WO2016173933A1

WO2016173933A1 - Assembly comprising a thermal battery for a motor vehicle and a battery support

Info

Publication number: WO2016173933A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/058972
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kamel Azzouz; Julien Tissot
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2015-04-27
Filing date: 2016-04-22
Publication date: 2016-11-03
Also published as: EP3289599A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns an assembly comprising a thermal battery (1) for a motor vehicle and a support (6) for said battery (1) suitable for being attached to the vehicle, said support (6) further comprising a receiving base (7) on which said battery (1) is arranged, said base (7) comprising retaining means (13, 15) for holding said battery (1) on said base (6).

Description

Kit comprising a thermal battery for a motor vehicle and a battery holder

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a support on which is disposed a thermal battery. The present invention finds its applications particularly in the field of motor vehicles

Currently, thermal batteries are used for heating the passenger compartment of electric and hybrid vehicles. In the case of internal combustion engine vehicles, these batteries are used to preheat the heat transfer fluid of the heating radiator, engine oil or gearbox oil.

Thermal batteries must comply with chemical, thermal and mechanical safety standards.

In particular, in the field of motor vehicles, the thermal battery is subjected to vibrations transmitted by the vehicle during travel.

The thermal batteries comprise a heat storage chamber which constitutes the internal part of the battery and an insulating outer envelope.

A known fixing system solution is to fix a support directly to the storage enclosure, for example by welding or brazing. Therefore, whatever the position of the support on the storage enclosure, the support passes through the insulating outer casing of the battery. This solution has the particular disadvantages of degradation of insulation performance and deterioration of the insulation itself. In addition, this generates thermal bridges between the external environment to the battery and the internal storage enclosure of this battery.

One of the drawbacks is therefore the decrease in thermal performance of the battery. In the state of the art, the supports thus have very strong influences on the thermal performance of the battery.

Another disadvantage of the known supports is that they do not reduce the impact of the vibrations of the vehicle on the battery.

One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to at least partially overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a thermal battery mounting bracket to eliminate the thermal losses induced by the fastening system while maintaining a good fixation from the battery to the chassis of the vehicle and reducing the vibration stresses to the battery.

The present invention thus relates to an assembly comprising a thermal battery for a motor vehicle and a support of said battery adapted to be attached to the vehicle, characterized in that said support comprises a receiving base on which said battery is disposed, said base comprising means for holding said battery on said base. According to one aspect of the invention, the base comprises at least one damping element in contact with said battery.

According to one aspect of the invention, the retaining means are stops capable of holding the battery on at least one of its faces.

According to another aspect of the invention, the damping element is located on at least one of the retaining means in contact with said battery.

According to another aspect of the invention, the damping element is located on the part of the base on which said battery rests. According to another aspect of the invention, the support comprises ribs mechanical reinforcement. According to another aspect of the invention, the support comprises means for holding the battery on the support.

According to another aspect of the invention, the holding means comprise at least one strap.

According to another aspect of the invention, the holding means comprise at least one peripheral rigid link to the battery connected to the support.

According to another aspect of the invention, the battery is held in the support with a plate fixed to the support and bearing on the face of the battery opposite the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support comprises at least one molded part in a plastic material.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support comprises at least one part formed of stamped metal.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support is a mechanically welded assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support comprises holes that can be used as a point of screwing or riveting of the support on the chassis of a vehicle. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a thermal battery,

FIG. 2a shows a schematic representation of a thermal battery support according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2b shows a schematic representation of the base of the thermal battery support of FIG. 2a,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the thermal battery of FIG. 1 mounted on the support of FIG. 2a,

FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a thermal battery mounted on a support according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a thermal battery mounted on a support according to a third embodiment,

The thermal battery 1 represented in FIG. 1 is a parallelepipedic battery known per se and which comprises a heat storage chamber 2 which constitutes the internal part of the battery and an insulating outer envelope 3. The battery 1 comprises a lower face 4 and an upper face 5 on which are located the inlet / outlet pipes 55 and 56 of the battery 1 allowing the circulation of a coolant for charging and discharging the heat battery 1. It also comprises two large lateral faces 52, 54 and two small lateral faces 51, 53, all adjacent to the faces 4 and 5. The faces 4 and 5 have a length L1 and a width L2 and are spaced from each other by a height H.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate a thermal battery support 6 according to a first embodiment. The support 6 is composed of three elements 14a, 14b and 12.

The first element 14a which composes the support 6 is a metal piece in the form of a flat hook in three parts: a large end, a central part and a small end, the two folding angles between two adjacent parts being substantially straight. The large end of the element 14a is a fastening bar 10. The central part of the element 14a is a crosspiece 17. The small end of the element 14a is a longitudinal stop 15. Thus, the longitudinal stop 15 and the fixing bar 10 are substantially parallel.

This fixing bar 10 comprises at least one fixing hole 26 close to its free end. It also comprises a flat protrusion 27 in the form of a lobe, contained in the plane of the fixing bar at the location of the protuberance 27, the protuberance 27 being situated approximately at a height H of the cross-member 17 and located on one side determined from the fixing bar 10.

The second element 14b which composes the support 6 is identical to the first element 14a with the difference that the protrusion 27 points to the opposite side to that towards which the protuberance 27 of the element 14a points.

The elements 14a and 14b being similar, the references of the element 14a are indifferently applied to the elements 14a and 14b.

The third element 12 which composes the support 6 is a flat metal part comprising a U-shaped portion 12a and an L-shaped portion 12b.

Part 12a comprises a central cross member 16 and two lateral stops 13 pointing in the same direction, arranged at each end of the crossmember 16 and bent at right angles to the crosspiece 16.

Part 12b includes a reinforcement 161 and an attachment bar 162 disposed perpendicular to the reinforcement 161.

The reinforcement 161 is connected to the crossmember 16 at its center, the reinforcement 161 and the crossmember 16 being in the same plane and perpendicular to each other.

The fixing bar 162 is located in a plane perpendicular to the cross member 16 and to the lateral stops 13. The end of the fixing bar 162 points in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lateral stops 13 point. fastener 162 includes a fixing hole 163. The elements 14a and 14b are connected to the element 12 so that:

the cross members 17 of the elements 14a and 14b are in contact and perpendicular to the crossmember 16 and arranged on either side of the reinforcement 161,

the protuberances 27 of the elements 14a and 14b are arranged on the outside of the fastening bars 10,

the lateral stops 13 and longitudinal 15 point in the same direction, the longitudinal stops 15 are on the same side of the crossbar 16 as the reinforcement 161 and the fixing bar 162. Such an assembly of the three elements 14a, 14b and 12 form the support 6 comprising two fixing bars 10 and a receiving base 7 adapted to receive a battery.

The two fixing bars 10 of the support 6 are the two fixing bars

Elements 14a and 14b.

The base 7 comprises:

a bottom 8 comprising the two crosspieces 17, the crosspiece 16, the reinforcement 161, retaining means comprising the two lateral abutments 13 and the two longitudinal abutments 15,

the fixing bar 162.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the battery 1 is placed on the bottom 8 of the base 7. The bottom 8 is in a plane parallel to the lower face 4 of the battery 1 with which

He is in contact. The retaining means 13, 15 are located in several places around the base so as to hold the battery on its three faces 51, 52, 53. Advantageously, the fixing bars 10 hold the battery on its fourth face 54.

The lateral stops 13 and the longitudinal stops 15, associated with the fixing bars 10 prevent the battery from sliding on the bottom 8 of the base 7. Advantageously, the dimensions of the bottom 8 of the base 7 must be slightly greater than those of the lower face 4 of the battery. Thus, the length of the cross-member 16 is slightly greater than the length L1 of the face 4 and the length of the cross-member 17 is slightly greater than the width L2 of the face 4. The term "dimension slightly greater than another" means the difference between the two dimensions is equal to a mechanical clearance, the need being to be able to put the battery 1 on the base 7 without mechanical stress while ensuring that the retaining means 13, 15 and the fixing bars 10 are at least in part in contact and / or abutment with the faces 51, 52, 53, 54 of the battery 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3, the two elements 14a and 14b of the support 6 comprise ribs 22 in order to reinforce it mechanically. The fastening bars 10 and the longitudinal stops 15 are thus reinforced.

The location of the ribs on the support is not limiting. The element 12 of the support 6 may also have ribs. More generally, all the parts constituting the support 6 may comprise such ribs, particularly at the junction 23 between the retaining means 13, 15 and the bottom 8 of the base 7.

The ribs 22 may be made by stamping (as illustrated in Figures 2a, 2b, 3 and 4), molding, welding or brazing.

The support is intended to be fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. Therefore, to limit the impact of the vibrations of the car on the battery 1, dampers 24 are disposed on the cross members 17 of the base 7. This location is not limiting. Any part of the support 6 in contact with the battery 1 may advantageously be covered with damping elements 24, since the battery undergoes vibrations in the three dimensions of the space. Depending on the location of the dampers 24, it may be necessary to take into account their thickness in order to adjust the dimensions of the base 7, the simple mechanical clearance provided between the battery 1, 201 and the base 7, 107, 207 may not be longer suffice. The fixing holes 26, 163 of the support 6 make it possible to fix the support 6 to the chassis of the vehicle. These fixing holes 26, 163 are used as a point of screwing or riveting of the support 6 on the frame. The location and shape of the fixing holes 26, 163 and the fixing bars 10, 162 are not limiting and depend on the integration of the support in the vehicle.

In FIGS. 2a and 2b, slots 20 on the protuberances 27 and slots 21 on the longitudinal stops 15 are provided for receiving straps 25.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the straps 25 hold the battery 1 on the support 6 to prevent it from tilting the base 7. The straps 25 are attached to the support 6 slots 20 and 21.

Thus, the straps 25, the lateral stops 13 and the longitudinal stops 15 prevent the battery 1 from slipping and tilting from its support 6, without disturbing the structure of the battery 1.

The system for connecting an external circuit to the inlet / outlet pipes 55 and 56 of the battery 1 may be sufficient to prevent the battery 1 from tilting from its base 7. In this case, the straps 25 are optional.

The support 6 of the invention does not create thermal bridges between the storage chamber 2 of the battery 1 and the external environment of the battery 1. In fact, the insulation of the outer casing 3 of the battery 1 is not impaired (in particular by brazed fastening means on the internal chamber of the battery).

According to the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 107 is different from the base 7 of the first embodiment. The base 107 does not include the two lateral stops 13 of the base 7. The longitudinal stops 115a, 115b are similar to the longitudinal stops 15 of the support 6 of Figures 2a, 2b and 3 with the difference that they are higher. Due to the height of the longitudinal stops 115a, 115b, the tilting of the battery 1 of the base 107 is limited.

However, the base 107 having no lateral stops to retain the battery 1 on its faces 51 and 53, the battery 1 could be likely to slide on its base 107. It is particularly to overcome this problem that a rigid link device 30 is added. This peripheral link 30 is connected to the longitudinal stops 115a, 115b of the support 106. Advantageously, the peripheral link 30 can also be connected to the fixing bars 110a, 110b of the support 106.

The peripheral link 30 may not cover the entire periphery of the battery 1. For example, in the case where the peripheral link 30 is connected at four points to the support, two points to the fixing bars 110a, 110b and two points to the longitudinal stops 115a, 115b, the peripheral link 30 can be interrupted and cover the periphery from the first fixing bar 110a to the first longitudinal stop 115a and from the second longitudinal stop 115b to the second fixing bar 110b.

To further limit the degree of freedom of movement of the battery 1 on its support 106, a holding plate 31 is added. The holding plate 31 is Z-shaped with both angles straight. The first portion 311 of the holding plate 31 is pressed on the face 5 of the battery, the central portion 312 is attached to the peripheral link 30 and is therefore against a portion of the face 52 of the battery 1.

Advantageously, the peripheral link is not interrupted between the longitudinal stops 115a and 115b and the holding plate is located in the middle of the face 52 of the battery 1.

The third part of the retaining plate 31 is a fixing bar 313 pierced with a hole 314 allowing it to be fixed to the chassis of the vehicle.

Thus, the holding plate 31 makes it possible to block the battery 1 on its support 106 and proposes a third point of attachment of the support 106 on the chassis of the vehicle, the first two attachment points being the holes 126, equivalent to the holes 26 of the first embodiment. According to this second embodiment, it is not necessary to have straps to hold the battery 1 on its support 106. Therefore, it is not necessary for the support 106 to comprise protuberances with slots similar to the flat protuberances 27 and slots 20 of the first embodiment. Similarly, the longitudinal stops 115a, 115b may be free of slits.

According to the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the battery 201 is cylindrical in shape with a round base, the input / output pipes 256 and 257 are situated on the peripheral surface 251 of the battery 201. By analogy with the battery represented in FIG. 1, the battery 201 comprises a heat storage chamber 2 (not shown in the figure) which constitutes the internal part of the battery and an insulating outer envelope 203.

The support 206 comprises a flat fixing bar 210 pierced with at least one fixing hole 226 and a base 207.

The base 207 comprises a bottom 208 and an annular abutment 215.

The bottom 208 is a flat bar which extends the flat bar 210 in a plane perpendicular thereto. The bottom 208 and the flat bar 210 may be the two parts of the same flat bar bent at right angles.

The annular stop 215 is a circular strapping which holds the battery 201 on its base 207 to prevent it from sliding on the bottom 208. It is connected to the bottom 208 and to the fixing bar 210 to form the base 207.

To prevent the battery 201 from tilting its base 207 and to block the degree of freedom of the battery 201 along its AA axis of revolution, it is covered with a cover 211.

The cover 211 has a shape similar to the base 207. Both are symmetrical with respect to a plane parallel to the base 204 of the battery 201 and dividing the battery into two substantially equal parts.

The cover 211 comprises a fixing plate 212 pierced with at least one hole 213, the hole 213 cooperating with the hole 226 of the support 206 when the cover 211 covers the battery 201 placed on its base 208. Thus the cover 211 is fixed to the support 206 when fixing the support 206 to the chassis of the vehicle.

Thus, it is understood that the battery support of the invention is adaptable to the geometry of the battery, the retaining means may be longitudinal stops 15, 115a, 115b, transverse 13 and / or annular 215. The battery can be maintained on its support by holding means such as flexible links 25 type straps, a rigid peripheral link 30, a holding plate 31, a lid 211 of the strapping type.

The support 6, 106, 206 of the invention does not create thermal bridges between the storage enclosure 2 of the battery 1, 201 and the external environment of the battery 1, 201. The insulation of the outer casing 3, 203 of the battery 1, 201 is not pierced, and therefore it is not altered.

Advantageously, the thickness of the wall of the storage area 2 of the battery

1, 201 can be reduced since the insulation of the battery 1, 201 is improved.

The support 6, 106, 206 also makes it possible to better distribute the mechanical stresses exerted on the support during the running of the vehicle, in particular on a larger surface of the battery 1, 201.

Alternatively, the battery holder 6, 106, 206 may be metal or plastic stamped, welded or molded.

The assembly comprising the thermal battery and its support according to the invention is particularly intended for motor vehicles. It is not limited to the embodiments described and shown but the skilled person will be able to make any variant within his mind.

Claims

An assembly comprising a thermal battery (1, 201) for a motor vehicle and a support (6, 106, 206) of said battery (1, 201) adapted to be fixed to the vehicle, characterized in that said support (6, 106, 206) comprises a receiving base (7, 107, 207) on which said battery (1, 201) is disposed, said base (7, 107, 207) comprising retaining means (13, 15, 115a, 115b, 215 ) of said battery (1, 201) on said base (7, 107, 207).

2. Assembly according to the preceding claim characterized in that the retaining means (13, 15, 115a, 115b, 215) are stops adapted to retain the battery (1, 201) on at least one of its faces (51, 52 , 53, 54).

3. An assembly according to any preceding claim characterized in that the base (7, 107, 207) comprises at least one damping element (24) in contact with said battery (1, 201).

4. The assembly of claim 3 characterized in that said damping element (24) is located on at least one of the retaining means (13, 15, 115a, 115b, 215) in contact with said battery (1, 201).

5. An assembly according to any one of claims 3 or 4 characterized in that said damper element (24) is located on the part of the base (7, 107, 207) on which said battery (1, 201) rests.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) comprises mechanical reinforcing ribs (22).

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) comprises holding means (25, 30, 31, 211) of said battery (1, 201) on the support ( 6, 106, 206).

8. The assembly of claim 7 characterized in that the holding means comprise at least one strap (25).

9. An assembly according to claim 7 characterized in that the holding means comprise at least one rigid peripheral link (30) to the battery (1) connected to the support (106).

10. An assembly according to any preceding claim characterized in that the battery (1) is held in the support (106) with a plate (31) fixed to the support (106) and bearing on the face (5) of the battery (1) opposite said base (107).

11. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) comprises at least one molded part in a plastic material.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) comprises at least one formed part of stamped metal.

13. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) is a welded assembly.

14. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the support (6, 106, 206) comprises holes (26, 226) adapted to be used. as point of screwing or riveting of the support (6, 106, 206) on the chassis of a vehicle.