FR3141655A1 - REMOVABLE BATTERY HOUSING BOX WITH RETAINING FLAP, FOR A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing (BB) equips a lower longitudinal side (CLI) of a structure (SV) of a vehicle (V), and comprises a flap (VB) mounted to rotate and controlling its access, and is capable of housing at least a removable battery in a first predefined location. This flap (VB) comprises an internal face (FI) comprising, in a second predefined location corresponding to the first predefined location, a first magnetic element (EM1) capable of cooperating with a second magnetic element which comprises a removable battery to retain the latter in a predefined position. Figure 1

Description

REMOVABLE BATTERY HOUSING BOX WITH RETAINING FLAP, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

The invention concerns vehicles using removable batteries, and more specifically the boxes which are responsible for accommodating at least one removable battery in such vehicles.

State of the art

Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a structure having two lower longitudinal sides opposite each other, participating in the base, and to at least one of which is fixedly attached a housing accommodating (or housing) at least one removable battery (generally rechargeable). ). Note that each removable battery can constitute a service battery responsible for providing electrical energy for the on-board network of its vehicle, or a main (or “traction”) battery responsible for at least providing energy electric for at least one electric motive machine of the powertrain (or GMP) of its vehicle.

In order to facilitate access to a removable battery housed in a housing in a predefined location, this housing may include a flap mounted to rotate and capable of taking an open position and a closed (and waterproof) position. Once the shutter is open, a person located in front of it can access the housing included in the housing to remove a removable battery from, or place in a predefined location in this housing. This housing being generally cramped, the removal or placement of a removable battery is not an easy operation to carry out. It will be noted that these operations are even more difficult to carry out when the removable battery to be handled is (or must be) placed in a predefined location which is concave so as to retain it in a predefined position allowing its coupling to an electrical circuit.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation, and more precisely to facilitate the handling of a removable battery in an open case, while guaranteeing its retention in a predefined position whether the case is open or closed.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a housing, firstly, suitable for equipping a lower longitudinal side of a structure of a vehicle, secondly, comprising a flap mounted to rotate and controlling its access, and, on the third hand, suitable for housing at least one removable battery in a first predefined location.

This housing is characterized in that its flap comprises an internal face comprising, in a second predefined location corresponding to the first predefined location, a first magnetic element capable of cooperating with a second magnetic element, which comprises a removable battery, to retain the latter in a predefined position.

Thus, when you open the flap, it takes with it each removable battery, which makes it(them) come out from inside the case (while remaining retained) and makes it(them) very easily accessible (s).

The housing according to the invention may include other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- the internal face of its flap may comprise, in each second predefined location, a concave housing which is delimited by a bottom wall provided with the first magnetic element and which is suitable for housing a first part of a removable battery comprising the second element magnetic;

- its flap may include two second predefined locations corresponding respectively to two first predefined locations;

- it can comprise, in each first predefined location, a stop on which a protuberance which comprises a second part of a removable battery, opposite a first part of the latter which comprises the second magnetic element, is able to rest, when this removable battery is retained in the corresponding predefined position and the flap is placed in a closed position, preventing access to each removable battery;

- in the presence of the last option, it can include, in each first predefined location, an open housing which is partly delimited by the stop and which is arranged so as to receive the protuberance of a removable battery;

- it may comprise a lower wall on which its flap is rotatably mounted so as to be placed in an open position, allowing access to each removable battery, by rotating from top to bottom, and to be placed in a closed position , preventing access to each removable battery, by rotating from bottom to top.

The invention also proposes a removable battery comprising a first part comprising a second magnetic element capable of cooperating with a first magnetic element of a housing of the type presented above, and therefore suitable for equipping such a housing.

For example, this removable battery may comprise a second part opposite its first part and comprising a protrusion capable of resting on a stop of the housing, when it is retained in the corresponding predefined position and the flap of the housing is placed in a closed position.

The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a structure having two lower longitudinal sides opposite each other, and, on the other hand, at least one housing of the type of that presented below. front and fixedly attached to one of these lower longitudinal sides.

For example, the (each) lower longitudinal side of the structure may comprise a spar to which the (one) housing is fixedly attached.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and the appended drawings (obtained in CAD/CAD (“Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Drawing”)), on which :

schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, a part of an example of a vehicle comprising a lower longitudinal side of structure to which is fixedly secured an exemplary embodiment of a housing according to the invention with its flap in the open position and without removable battery,

schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, the lower longitudinal side of the structure of the with the flap of its case in the open position and retaining two removable batteries, and

schematically illustrates, in a side perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a removable battery suitable for being housed in a housing according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention aims in particular to propose a BB box intended to equip a lower longitudinal side CLI of an SV structure of a vehicle V and to accommodate at least one removable battery BA while facilitating its handling and guaranteeing its retention that it is open or closed.

In what follows, we consider, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is of the automobile type. This is for example a car, as partially illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns in fact any vehicle (land, sea (or river), or air) comprising a structure having at least one lower longitudinal side to which a box can be fixedly attached which can accommodate at least one removable battery.

We have schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a left part of an example of vehicle V comprising an SV structure comprising a lower longitudinal side CLI to which is fixedly secured, for example by screwing, an example of production of a BB housing according to the invention.

It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitatively in Figures 1 and 2 the BB housing is fixedly secured to a longitudinal member LS forming part of the lower left longitudinal side CLI of the vehicle V. But the BB housing could be fixedly secured to at least one another element of a lower longitudinal side CLI of structure.

It should also be noted that the BB housing could be fixedly attached to a lower right longitudinal side. Likewise, it can be envisaged that the two lower right and left longitudinal sides, opposite each other in a vehicle structure, are equipped with BB boxes.

As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 and 2, a housing BB, according to the invention, is capable of housing at least one removable battery BA in a first predefined location and comprises a body CB and a flap VB which is rotatably mounted on this CB body and who controls its access. We will understand that it is the body CB of the BB box which is fixedly attached (here) to the LS spar.

This flap VB can therefore be placed in an open position, allowing access to each removable battery BA temporarily housed in its housing BB, or in a closed position, prohibiting access to each removable battery BA temporarily housed in its housing BB.

Note that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2 the housing BB comprises a lower wall PI on which the shutter VB is rotatably mounted. Consequently, the VB shutter can be placed in its open position by rotating from top to bottom, and be placed in its closed position by rotating from bottom to top. But in a variant embodiment not illustrated, and not preferred, the flap VB could be rotatably mounted on an upper wall of the housing BB, opposite the lower wall PI.

In addition, this shutter VB comprises an internal face FI (oriented towards the inside of the housing BB) which comprises, in a second predefined location corresponding to a first predefined location, a first magnetic element EM1, as illustrated in the . This first magnetic element EM1 is capable of cooperating with a second magnetic element EM2 which includes a removable battery BA (see ) to retain the latter (BA) in a predefined position.

We will understand:

- that a first predefined location is a sub-part of the empty space present inside the housing BB when its shutter VB is closed,

- that a second predefined location is a location on the shutter VB where a removable battery BA can be placed so that it is retained by magnetic effect in a predefined position, and

- that a predefined position is the orientation relative to the VB flap of a removable battery BA when it is placed in a second predefined location. In the example illustrated, the predefined position is substantially perpendicular to the VB shutter.

Thanks to the definition of each second predefined location on the internal face FI of the shutter VB, when we open the latter (VB), it takes with it each removable battery BA, which makes it (them) come out from the inside of the BB box (while remaining retained) and makes it (them) very easily accessible. Likewise, once the VB shutter is open while a second predefined location is free, it is very easy to place a removable BA battery in the latter.

Note that each removable battery BA can constitute a service battery responsible for providing electrical energy for the on-board network of its vehicle V, or a rechargeable main (or traction) battery responsible for providing energy electric for at least one electric driving machine of the powertrain (or GMP) of its vehicle V. It will be understood that in the first alternative the GMP can be of any type (all electric, all thermal or hybrid (thermal and electric) ), while in the second alternative the GMP is all electric or hybrid.

It will also be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the shutter VB comprises two second predefined locations which correspond respectively to two first predefined locations of its housing BB. But the number of second predefined places that the VB pane can include can take any value greater than or equal to one.

For example, each first magnetic element EM1 may be a permanent magnet and each second magnetic element EM2 may comprise a ferromagnetic material. For example, each first magnetic element EM1 may comprise raw rubber with magnetic ferrite, and each second magnetic element may be a sheet comprising magnetic ferrite. But in a variant embodiment, each second magnetic element EM2 can be a permanent magnet and each first magnetic element EM1 can comprise a ferromagnetic material.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the internal face FI of the shutter VB can comprise in each second predefined location a concave housing LC which is in particular delimited by a bottom wall PF provided with a first element magnetic EM1. Each concave housing LC is suitable for housing a first part P1 of a removable battery BA which comprises the second magnetic element EM2.

This makes it possible for anyone to understand, without prior explanation, where they should place a removable BA battery.

This also makes it possible to reinforce the retention of each removable battery BA in its predefined position relative to the flap VB and in a first predefined location, when the flap VB is closed. Indeed, when the flap VB moves from its open position to its closed position, it takes with it each removable battery BA so that it is placed in a first predefined location allowing its use by an electrical circuit of the vehicle V, which makes it tilts substantially by 90° and therefore makes it possible to support its first part P1 while it is now raised and installed substantially horizontally above the lower wall PI of the housing BB. The first part P1 is then prevented from moving in the longitudinal and vertical directions and partly in the transverse direction in the presence of vibrations or shocks.

The part of the aforementioned electrical circuit, which is part of the BB box, will not be described below because it is not directly involved in the invention.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the housing BB can comprise, in each first predefined location, a stop BT on which a protuberance PR1 of a removable battery BA can rest when this last (BA) is retained in the corresponding predefined position and the VB flap is placed in its closed position. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, this protuberance PR1 is part of a second part P2 of a removable battery BA which is opposite the first part P1 of the latter (BA) which comprises a second magnetic element EM2.

Thus, at the end of rotation of a removable battery BA when closing the shutter VB, its protuberance PR1 comes to rest on the corresponding stop BT, then allowing the support of its second part P2 and for it to be placed in the first predefined location. In addition, when the first part P1 of this removable battery BA is housed and retained in a concave housing LC of the shutter VB, the removable battery BA finds itself installed substantially horizontally above the lower wall PI of the housing BB having its two opposite ends supported, which guarantees its placement in the first predefined location.

Also for example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2, the housing BB can comprise, in each first predefined location, an open housing LO which is partly delimited by the stop BT and arranged so as to receive the protuberance PR1 a removable BA battery. Thus, the protuberance PR1 finds itself immobilized in the open housing LO, which prevents it from moving in a horizontal plane (transverse and longitudinal) in the presence of vibrations or shocks, and therefore guarantees the immobilization of its removable battery BA in the first predefined location. It will be understood that here the housing is open upwards and towards the internal face FI of the flap VB in order to allow the entry/exit of the protuberance PR1 during the rotation of its removable battery BA by the flap VB.

Claims (10)

Housing (BB) suitable for equipping a lower longitudinal side (CLI) of a structure (SV) of a vehicle (V), comprising a flap (VB) mounted to rotate and controlling its access, and suitable for housing at least one removable battery (BA) in a first predefined location, characterized in that said flap (VB) comprises an internal face (FI) comprising, in a second predefined location corresponding to said first predefined location, a first magnetic element (EM1) capable of cooperating with a second magnetic element (EM2) that includes a removable battery (BA) to retain the latter (BA) in a predefined position. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that said internal face (FI) of the shutter (VB) comprises in each second predefined location a concave housing (LC) delimited by a bottom wall (PF) provided with said first magnetic element (EM1) and capable of housing a first part (P1) of a removable battery (BA) comprising said second magnetic element (EM2). Housing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said flap (VB) comprises two second predefined locations corresponding respectively to two first predefined locations. Housing according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises, in each first predefined location, a stop (BT) on which a protuberance (PR1) which comprises a second part (P2) can rest. ) of a removable battery (BA), opposite a first part (P1) of the latter (BA) comprising said second magnetic element (EM2), when this removable battery (BA) is retained in said corresponding predefined position and said flap (VB) is placed in a closed position, preventing access to each removable battery (BA). Housing according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises, in each first predefined location, an open housing (LO) partly delimited by said stop (BT) and arranged so as to receive said protuberance (PR1) of a battery removable (BA). Housing according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a lower wall on which said flap (VB) is rotatably mounted so as to be placed in an open position, allowing access to each removable battery ( BA), by rotating from top to bottom, and to be placed in a closed position, preventing access to each removable battery (BA), by rotating from bottom to top. Removable battery (BA), characterized in that it comprises a first part (P1) comprising a second magnetic element (EM2) capable of cooperating with a first magnetic element (EM1) of a housing (BB) according to one of the claims 1 to 6. Removable battery according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a second part (P2) opposite said first part (P1) and comprising a protuberance (PR1) capable of resting on a stop (BT) of said housing (BB ), when it is retained in said corresponding predefined position and said flap (VB) of the housing (BB) is placed in a closed position. Vehicle (V) comprising a structure (SV) having two lower longitudinal sides (CLI) opposite each other, characterized in that it further comprises at least one housing (BB) according to one of claims 1 to 6, fixedly secured to one of said lower longitudinal sides (CLI). Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that said lower longitudinal side (CLI) of the structure (SV) comprises a spar to which said housing (BB) is fixedly attached.