FR2961960A1 - Modular battery for use in e.g. electric motor vehicle, has storage module dimensioned for supplying reduced electric supply to cycle, golf cart, human transporter, scooter, backpack type portable electric device or operating or kluge tool - Google Patents

Abstract

The battery (1) has two electric energy storage modules (3) whose upper faces are provided with transversal grooves. Each storage module is utilized independently for forming a unitary battery and dimensioned for supplying reduced electric supply to a cycle, golf cart, human transporter, scooter, backpack type portable electric device or operating or kluge tool. The storage module is provided with a gripping unit i.e. handle, for facilitating the extraction of the battery.

Description

The present invention generally relates to a modular battery comprising at least two electrical energy storage modules, able to be connected together to form a battery with increased electrical energy, sized to power an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. . It is known, particularly from JP 7323735, a mounting structure of a modular battery in an electric vehicle. Such a battery comprises a housing under the chassis of the vehicle in which are arranged several electrical energy storage modules connected together so as to supply electrical energy to the vehicle. Such a modular battery configuration has a number of disadvantages insofar as the housing is disposed under the vehicle frame and therefore difficult to access for a user seeking to remove at least one of the storage modules. In addition, these modules are not intended to be suitable for use other than that of being part of a modular battery for a vehicle. It is also known, in particular from EP 0636538, the use of a battery pack to be placed behind the saddle of a bicycle. This battery can be removed and replaced by tilting the saddle forward and pulling the battery. The use of a battery on a bicycle is interesting, however, there is no provision for using such a battery for other applications. An object of the present invention is to respond to the various drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a modular battery, whose storage modules constituting it are adaptable either for common use for independent use.

For this purpose, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a modular battery comprising at least two electrical energy storage modules, able to be connected together to form a battery with increased electrical energy, sized to supply or participate in the power supply. power supply of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, characterized in that on the other hand at least one of said storage modules is able to be used independently to form a battery with simple electrical energy, sized to power a device of everyday life with reduced power consumption. Such a modular battery thus makes it possible, on the one hand, to benefit from sufficient electric autonomy to power an electric or hybrid motor vehicle participating in particular to cover reduced displacements of the order of 10 km while at the same time benefiting from a multiple use for low power consumption applications. In addition, this concept can allow charging of batteries without a dedicated installation on the vehicle. This type of battery can still benefit from interchangeability of modules with the possibility of buying or renting additional modules. According to an advantageous embodiment, each storage module comprises gripping means to facilitate its extraction from the battery with increased electrical energy and its transport before installation as unitary module or battery or for charging the battery. Such storage modules are easily removable and transportable and also have an acceptable mass for easy handling by the user. In addition this reduces the number of modules needed for several possible uses. In addition, it should be noted that modern battery technology allows a weight-for-energy ratio that favors this type of use. According to an advantageous embodiment, each storage module defines a battery standard. This allows a home recharge with a simple support like all the tool battery chargers. According to a first variant, each storage module is adaptable to a device of everyday life chosen from an electric vehicle of the personal transporter, bicycle or scooter type. According to another variant, each storage module is adaptable to a device of the current life selected from a portable electrical device type backpack, DIY tools or handling. According to an advantageous embodiment, each storage module is clipped into the frame of the battery. This allows easy use of "plug-in" type. According to an advantageous embodiment, each storage module may be of the electrochemical type or of the electrostatic type. For this purpose, it is conceivable to use several types of storage modules 15 to form the modular battery. According to another advantageous embodiment, each storage module is composed of several storage cells. These cells can be flat or cylindrical. According to an advantageous embodiment, the modular battery 20 comprises a two-level ventilation system, a first level inside the frame of the battery by an air passage typically from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle in which the battery is installed, and a second level inside each of the storage modules. According to an advantageous embodiment, the housing of the storage modules has a convex upper face. This curved shape makes it possible to transfer the compression stresses on the module towards the edges of the module, by soliciting at least the electric storage cells located inside the module. Advantageously, the storage modules are mounted longitudinally in the frame of the battery, and

characterized in that the convex upper face of the housing is provided with grooves transverse to the axis of the modules in the frame of the battery. The grooves on the upper face increase the transverse rigidity of the module. Alternatively, we can provide modules extruded aluminum. According to an advantageous embodiment, each storage module has a generally flat shape and are arranged in the frame next to each other in the direction of the length of the storage modules, the frame being able to be arranged in the space rear storage of a motor vehicle. Such a battery makes it possible to limit the impact on the level of the vehicle's ability to a minimum and to propose a solution that is not very intrusive. According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to an electric or hybrid motor vehicle equipped with a modular battery according to the first aspect. Such a modular battery concept allows to consider that the user buys an electric or hybrid motor vehicle without its battery, which can be purchased later. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a modular battery according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a modular battery whose storage modules have been removed; FIG. 3 represents a front perspective view of an electrical energy storage module; FIG. 4 represents a rear perspective view of an electrical energy storage module;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement of four storage cells forming a module; FIG. 6 represents a first optimized use of a modular battery according to the invention; FIG. 7 represents a diversified use of the storage modules according to the invention. As mentioned above, the present invention relates to a modular battery for powering an electric or hybrid motor vehicle. Figure 1 shows a modular battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. The battery 1 preferably comprises a frame 2 of generally flat shape, ie whose height is significantly less than the length and width of the frame, so that it can be easily arranged inside the luggage compartment of the motor vehicle while allowing easy access for the user. Inside the frame are arranged at least two, and preferably four, storage modules 3 of electrical energy. The use of several storage modules connected together makes it possible to form a battery with increased electrical energy, sized to power the electric or hybrid motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 represents the modular battery 1 of which three of the storage modules 3 have been removed. One of the advantages of the present invention is that it can independently use each of the storage modules 3 to form a module or a unitary battery, sized to power a device of everyday life with reduced power consumption. To allow easy extraction and transport storage modules of the frame 2 of the battery, each module is provided with a handle 4 gripping. FIG. 3 represents a front perspective view of a storage module 3. As indicated above, the storage module comprises a handle 4 allowing easy extraction and transport for

the user. In addition, the upper face 5 of the storage module is preferably slightly curved so as to reduce the risk of damage to the storage cells it contains when a load is applied over it. Indeed, the curvature of the upper face 5 makes it possible to distribute the forces on the lateral faces 6 of the module. In addition, transverse grooves 17 may be provided on the upper face 5 so as to increase the resistance of the modules in the event of a load applied on the top of the battery. As a module must integrate the various functions necessary for its use, it can be provided a ventilation / cooling system for intensive use, such as automotive. For this purpose, the module comprises cooling air outlets 7 arranged on the front face 8 of the module. The module comprises a plurality of storage cells stacked one above the other inside the module 3. In addition, the modular battery advantageously comprises a two-level ventilation system, a first level inside the frame of the battery by an air passage from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle (see Figure 1) in which the battery is installed, and a second level inside each of the storage modules.

Alternatively, when using modules equipped with supercapacities, there is a priori no need for ventilation system. Of course other functions can be integrated in the module, such as for example a charge level indicator or an indicator of aging of the battery and / or for each of the storage modules. FIG. 4 represents a rear perspective view of a storage module 3. The module 3 comprises + and - connectors, bearing the reference numeral 9, preferably disposed on either side of the rear face 10 of the module. In order to allow a faster positioning of the modules 3 in the context of the modular battery, it is advantageously also provided a centering pin 11 preferably located in the center of

the rear face 11. This centering pin is intended to cooperate with corresponding housings, shown in Figure 2 with the reference 12. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement of four storage cells forming a module. The storage cells or electrical accumulator elements of a module are typically connected in series. To do this, several cell arrangements are possible. Figure 6 illustrates an arrangement of the oriented cells so that their terminals are vis-à-vis. The positive terminal of the front high cell 13a is connected via a first connector 14 to the negative terminal of the high rear element 13b. The positive terminal of this high rear element 13b is connected via a second connector 15 to the negative terminal of the low back element 13c. The positive terminal of this low back element 13c is connected via a third connector 16 to the negative terminal of the low front element 13d. The module is thus connected to the remainder of the modular battery via the + and - connectors of the module (see reference 9, FIG. 4) corresponding to the negative terminal of the high front element 13a and to the positive terminal of the lower front element. 13d. Knowing that the cost of batteries remains an important element for electric or hybrid motor vehicles and knowing that a battery, even without working, aged, it was planned in the context of the present invention to optimize the return on investment of the user by allowing him to benefit from multiple use for the same battery. Thus one of the objectives of such a modular battery is to limit the number of storage modules, while benefiting from electrical energy, increased by the multiplication of modules used to form the battery, sufficient for automotive use, and a reduced power supply per module used independently of the other modules, for other applications requiring reduced electrical energy. In addition each module has an acceptable mass for easy manual transport and ergonomics allowing easy assembly and disassembly in the

vehicle, in particular by positioning a handle on each of the storage modules and a clipping system for insertion into the modular battery frame. In this context, it was considered that a set of 3 or 4 storage modules was a favorable compromise for a large number of alternative uses. FIG. 6 represents a first optimized use of a modular battery as presented above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5. In particular, a particularly advantageous application is to have a single and modular battery used for the vehicle 21 and for the bikes 22 of a family. Indeed, the user is rarely, at the same time, in his car and on his bike. An analysis showed that a family with a vehicle has an average of four people, two adults and two children. A four-module solution that makes up the vehicle's modular battery allows bicycles to be transported without a battery, and to install a module on each bike at the time of use. The modules can be recharged on mains or advantageously during the periods of driving of the vehicles. FIG. 7 represents a diversified use of the storage modules according to the invention. Thus, each storage module 3 is adaptable not only to a motor vehicle 21 but also to a device of the everyday life chosen for example from a personal transporter type electric vehicle 23, bicycle 22, golf cart 24, or scooter 25, or among a portable electrical device such as backpack 26, DIY or handling equipment 27.

By extension, it is advantageous to create a standard module to allow greater flexibility of use and better management of sales and after-sales service of these modules. The big advantage of this approach is to allow from the electric batteries used in the automobile to multiply the use of these electric batteries / storage modules, without multiplying the actual number of batteries.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

REVENDICATIONS1. Modular battery (1) comprising at least two modules (3) for storing electrical energy, able to be connected together to form a battery with increased electrical energy, sized to power a motor vehicle (21) electric or hybrid, characterized in on the other hand, at least one of said storage modules (3) is able to be used independently to form a unitary battery, sized to power a device of everyday life (22-27) with reduced power consumption. 2. Modular battery (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each storage module (3) comprises gripping means (4) to facilitate its extraction of the battery with increased electrical energy and its transport before installation as a unitary battery . 3. Modular battery (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each storage module (3) defines a battery standard. 4. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each storage module (3) is adaptable to a device of everyday life selected from a carrier-type electric vehicle (22-25). personal (24), bike (22), golf cart (23) or scooter (25). 5. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each storage module (3) is adaptable to a device of everyday life selected from a portable electrical device type backpack (26). ), DIY or handling equipment (27). 2961960 -11- 6. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a frame (2), characterized in that each storage module (3) is clipped into the frame. 7. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, 5 comprising a frame (2), characterized in that it comprises a ventilation system at two successive levels, a first level inside the frame by an air passage from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle in which the battery is installed, then a second level inside each of the modules (3) storage. 10 8. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing of the storage modules (3) has a convex upper face (5). 9. Modular battery (1) according to claim 8, comprising a frame (2) in which the storage modules are mounted longitudinally, characterized in that the convex upper face (5) of the housing is provided with transverse grooves (17). relative to the axis of the modules (3) in the frame of the battery. 10. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each storage module (3) has a generally flat shape and are arranged in the frame (2) next to each other according to the direction of the length of the storage modules (3), the frame being able to be arranged in the rear storage space of a motor vehicle (21). 11. Modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the storage modules (3) are electrochemical and / or electrostatic modules. 12. Motor vehicle (21) electric or hybrid equipped with a modular battery (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11.