The present invention relates to a system for securing a plurality of battery packs
5 stacked on top of one another on board a vessel. This system comprises, in particular, a
plurality of captive screws.
The present invention also relates to a power supply unit and an associated
fastening method.
By vessel is meant any vehicle capable of navigating on the surface of the sea
10 (such as a boat) and possibly under (such as a submarine).
In a manner known per se, to power its various facilities, vessels often use electrical
energy stored in on-board batteries.
These batteries are generally in the form of accumulator packs, also called battery
packs, and need to be suitable for operation in a very unstable environment, sometimes with
15 significant shocks.
This environment may also undergo significant expansions linked to variable
thermal conditions.
Thus, to ensure good fastening of the battery packs in such an environment, it is
known to install these packs in a special room designed for this purpose.
20 In particular, it is known to use hooks on the bottom of battery packs enabling them
to be fastened to the floor of the room and thus to secure the packs vertically.
To ensure horizontal security, it is known to use wedges, cleats, etc. between the
various battery packs or between these battery packs and the walls of the room.
It is clear that this situation imposes many installation constraints on these battery
25 packs. These constraints require, for example, the installation of battery packs in a single
layer which, of course, leads to significant space losses.
The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a
fastening system making it possible to stack battery packs on top of one another even in a
very unstable environment.
30 To this end, the invention relates to a system for fastening a plurality of battery
packs stacked on top of one another on board a vessel, the vessel comprising a battery
room, the length of which extends along an X axis and is delimited by a back wall, while the
2
width extends along a Y axis and is delimited by two side walls, and while the height extends
along a Z axis and is delimited by a floor and a ceiling;
each battery pack having a substantially parallelepipedal shape defining two side
walls, a proximal wall, a distal wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, each side wall defineing a
5 plurality of fastening grooves;
the battery packs being designed to be placed in several layers on the floor of the
battery room between its side walls and against the back wall, the battery packs of one layer
being designed to be placed next to each other adjacent to their side wall, so that the grooves
of these side walls face one another and so that the distal walls of these packs are adjacent
10 to the back wall;
the system is characterized in that it comprises:
- a plurality of reinforcements, each reinforcement defining a through-hole between an
upper end and a lower end, each reinforcement being designed to be inserted in a groove of
a battery pack without protruding from the corresponding side wall of this battery pack so that
15 the upper end opens onto the upper wall of this pack, and the lower end opens onto the lower
wall of this pack;
- a plurality of captive screws, each captive screw defining a threaded lower part, a
cylindrical intermediate part, and an upper clamping part, and being designed to be inserted
into the through-hole of a reinforcement via the upper end, when this reinforcement is
20 inserted into a groove of a battery pack, and, when in a fixed position, to partially pass
through this through-hole in order to secure this battery pack to a battery pack of a lower
layer of battery packs or to the floor by engaging the bottom threaded part in a tapped hole
formed in this battery pack of the bottom layer, or in the floor.
According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the system comprises
25 one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically feasible
combination:
- a plurality of threaded sleeves, wherein each threaded sleeve is designed to be
inserted into the through-hole of a reinforcement via the upper end, when this reinforcement
is inserted in a groove of a battery pack and when a captive screw is in the fixed position in
30 this hole;
- at least one tapped hole of a battery pack being formed by a threaded sleeve inserted
into the through-hole of a reinforcement inserted into a groove of this battery pack;
3
- a plurality of threaded inserts, each threaded insert being designed to be inserted into
the upper wall of a battery pack between a pair of facing grooves to form a tapped hole of this
battery pack;
- preferably, a pair of threaded inserts being designed to be inserted into the upper wall
5 of at least some battery packs between a pair of facing grooves to form two adjacent tapped
holes of this battery pack;
- the upper clamping part of each captive screw defines a clamping head, each
transverse extent of which is less than the diameter of the cylindrical intermediate part of this
captive screw;
10 - a plurality of springs, each spring being designed to be inserted in the cylindrical
intermediate part of a captive screw and, when in this position, being designed to oppose the
passage of this screw through the through-hole of a reinforcement upon insertion of this
screw in this hole;
- the through-hole of each reinforcement defines a stop and in which the upper
15 clamping part of each captive screw defines a shouldered section of which at least one
transverse extent is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical intermediate part;
- each spring being able to oppose the passage of the captive screw on which it is
inserted by abutting, on the one hand, the stop formed in the corresponding through-hole
and, on the other hand, by abutting the shouldered section of said captive screw;
20 - a bottom stop designed to be mounted on the bottom wall opposite the distal wall of a
battery pack of a last layer of battery packs, said battery pack being designed to be secured
last and being called the last battery pack;
- the bottom stop being able to block the last battery pack along the Z axis when it is
slid along the X axis below this stop;
25 - a plurality of tie-down tensioners designed to be arranged between the ceiling and a
last layer of battery packs to secure the battery packs along the Z axis; and
- each tie-down tensioner comprises a first end designed to be fixed to the ceiling via a
first ball joint and a second end designed to be fixed to a pair of adjacent battery packs of the
last layer of battery packs via a second ball joint; the second ball joint defining two fastening
30 holes making it possible to secure this ball joint by means of screws with two tapped holes,
each tapped hole being formed on one of the battery packs of said pair of adjacent battery
packs.
4
The present invention also relates to a method for securing a plurality of battery
packs stacked on top of one another on board a vessel, implemented by means of the
fastening system as defined above and comprising the following steps:
- insert the reinforcements in the grooves of each battery pack;
5 - constitute a first layer of battery packs or an intermediate layer of battery packs by
placing each battery pack on the floor covered with an earthquake-resistant foam or on a
battery pack of a lower layer of battery packs or between two battery packs of a lower layer of
battery packs;
- insert the captive screws into the holes passing through reinforcements inserted in the
10 grooves of the battery packs of the layer of battery packs so formed;
- screw the threaded lower parts of the inserted captive screws into tapped holes
formed in the floor or in the battery packs of the lower layer of the battery packs;
- insert the threaded sleeves above the captive screws fixed in the corresponding
tapped holes;
15 - constitute a last layer of battery packs by placing each battery pack on a battery pack
of a lower layer of battery packs or between two battery packs of a lower layer of battery
packs;
- secure the last layer of battery packs against the ceiling.
The present invention also relates to a power supply unit for a vessel, the vessel
20 comprising a battery room, the length of which extends along an X axis and is delimited by a
back wall, the width of which extends along a Y axis and is delimited by two side walls, while
the height extends along a Z axis and is delimited by a floor and a ceiling;
the power supply comprising a plurality of battery packs secured in a stacked manner;
each battery pack having a substantially parallelepipedal shape defining two side
25 walls, a proximal wall, a distal wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, each side wall defining a
plurality of fastening grooves;
the power supply unit being designed to be installed in the battery room so that the
battery packs are positioned in several layers on the floor of the battery room between its side
walls and against the back wall, the battery packs of the same layer being placed next to
30 each other by one of their adjacent side walls, so that the fastening grooves of these side
walls are arranged to face each other, so that the distal walls of these packs are adjacent to
the back wall;
5
the power supply unit further comprising a fastening system as defined above for
securing the battery packs in the battery room.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon
reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made
5 with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- [Fig 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the hull of a vessel in crosssection, the hull defining a battery room;
- [Fig 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack designed to be
installed in the battery room of Figure 1 by means of a fastening system
10 according to the invention;
- [Fig 3] Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a reinforcement, a
captive screw, a threaded sleeve and a spring forming part of the fastening
system according to the invention;
- [Fig 4] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the captive screw of Figure 3
15 in a non-fixed position (left) and in a fixed position (right);
- [Fig 5] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a bottom stop forming part of
the fastening system according to the invention;
- [Fig 6] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a tie-down tensioner forming
part of the fastening system according to the invention;
20 - [Fig 7] Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the battery packs installed in
the battery room of Figure 1 by means of the fastening system according to the
invention; and
- [Fig 8] Figure 8 is a schematic view of a power supply according to the
invention, wherein the power supply comprises a plurality of battery packs of
25 Figure 2 and the fastening system according to the invention for fastening these
battery packs in the battery room in Figure 1.
In fact, Figure 1 shows the hull 10 of a vessel.
Vessel is understood to mean any vessel moving on the surface of the sea such as
a boat, or under such as a submarine.
30 The hull 10 has an extended shape along a central axis. This axis is denoted
hereafter as the X axis.
The X axis is perpendicular to a transverse axis which will be subsequently denoted
as the Y axis.
6
In the example of Figure 1, the hull 10 has a generally cylindrical shape of which
only the lower part is visible in Figure 1. This lower part has a rounded shape defining, in
particular, an arc of a circle in each cross-section.
Of course, in a general case, the hull 10 may have any other known shape of a
5 vessel.
Figure 1 also shows a wall 12 extending transversely to the hull 10 in a plane
formed by the X and Y axes.
This wall 12 defines a battery room 13 arranged in the lower part of the hull 12.
The length of the room 13 extends along the X axis between two walls, only one of
10 which is visible in Figure 1. This wall will be called the back wall 15 hereafter.
The width of room 13 extends along the Y axis and is delimited by two side walls 16
and 17.
Finally, the height of the room 13 extends along a Z axis perpendicular to the X and
Y axes, between a floor 18 and a ceiling 19.
15 The back wall 15 is, for example, substantially flat.
The ceiling 19 is also, for example, substantially flat and is formed by a part of the
wall 12 arranged opposite the battery room 13.
As for the side walls 16, 17 and the floor 18, these have cascaded surfaces
according to the rounded shape of the hull 10, thus forming steps.
20 In particular, as may be seen in Figure 1, each of the side walls 16, 17 has a flat
portion adjacent to the ceiling 19 and a cascaded portion adjacent to the floor 18.
The cascaded portion of each of the side walls 16, 17 thus has a plurality of flat
surfaces extending along the X axis and spaced from one another along the Y axis. These
flat surfaces then form vertical parts of the steps or risers.
25 Similarly, the floor 18 has a flat portion and a cascaded portion.
The cascaded portion also consists of a plurality of flat surfaces which, in this case,
extend along the X axis and are spaced apart from each other along the Z axis. These flat
surfaces then form horizontal parts of the steps.
In Figure 1, the side walls 16, 17 and the floor 18 define three steps adjacent to
30 each side wall 16, 17.
The battery room 13 is designed to receive a power supply unit 11 according to the
invention. This power supply unit in the assembled state is visible in Figure 8 and comprises,
in particular, a plurality of battery packs 20.
7
These battery packs 20 may be, for example, substantially similar to each other.
One of these 20 packs is shown in Figure 2.
In particular, as may be seen in this Figure 2, the battery pack 20 has a substantially
parallelepipedal shape.
5 In other words, the battery pack 20 defines two side walls designated in Figure 2
under the references 22-1 and 22-2.
The battery pack 20 further defines a bottom wall 23-1 and a top wall 23-2 as well
as a proximal wall 24-1 and a distal wall 24-2.
The battery packs 20 are designed to be placed in a stacked manner in the battery
10 room 13.
Thus, the battery packs 20 define a plurality of layers and a plurality of rows.
Each of the layers extends in a plane defined by the X and Y axes between the side
walls 16, 17.
Each of the rows extends between the floor 18 and the ceiling 19.
15 Within a single row, the battery packs 20 may be aligned along the Z axis or else
may be staggered, as will be explained later.
Thus, the lower wall 23-1 of each of the battery packs 20 is designed to be placed
on the floor 18 or on the upper wall 23-2 of one or two battery packs of a lower battery pack
layer.
20 Likewise, the upper wall 23-2 of each battery pack 20 is designed to serve as a
fastening base for a layer of upper battery packs or to secure the set of battery packs against
the ceiling 19.
Moreover, given the steps formed by the walls 16, 17 and the floor 18, the number
of battery packs 20 in the layers is variable.
25 This number increases, for example, with each layer until it becomes constant as of
a certain layer.
So, for example, when the battery packs are laid in seven layers, the first four layers
have an increasing number of battery packs 20 and the last three layers have the same
number of battery packs 20 as the fourth layer.
30 Returning to the description of Figure 2, the distal wall 24-2 of the battery pack 20 is
designed to be placed against the back wall 15 of the battery room 13.
8
The proximal wall 24-1 is designed to be free in the battery room 13. In particular,
this wall 24-1 allows the operator responsible for mounting and maintaining all the battery
packs, to fix each battery pack 20, as will be explained later.
Each of the side walls 22-1, 22-2 is designed to come into contact either with a side
5 wall of an adjacent battery pack 20 of the same layer, or with one of the side walls 16, 17.
To do this, each of the side walls 22-1, 22-2 defines a plurality of fastening grooves
31.
Thus, as may be seen in Figure 2, each groove 31 extends between the lower wall
23-1 and the upper wall 23-2 of the battery pack 20 perpendicular to these walls.
10 In a cross-section, each groove 31 shows, for example, a half-square then
comprising a bottom wall and two side walls.
In the example shown in Figure 2, five substantially identical grooves 31 are formed
on each side wall 22-1, 22-2 of the battery pack 20.
Furthermore, in the same example, a groove 31 on each of the side walls 22-1, 22-2
15 is adjacent to the distal wall 24-2, while another groove 31 is adjacent to the proximal wall 24-
1.
In other words, in this example, the battery pack 20 defines two grooves 31 adjacent
to the proximal wall 24-1 and two grooves 31 adjacent to the distal wall 24-2.
The grooves 31 belonging to the side walls 22-1, 22-2 of different battery packs are
20 arranged opposite one another when these battery packs are in a fixed position.
The fastening of the battery packs 20 in a plurality of layers is effected by means of
a fastening system according to the invention also forms part of the power supply unit 11
according to the invention.
Such a fastening system will now be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 8.
25 The fastening system according to the invention comprises a plurality of
reinforcements 55, a plurality of captive screws 57, at least one bottom stop 58 and a plurality
of tie-down tensioners 59.
The reinforcements 55 are designed to be mounted in the grooves 31 of the battery
packs 20.
30 These reinforcements 55 are, for example, all similar to each other.
Thus, hereinafter, only a reinforcement 55 will be explained in detail with reference
to Figure 2.
9
In particular, as may be seen in Figure 2, the reinforcement 55 defines a shape
complementary to that of the groove 31 in which it is designed to be mounted.
Thus, just like this groove 31, the reinforcement 55 extends along a reinforcement
axis D1.
5 This reinforcement axis D1 is designed to extend along the groove 31 when the
reinforcement 55 is inserted into this groove 31, as may be seen in Figure 2.
In addition, the shape of the reinforcement 55 is so designed that when the latter is
inserted into the corresponding groove 31, it does not protrude from the corresponding side
wall 22-1, 22-2 of the corresponding battery pack 20.
10 Thus, in other words, the reinforcement 55 has a flat wall when the reinforcement 55
is inserted into the groove 31 and forms a flat surface with the corresponding side wall 22-1,
22-2.
The reinforcement 55 has a through-hole 60 extending along the reinforcement axis
D1 from an upper end to a lower end. As will be explained later, the upper end of the through15 hole 60 has a larger diameter than that of the lower end.
When the reinforcement 55 is inserted into the corresponding groove 31, the upper
end thereof opens onto the upper wall 23-2 of the corresponding battery pack 20, while the
lower end of the latter opens onto the lower wall 23-1 of this battery pack 20.
Thus, the extent along the reinforcement axis D1 of the reinforcement 55 has a
20 value substantially equal to the height of the corresponding side wall 22-1, 22-2.
The reinforcement 55 is designed to receive a captive screw 57 as illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4.
More generally, all of the reinforcements 55 are designed to receive the captive
screws 57 which are, for example, all substantially similar to each other.
25 Thus, subsequently, only one captive screw 57 will be explained with reference to
these Figures 3 and 4.
In particular, as may be seen in Figure 3, the captive screw 57 defines a threaded
lower part 61, a cylindrical intermediate part 62, and an upper clamping part 63.
The cylindrical intermediate part 62 has, for example, a cylindrical rod and is of
30 substantially smaller diameter than that of the lower end of the corresponding through-hole
60.
Thus, the intermediate part 62 is able to slide freely along the corresponding
through-hole 60.
10
The inner part 61 has a thread which is able to interact with a tapped hole as
explained in detail below.
The upper clamping part 63 defines a clamping head 64 and a shoulder portion 65.
The clamping head 64 has a transverse extent that is less than the diameter of the
5 cylindrical part 62.
In particular, the clamping head 64 has, for example, a hexagonal shape designed
to be tightened by a torque wrench known per se.
The shouldered portion 65 protrudes relative to the clamping head 64 and relative to
the cylindrical intermediate portion 62.
10 In particular, this shouldered part 65 has, for example, a cylindrical shape with a
diameter greater than that of the cylindrical intermediate part 62 but less than the inside
diameter of the upper end of the through-hole 60.
Upon inserting the captive screw 57 of the through-hole 60 via the upper end of this
hole, the shouldered part 65 is able to slide freely along this hole 60 until it abuts a first
15 internal stop 68-1 formed in this hole.
In order to be able to screw the captive screws 57 more easily and to be able to
extract them from the corresponding holes 60, the fastening system according to the
invention further comprises springs 67 designed to be inserted on the cylindrical intermediate
parts 62 of the screws 57.
20 These springs 67 are, for example, substantially identical, one of them being visible
in Figures 3 and 4.
In particular, as may be seen in these figures, the spring 67 is of cylindrical shape
and is able to slide freely along the threaded lower part 61 and the cylindrical intermediate
part 62 until it abuts the shouldered part 65 of the captive screw 57 illustrated in these figures.
25 Furthermore, this spring is also designed to abut a second stop 68-2 formed in the
hole 60 as may be seen in Figure 4.
The spring 67 is, for example, a compression spring.
Thus, when it is inserted on the cylindrical intermediate part 62 of the screw 57, it
abuts the shouldered part 65, and when the screw 57 is inserted into the hole 60, this spring
30 67 abuts the second stop 68-2 formed in this hole 60.
This is particularly visible on the left part of Figure 4 where the screw 57 with the
spring 67 are inserted into the hole 60 without being fixed by the threaded part 61.
11
In particular, in this non-fixed position, the spring 67 is able to oppose the passage
of the captive screw 57 through the through-hole 60 so that the screw 57 is completely hidden
in the hole 60, without protruding relative to the ends of this through-hole.
On the other hand, in the fixed position illustrated on the right part of Figure 4, i.e.
5 when the threaded part 61 is engaged in a tapped hole, the spring 67 is designed to be
compressed during the screwing of the rod 57 in this tapped hole.
In the fixed position, the captive screw 57 is screwed in until the shouldered part 65
abuts the first stop 68-1, thus compressing the spring 67 between the stops 68-1 and 68-2.
The distance between the stops 68-1 and 68-2 is therefore designed to allow
10 compression of the spring 67.
To secure each top layer of the battery packs 20, the captive screws 57 are
screwed into tapped holes which are formed either in a battery pack 20 located directly below
the corresponding battery pack 20, or in the floor 18 depending on the position of the pack 20
15 of this upper layer.
To form at least some of these tapped holes, the fastening system according to the
invention further comprises a plurality of threaded sleeves 70 also visible in Figures 3 and 4.
These sleeves 70 are designed to form tapped holes in the holes 60 above the
captive screws 57.
20 In particular, these sleeves 70 all have the same shape and the same dimensions.
Thus, in the following, a single threaded sleeve 70 will be explained in detail with reference to
Figures 3 and 4.
As may be seen in these figures, the threaded sleeve 70 has an outside diameter
slightly smaller than that of the upper end of the through-hole 60.
25 Thus, when the captive screw 67 is in an unfixed position in the through-hole 60, the
threaded sleeve may be inserted into this through-hole 60 around the clamping head 64. This
is visible on the left part of Figure 4.
To stop the progression of the threaded sleeve 70 along the through-hole 60, this
hole defines, for example, a third internal stop 68-3 disposed in the upper part of this hole 60.
30 It is therefore clear that the third internal stop 68- 3 is arranged above the first stop 68-1 and,
therefore, the second stop 68-3.
The inner surface of the sleeve 70 has an internal thread designed to interact with
the thread of the lower part 61 of a screw 57 when the latter is inserted into a through-hole 60
12
of a battery pack 20 disposed above the battery pack 20 in which this threaded sleeve is
inserted.
When the battery packs 20 of the upper layer of battery packs are staggered with
respect to the battery packs of the lower layer, the tapped holes are formed in the upper walls
5 23-2 of the battery packs of the lower layer.
In this case, these tapped holes are formed by threaded inserts 75 as shown in
Figure 2.
In particular, each threaded insert 75 is designed to be placed in the upper wall 23-2
of the corresponding battery pack 20 between a pair of opposite grooves 31 to form a hole to
10 be threaded in this pack.
In addition, in the embodiment of Figure 2, two threaded inserts 75 are inserted into
the upper wall 23-2 of the battery pack 20 each pair of grooves 31 facing each other to form
two adjacent tapped holes.
Thus, in the example of this Figure 2, five pairs of threaded inserts 75 are inserted
15 between each pair of grooves 31 facing each other.
Finally, when a battery pack is designed to be placed on the floor 18, the tapped
holes facing the corresponding grooves 31 are then formed on the floor 18 as may be seen in
Figure 1.
The bottom stop 58 is designed to be mounted on the back wall 15 of the battery
20 room 19 opposite the distal wall 24-2 of a battery pack 120 of a last layer of battery packs.
This battery pack 120 is designed to be attached last and will be called hereafter the last
battery pack 120.
In particular, the bottom stop 58 has a shape designed to secure the last battery
pack 120 along the Z axis, when the last battery pack 120 is slid below this bottom stop 58
25 along the X axis.
The bottom stop 58 thus has, for example, the shape of a square, a bottom wall of
which may interact with the top wall 23-2 of the last battery pack 120, while a side wall may
be fixed to the bottom wall 15 of the room 13. This may then be seen in figure 5.
The tie-down tensioners 59 are designed to be placed between the ceiling 19 and a
30 final layer of battery packs 20 to secure this layer, in particular along the Z axis.
The tie-down tensioners 59 are, for example, all similar to each other, so hereafter
only one tie-down tensioner 59 will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 6.
13
Thus, as may be seen in Figure 6, the tie-down tensioner 59 defines a first end 91
designed to be fixed to the ceiling 19 via a first ball joint 93 and a second end 92 designed to
be fixed to two adjacent battery packs of the last layer of the battery packs 20 via a second
ball joint 94.
5 The first ball joint 93 defines for example two pegs designed to be engaged in
corresponding holes formed in the ceiling 19.
The second ball joint 94 for its part defines two fastening holes 95 and 96 making it
possible to fix this ball joint 94 by means of screws with two tapped holes.
It is clear that each tapped hole is formed on one of the adjacent battery packs to
10 which this ball joint 94 is to be attached.
In particular, the holes 95 and 96 are designed to face the through-holes 60 formed
in the reinforcements 55 of the grooves 31 of the two adjacent battery packs 20.
The tie-down tensioner 59 has a clamping control means 97 making it possible to
adjust the axial extent of the tensioner 59 along a tensioning axis D2 visible in Figure 6.
15 An example of the arrangement of the tie-down tensioners 59 is visible in Figure 7 in
which each of these tie-down tensioners 59 is arranged astride two adjacent battery packs
20.
The method of fastening the battery packs according to the invention by the
fastening system according to the invention will now be explained with particular reference to
20 Figure 8 showing the power supply unit 11 in its assembled state.
Initially, it is considered that the floor 18 defines tapped holes necessary to interact
with the threaded lower parts 61 of the captive screws 57 when the latter are inserted into the
corresponding reinforcements 55.
More particularly, the flat position of the floor 18 defines for each groove 31 of each
25 battery pack 20 designed to form the first layer, a tapped hole facing this groove.
To form these tapped holes, a template provided for this purpose may be used.
Furthermore, on the cascaded portion of the floor 18, tapped holes are also defined
for each of the grooves 31 of the battery packs 20 designed to form upper layers extending
on the steps formed by the floor 18 and the side walls 16, 17.
30 As in the previous case, a corresponding template may be used to form these holes
on each flat surface.
It is also possible to fasten the tie-down tensioners 59 to the ceiling 19 by using the
protruding pegs of the first ball joints 93.
14
During an initial step of the process, an operator inserts the reinforcements 55 into
the grooves 31 of each battery pack 20.
Then, in a next step, the operator forms a first layer of battery packs 20 on the floor
18 covered, for example, with earthquake-resistant foam.
5 To secure this layer of battery packs 20, the operator inserts in a following step the
captive screws 57 in the through-holes 60 formed by the reinforcements 55 inserted in the
grooves 31 of these battery packs 20.
Then, in a following step, the operator screws the threaded lower parts into the
tapped holes formed on the floor 18.
10 This then moves these screws from the unfixed position to the fixed position in
which the springs 67 are compressed and the internal threaded portions 61 are engaged in
the corresponding tapped holes.
Then, in a next step, the operator inserts the threaded sleeves 70 over the captive
screws 57 in the fixed position.
15 Then, the operator constitutes the intermediate layers by repeating the last three
steps in a similar manner.
The only difference is the arrangement of the tapped holes either in the cascaded
part of the floor 18, or in the threaded sleeves 70 inserted in the battery packs of the lower
layer of the battery packs, or in the inserts 75 formed on the upper walls 23-2 of these packs.
20 To form the last layer of battery packs, the operator installs battery packs 20 one
after the other, starting with those adjacent to the side walls 16 and 17 of room 13.
This is possible up to the last battery pack 120. To place this last battery pack 120,
the operator slides this last pack 120 below the bottom stop 58 along the X axis, fixed, for
example, beforehand to the back wall 15.
25 This last battery pack 120 is then secured along the Z axis.
To secure all the battery packs 20 of the last layer of battery packs, the operator
lowers the tie-down tensioners 59 so that the second ends 92 of the tie-down tensioners 59
are attached to the battery packs 20 of the last layer.
It is, for example, possible to lower each of these second ends 92 and then to screw
30 each of the second ball joints 94 on the two adjacent battery packs located below, via the
holes 95 and 96.
Finally, it is possible to actuate the tightening control means 97 to control the force
exerted by the tie-down tensioners 59 on the last battery layers.
15
It will thus be appreciated that the present invention offers a certain number of
advantages.
In fact, the invention makes it possible to fix battery packs using several layers in a
very small space undergoing significant shocks, such as on a vessel.
5 The fastening is done in a simple way while securing the set of battery packs
according to the three axes X, Y and Z.
In addition, the invention mainly uses captive screws, reinforcements and sleeves of
very simple construction which makes it possible to reduce the number of different parts
required to make such a fastening.

CLAIMS
1. System for fastening a plurality of battery packs (20) stacked on top of one
another on board a vessel, the vessel comprising a battery room (13) whose length extends
5 along an X axis and is delimited by a back wall (15), the width extends along a Y axis and is
delimited by two side walls (16, 17) and the height extends along a Z axis and is delimited by
a floor (18) and a ceiling (19);
each battery pack (20) has a substantially parallelepipedal shape defining two side
walls (22-1, 22-2), a proximal wall (24-1), a distal wall (24-2), an upper wall (23-2),
10 and a bottom wall (23-1), while each side wall (22-1, 22-2) defines a plurality of
grooves (31);
the battery packs (20) being designed to be placed in several layers on the floor
(18) of the battery room (13) between its side walls (16, 17) and against the back
wall (15), the battery packs (20) of the same layer being designed to be placed next
15 to each other adjacent to their side walls (22-1, 22-2) so that the grooves (31) of
these side walls (22-1, 22-2) face each other so that the distal walls (24-2) of these
packs are adjacent to the back wall (15);
wherein the system comprises:
 a plurality of reinforcements (55), each reinforcement (55) defining a through20 hole (60) between an upper end and a lower end, each reinforcement (55) being
designed to be inserted into a groove (31) of a battery pack (20) without protruding
from the corresponding side wall (22-1, 22-2) of this pack (20) so that the upper
end opens onto the upper wall (23-2) of this pack (20) and the lower end opens
onto the lower wall (23-1) of this pack;
25  a plurality of captive screws (57), each captive screw (57) defining a threaded
lower part (61), a cylindrical intermediate part (62) and an upper clamping part (63),
and being designed to be inserted into the through-hole (60) of a reinforcement
(50) via the upper end, when this reinforcement (55) is inserted into a groove (31)
of a battery pack (20), and, in a fixed position, to partially pass through this hole
30 (60) in order to secure this battery pack to a battery pack (20) of a lower layer of
battery packs or to the floor (18) by engaging the lower threaded portion (61) in a
tapped hole formed in this battery pack of the bottom layer or in the floor (18).
17
2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of threaded
sleeves (70), each threaded sleeve (70) being designed to be inserted into the through-hole
(60) of a reinforcement (50) via the upper end, when this reinforcement (50) is inserted into a
groove (31) of a battery pack (20) and when a captive screw (57) is in the fixed position in this
5 hole;
wherein at least one tapped hole of a battery pack (20) being formed by a threaded
sleeve (70) inserted in the through-hole (60) of a reinforcement (55) inserted in a
groove (31) of this battery pack (20).
10 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of threaded inserts
(75), each threaded insert (75) being designed to be inserted into the top wall (23-2) of a
battery pack (20) between a pair of opposite grooves (31) to form a tapped hole of this battery
pack (20);
15 4. System according to claim 3 further comprising a pair of threaded inserts (75)
being designed to be inserted into the upper wall (23-2) of at least some battery packs (20)
between a pair of grooves (31) facing each other to form two adjacent tapped holes of this
battery pack (20).
20 5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper
clamping part (63) of each captive screw (57) defines a clamping head (64), each transverse
extent of which is less than the diameter of the cylindrical intermediate part (62) of this
captive screw (57).
25 6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a
plurality of springs (67), each spring (67) being designed to be inserted on the cylindrical
intermediate part (62) of a captive screw (57) and in this position, being designed to oppose
the passing by this screw (57) of the through-hole (60) of a reinforcement (55) during the
insertion of this captive screw in this hole (60).
30
7. System according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole (60) of each reinforcement
(55) defines a stop (68) and wherein the upper clamping part (63) of each captive screw (57)
18
defines a shouldered section (65) at least one transverse extent of which is greater than the
diameter of the cylindrical intermediate part (62);
each spring (67) being able to oppose the passage of the captive screw (57) upon
which it is inserted by abutting against, on the one hand, the stop (68) formed in the
5 corresponding through-hole (60) and, on the other hand, by abutting against the
shouldered section (65) of said captive screw (57).
8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a
bottom stop (58) designed to be mounted on the bottom wall (15) facing the distal wall (24-2)
10 of a battery pack (120) of a last layer of battery packs, said battery pack being designed to be
finally secured as the last battery pack;
the bottom stop (58) being able to secure the last battery pack along the Z axis when it
is slid along the X axis below this stop (58).
15 9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a
plurality of tie-down tensioners (59) designed to be disposed between the ceiling (19) and a
last layer of battery packs (20) to secure the battery packs (20) along the Z axis.
10. System according to claim 9, wherein each tie-down tensioner (59) comprises a
20 first end (91) designed to be fixed to the ceiling (19) via a first ball joint (93) and a second end
(92) designed to be attached to a pair of adjacent battery packs (20) of the last layer of
battery packs via a second ball joint (94);
the second ball joint (94) defining two fastening holes (95, 96) making it possible to fix
this ball joint (94) by means of screws with two tapped holes, each tapped hole being
25 formed on one of the battery packs (20) of said pair of adjacent battery packs.
11. A method of securing a plurality of battery packs (20) stacked on top of one
another on board a vessel, implemented by means of the fastening system according to any
one of the preceding claims and comprising the following steps:
30  insert the reinforcements (55) into the grooves (31) of each battery pack (20);
 constitute a first layer of battery packs or an intermediate layer of battery packs by
placing each battery pack (20) on the floor (18) covered with an earthquake-resistant
19
foam or on a battery pack (20) with a lower layer of battery packs or straddling two
battery packs (20) of a lower layer of battery packs;
 insert the captive screws (57) into the through-holes (60) of the reinforcements (55)
inserted in the grooves (31) of the battery packs (20) of the layer of battery packs so
5 formed;
 screw the threaded lower parts (61) of the inserted captive screws (57) in tapped
holes formed in the floor (18) or in the battery packs (20) of the lower layer of the
battery packs;
 insert the threaded sleeves (70) above the captive screws (57) fixed in the
10 corresponding tapped holes;
 constitute a last layer of battery packs by placing each battery pack (20) on a battery
pack (20) of a lower layer of battery packs or between two battery packs (20) of a
lower layer of battery packs;
 secure the last layer of battery packs against the ceiling (19).
15
12. Power supply unit of a vessel, the vessel comprises a battery room (13) whose
length extends along an X axis and is delimited by a back wall (15), whose width extends
along a Y axis and is delimited by two side walls (16, 17) and whose height extends along a Z
axis and is delimited by a floor (18) and a ceiling (19);
20 wherein the power supply unit (11) comprises a plurality of battery packs (20) stacked
on top of one another;
each battery pack (20) having a substantially parallelepipedal shape defining two side
walls (22-1, 22-2), a proximal wall (24-1), a distal wall (24-2), an upper wall (23-2) and a
bottom wall (23-1), each side wall (22-1, 22-2) defining a plurality of grooves (31);
25 the power supply unit (11) being designed to be installed in the battery room (13) so
that the battery packs (20) are laid in several layers on the floor (18) of the battery room
(13) between its side walls (16, 17) and against the back wall (15), the battery packs
(20) of the same layer being placed adjacent to each other and adjacent to one of their
side walls (22-1, 22-2) so that the grooves (31) of these side walls (22-1, 22-2) face
30 each other and so that the distal walls (24-2) of these packs (20) are adjacent to the
back wall (15);
wherein the power supply unit (11) further comprises a fastening system according to
any one of claims 1 to 10 for securing the battery packs (20) in the battery room (13).