Built-in equipment for micro-hybrid device for automotive vehicle and micro-hybrid device comprising the same

• US 8,662,225 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Doffin, Hugues, Boudjemai, Farouk, Abadia, Roger, Tellier, Richard, Masfarud, Julien
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/441,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 429 61- 62, 429/32, 429/72, 429/120, 903/907, 903/903, 903/904, 320/116, 310/104, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A built-in equipment for a micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle, and to a micro-hybrid device comprising the same. The built-in equipment for a micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle of the present invention can be electrically connected to operational components of the micro-hybrid device and comprises a pack of super-capacitors provided with voltage balancing means and electronic circuits. The equipment comprises a housing containing a first compartment for receiving the pack of super-capacitors, and a second for receiving the electronic circuits and the voltage balancing means.

Claims

1. A built-in equipment for a micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle, said built-in equipment electrically connectable to operative components (21, 26) of said micro-hybrid device, said built-in equipment comprising:

a pack of super-capacitors (23, 40) provided with voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

) and electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38); and

a housing (20) divided into a first compartment (31) and a second compartment (32) by a separation wall;

said first compartment (31) housing said pack of super-capacitors (23, 40);

said second compartment housing said electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38) and said voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

).

2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said pack of super-capacitors (23, 40) comprises a plurality of super-capacitor cells (40) and said voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

) comprise a plurality of voltage balancing cells (400n, 400n′

) connected to the terminals of said plurality of super-capacitor cells (40).

3. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein said voltage balancing cells (400n, 400n′

) each comprise voltage limiting means (402, 403, 404, 405, 406) mounted to limit a charging voltage (Vc1) for the super-capacitor cell (40) to a predetermined value (Vc).

4. Equipment according to claim 3, wherein said voltage limiting means (402, 403, 404, 405, 406) are connected to the terminals of the respective super-capacitor cell (40).

5. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein said cells of the super-capacitor (40) are electrically mounted in series.

6. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein the cells of the super-capacitor (40) are elongate cells disposed parallel to each other.

7. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein the cells (40) are orientated alternately in one direction then in the other to present opposite poles to one face of the housing.

8. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein the cells (40) are elongate with their largest dimension orientated parallel to the plane of a wall (36) separating said first and second compartments (31, 32) in the housing.

9. The built-in equipment according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuits comprise a reversible DC/DC converter (24) which can be connected to an electric power battery (26) of an electrical distribution network of said automotive vehicle.

10. The built-in equipment according to claim 9, wherein said electronic circuits comprise an electronic board (35) for controlling the DC/DC converter (24).

11. The built-in equipment according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuits comprise an AC/DC converter (22) connectable to a rotary electric machine (21) of said micro-hybrid device.

12. The built-in equipment according to claim 11, wherein said electronic circuits comprise an electronic board (37) for controlling the AC/DC converter (22).

13. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the first compartment (31) and the second compartment (32) are separated by a thermally insulating wall (36).

14. Equipment according to claim 1, further comprising cooling means (33, 39) for one and/or the other of said first and second compartments (31, 32) of the housing.

15. Equipment according to claim 14, wherein the cooling means comprise at least one fan (33) coupled to a pipe (41) ensuring forced circulation of a cooling fluid through the first compartment (31).

16. Equipment according to claim 14, wherein the cooling means comprise a heat dissipater (39) increasing the surface area for heat exchange through the outer wall of the second compartment of the housing (20).

17. A micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle comprising a rotary electric machine (21) mechanically coupled to a heat engine of said vehicle and built-in equipment, said built-in equipment being electrically connectable, on the one hand, to said rotary electric machine (21) and, on the other hand, to an electric power battery of said vehicle;

said built-in equipment comprising;

a pack of super-capacitors (23, 40) provided with voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

) and electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38); and

a housing (20) divided into a first compartment (31) and a second compartment (32) by a separation wall;

said first compartment (31) housing said pack of super-capacitors (23, 40);

said second compartment housing said electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38) and said voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

).

18. The micro-hybrid device according to claim 17, wherein the rotary electric machine (21) is a starter-alternator.

19. An automotive vehicle comprising a micro-hybrid device;

said micro-hybrid device for an automotive vehicle comprising a rotary electric machine (21) mechanically coupled to a heat engine of said vehicle and built-in equipment, said built-in equipment being electrically connectable, on the one hand, to said rotary electric machine (21) and, on the other hand, to an electric power battery of said vehicle;

said built-in equipment comprising;

a pack of super-capacitors (23, 40) provided with voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

) and electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38); and

a housing (20) divided into a first compartment (31) and a second compartment (32) by a separation wall;

said first compartment (31) housing said pack of super-capacitors (23, 40);

said second compartment housing said electronic circuits (22, 24, 34, 35, 37, 38) and said voltage balancing means (25, 400n, 400n′

).