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CN-122000594-A - Reinforcing frame for a battery pack of an electric or hybrid vehicle, reinforced battery pack and method for assembling said battery pack

CN122000594ACN 122000594 ACN122000594 ACN 122000594ACN-122000594-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a reinforcement frame (1) for a battery pack (2) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (37), the battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells located on and fixed to a protective element, the reinforcement frame comprising at least-a reinforcement frame fastening portion (3) arranged to be fixed to both the battery pack and the body of the vehicle, and-a reinforcement frame hollow portion (4) arranged to enclose at least the battery cells (29).

Inventors

  • Gagan Tanden
  • Robert Zumalen

Assignees

  • 安赛乐米塔尔公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20201208
Priority Date
20191218

Claims (13)

  1. 1. A reinforcement frame (1) for a battery pack (2) mounted on an electric or hybrid vehicle (37), the battery pack (2) comprising a plurality of battery cells (29), the reinforcement frame (1) comprising at least: -a reinforcing frame fastening portion (3) arranged to be fixed to both the battery pack (2) and the body of the vehicle, and -A reinforcing frame hollow portion (4) arranged to enclose at least said battery cells (29) -An inner part (10) and an outer part (11), the inner part (10) having a first fastening section (5) and a first reinforcing section (7), the outer part (11) having a second fastening section (6) and a second reinforcing section (8), wherein the first fastening section (5) and the second fastening section (6) are fixed to each other to form the reinforcing frame fastening portion (3), and wherein the first reinforcing section (7) and the second reinforcing section (8) delimit the reinforcing frame hollow portion (4), Wherein the inner part (10) and the outer part (11) are each made of a pressed hardenable steel laser welded blank, each comprising several sub-blanks; Wherein, for any given cross section of the reinforcement frame (1), the product of the minimum tensile strength and the sheet thickness of the inner part (10) is equal to or higher than the product of the minimum tensile strength and the sheet thickness of the outer part (11).
  2. 2. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 1, wherein both the first reinforcement section (7) of the inner part (10) and the second reinforcement section (8) of the outer part (11) are L-shaped and arranged in symmetrical positions with respect to the Y-axis of the reinforcement frame hollow (4), forming a square or rectangular reinforcement frame hollow (4).
  3. 3. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cover portion (9) extending from the reinforcement frame hollow portion (4), the cover portion (9) being arranged to be fixed to a top cover (19) of the battery pack (2).
  4. 4. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner part (10) has a first cover portion (12) extending from the first reinforcement section (7) concerned, the outer part (11) has a second cover portion (13) extending from the second reinforcement section (8) concerned, the first cover portion (12) and the second cover portion (13) being fixed to each other to form the cover portion (9).
  5. 5. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, having a square or rectangular shape and having chamfered corners.
  6. 6. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one longitudinal reinforcement member (14) positioned inside the reinforcement frame hollow portion (4) and fixed to the reinforcement frame hollow portion (4).
  7. 7. The reinforcement frame (1) according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinal reinforcement member (14) has an Ω -shaped cross section.
  8. 8. A reinforced battery pack (2) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (37), the reinforced battery pack (2) comprising a plurality of battery cells (29) and further comprising a reinforcing frame (1) according to any one of claims 1-7.
  9. 9. The reinforced battery (2) of claim 8, wherein the reinforced battery (2) is attached to the body of the electric or hybrid vehicle (37) at least with the fastening portion (3).
  10. 10. The reinforced battery (2) according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising at least a protection element (15), the protection element (15) being arranged to avoid intrusion into the battery (2), wherein the protection element (15) is attached to the fastening portion (3) of the reinforced battery (2).
  11. 11. The reinforced battery (2) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, further comprising at least one top cap (19), the at least one top cap (19) being fixed to the reinforcement frame (1) by attaching the at least one top cap (19) to a cover portion (9) of the reinforcement frame (1).
  12. 12. Method for assembling a reinforced battery (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 11 attached to a body (30, 31) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (37), said body (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising a bottom plate (28), at least a pair of rear members (25) and a pair of front members (26), said pair of rear members (25) being opposite each other and said pair of front members (26) being opposite each other and being arranged to absorb rear and front impacts, and two side beams (27) opposite each other, said two side beams being fixed to the bottom plate (28) and being arranged to absorb transverse impacts, said method comprising at least the following steps: -providing a battery unit (29) -Providing an inner part (10) and an outer part (11) -Positioning the inner part (10) around the battery unit (29) -Attaching the second fastening section (6) of the outer part (11) to a pair of side beams (27) in such a way that the corner of the outer part (11) located towards the front of the electric or hybrid vehicle (37) is adjacent to the rear end of the front member (26) and the corner of the outer part (11) located towards the rear of the vehicle is adjacent to the front end of the rear member (25) -Attaching the first fastening section (5) of the inner part (10) to the fastening section (6) of the outer part (11) to form a reinforcing frame (1) with a fastening portion (3) attached to the body of the electric or hybrid vehicle (37) and a hollow portion (4) surrounding the battery unit (29).
  13. 13. Method for assembling a reinforced battery (2) according to any one of claims 8 to 11 attached to a body (30, 31) of an electric or hybrid vehicle (37), said body (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising a bottom plate (28), at least a pair of rear members (25) and a pair of front members (26), said pair of rear members (25) being opposite each other and said pair of front members (26) being opposite each other and being arranged to absorb rear and front impacts, and two side beams (27) opposite each other, said two side beams being fixed to the bottom plate (28) and being arranged to absorb transverse impacts, said method comprising at least the following steps: -providing a battery unit (29) -Providing an inner part (10) and an outer part (11) -Attaching a first fastening section (5) of the inner part (10) and a second fastening section (6) of the outer part (11) to each other to form a reinforcing frame (1) with a fastening portion (3) and a hollow portion (4) -Positioning the reinforcement frame (1) around the battery cells (29) -Attaching the fastening portion (3) to a pair of side beams (27) in such a way that the corner of the reinforcement frame (1) located towards the front of the electric or hybrid vehicle (37) is adjacent to the rear end of the front member (26) and the corner of the reinforcement frame (1) located towards the rear of the vehicle is adjacent to the front end of the rear member (25).

Description

Reinforcing frame for a battery pack of an electric or hybrid vehicle, reinforced battery pack and method for assembling said battery pack The present patent application is a divisional application of the invention patent application of the application date 2020, 12-08, 202080081810.8, and the invention name "reinforcing frame for battery pack of electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, reinforcing battery pack, and method for assembling the battery pack". Technical Field The present invention relates to protection and reinforcement elements in the automotive industry, and more particularly to protection of battery packs of electric or hybrid vehicles. Background An electric or hybrid vehicle must incorporate at least one heavy and bulky battery pack. The battery pack is made of a plurality of battery cells, which must be well protected from both physical intrusion that may occur during a traffic accident and mechanical shock when the battery pack is moved during assembly to the vehicle in question. It is known from U.S. patent application 13/940,735 to design a battery pack comprising a plurality of cells inserted into a tray or tub comprising a plate-like bottom and walls bent upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom. The wall is reinforced with an inner and an outer frame to better protect the unit. However, the clearance angle of the tray forms a lost area, which is a problem for optimizing the space when inserting the battery cells into the tray. In addition, the prior art battery pack structure is not used to improve the overall performance of the vehicle in terms of collision management. The battery pack structure is designed only to accommodate and protect the battery cells, and is not intended to bring further improvements to the vehicle. It is known from DE102016115037A1 to use four different elements welded together after being formed as a three-dimensional part to form an inner frame structure and an outer frame structure. Disclosure of Invention The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a way for effectively protecting the cells of a battery pack while optimizing the cell arrangement of said battery pack, and by contributing to an overall improvement of vehicle crash management. As will be seen from the figures and description below, the present invention provides further advantages in terms of product design flexibility and also in terms of flexibility in the assembly sequence. For this purpose, a first subject of the invention consists in a reinforcing frame for a battery pack of an electric or hybrid vehicle, said battery pack comprising a plurality of battery cells located on and fixed to a protective element, said reinforcing frame comprising at least: a reinforcing frame fastening portion provided to be fixed to both the battery pack and the body of the vehicle, and -A reinforcing frame hollow portion arranged to enclose at least the battery cells. The reinforcement frame according to the invention may also have the optional features listed below considered alone or in combination: the reinforcement frame comprises an inner part and an outer part, both having a fastening section and a reinforcement section, wherein the fastening sections are fixed to each other to form a reinforcement frame fastening portion, and wherein the reinforcement section defines a reinforcement frame hollow portion. The reinforcement sections of the inner and outer parts are both L-shaped and symmetrically arranged with respect to the Y-axis of the reinforcement frame hollow part, forming a square or rectangular reinforcement frame hollow part. The reinforcement frame comprises a cover frame extending from the reinforcement frame hollow portion, the cover frame being arranged to be fixed to the top cover of the battery cell. Both the inner and the outer part have cover portions extending from the reinforcement section concerned, which cover portions are fixed to each other to form a cover frame. The inner and outer parts are made of press hardenable steel. The inner and outer parts are made from laser welded blanks. For any given section of the reinforcing frame, the product of the minimum tensile strength and the sheet thickness of the inner part is equal to or higher than the product of the minimum tensile strength and the sheet thickness of the outer part. The reinforcement frame has a substantially square or rectangular shape and has corners, which are chamfered corners. The reinforcement frame comprises at least a longitudinal reinforcement member positioned inside and fixed to the reinforcement frame hollow. The longitudinal stiffening member has an omega-shaped cross section. A second object of the present invention comprises a reinforced battery pack for an electric or hybrid vehicle comprising a plurality of battery cells and a reinforcing frame, and further comprising the optional features listed below considered alone or in combination: a lower protect