FR2684606A1 - Method and device for manufacturing electronic urban vehicles with electric propulsion and evolutive structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing electronic urban vehicles with electric propulsion and evolutive structure, generating no gaseous pollution, particularly quiet, requiring only a small amount of maintenance, produced from recyclable materials. The vehicle is composed of an integral rolling platform (1) and of a removable and interchangeable modular bodywork (5). The rolling platform (1) uses the batteries (4) as an element for stiffening the structure of the vehicle and supports the motor (2), the electronic operating and control module (3), the various elements for connection with the ground, particularly a device for turning the wheels through 90@ (6). The method and the device according to the invention applies to the production of small simple electric vehicles, of low cost, handleable and easy to drive, mainly intended for town driving with driving conditions and comfort particularly appreciated in towns.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the implementation of this method, for the construction of electronic urban vehicles with electric motor and evolving structure, generating no gas pollution, particularly silent, requiring only little maintenance , made of recyclable materials.

The reduced dimensions of this vehicle give it a maneuverability particularly suited to city uses while retaining excellent ability (2/3 seats, plus a place for children in the back). The interior space and storage volumes offer great possibilities for organizing the interior space.

In general, the invention applies to the production of small simple electric vehicles, inexpensive, manageable, easy to drive, mainly intended for urban traffic by facilitating travel and parking.

The invention incorporates programmed energy management, the full automation of which ensures good integration into urban traffic under the conditions of comfort and driving which are particularly appreciated in the city.

The invention uses energy, mechanical and telemechanical, electrical, electronic means whose properties and components are known but which are assembled, mounted and implemented in an original and new way.

Most of today's vehicles are polluting, noisy and expensive. They are a source of various pollutions, for example by oxides, poisons, but also by the bottlenecks they cause in cities overloaded with traffic.

In the next five years Paris, Brussels, The Hague,
Munich, Milan, Rome and Athens will ban their city center from vehicles with thermal engines: gas, petrol, fuel.

Access to Swiss mountain resorts is now prohibited for conventional vehicles. Electric trucks are appearing in England to tour dairy farmers.

In general, electric vehicles have little autonomy. These are heavy vehicles, overloaded with a weight of more than 200 kg of lead-acid batteries (up to 800 kg for a van).

We immediately see the limits of such devices which have only a small autonomy, do not allow a significant recovery of energy during use and more, are slaved to a significant recharge time.

Improvements have been made which aim to replace traditional batteries with nickel-cadmium or lithium batteries. Not only are they extremely polluting (in the event of a crack or spillage in the street following an accident for example), but they are very expensive, sometimes more expensive than the price of the vehicle.

Other sources of energy: combustion cells, solar collection do not currently allow their use to be considered, while plastic cells are still in the experimental laboratory stage.

In order to improve the low efficiency of current batteries, hybrid solutions are sought, consisting in installing a second thermal propulsion engine which can replace electric propulsion at certain times in order to recharge the traction batteries. This results in a considerable excess of the weight of the vehicle and it comes back to noisy and polluting equipment.

The present invention is a concept of vehicle rethinking around urban use and electric motorization, designed to integrate as harmoniously as possible into the urban environment. This vehicle is particularly silent and, of course, does not generate any gas pollution.

In addition, three driving strategies available to the driver incorporate programmed energy management.

The invention aims to allow the exploitation, under particularly simple, reliable and efficient conditions, of the electrical energy applied to rolling vehicles under normal city traffic conditions and having sufficient autonomy.

The integral automation of the invention and its performance ensure good integration into city traffic under the conditions of comfort and driving which are particularly appreciated in the city.

The invention relates firstly to a method of manufacturing an urban vehicle according to a particularly innovative architectural concept and the method is characterized in that the modular structure allows adaptation and permanent evolution according to the wishes and needs of its owners.

This structure consists of a rolling platform and a removable body. The rolling platform is designed to have a very long service life thanks to the longevity of the electric motor (one million kilometers) and those of the batteries.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the vehicle comprises a base forming with mechanics a unibody rolling platform, which uses the batteries as stiffening elements of the structure of the vehicle thus contributing to its passive safety, supports the engine, the electronic command and control module, and the various ground connection elements, particularly a device for turning the front wheels to 900.

The assembly requires only very few maintenance operations, due to the protected positioning of this unibody assembly.

Secondly, according to a particular embodiment, the rolling platform is articulated around a central beam receiving the batteries which give it rigidity and safety for frontal impacts.

Thirdly, according to another characteristic, the bodywork attached to the platform is easily removable, interchangeable and upgradeable. It makes it possible to offer, during the life of the vehicle, the successive acquisition of extremely diverse passenger compartments in their shapes and colors. The vehicle can thus evolve without difficulty, "change your dress" in a way and, for example, go from the function of a leisure coupe to that of a small utility vehicle (Figure 8).

Thanks to a style and architecture that favors space and light, drivers and passengers take advantage of the city while mastering the vagaries of traffic.

Fourth, according to another particular embodiment, the rolling platform and the removable body are made of deformable synthetic materials capable of resuming their initial shape after small urban shocks and that the assembly is designed to be recyclable by its ease dismantling and the use of marked and recyclable plastic parts.

Under these conditions, it is easy to understand that this vehicle, respectful of the environment throughout its career, is also at the end of its life, because it is designed to be recyclable by its ease of dismantling and the use of marked parts. and recyclable.

Fifth, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing accumulators according to the original principle of the recombination of gases in sealed batteries with novel separators.

The electrolyte contained in the batteries is retained in a 99.99% glass fiber separator which prevents oxygen from rising to the surface but on the contrary diffuses it through the microfibers of the separator to the negative plate, causing release of oxygen by decomposition of water on the positive plate.

The whole is sealed by resins and seals between the tank and the cover, resins for inter-element connections, and protection by safety valves protected by a welded cover placed under the cover, which after a careful technical implementation gives the technical specifications: in floating voltage, / in capacity as a function of temperature, / in storage and self-discharge, / in cycle-discharge operation.

The potential of negative and positive grid alloys with respect to hydrogen is very high compared to conventional grid alloys.

According to a device of the invention, the high energy density, the advanced technology of manufacturing the plates, their perfect sealing, their great performance both in floating and in cyclic service make them very efficient.

Sixthly, according to a particular form of the invention above, the electrodes are no longer metallic but consist of an insulating polymer, "polyactylene" and is characterized by an ionic conduction mechanism.

The solid electrolyte consists of silver iodide and rubidium iodide has been added to react the active material contained in the cathode with that contained in the anode via the mobile ions of the electrolyte. solid and thus produces an electric current.

Seventh, the method and the device according to the invention also relates to a solar energy collection system with a view to implementing the method and supplying said energy thus recovered to the accumulators.

Sensors placed on the outside of the roof of the passenger compartment are in the form of a flexible coating, and a special wiring stores the energy recovered in a calorie tank, energy which can either be reinjected into the batteries , either returned to heating or air conditioning after passing through a small treatment unit.

The invention relates in eighth place to an electronic command and control module installed on a plate and supplied by a power cable consists of an electronic unit which controls the telemechanical equipment functioning as a selector with forward contactors, neutral, and reverse gear, also controls a power variator, and moreover incorporates on the board a battery charger, a current converter, as well as a computer used for the programmed management of the energy transmitting the orders by a bundle of commands.

The computer is used to control different driving modes by matching the length of the journey and the vehicle performance, the momentary resumption of the most efficient driving mode, calculator, with permanent display, of the remaining autonomy depending on driving in the mode of use chosen. It also displays and advocates the need for a mode change.

In ninth place, according to a particular embodiment of the above process, the energy not consumed (during waiting stops at a red light for example) is recovered by means of the computer and reinjected into the batteries of traction by the control module.

The invention relates tenthly to a system for implementing the method in that it relates to an arrangement of the steering members making it possible to obtain a turning angle of 90 "using a coupling bar placed at the front of the axle and lengthening all the more as the turning is important and we realize a direction which respects a sketch of exact direction where each of the front wheels describes a mathematical trajectory without any shifting, being exactly turned the angular value determined by the calculation.

As a rule of thumb, the invention, while rigorously retaining all the angles provided: flush, camber, tilting of the pivots, modifies the coupling bar (or the rack) thanks to- a telescopic device and a guide device, to obtain in any case, even the absolute one at 900 a length of this tie rod allowing to remain in conformity with a sketch of the exact direction.

As the defined angles are respected, none of the fundamental characteristics of the vehicle, in particular the handling, will be modified and safety will not be affected.

Under these conditions, we understand that it is possible, by giving the possibility of total steering, to solve most parking problems.

Figure 1 shows a plan view and an elevational view showing the positioning of the various components of the car used in the context of the invention.

We immediately notice that the vehicle has a single-body base (1) forming with mechanics a rolling platform equipped with an electric motor (2), an electronic command and control module (3), traction batteries (4), as well as a 90 "wheel turning device (7).

According to a particular embodiment, the batteries (4) are arranged in a central corridor (6) helping to improve safety in the event of frontal impacts.

An interchangeable body (5) is attached to this chassis.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of an accumulator in which one can follow the principle of its operation, according to the principle of gas recombination.

Operating as a sealed battery, the electrolyte is retained in a 99.99% glass fiber separator (22). Thus, contrary to what happens in a charged liquid battery, the oxygen which is released in overcharge cannot rise to the surface. I1 is diffused through the microfibers of the separator (dexter) (22) to the negative plate (23) where it reacts with the spongy lead it contains.

1/2ou + 2H + aé-(réaction électrochimique) - sur la plaque négative (23) , recombinaison de l'oxygène suivie d'une chaîne de réaction

(réaction chimique) (réaction chimique) (réaction chimique) (réaction chimique)
On notera qu'il ne se produit pas de dégagement d'hydrogène sur la plaque négative (23).It follows a chain of chemical and electrochemical reactions
- on the positive plate (24), release of oxygen by Liteau decomposition: water H, O

1 / 2or + 2H + a- (electrochemical reaction) - on the negative plate (23), oxygen recombination followed by a reaction chain

(chemical reaction) (chemical reaction) (chemical reaction) (chemical reaction)
Note that there is no evolution of hydrogen on the negative plate (23).

The influx of oxygen on its surface on the one hand, and the high overvoltage of the specific alloy grid on the other hand, are the two reasons.

Thus the method according to the invention, in normal floating operation, has a recombination rate equal to almost 100%.

These reactions can only occur in the following cases a) the potential of alloys of positive (24) and negative (23) grids with respect to hydrogen is very high compared to that of conventional grid alloys, b) the composition of the active ingredients and the materials used, oxide, sulfuric acid, containers, cover are rigorously controlled, c) a relationship between the masses of positive and negative materials is studied, d) the use of very high power borosilicate microfibers separators absorbent, e) maintaining an overpressure inside the load element.

Protection is provided by inaccessible safety valves (25) welded by ultrasound and protected by a cover (26) welded to the cover. These safety valves open in the event of accidental malfunction of the charging devices.

The container bin (21) and the cover (27) are made of rigid thermoplastic material, chosen for its excellent mechanical and chemical qualities.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the assembly is sealed by a) resin and seals (28) between the tank (21) and the cover (27) b) resins for sealing the inter-element connections (29 ).

Figure 3 shows the technical specifications of the accumulators a) floating voltage (31) b) capacity as a function of temperature (32) c) Storage and self-discharge (33) d) Operation in charge / discharge cycles (34).

According to a particular form of the above invention, the electrodes are no longer metallic but consist of an insulating polymer, "polyacetylene". The latter is made conductive by incorporating certain impurities (doping) into it. For cathode A it will be iodine and, for anode B sodium. The electrolyte is not liquid or gel, but solid and is made of silver iodide.

To understand how it works, we must remember that all solids are composed of atoms which are themselves composed of ions and electrons. Positive ions have one missing electron and negative ions have one extra electron. In an ionic solid, the electrons are attracted to their nuclei so strongly that they fail to free themselves, like the mobile electrons of metals such as zinc or copper. The current is then zero.

But these ionic solids are not really insulating and, subjected to an electric field, they are traversed by an electric current due to the displacement of the ions: this mechanism is called "ion conduction". To improve this conductivity, it suffices to incorporate foreign ions into the solid in question.

This recalled let us return to our accumulator, object of the invention.

Figure 4 shows that to the electrolyte (41) consisting of silver iodide, was added rubidium iodide (42). The active material contained in the cathode A reacts with that contained in the anode B via the mobile ions A + (43) of the solid electrolyte (41) and thus produces an electric current AB (44).

FIG. 5 represents the solar energy capture system and the contribution of this energy thus recovered in the power batteries.

The sensors (51) are in the form of a flexible covering comparable to a fabric, applied by masking to the outside of the upper part of the passenger compartment.

A special wiring (52) transmits this energy into a "calorie tank" (53) which can either be injected into the power batteries (4) or returned to heating (55) if it is cold outside, or in the form of air conditioning, if on the contrary it is hot (56).

Figure 6 concerns the control module. It consists of a plate (60) with speed controller (62), a battery charger (63) and a converter (64).

This plate is supplied by a power cable (61), and ends with a control harness (65).

An electronic unit (66) controls the telemechanical equipment (67) operating as a selector switch with forward (68), neutral (69), reverse (70) contactors, as well as the variable speed drive (62).

The circuit board also includes a computer (71) for programmed energy management and which establishes permanently - Choice between 3 driving modes, - adequacy between the length of the journey and the performance of the vehicle, - possible momentary resumption of the mode more efficient by "rush", - autonomy indicator - calculation and permanent display of the remaining autonomy depending on driving in the chosen mode of use.

- display recommending the need for a mode change.

FIG. 7 relates to an arrangement of the steering members making it possible to obtain a steering angle of 900 by using a coupling bar (72) placed at the front of the axle and extending all the more as the steering is important. We can achieve a direction that respects a sketch of exact direction where each of the front wheels describes a mathematical trajectory without any shifting, being exactly turned by the angular value determined by the calculation (73).

By way of nonlimiting example, the method and the device according to the invention is particularly intended to allow the exploitation, under particularly simple, reliable and efficient conditions, of the electrical energy applied to small city cars of reduced dimensions (2m, 50 long, lm, 50 m wide and lm, 41 high), which gives them a maneuverability particularly suited to urban uses while retaining excellent habitability (2/3 seats + luggage).

 Equipped with an electric motor with a nominal power of 4 Kw, an armature voltage of 54 volts as standard excitation voltage, rotating at 3,200 rpm, and batteries of 130 Amp./h and heavy less than 130 kg, these vehicles have a range of around 110 to 120 kilometers on the urban cycle by transporting three people, or travel 200 kilometers at a stabilized speed of 40 kilometers / hour.

The integral automation linked to the process and to the device of the invention must allow these small vehicles to easily reach a continuous speed of 60 km / h, a top speed of the order of 80 to 85 km / h and an acceleration from 0 to 50 km / h in 8.5 s, in the comfort and driving conditions particularly appreciated in the city.

Claims (10)

1 - Device for the implementation of this process for the construction of electronic urban vehicles with electric motorization and evolutive structure, generating no gaseous pollution, particularly silent requiring only little maintenance, made of recyclable materials, and the device is characterized in that the vehicle comprises a monocoque base (1) forming with mechanics a rolling platform which uses the batteries (4) as stiffening elements of the structure of the vehicle thus contributing to its passive safety, supports the engine (2 ), the electronic command and control module (3), and the various ground connection elements, particularly a device for turning the front wheels to 90 (7). 2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the rolling platform is articulated around a central beam (6) receiving the batteries (4) which give it rigidity and safety for frontal impacts. 3 - Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the modular body (5) attached to the platform is easily removable, interchangeable and scalable. 4 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolling platform (1) and the removable body (5) are made of deformable synthetic materials capable of resuming their initial shape after small urban shocks and that the set is designed to be recyclable by its ease of disassembly and the use of marked and recyclable plastic parts. 5 - Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the electrolyte contained in the batteries is retained in a separator (22) in 99.99% glass fiber which prevents oxygen from rising to the surface but on the contrary diffuses it through the microfibers of the separator (22) to the negative plate (23) causing an evolution of oxygen by decomposition of the water on the positive plate (24); the assembly is sealed by resins and seals (28) between the tank (21) and the cover (27), resins for sealing the inter-element connections (29) and protection by valves safety (25) protected by a welded cover (26) disposed under the cover, which, after careful technical implementation gives the technical specifications: floating voltage (31), capacity as a function of temperature (32), storage and self-discharge (33) and in cycle / discharge operation (34). 6 - Device according to claim 5 characterized in a particular form, in that the electrodes are no longer metallic but made of an insulating polymer, the solid electrolyte (41) consists of silver iodide and iodide rubidium (42) was added to react the active material contained in the cathode with that contained in the anode via the mobile ions of the solid electrolyte (41) and thus produces an electric current (44). 7 - Device according to claims 1, 2, 5 and 6 characterized in that sensors (51) placed on the outside of the roof of the passenger compartment of the vehicle are in the form of a flexible coating, and a special wiring (52) stores the energy recovered in a calorie tank (53), energy which can either be reinjected into the batteries (4), or returned in heating (55) or in air conditioning after passing through a small processing unit ( 56). 8 - Device according to claims 1, 4, 7, characterized in that an electronic command and control module installed on a plate (60) and supplied by a power cable (61) consists of an electronic box ( 66) which controls the telemechanical equipment (67) functioning as a selector with forward (68), neutral (69) and reverse (70) contactors, also controls a variable speed drive (62), and plus incorporates on the board a battery charger (63), a current converter (64), as well as a computer (71) used for the programmed management of energy, transmitting orders by a beam of commands (65) . 9 - Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the energy not consumed is recovered via the computer (71) and reinjected into the traction batteries by the control module. 10 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it relates to an arrangement of the steering members making it possible to obtain a steering angle of 900 using a coupling bar (72) placed at the front of the axle and lengthening all the more as the turning is important and we realize a direction which respects a sketch of exact direction where each of the front wheels describes a mathematical trajectory without any shifting, being exactly turned by the angular value determined by the calculation ( 73).