WO2014195648A1

WO2014195648A1 - Connection plate for a motor vehicle having an electric or hybrid electric engine

Info

Publication number: WO2014195648A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/051353
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laurent DE BENOIST; Matthieu Leroy
Original assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa
Priority date: 2013-06-07
Filing date: 2014-06-05
Publication date: 2014-12-11
Also published as: FR3006811A1; FR3006811B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection plate (20) for a vehicle having an electric or hybrid electric engine, capable of having a service configuration in which said plate is attached to the outer surface of the floor of said vehicle at an opening which is provided therein, such that said plate (20) covers said opening; the upper surface of said plate comprising at least one upper electrical connector (22) to be electrically connected to a traction battery included in said vehicle; said plate (20) also comprising an opening (24) receiving a discharge terminal (25) including an upper connection portion (25A) projecting transversally from the main plane of said plate (20), such as to pass through said floor when said plate (20) is in said service configuration; said upper connection portion (25A) being intended for being connected to said traction battery.

Description

CONNECTION PLATE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE WITH ELECTRIC MOTORIZATION OR ELECTRIC HYBRID

Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of motor vehicles with electric or electric hybrid motorization, and relates in particular to such vehicles equipped with a traction battery for storing a large amount of energy to power a vehicle. electric motor.

Background of the invention

The patent application FR 2953656 describes such a hybrid type of vehicle driven by the combination of a heat engine and an electric motor mounted in the engine compartment located at the front of the vehicle.

The electric motor is supplied with electrical energy by an inverter also located in the engine compartment and making it possible to supply the electric motor with three-phase voltages from the DC voltage delivered by a high-voltage traction battery of the NI-MH or Li-type type. Ion.

This battery is located inside the vehicle at the rear of the engine compartment between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat. It is connected to a terminal block placed directly above an opening in the floor of the vehicle.

The traction battery and the inverter are connected to each other by a wiring harness comprising two high voltage cables. This wiring harness extends from the inverter located in the engine compartment and travels under the floor of the vehicle to a connection plate fastened by screwing under the floor around this opening.

The connection plate comprises two connectors, respectively connected to the two cables of the beam, which pass through the opening and which are connected to the terminal block of the battery. A seal is also arranged on the connection plate around the hole through the floor, to prevent water intrusion into the passenger compartment in the area where the battery is located.

This type of vehicle, in which the traction battery is located inside the passenger compartment or in the trunk, can be potentially dangerous for its occupants in case of deterioration of this battery due to a short circuit or a violent shock.

Indeed, in such a case, some of the cells of the battery can ignite, this combustion can cause the emanation in the passenger compartment of chemicals harmful to humans such as hydrogen fluoride (or HF ).

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention therefore aims to improve the safety of electrically powered vehicles or electric hybrid equipped with a traction battery located inside the vehicle in the passenger compartment or in the trunk, limiting the risk of gas emanation inside this passenger compartment as a result of a short circuit or shock to this battery.

It proposes for this purpose, a connection plate for a vehicle with electric or electric hybrid motorization, adapted to occupy a service configuration in which it is fixed against the outer face of the floor of said vehicle at an opening therein, so that said platen covers said opening; the upper face of said plate comprising at least one upper electrical connector projecting transversely to the main plane of this plate, so that it passes through said floor when said plate occupies said service configuration;

said upper electrical connector being adapted to be electrically connected to a traction battery included in said vehicle; characterized in that said plate further comprises an opening receiving a discharge tip; said discharge tip comprising an upper connection portion protruding transversely to the main plane of said platen, so that it passes through said floor when said platen occupies said service configuration;

said upper connection portion being intended to be connected to said traction battery.

Thanks to the exhaust tip that includes the plate according to the invention, the toxic gases that can be emitted by the traction battery are directly discharged outside the vehicle, and do not spread or almost not in the passenger compartment .

In addition, the connection on the assembly line between the exhaust tip and the battery is particularly easy for the operator because a portion of this nozzle passes through the floor when the plate is placed on the vehicle.

Finally, because this exhaust tip is integrated directly on such a connecting plate, it is not necessary for its mounting on the vehicle, to make an additional opening in the floor that could cause sealing problems .

According to preferred characteristics of the platinum, taken alone or in combination:

said evacuation tip also comprises a lower output portion projecting transversely to the main plane of said plate, opposite said upper connection portion, and which opens out of said vehicle when said platen occupies said service configuration ;

said evacuation tip has a tubular shape;

the upper face of said plate comprises a plurality of said upper electrical connectors;

the lower face of said platen comprises a plurality of lower electrical connectors, each of them extending transversely to the main plane of said platen and opposite to a corresponding upper electrical connector to which it is electrically connected; the upper face of said plate comprises sealing means situated at its peripheral zone constituting the connection interface with said floor;

said sealing means consist of a lip seal which extends over the entire periphery of said plate;

said platen has substantially a shape of rectangle with one of its two long sides which presents an outgrowth, said opening which receives said discharge nozzle being formed at said outgrowth; and or

- said platen comprises each at its four corners, a respective hole for fixing on said floor.

The present invention also aims in a second aspect, a motor vehicle with electric motor or electric hybrid comprising such a plate.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below by way of illustration but without limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a hybrid motor vehicle comprising a connecting plate according to the invention mounted on the floor at an opening formed therein;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the floor area in which is formed said opening;

- Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the floor area of Figure 2 after mounting the connection plate according to the invention;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connecting plate; and

- Figure 5 is a perspective view at another angle of the connecting plate. Detailed description of an embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown, schematically, a hybrid electric drive vehicle 1 driven by the combination of a heat engine 2 and an electric motor 3 both located in the engine compartment 4 located at the front of the vehicle 1.

The engine compartment 4 also houses an inverter 5 for supplying the electric motor 3 with three-phase voltages, at a variable frequency (0 to 300 Hz), from the DC voltage delivered by a high-voltage traction battery 6.

The battery 6 is disposed inside the vehicle 1, at the level of the rear trunk 7 and in the housing initially provided for the reception of a spare wheel, so as not to have a negative effect on the luggage loading volume. .

This housing also hosts a DC high voltage / DC low voltage electronic converter 8 connected by a cable 9 to the battery 6 and for directly powering certain devices connected to the low voltage network of the vehicle (headlights, mirrors, car radio, computer power supplies, etc ...) and recharge the service battery 13 of the vehicle 1.

The battery 6 is here of Li-Ion type, this technology offering a high energy density of the order of 150 Wh / kg, associated with a low rate of discharge over time and an absence of memory effect.

In order to limit the heating of the battery 6 during normal operation of the vehicle, the latter is cooled by cooled, dry and filtered air from the passenger compartment 10 of the vehicle 1.

A duct, not shown in the figures, thus connects this cabin 10 where the cooling air is taken from this battery 6.

The battery 6 is connected to the inverter 5 via a wiring harness 30 passing through the floor 11 of the vehicle 1 by means of a connection plate 20 fixed against the outer face of the vehicle. floor 11 at an opening 12 (Figure 2) therein, so that plate 20 covers the opening 12.

Similarly, the electronic converter 8 is connected to the devices of the low voltage network and the service battery, located at the front of the vehicle 1, through another wiring harness 40 also passing through the floor 11 of the vehicle 1 via connection plate 20.

We will now describe in detail this plate 20 in support of Figures 4 and 5.

It has substantially a rectangle shape with one of its two long sides that has an outgrowth 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outline of this plate 20 takes over that of the opening 12, its dimensions being slightly greater so that it can completely cover this opening 12.

The upper face 20A of the plate 20 comprises a plurality of upper electrical connectors 22 projecting transversely to the main plane of this plate 20, so that these connectors 22 pass through the floor 11 and open into the rear trunk 7 of the vehicle 1 when the plate 20 occupies its service configuration in which it is mounted on this vehicle 1.

The lower face 20B of this plate 20 also comprises a plurality of lower electrical connectors 23, each of them extending transversely to the main plane of this plate 20 and opposite to a corresponding upper electrical connector 22 to which it is electrically connected.

The plate 20 also comprises a circular opening 24 formed at the level of the protrusion 21 and receiving a tubular discharge nozzle 25.

The tip 25 which passes through the plate 20 from one side to the other, comprises an upper connection portion 25A projecting transversely to the main plane of this plate 20, so that it passes through the floor 11 and opens into the rear trunk 7 of the vehicle 1 when the plate 20 occupies its service configuration. The tip 25 also comprises a lower output portion 25B projecting transversely to the main plane of this plate 20 opposite the upper connecting portion 25A, and which opens out of the vehicle 1 when the plate 20 occupies its configuration on duty.

A flexible duct 15 connects an opening formed in the casing of the traction battery 6 to the tubular discharge nozzle 25 (FIG. 3), one end of this duct 15 being fitted on the upper connecting portion 25A of this endpiece 25. , and fixed with a clamp not shown.

Thus, in the event of a short-circuit or violent shock causing the deterioration of certain cells of the traction battery 6 and the emission of toxic gases, the latter will be discharged directly to the outside of the vehicle 1 via the conduit 15 and the tubular discharge nozzle 25 of the plate 20.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the plate 20 also comprises each at its four corners, a respective hole 26 to allow its attachment to the floor 11 with screws not shown.

Finally, the upper face 20A of this plate 20 comprises sealing means 28 located at its peripheral zone which constitutes the connection interface with the floor 11.

These sealing means are here constituted by a lip seal 28 which extends over the entire periphery of the plate 20 and makes it possible to absorb the possible deflections between this plate 20 and the floor 11, so as to preserve a good seal to water, air and dust.

The wiring harness 30 connecting the inverter 5 to the traction battery 6 comprises two distinct portions 30A and 30B each comprising two high-voltage cables.

The outer portion 30A extends from the inverter 5 housed in the engine compartment 4 and travels under the floor 11 of the vehicle 1 to the lower face 20B of the connection plate 20 to which it is connected (Figure 1). . The two cables of this portion 30A each have, at one of their ends, a plug of respective connection 33 which is connected to a lower connector 23 of the plate 20 (Figure 3).

The inner portion 30B disposed in the trunk 7, connects the traction battery 6 and the connecting plate 20 to which it is connected by its upper face 20A (Figures 1 and 3). The two cables of this portion 30B each have, at one of their ends, a respective connection plug 34 which is connected to an upper connector 22 of the plate 20 (Figure 3).

The wiring harness 40 connecting the DC / DC converter 8 to certain devices of the low-voltage network and to the service battery 13, also comprises two distinct portions 40A and 40B each comprising a low-voltage cable.

The outer portion 40A extends from the front of the vehicle 1 where these devices are located to feed and the service battery 13, and travels under the floor 11 to the lower face 20B of the plate 20 to which it comes connect (Figure 1). The cable of this portion 40A has, at one of its ends, a connection plug 43 which is connected to a lower connector 23 of the plate 20 (Figure 3).

The inner portion 40B disposed in the trunk 7 connects the DC / DC converter 8 and the plate 20 to which it is connected by its upper face 20A (Figures 1 and 3). The cable of this portion 40B has, at one of its ends, a connection plug 44 which is connected to an upper connector 22 of the plate 20 (Figure 3).

We will now briefly describe the successive operations of setting up the plate 20 on the vehicle 1 and connecting the different portions of the beams 30 and 40.

To mount the plate 20, it must first be positioned opposite the opening 12 formed in the floor 11 at the rear trunk 7. It is then pressed against the outer face of the floor 11 before being secured with fixing screws. The connection of the inner portion 30B of the bundle 30 to the traction battery 6 and to the plate 20, that of the inner portion 40B of the bundle 40 to the DC / DC converter 8 and to the plate 20, as well as that of the 15 to the traction battery 6 and to the exhaust tip 25 of the plate 20, are made inside the trunk 7 during the introduction of the traction battery 6 and the DC converter / DC 8 in the housing initially provided for the reception of a spare wheel.

Finally, the connection of the outer portions 30A, 40A running under the floor 11 of the vehicle is made at the end of the assembly line after styling.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the connection plate can be installed on a purely electric motor vehicle.

According to other embodiments not shown, this connection plate may have different dimensions and / or shape (s).

According to still other embodiments not shown:

- The connectors in this plate are shaped differently, their number is different, and they are intended to be connected to other parts of the vehicle;

the evacuation tip is also shaped differently; and or

the sealing means situated at the periphery of the plate are formed by a joint with several lips in order to improve the level of sealing, or by a simple bead of foam if the air and dust tightness is sufficient.

It is finally recalled that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but encompasses any variant embodiment.

Claims

1. Connection plate for a vehicle (1) with electric or electric hybrid motorization, adapted to occupy a service configuration in which it is fixed against the outside face of the floor (11) of said vehicle (1) at an opening ( 12) provided therein, so that said platen covers said opening (12); the upper face of said plate comprising at least one upper electrical connector (22) projecting transversely to the main plane of this plate, so that it passes through said floor (11) when said plate occupies said service configuration;

said upper electrical connector (22) being adapted to be electrically connected to a traction battery (6) included in said vehicle (1);

characterized in that said plate further comprises an opening (24) receiving a discharge nozzle (25);

said exhaust tip (25) comprising an upper connecting portion (25A) projecting transversely to the main plane of said platen, so that it passes through said floor (11) when said platen occupies said service configuration;

said upper connection portion (25A) being intended to be connected to said traction battery (6).

2. Connection board according to claim 1, characterized in that said discharge tip (25) also comprises a lower outlet portion (25B) protruding transversely to the main plane of said plate, opposite said upper portion of connection (25A), and which opens out of said vehicle (1) when said platen occupies said service configuration.

3. Connection board according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said discharge nozzle (25) has a tubular shape.

4. Connection board according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper face of said plate comprises a plurality of said upper electrical connectors (22).

5. Terminal board according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower face of said plate comprises a plurality of lower electrical connectors (23), each of them extending transversely to the main plane of said plate and to the opposite of a corresponding upper electrical connector (22) to which it is electrically connected.

Terminal board according to one of claims 1 to

5, characterized in that the upper face of said plate comprises sealing means (28) located at its peripheral area constituting the connection interface with said floor (11).

7. Terminal board according to claim 6, characterized in that said sealing means are constituted by a lip seal (28) which extends over the entire periphery of said plate.

8. Connection board according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has substantially a rectangle shape with one of its two long sides which has an outgrowth (21), said opening (24) which receives said evacuation tip (25) being provided at said protrusion (21).

9. Connection board according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises at each of its four corners, a respective bore (26) for attachment to said floor (11).

10. Motor vehicle with electric motor or electric hybrid comprising a plate according to one of claims 1 to 9.