Vehicle with traction battery capable of absorbing crash energy

• US 8,573,647 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Enning, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/878,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20130199864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 280/784, 180/271, 180/312, 180/311, 180/232, 296/35.2, 296/187.09, 296/187.11
• US Class Current: 280/784
• 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: B60K 2001/0411 Arrangement in the front part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/04 Construction or manufacture in general H01M10/058, H01M10/12, H01M10/28, H01M10/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/502 Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle having, at least in part, an electric drive which includes a traction battery (1), which vehicle has at least one predefined deformation zone (I, II) which in the event of a crash (A, B) acts to absorb energy, and at least one predefined zone (III), which has a substantial structural rigidity and which in the event of a crash (A, B) remains substantially without deformation. According to the invention, the traction battery (1) has a deformation region (18) which in the event of a crash can be deformed via a deformation path (a) and which is arranged in the deformation zone (I, II) of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a predefined first deformation zone which acts to absorb energy in the event of a crash,

a predefined second zone exhibiting a structural strength which is greater than a structural strength of the deformation zone so as to be able to substantially withstand deformation in the event of the crash; and

an electric drive having a traction battery, said traction battery including a storage block to define a deformation region which is deformable along a deformation path in the event of the crash and arranged in the deformation zone, said storage block comprised of a plurality of storage cells having electrically conductive terminals for connection with power supply lines of the vehicle, said terminals being arranged in the second zone.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the storage cells are electrochemical or galvanic storage cells.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a deformable, flexible sheet-like envelope in surrounding relationship to the storage cells.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the storage cells in the storage block of the traction battery are spaced from each other to define deformation gaps there between.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a battery housing accommodating the storage block in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the battery housing is made of deformable material.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the deformable material is a rubber-like sheath material.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the terminals of the traction battery are arranged on the traction battery on a side which faces away from a force introduction caused by the crash.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a protective element arranged anteriorly of a side of the traction battery in facing relationship to a force introduction caused by the crash for force distribution or for protection against a sharp object.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the traction battery is arranged in a front region of the vehicle, said storage block being arranged anteriorly of the terminals of the traction battery, when viewed in a travel direction of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the terminals of the traction battery are arranged between suspension strut mounts in the front region of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the traction battery is arranged in a rear region of the vehicle, said terminals of the traction battery being arranged anteriorly of the storage block, when viewed in a travel direction of the vehicle.