FR2942997A1 - Electric or hybrid vehicle, has sliding system connecting storage device and cover and permitting displacement of device with respect to cover, and device partly positioned outside vehicle to allow extraction of device in open position - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle (1) has a cover (9) receiving a storage device (4) e.g. lithium-ion battery. A sliding system (2) connects the device and the cover and permits displacement of the device in translation with respect to the cover to pass the device from a closed position to an open position. Electric connectors (4.1, 4.2) and/or aeration conduit of the device are respectively connected to electric connectors (7.1, 7.2) and/or aeration conduit (7.3) of a connection support (7) in the closed position. The device is partly set outside the vehicle to allow extraction of the device in the open position. The electric connectors of the storage device and the connection support are of marshal grip type.

Description

Electric or partially electric vehicle equipped with a sliding mechanism to facilitate the replacement of its electrical energy storage device [001]. The present invention relates to an electric or partially electric vehicle equipped with a sliding mechanism to facilitate the replacement of the energy storage device in connection with an electric machine ensuring the traction of the vehicle. The term "partially electric vehicle" means a hybrid vehicle comprising a heat engine operating in combination with the electric machine.

[002]. The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not exclusive, application with vehicles comprising an electric traction chain (VE) or hybrid connectable to an electrical network for charging (VH plug-in). This invention can be implemented with all electrochemical energy storage devices, such as Li-ion, NiMH, Ni-Zn, and supercapacitor batteries.

[003]. Plug-in electric vehicles and hybrids are today designed with a storage device covering the life of the vehicle that does not allow these vehicles to be used for long journeys in pure electric traction.

[004] Indeed, the autonomy of a vehicle is limited by the mass of the onboard storage device and its cost. Generally, vehicles carry a storage device of 20 kWh, which allows the vehicle to have a range of about 200km if the storage device is lithium technology. Such embedded energy corresponds to a storage system of about 200 kg with a very high cost.

[005]. Today, the user is used to filling the tank of his vehicle in about 5 minutes, which gives a range of between 700 and 1000 km. Unfortunately, the current technology of storage devices does not allow them to be recharged as quickly. The best technologies allow a fast recharge in half an hour of 80% of the autonomy, about 160 km of autonomy.

[6]. If, however, the technology allowed charging in 5 minutes to cover the total autonomy of the vehicle, that is to say 200 km, this would require electrical infrastructure not available. Indeed, if an autonomy of 200 km corresponds to a storage device of 30 kWh, charging in 5 minutes assumes a distribution system having a power of 360 kW. Considering a motorway station where 10 terminals are charging at the same time, this distribution system would involve 3.6 MW.

[7]. A solution to be able to have full autonomy in 5 10 minutes is to be able to exchange the storage device of the vehicle in the service station by another storage device that has been previously loaded in several hours in a dedicated central. This plant can be assumed to be adjacent to the service station which uses, for example, nuclear energy coupled with all possible renewable sources, such as solar energy, or wind turbines.

[8]. The invention is in particular to facilitate the exchange of the storage device, or battery, at each distribution point.

[9]. For this purpose, the vehicle according to the invention is provided with a sliding system allowing the battery to move in translation to pass from a closed position in which the battery is positioned inside the vehicle while being connected in particular to the electric machine, to an open position in which the battery is positioned at least partly outside the vehicle to allow its replacement.

[10]. In the invention, the sliding system can be either formed by a drawer for receiving the battery, this drawer being slidably mounted relative to an envelope installed inside the vehicle via a slide system; is made directly on the battery carrying rails adapted to enter into cooperation with slides provided on the envelope.

[11]. The invention therefore relates to an electric or partially electric vehicle characterized in that it comprises: - a storage device provided with at least one electrical connector and / or a ventilation duct, - a connection support positioned at the vehicle interior comprising at least one electrical connector and / or a ventilation duct, - an envelope installed inside the vehicle opening to the outside of the vehicle and intended to receive the storage device, and - a sliding system connecting between them the storage device and the envelope, this sliding system allowing the storage device to move in translation relative to the envelope to pass from a closed position in which the storage device is positioned at the inside the envelope, the connector and / or the ventilation duct of the storage device then entering respectively into cooperation with the connector and / or the air duct tion of the connection support, at an open position in which the storage device is positioned at least partly outside the vehicle to allow its extraction.

[12]. According to one embodiment, the sliding system comprises rails formed on the storage device and slides in the casing, these rails being intended to be housed in the slideways of the casing.

[13]. According to one embodiment, the sliding system comprises a drawer for receiving the storage device, this drawer being connected to the envelope by means of a sliding system.

[14]. In one embodiment, it comprises a retractable tailgate to move from a vertical position blocking the translational movement of the drawer to a horizontal position for supporting the storage device when the drawer is in the open position.

[15]. In one embodiment, the drawer is equipped with a quarter-turn type handle and an associated abutment secured to the casing for locking the drawer with the casing. [16]. According to one embodiment, the device comprises a hook fixed on a post of the drawer intended to enter into cooperation with the connection support, the fixing hook being connected to the handle by a linkage mechanism to move from a locked position in which the hook is secured to the support to an unlocked position in which the hook is disengaged from the support by turning the handle.

[17]. According to one embodiment, the envelope is perforated at its bottom to allow the passage of the power connector, the information bus connector and the cooling duct of the storage device.

[018]. According to one embodiment, the electrical connectors are of marshal type.

[19]. According to one embodiment, it comprises a locking mechanism comprising magnetic locks mounted on springs and installed on the return envelope, these latches cooperating with the openings associated with the storage device, so that when the magnetic locks do not are not energized, the springs push the latches towards the openings so that the storage device is locked in translational closed position inside the envelope, and when the magnetic locks are under tension, the locks compress the springs 20 so as to release in translation the storage device which can move from the closed position to the open position.

[20]. According to one embodiment, it comprises a delay system which defuses the magnetic locks once the delay period has elapsed so as to save a battery supplying a magnetic circuit in relation to the magnetic locks.

[21]. According to one embodiment, the storage device being controlled by a supervisor of the storage device, the timing system can be hosted by the locking mechanism or the supervisor of the storage device. [22]. In one embodiment, it is equipped with an optical sensor installed on the envelope associated with a reflective target attached to the storage device for detecting the closed position.

[23]. According to one embodiment, the envelope comprises a hatch arranged on one of its external faces allowing access to the electrical connections between the storage device and the connection support.

[24]. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows and on examining the figures which accompany it. These figures are given for illustrative but not limiting of the invention. They show :

[25]. Figures la-lb: a side view of an electric or hybrid vehicle according to the invention equipped with a slide mechanism respectively in the open position and in the closed position;

[26]. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a connection support is according to the invention;

[27]. 3a-3b: front views of the support casing respectively without and with the power connectors present on the connection support in front of which the casing is positioned;

[28]. Figure 4: a rear view of the sliding drawer equipped with a quarter-turn type handle;

[29]. Figures 5a-5b: schematic representations of a battery with rails and the associated envelope for the implementation of the second embodiment of the invention;

[30]. Figures 6a-6c: schematic representations of a sliding system according to the invention provided with a magnetic locking mechanism in a locked position and in an unlocked position; as well as the associated control circuit; [31]. Figure 7: a representation of a vehicle according to the invention comprising an envelope provided with a hatch to access the electrical connections between the battery and the connection support.

[32]. Identical elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[33]. Figure la shows a hybrid or partially electric vehicle 1 according to the invention equipped with a sliding system 2 according to the invention to easily allow the replacement of an energy storage device, or battery 4, in connection with a machine electric (not shown) providing the electric traction of the vehicle. The battery 4 may especially take the form of a Li-ion battery, NiMH, Ni-Zn, or a supercapacitor.

[34]. The battery 4 comprises a power connector 4.1 delivering the power signals of the battery and a connector 4.2 of information bus over which the control signals or information on the battery. The battery 4 may also include a cooling duct 4.3 connected to a cooling circuit.

[35]. Furthermore, a support 7 of connections shown in perspective in Figure 2 is installed inside the vehicle. This support 7 comprises a 7.1 power connector connected to the electrical power organs of the vehicle and intended to come into cooperation with the connector 4.1 of the battery 4; and an information bus connector 7.2 connected to a supervisor of the vehicle and intended to enter into cooperation with the connector 4.2. The support 7 may also include a cooling air intake duct 7.3 intended to enter into cooperation with the duct 4.3. In one example, the support 7 is fixed to the floor of the vehicle for example by means of a screw / nut system.

[36]. For safety reasons, it is preferable to use field jack type connectors 4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 7.2 normally used to connect the electric vehicle to the network. In this type of socket, access to the live parts is forbidden by a safety shutter that masks the male and female contacts and when the plug is fitted into the socket, the safety shutters are slipped off and the contact to become true. The connectors 4.1, 4.2 may take the form of lego type connectors, each having complementary parallelepiped parts fitting one into the other.

[37]. The system 1 further comprises an envelope 9 installed inside the vehicle 1 having an open side 9.1 opening towards the outside of the vehicle 1 to receive the battery 4. This envelope 9 is positioned opposite the support 7. As shown 3a and 3b, the envelope 9 is perforated at its bottom 9.2 to allow the passage of the connectors 4.1, 4.2 and the duct 4.3 of the battery 4. Thus, the opening 9.4 allows the connector 4.1 to cross the bottom 9.2 to connect to the connector 7.1 of the support 7, the opening 9.7 allows the connector 4.2 is to come to connect to the connector 7.2 of the support 7, and the opening 9.8 allows the inlet duct 4.3 to come connect to the conduit 7.3 of the support 7. The envelope 9 is fixed to the floor of the vehicle for example by means of a screw / nut system.

[38]. Furthermore, a drawer 11 intended to receive the battery 4 is able to slide in the casing 9 by means of a slide system 13 installed on the casing 9 and the drawer 11. The drawer 11 can thus move in translation relative to the envelope 9 to move from a closed position in which the slide 11 has entered inside the envelope 9, to an open position in which the slide 11 is located at least in part outside the envelope 9 to allow the replacement of the battery 4. Preferably, the slide system 13 allows the drawer 11 to exit completely from the casing 9 in the open position to facilitate the gripping of the battery 4 .

[39]. According to one embodiment, the part of the tailgate 15 of the vehicle 30 is retracted to move from a vertical position blocking the translational movement of the slide 11 to a horizontal position for supporting the battery 4 when the slide 11 is in the open position, the transition from one position to the other being effected by rotation about a horizontal axis 15.1.

[040]. The drawer 11 can also be equipped with a handle 17 of quarter-turn type and a stop 18 secured to the casing 9 for locking the drawer 11 with the casing 9, as shown in Figure 4. The handle 17 passes from a locked position in which the handle 17 comes into cooperation with the stop 18 so as to secure the drawer 11 with the casing 9, to an unlocked position in which the handle 17 is disengaged from the stop 18 so as to detach the drawer 11 of the casing 9 and vice versa, by rotation of the handle 17.

io [041]. Furthermore, the device 2 may comprise a hook 21 fixed on the amount of the drawer 11 having the function of securing the drawer 11 to the casing 9. This hook 21 is able to pass from a closed position in which the hook 21 between in cooperation with a metal bar 24 integral with the support 7, in an open position in which the hook 21 is disengaged from the bar 24. For this purpose, the fastening hook 21 is connected to the handle 17 by a linkage mechanism not represent.

[42]. Thus to remove the battery 4 in place inside the vehicle, it is sufficient for the user to turn the handle 17 away from the stop 9, so that the linkage device allows the hook 21 to retract the drawer 11 then no longer being secured to the support 7. By then pulling on the drawer 11, the user can then slide the drawer 11 towards the outside of the vehicle, so that the connectors of the battery 4 and 7 are disconnected from each other, the battery 4 then becoming accessible from outside the vehicle, as shown in Figure la. Once in the open position, the user may if necessary be assisted by a preempting robot to facilitate the extraction of the battery 4.

[43]. To close, it is sufficient for the user to perform the reverse operation, that is to say that once the replacement battery 4 has been positioned inside the drawer 11, the user pushes the drawer 11 towards the interior of the vehicle until it abuts against the bottom of the casing 9, so that the connectors 4.1, 4.2 and the duct 4.3 of the battery 4 come into cooperation respectively with the connectors. 7.1, 7.2 and the duct 7.3 of the support 7. The user then turns the handle 17 so that the hook 21 enters into cooperation with the bar 24, and the drawer 11 is secured to the casing 9, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 b. [044]. It is also possible to envisage a jumper-type connection shown in broken lines in FIG. 1b between the casing 9 and the drawer 11 capable of binding the front face of the drawer 11 to the casing 9.

[45]. According to a second embodiment of the sliding system 2, the battery 4 shown in FIG. 5a comprises rails 8.1 which are along the length of the battery intended to be housed in slides 8.2 formed in internal faces of the battery. envelope 9 shown in Figure 5b. The battery 4 can thus move in translation relative to the envelope 9 to move from a closed position in which the battery 4 is inside the envelope 9 to an open position in which the battery 4 is located outside of the envelope 9 to allow its replacement.

[46]. The battery 4 may also be provided with a removable handle 27 on its rear part to facilitate its grip.

[47]. In this embodiment, the structure of the sliding system 20 remains identical to that described above, except that the access door 29 has an axis 30 of vertical rotation. The opening and closing of the door 29 can be performed by means of a handle 32 quarter turn adapted to enter into cooperation with a stop 34 secured to the envelope 9.

[48]. As shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the vehicle may also be equipped with a locking mechanism 37 having magnetic locks 39 fixed to the casing 9 or vehicle frame in connection with an electrical circuit 41 shown in FIG. 6c. These latches 39 mounted on return springs 43 are able to come into cooperation with openings 45 formed in the drawer 11. [49]. In the defused position shown in FIG. 6a, when the magnetic locks 39 are not energized by the magnetic circuit 41, the return springs 43 are released and push the locks 39 towards the openings 45 so that the drawer 11 is blocked. in translation in the closed position inside the casing 9. In the primed position shown in FIG. 6b, when the magnetic locks 39 are put under tension, the locks 39 compress the springs 43 so as to clear the openings 45 and free the drawer 11 that the user can then open.

[50]. In addition, the mechanism 37 may be equipped with an optical sensor 47 installed on the envelope 9 associated with a reflective target 48 installed on the slide 11.

[51]. When it is desired to replace the battery 4, it is possible to press a button to turn on the latches 39 to release the drawer 11. It is then possible to slide the drawer 11 to the outside of the vehicle to extract the battery 4 from the vehicle. It is then possible to position a charged battery 4 inside the vehicle and to slide the slide 11 towards the inside of the vehicle and as soon as the sensor 47 is in front of the target 48, the locks 39 are defused so that the drawer 11 is locked in the closed position.

20 [052]. It is also possible to use a timer system T that deactivates the magnetic latches 39 once the delay period has elapsed so as to save the battery 51 which supplies the magnetic circuit 41. The timer system may be hosted by the lock device 37 itself or the battery supervisor 4.

25 [053]. The vehicle 1 may also include equivalent locking means for locking the slide in translation when the slide 11 is in the open position at the end of travel to prevent it from closing during the exchange. However, in this case, in the defused position, the springs pull the locks to release openings 30 so that the slide 11 is not locked in translation to move from the closed position to the open position; while in the primed position, the locks push the springs and penetrate inside the openings so as to lock the slide 11 in translation when it is in the open position. An optical sensor may also be used to detect the open position of the drawer 11. [054]. As represented in FIG. 7, the envelope 9 may comprise a hatch 53 formed on one of its external faces allowing access to the electrical connections 4.1-4.3, 7.1-7.3 between the battery 4 and the support 7.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. Vehicle (1) electric or partially electric characterized in that it comprises: - a storage device (4) provided with at least one electrical connector (4.1, 4.2) and / or a ventilation duct (4.3), a connection support (7) positioned inside the vehicle comprising at least one electrical connector (7.1, 7.2) and / or a ventilation duct (7.3), - an envelope (9) installed inside the vehicle. vehicle opening to the outside of the vehicle and intended to receive the storage device (4), and - a sliding system (2) interconnecting the storage device (4) and the envelope (9), this system (2) ) sliding allowing the storage device (4) to move in translation relative to is the envelope (9) to pass - a closed position in which the storage device (4) is positioned inside the envelope (9), the connector (4.1, 4.2) and / or the ventilation duct (4.3) of the storage device (4) t then respectively in cooperation with the connector (7.1, 7.2) and / or the duct 20 (7.3) of ventilation of the support (7) connections, to an open position in which the device (4) storage is positioned at least partly outside the vehicle to allow its extraction. 2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding system (2) comprises rails (8.1) provided on the storage device (4) and slides (8.2) formed in the casing (9). rails (8.1) being intended to be housed in the guides (8.2) of the envelope. 3. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding system (2) comprises a drawer (11) intended to receive the storage device (4), this drawer (11) being connected to the casing (9). via a slide system (13). 4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a tailgate (15) retractable to pass from a vertical position blocking lsplacement in translation of the drawer (11) to a horizontal position for supporting the device (4) when the drawer (11) is in the open position. 5. Vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the drawer (11) is equipped with a handle (17) quarter-turn type and a stop (18) associated with the integral envelope (9). to lock the drawer (11) with the envelope (9). io 6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the device (2) comprises a hook (21) fixed on a post of the slide (11) intended to enter into cooperation with the support (7) connections, the hook (21). ) of attachment being connected to the handle (17) by a linkage mechanism to move from a locked position in which the hook (21) is secured to the support (7) to an unlocked position in which the hook (21) ) is disengaged from the support (7) by turning the handle (17). 7. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the casing (9) is perforated at its bottom (9.2) to allow the passage of the power connector (4.1), the connector (4.2) of the information bus and the duct (4.3) for cooling the storage device (4). 8. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the connectors (4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 7.2) are electrical type marshal. 25 9. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a mechanism (37) for locking comprising latches (39) mounted on magnetic springs (43) and installed on the casing (9) the locks (39) cooperating with openings (45) associated with the storage device (4) so that when the magnetic locks (39) are not energized, the springs (43) the latches (39) towards the openings (45) so that the storage device (4) is locked in translatory closed position inside the envelope (9), and when the magnetic locks (39) are under The latches (39) compress the springs (43) to releasably release the storage device (4) which can move from the closed position to the open position. 10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a timing system which defuses the latches (39) magnetic after the delay period elapsed so as to save a battery (51) supplying a circuit (41) magnetic in connection with magnetic locks (39). 11. Vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the storage device (4) being controlled by a supervisor of the storage device (4), the timing system can be hosted by the locking mechanism (37) or the supervisor of the storage device (4). 15 12. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is equipped with an optical sensor (47) installed on the envelope (9) associated with a target (48) reflecting fixed to the device (4). ) for storing the closed position. 20 13. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the envelope (9) comprises a hatch (53) provided on one of its outer faces for access to the electrical connections (4.1-4.3; 7.3) between the storage device (4) and the connection support (7). 14