Vehicle battery support structure

Abstract

The battery bracket (5) includes a bracket upper portion (26) that overlaps and is fixed on the side beam (2) from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a bracket lower portion (27) that extends from the bracket upper portion (26) to a lower portion below the side beam (2) and supports the battery (4) from below on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the bracket lower portion (27). The lower cross reinforcement member (10) includes left and right lower cross end portions (11) that are fixed to the left and right side beams (2) and extend downward, and a lower cross middle portion (12) that connects the left and right lower cross end portions (11) and extends in the vehicle width direction below the motor (6). The lower cross end portion (11) fixed to the side beam (2) overlaps and is fixed on the bracket lower portion (27) of the battery bracket (5) from the inside in the vehicle width direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery support structure for a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bracket device comprising a generally L-shaped first bracket and two second brackets. The first bracket has a base portion fixed to a side portion of a vehicle frame extending in the fore-aft direction and has an extension portion extending outward from the side of the vehicle. The second brackets are fixed to the upper surface of the first bracket extension portion and extend in the fore-aft direction of the vehicle, with two second brackets arranged at predetermined intervals in the vehicle width direction. A high-voltage battery is secured to the upper surface of the second bracket.

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-123658

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0008] If the battery is placed on the vehicle widthwise outer sides of the left and right side sills (frame) that form the vehicle frame, as in Patent Document 1, and supported on the side sills via brackets, the battery is cantilevered by the side sills. Consequently, if the battery is too heavy, the side sills' support for the battery becomes unstable, potentially causing the side sills to deform due to vibration input during driving. Deformation of the side sills increases the displacement of the battery, potentially causing damage to the battery.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery support structure that can stably support a battery disposed outside a side member in the vehicle width direction.

[0010] Technical means for solving technical problems

[0011] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the first scheme of the present disclosure is a battery support structure for a vehicle, wherein a vehicle body frame has left and right side beams extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction, and the electric motor that drives the vehicle is arranged between the left and right side beams and supported by the vehicle body frame. On the outer side in the vehicle width direction of at least one of the left and right side beams, the battery is arranged in parallel with the electric motor in the vehicle width direction. The battery support structure of the vehicle includes a battery bracket and a lower cross reinforcement member.

[0012] The battery holder has an upper portion that overlaps and is fixed to one of the side members from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a lower portion that extends downward from the upper portion, beyond the side member, supporting the battery from below on the outside of the lower portion in the vehicle width direction. The lower cross reinforcement has left and right lower cross end portions that are fixed to the left and right side members and extend downward, and a lower cross middle portion that extends in the vehicle width direction below the motor and connects the left and right lower cross end portions. The lower cross end portion, fixed to one of the side members, overlaps and is fixed to the lower portion of the battery holder from the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] In the above structure, the battery load acts inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower portion of the bracket, which is located below the side member. A torque twisting the lower portion of the side member inward in the vehicle width direction is input from the upper portion of the bracket to the side member. One lower cross end of the lower cross reinforcement overlaps and is fixed to the lower portion of the bracket from the vehicle width direction inward, while the other lower cross end of the lower cross reinforcement is fixed to the other side member. The lower cross end of one lower cross reinforcement is connected to the lower cross end of the other lower cross member via a lower cross intermediate portion extending in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the lower cross reinforcement effectively functions as a beam, allowing a portion of the load acting inward in the vehicle width direction from the battery on one side (e.g., the left side) to be supported by the other side member (e.g., the right side). Consequently, the torque input from the upper portion of the bracket on one side (e.g., the left side) to the side member on one side (e.g., the left side) is reduced, enabling stable support of the battery.

[0014] In addition, since the lower cross middle portion of the lower cross reinforcement member extends in the vehicle width direction below the motor, for example, when the motor is suspended and supported on the vehicle frame via the motor mounting bracket, even if the motor drops due to damage to the motor mounting bracket, the motor can be caught by the lower cross reinforcement member to prevent the motor from falling onto the road surface.

[0015] The second aspect of the present disclosure is a battery support structure according to the first aspect, wherein the left and right batteries are arranged in parallel with the electric motor in the vehicle width direction, on the vehicle widthwise outer sides of the left and right side sills. The left and right battery holders are arranged on the vehicle widthwise outer sides of the left and right side sills. The left and right lower cross end portions of the lower cross reinforcement overlap with the lower portions of the left and right battery holders from the vehicle widthwise inner sides and are fixed thereto.

[0016] In the above structure, since part of the load toward the inside in the vehicle width direction acting from the battery on one side (for example, the left side) to the lower part of the bracket on one side (for example, the left side) can be supported by the side beam on the other side (for example, the right side) and the battery bracket on the other side (for example, the right side), the battery can be supported more stably.

[0017] A third aspect of the present disclosure is the battery support structure of the first or second aspect, wherein the lower cross reinforcement supports the electric motor from below.

[0018] In the above structure, the lower cross reinforcement member for stabilizing the supporting state of the battery can be made to function as a member for mounting the electric motor.

[0019] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a battery support structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the battery holder comprises: a holder bottom plate extending outward in the vehicle width direction from a holder bottom portion and mounting the battery; a holder side plate extending upward from substantially the entire region of the inner edge of the holder bottom plate in the vehicle width direction; a holder front plate extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front edge of the holder bottom plate and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front edge of the holder side plate; and a holder rear plate extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear edge of the holder bottom plate and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear edge of the holder side plate. The holder upper and holder lower portions are fixedly attached to the holder side plates.

[0020] In the above structure, the battery holder is three-dimensionally constructed by four plates (the bracket bottom plate, the bracket side plate, the bracket front plate, and the bracket rear plate), and the bracket upper and bracket lower parts are fixedly arranged on the bracket side plates. Therefore, while improving the rigidity of the battery holder, the battery load can be efficiently transferred to the downward cross reinforcement member.

[0021] Effects of the Invention

[0022] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to stably support a battery disposed on the outer side of a side member in the vehicle width direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of a battery support structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2 Observed from the rear of the vehicle Figure 1 Rear view of the structure.

[0025] Figure 3 It means from Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of the structure with the motor and battery removed.

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional image of the battery holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following describes a battery support structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, arrow UP indicates the top, and arrow IN indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction. In the following description, the left and right directions refer to the left and right directions when facing the front of the vehicle. In addition, in this embodiment, although batteries 4 are arranged on both the left and right sides, since the left and right batteries 4 and battery holders 5 are constructed in the same manner, the illustration and description of the battery 4 and battery holder 5 on the left side are appropriately omitted.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the vehicle's body frame 1 includes a pair of left and right side members 2 extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and a plurality of cross members 3 extending in the vehicle's width direction and connecting the left and right side members 2. The electric motor 6 that drives the vehicle is positioned between the left and right side members 2 and supported by the body frame 1. The multiple cross members 3 include a front cross member 3A extending in the vehicle's width direction above and in front of the electric motor 6, and a rear cross member 3B extending in the vehicle's width direction above and behind the electric motor 6. Left and right batteries 4 are positioned on the vehicle's widthwise outer sides of the left and right side members 2, parallel to the electric motor 6. The side members 2 have a U-shaped cross-section, with a side member upper plate 8 and a side member lower plate 9 extending inward in the vehicle's width direction from the upper and lower edges of a side member side plate 7 extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0029] Below the motor 6 on the front and rear sides of the vehicle, front and rear lower cross reinforcement members 10 are disposed, respectively. The lower cross reinforcement member 10 comprises left and right lower cross end portions 11 and a lower cross middle portion 12. The lower cross end portions 11 are connected and fixed to the left and right ends of the lower cross middle portion 12. The lower cross end portions 11 comprise a lower cross upper plate portion 13 that overlaps and is connected and fixed to the side member lower surface portion 9 from below; a lower cross side plate portion 14 that bends downward from the outer edge of the lower cross upper plate portion 13 in the vehicle width direction; and a lower cross lower plate portion 15 that bends and extends inward from the lower edge of the lower cross side plate portion 14 in the vehicle width direction. The left and right ends of the lower cross middle portion 12 overlap and are connected and fixed to the left and right lower cross lower plate portions 15 in the vertical direction. The lower cross middle portion 12 extends in the vehicle width direction below the motor 6 and connects the left and right lower cross end portions 11. In addition, the left and right lower intersection end portions 11 and the lower intersection middle portion 12 may be integrally formed instead of being formed separately.

[0030] The front side of the motor 6 is suspended and supported by a motor mounting bracket 17 on a motor fixing member 16. This motor fixing member 16 is fixed to the lower surface of the front cross member 3A and extends in the vehicle width direction. The rear side of the motor 6 is supported from below by a rear lower cross reinforcement 10B via a rear motor mounting bracket 18. In other words, the lower cross reinforcement 10B also functions as a motor mounting member on the rear side of the motor 6. The front lower cross reinforcement 10A does not support the motor 6.

[0031] Left and right battery brackets 5 are fixed to the vehicle widthwise outer sides of the left and right side members 2, respectively, supporting the left and right batteries 4. The battery bracket 5 generally comprises a bracket bottom plate 20, bracket side plates 21, bracket front plate 22, bracket rear plate 23, multiple (three in this embodiment) side plate reinforcements 24, and multiple (two in this embodiment) bottom plate reinforcements 25.

[0032] The bracket bottom plate portion 20 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from below the outer side of the side member 2 in the vehicle width direction. The bracket side plate portion 21 extends upward from substantially the entire area of ​​the inner edge of the bracket bottom plate portion 20 in the vehicle width direction. The bracket front plate portion 22 extends upward from substantially the entire area of ​​the vehicle front edge of the bracket bottom plate portion 20 and extends outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire area of ​​the vehicle front edge of the bracket side plate portion 21. The bracket rear plate portion 23 extends upward from substantially the entire area of ​​the vehicle rear edge of the bracket bottom plate portion 20 and extends outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire area of ​​the vehicle rear edge of the bracket side plate portion 21.

[0033] The side panel reinforcements 24 are long, U-shaped members that are separated from each other in the vehicle's front-to-rear direction and extend in the vertical direction. The side panel reinforcements 24 are fixed to the inner side of the bracket side panel 21 in the vehicle width direction by welding, etc., forming a closed cross-section between the bracket side panel 21 and the bracket side panel 21, thereby reinforcing the bracket side panel 21. The upper portions of the three side panel reinforcements 24 constitute the bracket upper portion 26, which overlaps and is fixed to the side beam side panel 7 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The lower portions of the three side panel reinforcements 24 constitute the bracket lower portion 27, which extends from the bracket upper portion 26 to a position lower than the side beam 2 (side beam lower plate 9). In this way, the bracket upper portion 26 and the bracket lower portion 27 are fixedly mounted on the bracket side panel 21, and the bracket bottom plate 20 extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the side panel reinforcement 24 (the lower end of the bracket lower portion 27).

[0034] The floor reinforcement 25 is a long, U-shaped member that extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and extends in the vehicle's width direction. The floor reinforcement 25 is secured to the upper surface of the bracket floor 20 by welding or other means, forming a closed cross-section with the bracket floor 20 and reinforcing the bracket floor 20. The floor reinforcement 25 is inserted into the concave and convex shape of the battery 4's lower surface, allowing it to be placed on the bracket floor 20 and supported from below, while its movement in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is restricted.

[0035] The left and right lower cross side panels 14 of the front and rear lower cross reinforcements 10 overlap and are fastened to the left and right battery holder lower portions 27 (lower portions of the side panel reinforcements 24 ) from the vehicle width direction inner side.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the load of the battery 4 acts inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the bracket lower portion 27, which is located below the side sill 2. The moment that twists the lower portion of the side sill 2 inward in the vehicle width direction is input from the bracket upper portion 26 to the side sill 2. However, because the left and right lower cross end portions 11 of the lower cross reinforcement 10 overlap and are fixed to the left and right bracket lower portions 27 from the vehicle width direction, and the left and right lower cross end portions 11 are fixed to the left and right side sills 2 and connected by the lower cross middle portion 12 extending in the vehicle width direction, the lower cross reinforcement 10 effectively functions as a beam. A portion of the inward vehicle width direction load acting from the battery 4 on one side (e.g., the left side) on the bracket lower portion 27 is supported by the side sill 2 on the other side (e.g., the right side) and the battery bracket 5. Consequently, the moment input from the bracket upper portion 26 to the side sill 2 is reduced on both sides, allowing for stable support of the battery 4.

[0037] In addition, on the front side of the vehicle of the motor 6, because the lower cross middle portion 12 of the lower cross reinforcement member 10A extends in the vehicle width direction below the motor 6, even if the motor 6 drops due to damage to the motor mounting bracket 17 that suspends and supports the front side of the motor 6, the front side of the motor 6 can be caught by the lower cross reinforcement member 10A to prevent the motor 6 from falling onto the road surface.

[0038] The battery bracket 5 is three-dimensionally constructed by four plate portions (a bracket bottom plate portion 20, a bracket side plate portion 21, a bracket front plate portion 22, and a bracket rear plate portion 23), and the bracket upper portion 26 fixed to the side beam 2 and the bracket lower portion 27 fixed to the lower cross reinforcement member 10 are fixedly arranged on the bracket side plate portion 21. Therefore, while improving the rigidity of the battery bracket 5, the load of the battery 4 can be efficiently transferred to the lower cross reinforcement member 10.

[0039] While the present disclosure has been described above based on the aforementioned embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the contents of the aforementioned embodiments and can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, other embodiments, examples, and application techniques developed by those skilled in the art based on the aforementioned embodiments are naturally all encompassed by the scope of the present disclosure.

[0040] For example, in the above embodiment, although an example in which the battery 4 is arranged and supported on both the left and right sides has been described, the battery 4 may be arranged and supported on only one of the left and right sides.

[0041] This application is based on Japanese patent application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-165650) filed on September 30, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0042] Industrial Availability

[0043] The present disclosure can be widely applied to vehicles equipped with batteries.

[0044] Description of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1: Body frame

[0046] 2: Side beam

[0047] 3, 3A, 3B: beam

[0048] 4: Battery

[0049] 5: Battery bracket

[0050] 6: Electric motor

[0051] 7: Side beam side panel

[0052] 8: Side beam upper plate

[0053] 9: Side beam lower plate

[0054] 10, 10A, 10B: Lower cross reinforcement

[0055] 11: Lower cross end

[0056] 12: Lower cross middle

[0057] 13: Lower cross upper plate

[0058] 14: Lower cross side panel

[0059] 15: Lower cross plate

[0060] 16: Motor mounting components

[0061] 17, 18: Motor mounting bracket

[0062] 20: Bracket bottom plate

[0063] 21: Bracket side panel

[0064] 22: Bracket front panel

[0065] 23: Bracket rear panel

[0066] 24: Side panel reinforcement

[0067] 25: Bottom plate reinforcement

[0068] 26: Upper part of the bracket

[0069] 27: Lower part of the bracket

Claims

1. A battery support structure for a vehicle, wherein: The vehicle body frame has left and right side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The electric motor for driving the vehicle is arranged between the left and right side members and supported by the vehicle body frame. A battery is arranged on the vehicle width direction outer side of at least one of the left and right side members so as to be parallel to the electric motor in the vehicle width direction. The battery support structure includes: a battery bracket having an upper bracket portion that overlaps and is fixed to the one side member from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a lower bracket portion that extends downward from the upper bracket portion relative to the one side member and supports the battery from below on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the lower bracket portion; and a lower cross reinforcement member having left and right lower cross end portions fixed to the left and right side members and extending downward, and a lower cross middle portion extending in the vehicle width direction below the motor and connecting the left and right lower cross end portions; The lower cross end portion fixed to the one side member overlaps with the bracket lower portion of the battery bracket from the inner side in the vehicle width direction and is fixed thereto.

2. The battery support structure according to claim 1, wherein: The battery is arranged on the left and right sides of the left and right side members on the outside in the vehicle width direction so as to be parallel to the electric motor in the vehicle width direction. The battery holder is arranged on the left and right outer sides of the left and right side members in the vehicle width direction. The left and right lower cross end portions of the lower cross reinforcement overlap with each other from the vehicle width direction inner side and are fixed to the bracket lower portions of the left and right battery brackets, respectively.

3. The battery support structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The lower cross reinforcement member supports the electric motor from below.

4. The battery support structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein: The battery holder has: The bracket bottom plate extends from the lower portion of the bracket toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction and carries the battery. a bracket side plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the inner edge of the bracket bottom plate portion in the vehicle width direction; a bracket front plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front side edge of the bracket bottom plate portion and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front side edge of the bracket side plate portion, and a bracket rear plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear side edge of the bracket bottom plate portion and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear side edge of the bracket side plate portion; The bracket upper portion and the bracket lower portion are fixedly disposed on the bracket side plate portion.

5. The battery support structure according to claim 3, wherein: The battery holder has: The bracket bottom plate extends from the lower portion of the bracket toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction and carries the battery. a bracket side plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the inner edge of the bracket bottom plate portion in the vehicle width direction; a bracket front plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front side edge of the bracket bottom plate portion and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle front side edge of the bracket side plate portion, and a bracket rear plate portion extending upward from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear side edge of the bracket bottom plate portion and extending outward in the vehicle width direction from substantially the entire region of the vehicle rear side edge of the bracket side plate portion; The bracket upper portion and the bracket lower portion are fixedly disposed on the bracket side plate portion.

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