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EP-4463334-B1 - PROTECTION DEVICE OF AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE

EP4463334B1EP 4463334 B1EP4463334 B1EP 4463334B1EP-4463334-B1

Inventors

  • Wilke, Florian

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230103

Claims (10)

  1. Mechanical protection device of an electrical energy storage system of a vehicle, comprising: a protective rail (240) for a battery (110) of the energy storage system (100), for arrangement on the vehicle-outer side of the battery (110) and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) and vertically along the battery (110), the mechanical protection device being characterized by : an installation frame (210) for a charging connection unit (140) of the energy storage system (100) arranged separately from the battery (110), for arrangement in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) in front of an end of the protective rail (240) extending in the vertical direction and spaced apart from the end of the protective rail (240), wherein the installation frame (210) has a contact surface (220) for arrangement in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) in front of the end (244) of the protective rail (240) and along the end (244) of the protective rail (240), wherein the contact surface (220) has an outer-side, angled stop (222) for engaging around the end (244) of the protective rail (240) in a manner spaced apart from the outer side, wherein the contact surface (220) together with the outer-side stop (222) comprises a region of the contact surface (220) which is L-shaped in cross section.
  2. Protection device according to Claim 1, wherein the installation frame (210) has an installation space for receiving the charging connection unit.
  3. Protection device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective rail (240) has a projection (250) which is configured, during the arrangement of the protective rail (240) on the vehicle-outer side of the battery (110), to project in front of the battery (110) on the vehicle-inner side in a section (242) of the protective rail (240) projecting beyond the battery (110).
  4. Protection device according to Claim 3, wherein the projection forms a reinforcement of the section (242) of the protective rail (240) projecting beyond the battery (110).
  5. Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact surface (220) furthermore has an inner-side, angled stop (224) for the end (244) of the protective rail (240).
  6. Energy storage system for a vehicle, comprising a battery (110), a charging connection unit (140), a charging contactor unit (130), and a mechanical protection device (200) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective rail (240) is arranged on a vehicle-outer side of the battery and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) and vertically along the battery, wherein the charging connection unit (140) is mounted on the installation frame (210) and the charging contactor unit is configured for arrangement on the vehicle-inner side of the charging connection unit and spaced apart from the battery.
  7. Vehicle frame support (10) having an energy storage system (100) mounted on the vehicle frame support and having a mechanical protection device (200) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the vehicle frame support (10) comprises a frame longitudinal member (12) and a holder (14) or fender support which is fastened to the frame longitudinal member (12), wherein the energy storage system (100) comprises a battery (110), a charging connection unit (140) and a charging contactor unit (130), wherein the battery (110) of the energy storage system is fastened to the frame longitudinal member (12), wherein the protective rail (240) of the mechanical protection device is arranged on a vehicle-outer side of the battery (110) and extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) and vertically along the battery, wherein the charging contactor unit (130) of the energy storage system and the installation frame (210) of the mechanical protection device are fastened to the holder (14) or fender support, wherein the charging connection unit (140) is mounted on the installation frame (210), wherein the charging contactor unit (130) is arranged on the vehicle-inner side of the charging connection unit (140), wherein the battery (110) is arranged separately and spaced apart from the charging contactor unit (130), from the installation frame (210) and from the charging connection unit (140), and wherein the contact surface (220) of the installation frame (210) is arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (L) spaced apart in front of the end (244) of the protective rail (240) and along the end of the protective rail extending in the vertical direction and the outer-side stop (222) of the contact surface (220) engages around the end (244) of the protective rail (240) in a manner spaced apart.
  8. Vehicle frame support according to Claim 7, wherein the end (244) of the protective rail (240) is arranged in a space spanned by the contact surface (220) of the installation frame (210) with the outer-side stop (222).
  9. Vehicle frame support according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the installation frame (210) is fastened to the holder (14) or fender support at least at a first supporting position of the installation frame and is fastened to the holder (14) or fender support via at least one diagonal supporting strut (214) at a second supporting position of the installation frame.
  10. Vehicle having a vehicle frame support (10) according to one of Claims 7 to 9.

Description

Technical background The invention relates to a protective device for an electrical energy storage system of a vehicle, in particular for components of a high-voltage energy storage system. DE 102015201881 A1 describes an electrical connection device for a housing element of a housing of an internal electrical device arranged in the housing, in particular a traction battery for an electrically powered vehicle. US 2019/0359265 A1 This describes a substructure of a vehicle body, comprising a pair of left and right side sills, a battery pack, and a bulkhead. The side sill is positioned beneath a side section of the vehicle body and extends forward and backward along the body. The bulkhead is located within the side sills and reinforces a cross-section of the side sills from the inside. WO 2020/120068 A1 This describes an energy storage floor assembly for a motor vehicle body shell. The energy storage floor assembly comprises at least one non-load-bearing housing for the energy storage system and at least one additional longitudinal or transverse beam arranged on top of the vehicle floor to stiffen the floor assembly. Summary of the invention To make the charging process of a commercial vehicle's electrical energy storage system more intuitive and thus simpler, a charging connection unit can be located on the outside of the vehicle, adjacent to the battery, for example, in an area where a fuel filler neck is conventionally located. The charging connection unit is connected to a charging contactor unit, which is located inside the vehicle and electrically connects the charging connection to an electrical distribution box, through which the battery can then be charged. A terminal unit, also known as a battery junction box (BJB), can be located on the side of the battery facing the charging contactor unit. In the event of an accident, especially a side impact, it is desirable to prevent a short circuit in the electrical energy storage system. This is particularly important for high-voltage energy storage systems. Firstly, it serves to protect users or emergency responders from electric shock by touching an unintentionally live vehicle component. Secondly, it helps prevent thermal events such as fires or explosions. In addition to automatic shutdown of the energy storage system or automatic disconnection of the power supply by the electrical energy storage system, mechanical protection, especially impact protection, is also desirable as a protective measure. The object of the invention is to protect an electrical energy storage system and the charging unit of a vehicle as much as possible against the occurrence of a short circuit in the event of a side impact. The problem is solved according to the invention by a mechanical protective device for an electrical energy storage system of a vehicle, comprising: a protective barrier for a battery of the energy storage system, for placement on the vehicle's outer side of the battery and extending longitudinally along the vehicle and vertically along the battery, a mounting frame for a charging connection unit of the energy storage system, arranged separately from the battery, for placement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of a vertically extending end of the guardrail and spaced apart from the end of the guardrail, wherein the mounting frame has a mounting surface for positioning in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in front of the end of the guardrail and along the end of the guardrail, wherein the mounting surface has an outer, angled stop for outer, spaced-apart gripping of the end of the guardrail, wherein the mounting surface together with the outer stop comprises an L-shaped area of the mounting surface in cross-section. A fundamental aspect of the invention is to provide a support surface to catch and brace the end of the guardrail that is spaced away from the mounting frame when the mounting frame and guardrail approach each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as caused by an accident. Under normal operating conditions, the guardrail is spaced away from the mounting frame. This serves to decouple the charging connection unit from the battery in terms of vibration. By having the support surface catch the end of the guardrail in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when approaching, the intrusion of the mounting frame, the charging connection unit, and/or a charging contactor located behind the mounting frame into the installation space of the battery and/or a connection unit (battery junction box) located on the battery can be prevented or limited. For example, mutual approach of the mounting frame, the charging connection unit, and/or the charging contactor on the one hand, and the battery and/or the connection unit on the other, can be limited, and/or a collision can be prevented. The outer stop grips the end of the guardrail, preventing it from slipping off the mounting surface. This outer stop thus helps to cat