Battery protection structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery protection structure capable of protecting a battery from a side impact with a simple structure. The battery protection structure (10) comprises: a cross beam (121) arranged near the battery (11); a first through hole (131) formed to penetrate the cross beam (121); a battery duct (14) arranged on the vehicle outer side of the battery (11); and an air conditioning duct (152) arranged on the vehicle outer side of the battery (11) and passing through the first through hole (131) of the cross beam (121). In addition, the battery duct (14) and the air conditioning duct (152) overlap at a position closer to the vehicle outer side than the battery (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery protection structure, and more particularly to a battery protection structure that absorbs impact when a collision accident occurs by a duct arranged on the vehicle outer side of the battery. Background Art

[0002] Hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles are already on the market as passenger cars, and these vehicles are equipped with large rechargeable batteries. The rechargeable batteries installed in vehicles are composed of a module composed of a plurality of single lithium ion batteries called battery cells, which are formed in a roughly plate-like shape, for example.

[0003] When a vehicle crashes, if a large impact is applied to the rechargeable battery, leakage or gas generation may occur. Therefore, an impact countermeasure is required to mitigate the impact applied to the rechargeable battery.

[0004] As an example of such a countermeasure against impact, there is an invention described in the following Patent Document 1.

[0005] Patent document 1 describes an energy absorbing structure of a battery mounting portion that protects a battery with a shock absorbing duct. Specifically, in this energy absorbing structure, the battery mounting portion is connected to the vehicle body floor and the center tunnel cover via the shock absorbing duct. In addition, if a load greater than a predetermined value is input from the center tunnel cover to the battery mounting portion, the battery mounting portion absorbs energy by deformation. Therefore, if a load greater than a predetermined value is input from the center tunnel cover to the shock absorbing duct during a side collision, the shock absorbing duct bends and deforms, thereby reducing the impact energy input to the battery.

[0006] Prior Art Literature

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-35094 Summary of the invention

[0009] However, in the invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the battery is protected by the battery mounting portion that supports the battery from below. Therefore, in the event of a side collision in which another vehicle collides with the vehicle from the side, for example, it is difficult to effectively protect the battery mounting portion from the side collision. In addition, if a special impact member is provided on the vehicle side of the battery in order to protect the battery from the side collision, the vehicle structure becomes complicated and the cost increases.

[0010] The present disclosure has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery protection structure capable of protecting a battery from a side collision or the like with a simple structure.

[0011] In technical solution 1 of the present disclosure, a battery protection structure is provided to protect a battery from a collision, characterized in that the battery protection structure comprises: a vehicle frame member, arranged near the battery; a through hole, formed to penetrate the vehicle frame member; a first pipe, arranged on the vehicle outer side of the battery; and a second pipe, arranged to overlap up and down on the vehicle outer side of the battery, passing through the through hole of the vehicle frame member, and the first pipe and the second pipe overlap at a position closer to the vehicle outer side than the battery.

[0012] In technical solution 2 of the present disclosure, it is characterized in that the first duct is a duct through which air for cooling the battery flows, and the second duct is a duct through which air-conditioning air for air-conditioning the vehicle interior flows.

[0013] In technical solution 3 of the present disclosure, it is characterized in that the vehicle frame member is a cross beam spanned between the floor tunnel and the side beam.

[0014] In technical solution 4 of the present disclosure, it is characterized in that the vehicle frame component has: a first vehicle frame component, which is arranged on one side of the battery; and a second vehicle frame component, which is arranged on the other side of the battery, a first through hole is formed in the first vehicle frame component, and a second through hole is formed in the second vehicle frame component, and the second pipe passes through the first through hole and the second through hole.

[0015] In technical solution 5 of the present disclosure, it is characterized in that the first vehicle frame member and the second vehicle frame member are cross beams spanned between the floor tunnel and the side beams.

[0016] In technical solution 6 of the present disclosure, it is characterized in that the battery is arranged below the seat, and the seat is fixed to the upper surface of the vehicle frame member.

[0017] Effects of the present disclosure

[0018] According to the invention described in technical solution 1, the second duct passes through the through hole of the vehicle frame member, so that the position of the second duct is fixed, and the movement of the second duct when a collision accident occurs is suppressed, and the second duct can absorb the collision energy to protect the battery. In addition, the first duct overlaps with the second duct, so that more collision energy is absorbed during a collision, which can significantly protect the battery.

[0019] According to the invention described in claim 2, when a collision accident occurs, the collision energy is absorbed by both the battery duct and the air-conditioning duct, so that when a collision accident occurs, the battery can be protected more firmly.

[0020] According to the invention described in claim 3, since the second duct is supported by the cross beam, the shock can be absorbed more effectively.

[0021] According to the invention described in claim 4, the second duct can be fixed at multiple locations by the vehicle frame member, so when a collision accident occurs, the second duct can be fixed more firmly, which can enhance the effect of protecting the battery.

[0022] According to the invention described in claim 5, the second duct is supported from the front-rear direction by the cross member, so that the shock can be absorbed more effectively.

[0023] According to the invention described in claim 6, the movement of the second duct when a collision occurs is restricted by using the vehicle frame member supporting the seat, so that the battery can be more effectively protected from the collision energy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a vehicle including a battery protection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle including a battery protection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle including the battery protection structure according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a state after a collision accident occurs.

[0027] Figure 4 It is a perspective view showing a vehicle including a battery protection structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Description of Reference Numerals

[0029] 10. Battery protection structure;

[0030] 11. Battery;

[0031] 121 beam;

[0032] 122 beam;

[0033] 131 first through hole;

[0034] 132 second through hole;

[0035] 14 Battery pipes;

[0036] 15 Air conditioning ducts;

[0037] 151 First air conditioning duct;

[0038] 152 Second air conditioning duct;

[0039] 153 Third air conditioning duct;

[0040] 16 Floor channel;

[0041] 17 side beams;

[0042] 18 Body floor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Hereinafter, the battery protection structure 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the drawings.

[0044] Figure 1 This is a perspective view partially showing a vehicle such as a passenger car in which the battery protection structure 10 is assembled. Here, the front outer side portion of the vehicle body floor panel 18 is shown.

[0045] The battery protection structure 10 of this embodiment absorbs the impact energy input from the side collision of another vehicle from the outside of the vehicle to protect the battery 11 from the side collision. Specifically, the battery protection structure 10 includes a cross beam 121 and a cross beam 122 as vehicle frame members, a first through hole 131 formed in the cross beam 121, a second air conditioning duct 152 and a battery duct 14, and the second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 overlap each other up and down at a position closer to the outside of the vehicle than the battery 11. Here, the battery duct 14 is the first duct, and the second air conditioning duct 152 is the second duct. In addition, the cross beam 121 arranged in the front is the first vehicle frame member, and the cross beam 122 is the second vehicle frame member.

[0046] The battery 11 supplies electric power to a motor or electrical components of an electric vehicle, ie, a vehicle. Here, as the vehicle, for example, an EV (Electric Vehicle), an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) can be used.

[0047] Although not shown in the figure, the battery 11 has a plurality of battery packs composed of a plurality of stacked battery cells. The battery 11 is a secondary battery composed of a lithium ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery.

[0048] The vehicle floor 18 has a floor tunnel 16 and side beams 17 as vehicle frame members. The floor tunnel 16 is a frame member in which the center portion of the vehicle floor 18 in the vehicle width direction is raised upward in the front-rear direction. The side beams 17 are frame members in which the vehicle outer side ends of the vehicle floor 18 are formed into a columnar shape in the front-rear direction. The battery 11 is disposed between the floor tunnel 16 and the side beams 17. Here, the vehicle width direction refers to the horizontal plane with respect to the vehicle width direction. Figure 1 The direction is orthogonal to the front-to-back direction shown.

[0049] Furthermore, a cross beam 121 and a cross beam 122 are arranged as frame members on the vehicle body floor 18. The cross beam 121 is arranged on the front side of the battery 11. The vehicle outer side end of the cross beam 121 is rigidly connected to the side beam 17, and the vehicle inner side end of the cross beam 121 is rigidly connected to the floor tunnel 16. The cross beam 122 is arranged on the rear side of the battery 11. The vehicle outer side end of the cross beam 122 is rigidly connected to the side beam 17, and the vehicle inner side end of the cross beam 122 is rigidly connected to the floor tunnel 16.

[0050] The cross member 121 is formed with a first through hole 131. The first through hole 131 is a hole that penetrates the cross member 121 in the front-rear direction. The first through hole 131 is formed further toward the vehicle outside than the vehicle outside end of the battery 11. The first through hole 131 is formed to have a size and shape that allows a second air conditioning duct 152, which will be described later, to pass therethrough.

[0051] Although not shown in the figure, a seat is fixed on the cross beam 121. According to this structure, the cross beam 121 is used as a member for supporting the seat, and the cross beam 121 does not hinder the arrangement of the second air conditioning duct 152. In addition, the first through hole 131 formed in the cross beam 121 can improve the impact resistance of the second air conditioning duct 152.

[0052] A battery duct 14 is formed on the vehicle outer side of the battery 11. The battery duct 14 is a duct for discharging heat generated during charge and discharge of the battery 11 to the outside. The battery duct 14 is made of, for example, PP (Poly propylene).

[0053] The air conditioning duct 15 is a duct through which air conditioning wind for air conditioning the vehicle interior flows. Specifically, the air conditioning duct 15 includes: a first air conditioning duct 151 formed on the upstream side of the air conditioning wind; and a third air conditioning duct 153 and a second air conditioning duct 152 branched from the downstream side end of the first air conditioning duct 151. The air conditioning duct 15 is made of PP (Poly propylene), for example.

[0054] An upstream end portion of the first air conditioning duct 151 is connected to the vehicle air conditioning device, and the second air conditioning duct 152 and the third air conditioning duct 153 are connected to a downstream end portion of the first air conditioning duct 151 .

[0055] The upstream end of the second air conditioning duct 152 is connected to the first air conditioning duct 151, and the downstream end of the second air conditioning duct 152 opens to the vehicle interior (not shown). In addition, a portion (middle portion) of the second air conditioning duct 152 passes through the first through hole 131 of the cross beam 121 and passes above the cross beam 122. In addition, between the cross beams 121 and 122, the second air conditioning duct 152 is arranged closer to the outside of the vehicle than the battery 11.

[0056] The upstream end of the third air conditioning duct 153 is connected to the first air conditioning duct 151, and the downstream end of the third air conditioning duct 153 opens to the vehicle interior (not shown). In addition, a portion (middle portion) of the third air conditioning duct 153 passes above the cross member 121 and the battery 11.

[0057] In the present embodiment, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are vertically overlapped on the vehicle outer side of the battery 11. This can mitigate the impact on the battery 11 when a side collision occurs.

[0058] Specifically, a cross beam 121 and a cross beam 122 are arranged in front of and behind the battery 11. That is, the cross beam 121 is arranged on one side of the battery 11, and the cross beam 122 is arranged on the other side of the battery 11. On the other hand, although a side beam 17 is formed on the vehicle outer side of the battery 11, when a pole collision occurs to this portion, the side beam 17 partially bends toward the inside, and a large impact may act on the battery 11.

[0059] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are arranged on the vehicle outer side of the battery 11 in an overlapping manner when viewed from above. The second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 are ducts made of synthetic resin as described above, and therefore have a certain degree of mechanical strength. Therefore, when a side collision occurs, the second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 deform at the same time to absorb the impact, and the impact acting on the battery 11 can be mitigated. In addition, the battery duct 14 is a duct for discharging the heat generated by the battery 11 during charging and discharging to the outside, and the second air conditioning duct 152 is a structural component for conveying air conditioning wind, rather than a dedicated component for impact countermeasures, so that cost increases can be suppressed.

[0060] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The cross-section view at the section line AA of . Figure 2In FIG. 1 , the heights at the same level as the upper and lower ends of the battery 11 are indicated by single-dot chain lines.

[0061] Refer to this Figure 2 The battery 11 is disposed on the vehicle body floor 18 between the floor tunnel 16 and the side member 17. In addition, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are disposed on the vehicle outer side of the battery 11. As described above, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are disposed so as to overlap when viewed from above. The battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 may partially overlap, or the second air conditioning duct 152 may be disposed above the battery duct 14 as a whole.

[0062] Furthermore, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are arranged between the battery 11 and the side member 17, close to the battery 11. Thus, when a side collision occurs, the second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 deform near the battery 11, thereby effectively absorbing the impact caused by the side collision.

[0063] In addition, the lower end of the battery duct 14 is arranged above the bottom surface of the battery 11. Furthermore, the upper end of the battery duct 14 is arranged below the upper surface of the battery 11. According to this structure, when a side collision occurs, the battery duct 14 pressed by the side member 17 is effectively deformed, thereby relieving the impact caused by the side collision, and protecting the battery 11 from the impact.

[0064] Furthermore, at least a portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 is disposed below the upper surface of the battery 11. In this way, when a side collision occurs, the second air conditioning duct 152 pressed by the side beam 17 is effectively deformed, thereby effectively mitigating the impact caused by the side collision, and protecting the battery 11 from the impact. Here, the entire second air conditioning duct 152 may also be disposed below the upper surface of the battery 11.

[0065] exist Figure 3 In the following, the structure of the battery protection structure 10 after a side collision is described. Figure 1 First, due to the occurrence of a column collision, the side member 17 moves toward the vehicle interior. Then, the second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 pressed from the vehicle exterior by the side member 17 are deformed and compressed in the vehicle width direction.

[0066] like Figure 1As shown, the front portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 passes through the first through hole 131 of the cross member 121, thereby suppressing the movement of the second air conditioning duct 152 toward the vehicle interior. Therefore, when the second air conditioning duct 152 is pressed toward the vehicle interior by the side member 17 during a side collision, the second air conditioning duct 152 is crushed and deformed while maintaining its position, thereby absorbing the impact.

[0067] In addition, the end of the battery duct 14 on the vehicle inner side is in contact with the battery 11. Therefore, in a side collision, the battery duct 14 is pressed from the vehicle outer side by the side member 17, and is crushed and deformed between the battery 11 and the side member 17. This can absorb the impact caused by the side collision.

[0068] In this embodiment, as described above, the battery duct 14 and the second air conditioning duct 152 are arranged to overlap each other vertically, in other words, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the side collision occurs. Therefore, the second air conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 are crushed and deformed at the same time, thereby effectively absorbing the impact, and the impact on the battery 11 can be mitigated.

[0069] Reference Figure 4 The structure of a battery protection structure 10 according to another embodiment is described with reference to a perspective view of FIG. Figure 4 The structure of the battery protection structure 10 shown is basically the same as Figure 1 The structure shown is the same, where the second air conditioning duct 152 passes through both the cross beam 121 and the cross beam 122 .

[0070] Specifically, the first through hole 131 is formed in the front crossbeam 121, and the second through hole 132 is formed in the rear crossbeam 122. In addition, the front portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 penetrates the first through hole 131, and the rear portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 penetrates the second through hole 132.

[0071] According to this structure, the front portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 is supported by passing through the first through hole 131, and the rear portion of the second air conditioning duct 152 is supported by passing through the second through hole 132. Therefore, when a side collision occurs, the second air conditioning duct 152 is more firmly supported, so that the effect of protecting the battery 11 from the side collision by the second air conditioning duct 152 can be increased.

[0072] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can be modified within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure. In addition, the above-mentioned various aspects can be combined with each other.

[0073] For example, in Figure 1In the battery protection structure 10 shown, the second air-conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 are arranged on the vehicle outer side, i.e., the right side, of the battery 11, thereby protecting the battery 11 from a side collision from the vehicle outer side, i.e., the right side. However, by arranging the second air-conditioning duct 152 and the battery duct 14 on the rear side of the battery 11, the battery 11 can also be protected from a collision from the rear.

[0074] In addition, in the present disclosure, the terms first, second, and third are used to distinguish different components and are not limited by these terms. For example, the first air conditioning duct can be defined as the second air conditioning duct, and the second air conditioning duct can also be defined as the first air conditioning duct.

Claims

1. A battery protection structure for protecting a battery from collision, characterized in that: The battery protection structure comprises: A vehicle frame member, disposed near the battery; a through hole formed to penetrate the vehicle frame member; a first pipe disposed on the vehicle outer side of the battery; and A second duct is arranged to overlap up and down on the vehicle outer side of the battery and passes through the through hole of the vehicle frame member. The first duct and the second duct overlap at a position closer to the vehicle outer side than the battery.

2. The battery protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first pipe is a cooling pipe of the battery, The second duct is a duct through which air-conditioning air for air conditioning the vehicle interior flows.

3. The battery protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle frame member is a cross beam spanned between the floor channel and the side beams.

4. The battery protection structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The vehicle frame member includes: a first vehicle frame member disposed on one side of the battery; and a second vehicle frame member disposed on the other side of the battery. A first through hole is formed in the first vehicle frame member, and a second through hole is formed in the second vehicle frame member. The second pipe passes through the first through hole and the second through hole.

5. The battery protection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first vehicle frame member and the second vehicle frame member are cross beams spanned between the floor tunnel and the side beams.

6. The battery protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The battery is arranged below the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat is fixed on the upper side of the vehicle frame member.

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