FR3120578A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC BATTERY CHARGER SUPPORT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support (7) for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle, comprising a bottom structure (18) intended to cover the electric battery charger and a fixing system (9) of the support (7 ) charger on a chassis of the motor vehicle. The fixing system (9) is linked to the bottom structure (18) and comprises several fixing lugs (10, 11) configured to allow fixing of the support (7) to the chassis of the motor vehicle. According to the invention, the charger support (7) comprises a reinforcing wall (19) linking together two fixing lugs (10) of the fixing system (9). Fig. 2

Description

MOTOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC BATTERY CHARGER SUPPORT

The technical context of the present invention is that of motor vehicles, and more particularly that of exhaust line fixings. More particularly, the invention relates to a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle.

In known manner, an exhaust line comprises a manifold, a catalyst, an expansion pot, a silencer and ducts connecting these elements one after the other, and one end of which is connected to the engine block and another end forms the exhaust gas outlet. In the state of the art, exhaust lines fixed to the chassis of motor vehicles are known. For this, the exhaust line is fixed at several points on the chassis, these points being distributed over the chassis so that the exhaust line is balanced and maintained from end to end. For this, the exhaust line is generally fixed to the frame using hangers provided in the frame. These lines cooperate with a fixing element integral with the exhaust line.

Due to the presence of a large number of elements fixed under the chassis, including in particular an electrical unit in the case of hybrid and electric motor vehicles, the silencer of the exhaust line is arranged at the rear of the chassis and occupies a large part of the width of the chassis. The electrical unit makes it possible to generate or adapt electrical power for charging and/or operating the batteries of the hybrid or electric motor vehicle. Due to its mass, the silencer needs to be fixed to the motor vehicle by at least three lines. The constraints of size, distribution of the masses, of thermal expansion and the acoustic and vibratory constraints require that one of the lines, called the main line, be mounted close to the axis of extension of the hybrid motor vehicle, in the immediate vicinity of the electrical block. The other two lines are distributed laterally around the silencer.

However, in the event of an impact at the rear of the hybrid motor vehicle, the muffler of the exhaust line can be embarked towards the front of the motor vehicle, in the direction of the electrical block which is also fixed under the chassis of the motor vehicle, thus causing the main hanger to strike, deform, or even puncture the electric unit, creating an electrical risk, potentially a short circuit and/or a risk of fire for the hybrid or electric motor vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle in order to respond at least in large part to the above problems and also to lead to other advantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle which is more satisfactory in terms of reducing electrical risks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle which is universal and configured to adapt to different motor vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle, simple, both from the point of view of its implementation, and from the point of view of its manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to propose a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle which is inexpensive, so as to limit the cost of such a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle over existing motor vehicle electric battery charger holders.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle that is compact, guaranteeing the compactness and lightness of the motor vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle, the support comprising (i) a bottom structure intended to cover the charger electric battery, (ii) a system for fixing the charger support to a chassis of the motor vehicle, the fixing system being linked to the bottom structure and comprising several fixing lugs configured to allow fixing of the support to the chassis of the vehicle automobile. According to the invention, the charger support comprises a reinforcing wall linking together two fixing lugs of the fixing system.

The support according to the first aspect of the invention is configured to support an electrical unit of the type of a battery charger for a motor vehicle. The support according to the invention is intended to equip an electrical assembly comprising the electrical unit mounted in said support. In the motor vehicle that it equips, the support of the electrical assembly is firmly fixed to a frame of said motor vehicle.

Such a support is suitable for supporting and maintaining an electric block, which implicitly implies that it must be dimensioned and made of a material allowing such maintenance of an electric block.

In the support according to the first aspect of the invention, the bottom structure forms, for example, a peripheral sidewalk. The peripheral sidewalk comprises a longitudinal strip delimited by two linear and parallel edges. The peripheral sidewalk forms a closed contour. By closed outline, it is meant that the peripheral sidewalk forming the bottom structure delimits a rectangular outline.

In the support according to the first aspect of the invention, the fixing lugs of the fixing system are intended to fix the bottom structure of the support according to the invention to the chassis of the motor vehicle.

In the support according to the first aspect of the invention, the reinforcing wall closes a space between two fixing lugs of the fixing system. Preferably, the reinforcing wall connects the two fixing lugs intended to be located towards the rear of the motor vehicle equipped with the support according to the invention, that is to say close to and opposite an exhaust hanger of the exhaust line. Such a support for an electric battery charger, provided with a reinforcing wall, makes it possible to ensure that no element of the chassis and/or of an exhaust line fixed integrally to the chassis can come to drive the electric block, in particular in the event of a rear impact. Thus, this solution makes it possible to reduce electrical risks, while being simple to implement, without having to modify the exhaust line. The reinforcing plate thus plays the role of a shield located in an intermediate position between the electrical block supported by the support according to the invention and the exhaust line of the motor vehicle, and more particularly its main hanger.

The invention in accordance with its first aspect thus advantageously makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, without having to make significant and costly modifications to the chassis of the motor vehicle and/or to the exhaust line of said motor vehicle.

The support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

– the reinforcing wall extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the bottom structure. By substantially perpendicularly it is understood that the reinforcing wall forms an angle with the bottom structure of between 80° and 100°. In the motor vehicle equipped with the support according to the invention, a reinforcing wall extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the bottom structure is between the electric battery charger supported by said support and the exhaust line of the motor vehicle. Such a reinforcing wall is particularly suitable for protecting the electric battery charger supported by the support according to the invention in the event of an impact occurring at the rear of the motor vehicle;

- According to a first embodiment, the fastening system is attached to the bottom structure. In an exemplary embodiment, when the fastening system is attached to the bottom structure, the fastening system is permanently and non-detachably linked to the bottom structure. For example, the fastening system is permanently and non-detachably linked to the bottom structure by welding. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, when the fastening system is attached to the bottom structure, the fastening system is linked to the bottom structure in a detachable manner. For example, the fastening system is linked to the bottom structure in a detachable manner by bolting or by screwing. According to a second alternative embodiment to the first embodiment, the fastening system is made in one piece with the bottom structure. The term "made from material" means the fact that, in the support according to the first aspect of the invention, the fixing system and the bottom structure cannot be separated from each other without affecting the all or part of their integrity. Thus, in the support according to the invention, the fixing system and the bottom structure form an assembly qualified as one-piece because they together form only one and the same continuous piece, made in one piece and obtained during the same manufacturing process. The invention in accordance with its first aspect thus advantageously makes it possible to obtain a prefabricated support, the manufacture of which is simplified since it does away with the assembly of the fixing system and the bottom structure as well as the presence of means fixing between the fixing system and the bottom structure. Additionally, a one-piece carrier can be machined into a variety of different sizes so as to accommodate different models of motor vehicles. Such a support is moreover more rigid and lighter;

– According to a first embodiment, the reinforcing wall is attached to the fastening system. In an exemplary embodiment, when the reinforcing wall is attached to the fixing system, the reinforcing wall is permanently and non-detachably linked to the two fixing lugs. For example, the reinforcing wall is attached to the fastening system by welding. In an alternative embodiment, when the reinforcing wall is attached to the fixing system, the reinforcing wall is linked in a detachable manner to the two fixing lugs. For example, the reinforcing wall is linked in a detachable manner to the two fixing lugs by bolting or by screwing;

- According to a second alternative embodiment to the first embodiment, the reinforcing wall is made in one piece with the two fixing lugs. The term "made from material" means the fact that, in the support according to the first aspect of the invention, the reinforcing wall and the two fixing lugs cannot be separated from each other without being damaged. to all or part of their integrity. Thus, in the support according to the invention, the reinforcing wall and the two fixing lugs form an assembly qualified as one-piece because they together form only one and the same continuous piece, made in one piece and obtained during the same manufacturing process. The invention in accordance with its first aspect thus advantageously makes it possible to obtain a prefabricated support, the manufacture of which is simplified since it does away with the assembly of the reinforcing wall and the two fixing lugs as well as the presence of fixing means between the reinforcing wall and the two fixing lugs. Additionally, a one-piece carrier can be machined into a variety of different sizes so as to accommodate different models of motor vehicles. Such a support is moreover more rigid and lighter;

- the reinforcing wall and the fixing lugs are formed by stamping or by bending. Stamping or bending makes it possible to bend a plate to delimit the reinforcing wall and the fixing lugs. The plate from which the reinforcing wall and the fixing lugs are formed is formed of a metallic material, such as for example steel or an aluminum alloy;

- the reinforcing wall takes the form of a sheet of constant thickness. The plate forming the reinforcing wall comprises two faces, a first face parallel to a second face, and the thickness of the plate forming the reinforcing wall is the shortest distance between the first face and the second face of the plate;

- the reinforcing wall has ribs formed on one or the other of the faces of said reinforcing wall. The ribs formed on the reinforcing wall are configured to reinforce the robustness to the mechanical forces that can be imposed on said reinforcing wall. In particular, the ribs are configured to reinforce the mechanical robustness of the reinforcing wall with regard to a force induced by the exhaust line of the motor vehicle in the event of an impact occurring at the rear of the motor vehicle. The ribs project from the reinforcing wall and make it possible to maintain said reinforcing wall positioned relative to the bottom structure;

- the ribs extend parallel to one side of the reinforcing wall having the largest dimension. Alternatively, the ribs extend perpendicular to one side of the reinforcing wall having the largest dimension;

- the fixing lugs connected by the reinforcing wall each have an outer lateral flap located on a side opposite the other fixing lug, the lateral flap extending in an inclined manner relative to a front wall of the lug fixation. Advantageously, the side flap extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly relative to a front wall of the fixing lug. By a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular inclination, it is meant that the side flap and the front wall of the fixing lug together form an angle of between 80° and 100°;

- the fixing lugs connected by the reinforcing wall comprise an upper flap extending in an inclined manner with respect to the side flaps. Advantageously, the upper flap extends perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the side flaps of the fixing lug. By a perpendicular or substantially perpendicular inclination, it is meant that the upper flap and the side flaps of the fastening lug together form an angle of between 80° and 100°;

- the upper flap and the side flaps of the fixing lugs connected by the reinforcing wall together form a cap extending in a direction opposite to the bottom structure relative to the fixing lugs;

- the support is made of a metallic material, such as for example steel or an aluminum alloy.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is proposed an electrical assembly comprising a support in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any one of its improvements and an electrical block mounted in the support, the electrical block being of the type of a battery charger for a motor vehicle.

In the motor vehicle that it equips, the electrical assembly is firmly fixed to a chassis of said motor vehicle.

In the electrical assembly according to the second aspect of the invention, the electrical unit of the type of a battery charger for a motor vehicle is for example a high voltage charger for an electric battery.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is proposed a motor vehicle comprising a chassis and an electrical assembly in accordance with the second aspect of the invention or according to any one of its improvements, the support of the electrical assembly being fixed to the chassis of the motor vehicle.

The motor vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention is of the electric type, for example of the BEV type for the English acronym Battery Electric Vehicle, equipped with an electric motor, or for example of the PHEV type, for the English acronym Plug -in Hybrid Electric, equipped with both a combustion engine and an electric engine.

In the motor vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention, the reinforcing wall of the support of the electrical assembly extends between the electrical block supported by said support and the exhaust line of the motor vehicle. Such a reinforcing wall is configured to protect the electrical block of the exhaust line which tends to move towards the front of the motor vehicle in the event of an impact occurring at the rear of the motor vehicle.

Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the various optional characteristics set out here.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent through the description which follows on the one hand, and several embodiments given by way of indication and not limiting with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings on the other hand, on which :

illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention;

illustrates in perspective a support for an electric battery charger of a motor vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention;

illustrates a sectional view of an electrical assembly according to the second aspect of the invention.

Of course, the characteristics, the variants and the different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, according to various combinations, insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from to the state of the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

There illustrates a schematic view of a motor vehicle 1 according to the third aspect of the invention. In the remainder of the description, a frame of reference is defined in which a longitudinal axis OX, a transverse axis OY and a vertical axis OZ are defined. The longitudinal axis OX corresponds to a trajectory of the motor vehicle 1 when it is in forward motion, in a straight line and on a flat road. The longitudinal axis OX corresponds to a direction running from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle 1, and it is oriented from the front to the rear of the motor vehicle 1. A longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis OX, the adjectives "front", "rear" or "frontal" refer to this reference direction, the term "length" also. The transverse axis OY corresponds to the axis around which the wheels 2 of the motor vehicle 1 rotate, and the direction of the axis OY is oriented from a passenger side to a driver's side, in the non-Anglo-Saxon standard. A transverse direction parallel to the transverse axis OY is also defined, and the adjectives “lateral” or “transverse” refer to this reference direction, the term “width” also. The vertical axis OZ is an axis perpendicular simultaneously to the axis OX and to the axis OY, and which is oriented from a floor of the motor vehicle 1 towards a roof 3 of said motor vehicle 1, the adjectives “upper” and “lower refer to this reference direction, the term "height" also.

There shows that the motor vehicle 1 comprises an electrical assembly 4 in accordance with the second aspect of the invention and a chassis 5.

The electrical assembly 4 according to the second aspect of the invention is shown in as integrally fixed to the chassis 5 of said motor vehicle 1.

There shows that the electrical assembly 4 according to the second aspect of the invention comprises an electrical unit 6 mounted in a support 7 according to the first aspect of the invention. The electrical unit 6 is of the type of an electric battery charger 8 for a motor vehicle 1. A system 9 for fixing the charger support 7 fixes said support 7 to the chassis 5 of the motor vehicle 1 by means of fixing lugs 10, 11 of said fixing system 9. In this case, the fixing system 9 comprises rear fixing lugs 10 and front fixing lugs 11 .

The motor vehicle 1 according to the third aspect of the invention and illustrated in further comprises an exhaust line 12. The exhaust line 12 of the motor vehicle 1 comprises at least one manifold, one catalyst, one expansion pot, one silencer 13 and ducts 14 connecting these elements one after the other. others, with one end connected to the engine block and another end corresponding to an exhaust gas outlet 15. The manifold, the catalyst, the expansion pot and the engine block are not shown in .

There shows that the exhaust line 12 is fixed integrally to the chassis 5. In particular, as illustrated in an insert 100 of the , the muffler 13 of the exhaust line 12 is fixed integrally to the frame 5 by means of at least three lines, of which only one, a main line 16, is visible seen from below. The main hanger 16 is in the immediate vicinity and behind the electrical block 6 of the electrical assembly 4 in accordance with the second aspect of the invention. The insert 100 of the shows that the main hanger 16 is behind the electrical block 6 and in front of the silencer 13 of the exhaust line 12. The main hanger 16 is represented in the insert 100 of the , crossed by a fixing rod 30 of the exhaust line 12. In order to fix the silencer 13 to the main hanger 16, the fixing rod 30 of the exhaust line 12 is fixed by a first end 31 of the rod 30 to the silencer 13 and engages in the main hanger 16 by a second end 32 of the fixing rod 30, opposite the first end 31 of the fixing rod 30.

There shows that the electrical block 6 and its support 7 are located on a rear half of the motor vehicle 1, that is to say between a central cross member of the chassis 5, not shown, and a rear bumper 17 of the motor vehicle 1 According to the example illustrated, the electric block 6 and its support 7 are arranged so that the longest side of the electric block 6 extends along the transverse direction OY of the motor vehicle 1. The silencer 13 is meanwhile located between the support 7 of the electrical unit 6 and the rear bumper 17 of the motor vehicle 1. The silencer 13 is here arranged over the entire width of the motor vehicle 1, along the transverse axis OY.

The electrical assembly 4, the chassis 5, the fixing system 9 and the exhaust line 12 are shown in dotted lines on the .

There illustrates in perspective the support 7 of the electric battery charger 8 according to the first aspect of the invention. There shows that the support 7 comprises a bottom structure 18 intended to cover at least part of the electric battery charger 8, the system 9 for fastening the support 7 to the chassis 5 of the motor vehicle 1 and, in accordance with the invention, a wall reinforcement 19.

In this case in the example illustrated in , the bottom structure 18 takes the form of a peripheral sidewalk 20, but could be provided solid, that is to say intended to completely cover the electrical block 6. The peripheral sidewalk 20 forming the bottom structure 18 comprises a longitudinal strip 21 delimited by two linear and parallel edges 22. The peripheral sidewalk 20 forms a closed contour.

On the , the fixing system 9 comprises several fixing lugs 10, 11 linked to the bottom structure 18. More specifically, the fixing system 9 of the support 7 of the electrical unit 6 comprises the two front fixing lugs 11 and the two rear fixing 10, distributed two by two on either side of a longitudinal axis 24 of the support 7. It should be noted that the fixing lugs 10, 11 are distributed two by two asymmetrically with respect to the axis longitudinal 24 of the support 7. Each fixing lug 10, 11 comprises a member 23 for fixing to the chassis 5 of the motor vehicle 1.

According to the embodiment illustrated in , the fixing member 23 of each fixing lug 10, 11 is a through hole, provided in an upper part 25 of the fixing lug 10, 11, said upper part 25 being intended to come into contact with the frame 5. another member making it possible to fix the leg to the frame 5 could be suitable, one can for example cite a weld or a hook.

According to the embodiment illustrated in , the rear fixing tabs 10 each have an outer side flap 26 located on a side opposite the other fixing tab 10. The side flap 26 extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to a front wall 27 of the tab 10. The rear fixing lugs 10, connected to each other by the reinforcing wall 19, comprise an upper flap 28 extending substantially perpendicular to the side flaps 26. The upper flap 28 and the side flaps 26 of the rear attachment tabs 10 together form a cap 38 extending in a direction opposite the bottom structure 18 relative to the rear attachment tabs 10.

In accordance with the invention, the rear fixing lugs 10 are connected to each other by the reinforcing wall 19. The reinforcing wall 19 extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom structure 18.

There illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the electrical assembly 4 according to the second aspect of the invention in the rear half of the motor vehicle 1 according to the invention, and along an axis 29 of longitudinal elongation of the fixing rod 30 of the exhaust line 12. In the , the electrical assembly 4 comprises the support 7 according to the invention and the electrical block 6 mounted in the support 7. The main hanger 16 is represented through which the fixing rod 30 of the exhaust line 12 passes. invention, the reinforcing wall 19 prevents damage to the electrical block 6 by the second end 32 of the fixing rod 30 during an impact occurring from the rear and moving the motor vehicle 1 forwards fixing 30.

In summary, the invention relates to a support 7 of an electric battery charger 8 of a motor vehicle 1, comprising a bottom structure 18 intended to cover the electric battery charger 8 and a fastening system 9 of the support 7 of charger on a chassis 5 of the motor vehicle 1. The fixing system 9 is linked to the bottom structure 18 and comprises several fixing lugs 10, 11 configured to allow fixing of the support 7 to the chassis 5 of the motor vehicle 1. In accordance with the invention, the charger support 7 comprises a reinforcing wall 19 linking together two fixing lugs 10 of the fixing system 9.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims (10)

Support (7) for an electric battery charger (8) of a motor vehicle (1), the support (7) comprising:
- a bottom structure (18) intended to cover the electric battery charger (8);
- a fixing system (9) of the charger support (7) on a chassis (5) of the motor vehicle (1), the fixing system (9) being linked to the bottom structure (18) and comprising several attachment (10, 11) configured to allow attachment of the support (7) to the chassis (5) of the motor vehicle (1);
characterized in that the charger support (7) comprises a reinforcing wall (19) linking together two fixing lugs (10) of the fixing system (9). Support (7) according to the preceding claim, in which the reinforcing wall (19) extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the bottom structure (18). Support (7) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the reinforcing wall (19) is made in one piece with the two fixing lugs (10). Support (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reinforcing wall (19) takes the form of a sheet of constant thickness. Support (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the reinforcing wall (19) has ribs formed on one or the other of the faces of the said reinforcing wall (19). Support (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the fixing lugs (10) connected by the reinforcing wall (19) each have an outer lateral flap (26) located on one side opposite to the other. bracket (10), the side flap (26) extending at an angle relative to a front wall (27) of the bracket (10). Support (7) according to the preceding claim, in which the fixing lugs (10) connected by the reinforcing wall (19) comprise an upper flap (28) extending in an inclined manner with respect to the side flaps (26). Support (7) according to the preceding claim, in which the upper flap (28) and the side flaps (26) of the fixing lugs (10) connected by the reinforcing wall (19) together form a cap (38) extending in a direction opposite to the bottom structure (18) relative to the fixing tabs (10). Electrical assembly (4) comprising a support (7) according to any one of the preceding claims and an electrical block (6) mounted in the support (7), the electrical block (6) being of the type of a charger (8) battery for a motor vehicle (1). Motor vehicle (1) comprising a frame (5) and an electrical assembly according to the preceding claim, the support (7) of the electrical assembly (4) being firmly fixed to the frame (5) of the motor vehicle (1).