System for the storage of electric energy with reduced thickness for a vehicle with electric propulsion

• US 9,023,502 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Ferrari SPA (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Favaretto, Fabrizio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYLES-IRVING, CARMEN V
• Application Number:
  US13/404,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/99
• 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 storage system for the storage of electric energy, the storage system comprising:

a support plane; and

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

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

wherein each chemical battery includes a compression system configured to contact directly on a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell opposite to the lower larger base and configured to keep the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane, the compression system independent from other compression systems of the other chemical batteries thereby configured to autonomously generate a thrust independent from thrusts generated by the other compression systems of the other chemical batteries;

wherein the compression system of each chemical battery includes

a pair of support elements rigidly fixed to the support plane, rising from the support plane, and arranged on opposite sides of the electrochemical cell, and

at least one strap which is wound around the pair of support elements and is pulled taut between the two support elements;

wherein each support element includes, for each strap, a bar around which the strap is wound in a loop; and

wherein each support element comprises a parallelepiped shape with a triangular cross-section having cavities, each cavity defining a corresponding bar.

2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein the compression system of each chemical battery includes a plurality of straps, each of the plurality of straps arranged next to each other and parallel to each other and are pulled taut between the two support elements common to all the straps.

3. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein each compression system includes a lower elastic panel arranged between the lower larger base of the electrochemical cell and the support plane.

4. A storage system according to claim 1, 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.

5. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein each compression system includes an upper elastic panel arranged between the larger upper base of the electrochemical cell and the rigid compression panel.

6. A storage system according to claim 1, 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 subject to mechanical stresses induced by the strap.

7. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical device configured to transfer a horizontal component of the thrust exerted by the strap on the rigid compression panel.

8. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein a support element arranged between two adjacent chemical batteries is unique and common to both chemical batteries.

9. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to hold the chemical batteries and is delimited on a lower side by the support plane.

10. A storage system according to claim 9, wherein the housing is laterally delimited by a rectangular frame and is delimited on an upper side by a removable lid attached to the frame.

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

13. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein:

the straps comprise heat-weldable flexible plastic material; and

the ends of each strap are heat-welded to close the strap as a loop to the two support elements.

12. A vehicle with electric propulsion, the vehicle comprising:

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

a system for storage of electric energy, the storage system including

a support plane; and

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

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

wherein each chemical battery includes a compression system configured to contact directly on a larger upper base of the electrochemical cell opposite to the lower larger base and configured to keep the electrochemical cell pressed against the support plane, the compression system independent from other compression systems of the other chemical batteries thereby configured to autonomously generate a thrust independent from thrusts generated by the other compression systems of the other chemical batteries;

wherein the compression system of each chemical battery includes

a pair of support elements rigidly fixed to the support plane, rising from the support plane, and arranged on opposite sides of the electrochemical cell, and

at least one strap which is wound around the pair of support elements and is pulled taut between the two support elements;

wherein each support element includes, for each strap, a bar around which the strap is wound in a loop; and

wherein each support element comprises a parallelepiped shape with a triangular cross-section having cavities, each cavity defining a corresponding bar; and

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