, gloves, visors and protections internal to the battery module such as valves or uncapping systems.

The handling of each module and the connections made between the modules must thus be made in a secure manner, but also during a relatively fast handling time.

In this context, the present invention aims at a system for controlling the access of the positive and negative terminals of a battery module which allows the connection and disconnection of the modules between them in a secure and fast manner.

For this purpose, the system of the invention makes it possible to control the access of the positive and negative terminals of a battery module comprising a first and a second protective cover respectively of the positive and negative terminals. This system is essentially characterized in that the first and second protective covers are able to move by discovering the associated terminal and in that it comprises: blocking means preventing such displacement as long as a release piece integral with the first or the second protective cover is not situated opposite an orifice made on a locking piece mounted in the battery module, and

- Release means comprising a drive member whose stroke causes the displacement of either the release member relative to the locking member or the locking member relative to the release member, until the orifice of the blocking piece is located opposite the release part, thus allowing said protective cover concerned to move by discovering the associated terminal.

The system of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or in any possible technical combination:

the driving part has a plane which is inclined with respect to the axis of travel of the said driving part, so that the release piece or the locking piece can be driven in translation according to a axis perpendicular to the axis of the stroke of the drive part by sliding one end of the release piece or the locking piece along the inclined plane of said drive piece.

- The system may comprise means for isolating the first and second protective covers so as to avoid any electrical contact between said first and second protective covers.

according to a first variant, the release piece is fixedly mounted relative to the second protective cover, the locking piece is mounted in translation in the module, and the drive piece is integral with the first protective cover and adapted, when its stroke caused by the displacement of said first protective cover, to cause the translation of the locking piece until the orifice of said locking piece is opposite the release piece.

in this first variant, the locking piece can be mounted in translation in the module by means of at least one spring situated at a lateral edge of the said locking piece, and the driving piece is located side of the opposite side edge of the locking piece so that the stroke of the driving piece causes the translational movement of the locking piece against the restoring force of said spring.

- In a second variant, the release member is mounted in translation in the protective cover in question, the locking piece is fixedly mounted in the module, the drive part is secured to a connector adapted to electrically connect a terminal of the module when the protective cover concerned is lowered and the said connector is in surface contact on the said protective cover, and the stroke of the drive part driven by the surface contact of the connector on the protective cover, causes translation of the release piece in the protective cover until said release piece is facing the orifice of the locking piece.

in this second variant, the release piece can be mounted in translation in the protective cover considered by means of at least one spring.

The invention also relates to a battery module comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal as well as a protective cover for the negative terminal and a protective cover for the positive terminal, and which is essentially characterized in that it comprises at least one system for controlling access to said positive and negative terminals according to one or other of the first and second previously defined variants.

Preferably, the battery module of the invention comprises at least one control system according to the first variant and at least one control system according to the second variant.

Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, comprising at least one control system according to one or the other of the first and second previously defined variant.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended figures among which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in perspective of a battery module comprising the system of the invention according to a first variant before intervention by the user, FIG. 2 is the same diagrammatic representation as that of FIG. 1 illustrating the setting up of a connector on the first protective cover of the negative terminal of the module;

FIG. 3 is the same diagrammatic representation as that of FIG. 1 illustrating the connector in place on the first protective cover of the negative terminal of the module,

FIG. 4 is the same diagrammatic representation as that of FIG. 1, illustrating the setting up of a connector on the second protective cover of the positive terminal of the module,

FIG. 5 is the same diagrammatic representation as that of FIG. 1, the two connectors in place respectively on the first and second protective covers of the negative and positive terminals of the module,

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a battery module comprising the system of the invention according to a second variant before the first connector is put in place on the first protective cover of the negative terminal of the module,

FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the circled portion of FIG. 6, and

- Figure 8 is the same schematic representation as that of Figure 6 illustrating the first connector in place on the first protective cover of the negative terminal of the module.

A traction battery module 1 has a negative terminal 2 and a negative terminal 3. Each of these negative 2 and positive 3 terminals is in the form of a rod (Figure 2) which extends vertically projecting at the level of a hook 4 made in a corner of the module 1.

The negative terminal 2 is protected by a first protective cover 5 and the positive terminal 3 is protected by a second protective cover 6.

Each of the first 5 and second 6 protective covers is of substantially parallelepipedal shape and has a not shown through recess coinciding with the shape of the associated terminal 2,3.

Moreover, each of the first 5 and second 6 protective covers is mounted in translation relative to the associated terminal 2.3 so as to discover this terminal 2, 3 when a thrust force is applied to the protective cover 5, 6 corresponding (Figure 2) along an axis XX 'and in the direction illustrated by the arrow A. The terminal 2,3 is then bare and can be connected either to the adjacent module of the traction battery, or to an external electrical device.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the system of the invention provides means for preventing the first 5 and second 6 protective covers from being lowered simultaneously by exposing both the negative terminal 2 and the terminal positive 3.

To do this, the system of the invention provides a locking piece 7 which is mounted in translation in the module 1 by means of a spring 8 located at a first side edge 9 of the locking piece 7. complementary means not shown to maintain in place the locking piece 7 in the module 1.

A drive piece 10 integral with the first protective cover 5 extends from the lower face 1 1 of this first protective cover 5 to the locking piece 7.

The driving part 10 has a frustoconical shape whose edge 12 located towards the positive terminal 3 is inclined relative to the axis XX 'of displacement of the first protective cover 5, so that the width I of the lower end 13 of the driving part 10 at the blocking piece 7 is smaller than the width L of junction with the first protective cover 5.

In the position shown in Figure 1, the lower end 13 of the driving part 10 is sandwiched between the side wall 14 of the module 1 and a second side edge 15 of the locking piece 7 which is located at opposed to the first lateral edge 9 of this locking piece 7 at which the spring 8 is mounted.

The restoring force of this spring 8 pushes the locking piece 7 towards the driving piece 10 along an axis YY 'perpendicular to the axis XX' of movement of the first protective cap 5.

Furthermore, the locking piece 7 has a through hole 16 whose shape coincides with a release piece 17 which is integral with the second protective cover 6 extending from the lower face 18 of the second protective cover 6 until near the locking piece 7.

In FIG. 1, the end 19 of the release piece 17 is not facing the orifice 16 of the locking piece 7, so that in this position the second protective cover 6 can not be lowered to give access to the positive terminal 3.

To ensure total safety of the system, the end 19 of the release member 17 is sufficiently close to the locking piece 7 to prevent the lowering of the second protective cover 6, but nevertheless allows the displacement of the locking piece 7 along the axis YY 'as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

With reference to FIG. 2, when the operator wishes to access the negative 2 and positive 3 terminals, he firstly presses on the first protective cover 5 either manually or with a first connector 20 making it possible to connect electrically the negative terminal 20 to an adjacent module or to an external electrical device. The first connector 20 comprises a non-visible recess corresponding to the shape of the negative terminal 2 and allowing it to ensure electrical contact with this negative terminal 2.

The lowering of the first protective cover 5 causes the displacement of the driving part 10 according to the arrow A, which displacement concomitantly causes the offset of the locking piece 7 towards the spring 8 according to the arrow B by sliding of the end 15 of the locking piece 7 along the inclined edge 12 of the driving piece 10.

The force exerted by the driving part 10 on the locking piece 7 opposes the restoring force of the spring 8.

The orifice 16 thus shifts, with the locking piece 7, in the direction of the spring 8, until facing the driving piece 10 (Figure 3).

In this latter position, the first protective cover is completely lowered and the first connector 20 is then in place on the negative terminal 2.

It is then possible to lower the second protective cover 6 which causes the displacement along the arrow C (Figure 4) of the release member 17, which then passes through the locking piece 7 through the orifice 16.

In the final position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a second connector 21 is in place on the second protective cover 6, the negative 2 and positive 3 terminals are then connected to an adjacent module or to an external electrical device.

The system of the invention thus makes it possible to prevent the lowering of the second protective cover 6 and thus the exposure of the positive terminal 3 as long as the first protective cover 5 is not completely lowered. The two protective covers can not be lowered at the same time, it is necessary to operate first by lowering the first protective cover 5 and the second protective cover 6.

On the contrary, it is understood that to remove the first 20 and second 21 connectors, it will also operate in two stages is first to raise the second protective cover 6 and the first protective cover 5. Indeed, if it raises the first protective cover 5 either first or at the same time as the second protective cover 6, the release piece 17 will remain locked in the orifice 16 since the restoring force of the spring 8 will cause the thrust of the piece 7 to the side wall 14 of the module 1.

In addition, the safety of the system of the invention is reinforced by the presence of a partition wall 22 integral with the module 1 and extending between the first 5 and second 6 protective covers (Figures 4 and 5) so as to avoid any electrical contact between the first 5 and second 6 protective covers.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the system of the invention can also make it possible to prevent the laying down of a terminal 2a by lowering the associated protective cover 5a, which represents a danger for the operator.

The system of the invention can thus be adapted so that the lowering of the first protective cover 5a can be performed only when the corresponding connector 20a is in place on the first protective cover 5a.

To do this, the locking piece 7a is fixedly mounted in the module 1a by means not shown. This locking piece 7a has a through hole 16a of shape adapted to the release member 17a which is here mounted in translation in the first protective cover 5a.

More specifically, the release member 17a is inclined in the first protective cover 5a extending from its upper end 25a at the upper face 26a of the first protective cover 5a to its lower end 31a near the the locking piece 7a.

A non-visible housing is provided in the first protective cover 5a to accommodate the part of the release member 17a located in the first protective cover 5a and a spring 8a which ensures the mobility of the translation member 17a and which s extends between the rear inner face 27a of said housing and the release piece 17a. The restoring force of the spring 8a pushes the release piece 17a towards the front of the first protective cover 5a.

This system also provides a driving part 10a which is secured to the first connector 20a extending from the lower face 28a of the first connector 20a.

The driving piece 10a has a triangular shape with an inclined edge 30a whose inclination is arranged in the same direction as the inclination of the release piece 17a.

As long as the connector 20a is not in place on the first protective cover, that is to say as long as the connector is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the lower end 31a of the release piece 17a is not opposite the opening 16a of the locking piece 7a, which results that the first protective cover 5a can not be lowered by giving access to the negative terminal 2a.

To lower the first protective cover 5a, the first connector 20a must first be positioned above the first protective cover 5a so that the end 32a of the drive part 10a is located near the upper end. 25a of the release member 17a being substantially offset towards the front of the first protective cover 5a.

The operator then exerts a thrust force on the connector 20a towards the first protective cover according to the arrow D (FIG. 6) until there is surface contact of the connector 20a on the first protective cover 5a, which which causes the introduction of the driving part 10a in the first 20a connector, and which concomitantly generates the offset of the release piece 17a according to the arrow E towards the rear of the first protective cover 5a by going to against the return force of the spring 8a.

This offset of the release member 17a is made possible by the sliding of the upper end 25a of this release member 17a along the inclined plane 30a of the drive part 10a.

Once the first connector 20a is in surface contact with the first protective cover 5a, the lower end 31a of the release piece 17a is opposite the opening 16a of the locking piece 7a, which allows lowering the first protective cover 5a according to the arrow F of FIG. 8. The latter system thus makes it possible to prevent the first protective cover 5a from being lowered without the first connector 20a being in place on this first protective cover 5a. This system also applies to the second protective cover and the corresponding positive terminal which are not shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

It is possible to provide a battery module comprising only the system of the invention of the first variant of FIGS. 1 to 5 or only the system of the invention of the second variant of FIGS. 6 to 8.

Preferably, the battery module 1, 1a will comprise the two control systems of the invention so as to provide optimum protection to the operator concerning access to the negative and positive terminals of the module, ie say by allowing the lowering of a protective cover only on the one hand when the other protective cover has been previously fully lowered, and secondly when the associated connector is in place on the protective cover considered.

The risks of short circuit, electrocution and electric shock are greatly reduced.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the access to the positive and negative terminals of a vehicle battery module, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a first and a second protective cover respectively of the positive and negative terminals, characterized in that the first (5) , 5a) and second (6) protective covers are able to move by discovering the associated terminal (2,2a; 3) and in that said control system comprises:

- Blocking means (7, 7a) preventing such displacement as long as a release piece (17, 17a) integral with the first (5, 5a) or the second (6) protective cover is not located opposite an orifice (16, 16a) formed on a locking piece (7, 7a) mounted in the battery module (1, 1 a), and

- unlocking means (10, 10a) comprising a driving piece (10, 10a) whose stroke causes displacement of the release piece (17, 17a) relative to the locking piece (7, 7a), either of the locking piece (7, 7a) relative to the release piece (17, 17a), until the orifice (16, 16 a) of the locking piece (7, 7 a) is situated opposite the release member (17, 17a), thereby allowing said relevant protective cover (5, 5a; 6) to move by uncovering the associated terminal (2, 2a; 3).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the driving piece (10,10a) has a plane (12,30a) which is inclined with respect to the axis (XX ') of the stroke of said piece for driving (10,10a), so that the release member (17a) or the locking piece (7) is adapted to be driven in translation along an axis (ΥΥ ') perpendicular to the axis (XX') of the stroke of the driving piece (17,17a) by sliding one end (15,31 a) of the release piece (17a) or the locking piece (7) along the inclined plane (12,17a). 30a) of said driving piece (10, 10a).

3. System according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises isolation means (22) of the first (5,5a) and second (6) protective covers so as to avoid any electrical contact. between said first (5,5a) and second (6) protective covers.

4. Control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the release member (17) is fixedly mounted relative to the second protective cover (6), in that the locking piece (7) is mounted in translation in the module (1), and in that the drive part (10) is integral with the first protective cover (5) and adapted, during its stroke caused by the displacement of said first protective cover (5), to cause the translation of the locking piece (7) until the orifice (16) of said locking piece (7) is opposite the release piece (17).

5. Control system according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking piece (7) is mounted in translation in the module (1) by means of at least one spring (8) located at a lateral edge (9) of said locking piece (7), and in that the driving piece (10) is located on the side of the opposite lateral edge (15) of the locking piece (7) so that the stroke of the driving piece (10) causes the translation movement of the locking piece (7) against the restoring force of said spring (8).

6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the release member (17a) is mounted in translation in the relevant protective cover (5a), in that the locking piece (7a) is fixed mounting in the module (1 a), in that the driving piece (10a) is integral with a connector (20a) adapted to electrically connect a terminal (2a) of the battery module (1 a) when the protective cover concerned (5a) is lowered and that said connector (20a) is in surface contact on said protective cover (5a), and that the stroke of the driving piece (10a) driven by the setting in surface contact of the connector (20a) on the protective cover (5a), causes the release piece (17a) to move in the protective cover (5a) until the release piece (17a) is in position. view of the orifice (16a) of the locking piece (7a).

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that the release member (17a) is mounted in translation in the protective cover considered (5a) by means of at least one spring (8a).

Battery module comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal and a protective cover for the negative terminal and a protective cover for the positive terminal, characterized in that it comprises at least one control system of the access to said positive (3) and negative (2,2a) terminals according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Battery module according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one control system according to any one of claims 4 and 5 and at least one control system according to any one of claims 6 and 7. .

10. Vehicle, especially a motor vehicle, comprising at least one control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.