SYSTEM FOR THE STORAGE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY WITH REDUCED THICKNESS FOR A VEHICLE WITH ELECTRIC PROPULSION

• US 20120217076A1
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: FAVARETTO, Fabrizio
• Granted Patent: US 9,023,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An embodiment of a system for the storage of electric energy with reduced thickness for a vehicle with electric propulsion; the storage system has: a support plane; and a plurality of chemical batteries, each of which includes at least one electrochemical cell which rests on the support plane and has a flat parallelepiped shape with two mutually parallel, opposite larger bases; in each chemical battery the electrochemical cell is arranged parallel to the support plane and rests a larger lower base on the support plane; and each chemical battery includes its own compression system which presses directly on a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell opposite to the larger lower base, keeps the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane, and is independent from the compression systems of the other batteries.

Claims

1. ) A system for the storage of electric energy with reduced thickness for a vehicle with electric propulsion, the storage system comprising:

a support plane; and

a plurality of chemical batteries, each of which includes at least one electrochemical cell that rests on the support plane and has a flat parallelepiped shape with two mutually parallel, opposite larger bases;

in each chemical battery the electrochemical cell is arranged parallel to the support plane and rests a lower larger base on the support plane; and

each chemical battery includes an own compression system which presses directly on a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell opposite to the larger lower base, keeps the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane, and is independent from the compression systems of the other batteries.

2. ) A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the compression system of each chemical battery includes a pair of support elements arranged on opposite sides of the electrochemical cell and at least one strap which is pulled taut between the two support elements, so as to press against a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell and, therefore, keep the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane.

3. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein the compression system of each chemical battery includes a plurality of straps, which are arranged next to each other and parallel to each other and are pulled taut between the two support elements which are common to all the straps.

4. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein each support element presents, for each strap, a bar around which the strap is wound in a loop.

5. ) A storage system according to claim 4, wherein each support element has the shape of a parallelepiped with a triangular transverse section and presents a series of recesses, each defining a corresponding bar.

6. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein each support element is rigidly fitted to the support plane and rises from the support plane.

7. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein each compression system includes a lower elastic panel which is arranged between the larger lower base of the electrochemical cell and the support plane.

8. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein each compression system includes a rigid compression panel which is arranged between the larger upper base of the electrochemical cell and the strap, so as to uniformly distribute the thrust determined by the strap on the whole electrochemical cell.

9. ) A storage system according to claim 8, wherein each compression system includes an upper elastic panel which is arranged between the larger upper base of the electrochemical cell and the rigid compression panel.

10. ) A storage system according to claim 8, wherein the rigid compression panel is shaped so as to present a non-flat shape in absence of external mechanical stresses and to present a flat shape when it is subject to the mechanical stresses induced by the strap.

11. ) A storage system according to claim 8, wherein a mechanical device is provided, which transfers a horizontal component of the thrust exerted by the strap on the rigid compression panel.

12. ) A storage system according to claim 2, wherein a support element arranged between two adjacent chemical batteries is unique and common to both chemical batteries.

13. ) A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing which holds the chemical batteries and is delimited on the lower side by the support plane.

14. ) A storage system according to claim 13, wherein the housing is laterally delimited by a rectangular frame and is delimited on the upper side by a lid which is removable and screwed to the frame.

15. ) A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the support plane includes a metal insert which is arranged in contact with each electrochemical cell and presents a higher thermal conductivity than the remaining part of the support plane.

16. ) A vehicle with electric propulsion, the vehicle comprising:

a hybrid motor propulsion system provided with at least one electric machine;

a system for the storage of electric energy including a plurality of chemical batteries, each of which includes at least one electrochemical cell; and

a flatbed which constitutes a bottom wall of the passenger compartment and presents a bottom support panel for each electrochemical cell;

wherein the storage system is of the type claimed in claim 1.