Vehicle under structure

Abstract

The utility model relates to a lower structure of a vehicle. A vehicle substructure includes: an electricity storage device including at least one electricity storage stack, a case accommodating the at least one electricity storage stack, and a pressure relief valve provided on a top surface of the case; the cable is arranged above the electric power storage device; and a cover disposed between the pressure relief valve and the cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a vehicle substructure. Background Technology

[0002] For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (translation of PCT application) No. 2022-516519 (JP 2022-516519 A) discloses a power battery pack comprising: a plurality of individual cells; a battery tray housing these individual cells; and a cover plate connected to the battery tray. A battery pack explosion-proof valve, attached to a vent, is mounted to the side wall of the battery tray. Utility Model Content

[0003] In the power battery pack disclosed in JP 2022-516519 A, cables can be installed near the battery pack's explosion-proof valve. In this case, when gas is discharged from the individual cells, there is a problem that the gas discharged from the battery pack's explosion-proof valve may come into contact with the cables and damage them.

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a vehicle underbody structure that prevents gas discharged from a pressure relief valve from contacting cables and from causing damage to the cables.

[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle substructure includes: an energy storage device, the energy storage device comprising at least one energy storage stack, a housing accommodating the at least one energy storage stack, and a pressure relief valve disposed on the top surface of the housing; a cable disposed above the energy storage device; and a cover disposed between the pressure relief valve and the cable.

[0006] According to this disclosure, a vehicle underbody structure can be provided that prevents gas discharged from the pressure relief valve from contacting the cable and prevents damage to the cable. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like symbols denote like elements, and wherein:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic view of a vehicle, which includes a vehicle substructure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] Figure 2 It is a schematic three-dimensional view of the energy storage device;

[0010] Figure 3 It is a schematic three-dimensional view showing the state of the vehicle's lower structure as viewed from below;

[0011] Figure 4It schematically shows a cross-sectional view of the vehicle's substructure; and

[0012] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the VV line in the diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0013] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the drawings to be referenced below, the same or equivalent components are labeled with the same numerals.

[0014] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the vehicle 1, including the vehicle substructure, has a vehicle body 100, an energy storage device 200, a cable 300, and a cover 400.

[0015] The vehicle body 100 has a mounting part 110 and a recess 120.

[0016] Mounting section 110 is the part to which the energy storage device 200 is installed. Mounting section 110 is formed by the lower part of the vehicle body 100.

[0017] The recess 120 has a recessed shape that is recessed upward from the mounting portion 110. The recess 120 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The recess 120 may be formed in the central portion in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0018] The energy storage device 200 is installed in the mounting section 110 of the vehicle body 100. The energy storage device 200 has at least one energy storage stack 210, a housing 220, a pressure relief valve 230 and a breathing membrane 240.

[0019] At least one energy storage stack 210 includes a plurality of (e.g., four) energy storage stacks 210. Each energy storage stack 210 includes a plurality of energy storage cells 211 (see Figure 4 The battery cells 211 are arranged in a line, for example, along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Note that the battery cells 211 may also be arranged in a line along the width direction of the vehicle.

[0020] Each battery cell 211 is formed in a flat cuboid shape. Examples of battery cells 211 include lithium-ion batteries. Each battery cell 211 may be composed of an all-solid-state battery using a solid electrolyte. Each battery cell 211 may include a safety valve located at a position facing the top cover 224, i.e., on the top surface of the housing of the battery cell 211.

[0021] Housing 220 houses the energy storage stack 210. Housing 220 may also house junction boxes, etc. Housing 220 includes a lower housing 222 and an upper cover 224.

[0022] The lower housing 222 opens upward. The lower housing 222 has a bottom wall 222a and a peripheral wall 222b.

[0023] The bottom wall 222a supports each energy storage stack 210.

[0024] The peripheral wall 222b rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall 222a. The peripheral wall 222b surrounds the periphery of the energy storage stack 210. The peripheral wall 222b is formed into a generally quadrilateral cylindrical shape. The positive connector 251 and the negative connector 252 are disposed on the side surface of the peripheral wall 222b.

[0025] The upper cover 224, together with the lower housing 222, accommodates the energy storage stack 210. The outer peripheral edge of the upper cover 224 is fixed to the top end of the peripheral wall 222b by bolts or the like. The upper cover 224 has a top surface 224a.

[0026] A pressure relief valve 230 is disposed on the top surface 224a of the housing 220. The pressure relief valve 230 releases pressure within the housing 220. The pressure relief valve 230 opens when the pressure within the housing 220 is equal to or greater than a reference value. The pressure relief valve 230 is composed of a check valve.

[0027] A breathing membrane 240 is disposed on the side surface of the housing 220, i.e., the peripheral wall 222b. Specifically, a through-hole is provided in the peripheral wall 222b, and the breathing membrane 240 is attached to the peripheral wall 222b to cover the through-hole. The breathing membrane 240 regulates the pressure within the housing 220 by allowing gas to pass between the interior and exterior of the housing 220. Figure 4 As shown, a breathable membrane 240 is disposed on the side surface of the peripheral wall 222b on the front side of the vehicle. The breathable membrane 240 is arranged between the positive connector 251 and the negative connector 252.

[0028] Cable 300 is disposed above the energy storage device 200. Cable 300 connects multiple devices, including energy storage cells 211, to each other. Cable 300 includes a high-voltage cable 310. Cable 300 is arranged (wiring) in a recess 120 of the vehicle body 100.

[0029] A cover 400 is disposed between the energy storage device 200 and the cable 300. The cover 400 is made of metal or the like. The cover 400 has an insertion part 410 and a limiting part 420.

[0030] The insertion part 410 is inserted between the pressure relief valve 230 and the cable 300. The insertion part 410 is disposed within the recess 120. The insertion part 410 can be formed in a flat plate shape. The insertion part 410 supports the cable 300. Figure 3 As shown, an exposure opening 410h can be formed in the insertion part 410, through which a portion of the cable 300 is exposed downwards.

[0031] like Figure 4As shown, the insertion part 410 has a middle part 412, which is positioned between the portion above the pressure relief valve 230 and the portion above the breathing membrane 240. The middle part 412 overlaps with the top surface 224a of the upper cover 224 in the vertical direction.

[0032] The limiting unit 420 restricts the flow of gas discharged from the pressure relief valve 230 to the breathing membrane 240. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the limiting portion 420 has a shape that extends downward from the middle portion 412. (As indicated...) Figure 5 As shown, the length W1 of the limiting part 420 in the vehicle width direction is greater than the length W2 between the outer end of the positive connector 251 and the outer end of the negative connector 252 in the vehicle width direction.

[0033] As described above, in the vehicle lower structure of this embodiment, since the cover 400 is disposed between the pressure relief valve 230 and the cable 300, the gas discharged from the pressure relief valve 230 is prevented from contacting the cable 300 and is prevented from being damaged.

[0034] Furthermore, since the length W1 is greater than the length W2, it prevents the gas discharged from the pressure relief valve 230 from contacting the electrode connectors 251 and 252.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above exemplary embodiments are specific examples of the following aspects.

[0036] Aspect 1

[0037] A vehicle substructure, comprising:

[0038] An energy storage device, the energy storage device comprising at least one energy storage stack, a housing accommodating the at least one energy storage stack, and a pressure relief valve disposed on the top surface of the housing;

[0039] Cables, the cables being disposed above the energy storage device; and

[0040] A cover is disposed between the pressure relief valve and the cable.

[0041] In this vehicle underbody structure, because the cover is placed between the pressure relief valve and the cable, it prevents the gas discharged from the pressure relief valve from coming into contact with the cable and prevents damage to the cable.

[0042] Aspect 2

[0043] According to aspect 1, the vehicle substructure, wherein...

[0044] The energy storage device also includes a breathing membrane disposed on the side surface of the housing, and

[0045] The cover has:

[0046] An insertion part, which is inserted between the pressure relief valve and the cable, and

[0047] A limiting section restricts the flow of gas discharged from the pressure relief valve to the breathing membrane.

[0048] In this respect, it prevents the gas discharged from the pressure relief valve from coming into contact with the breathing membrane and prevents damage to the breathing membrane.

[0049] Aspect 3

[0050] According to aspect 2, the vehicle substructure, wherein...

[0051] The insertion portion has a middle portion positioned between the portion above the pressure relief valve and the portion above the breathing membrane.

[0052] The limiting portion has a shape that extends downward from the middle portion.

[0053] In this respect, the limiting section effectively prevents gas from flowing from the pressure relief valve to the breathing membrane.

[0054] Aspect 4

[0055] The vehicle substructure according to aspect 2 or 3 also includes the vehicle body, wherein...

[0056] The energy storage device is installed at the lower part of the vehicle body.

[0057] The vehicle body includes:

[0058] The mounting section, to which the energy storage device is mounted, and

[0059] The recess has a recessed shape that is recessed upward from the mounting portion, and

[0060] The cable and the insertion part are disposed in the recess.

[0061] Aspect 5

[0062] According to any one of aspects 1 to 4, the vehicle substructure includes a high-voltage cable.

[0063] Note that the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments, and includes all variations within the meaning and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle substructure, characterized by including: an electrical storage device including: at least one electrical storage stack, a case that houses the at least one electrical storage stack, and a pressure release valve provided on a top surface of the case; a cable provided above the electrical storage device; and a cover provided between the pressure release valve and the cable.

2. The vehicle underbody structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical storage device further includes a breather membrane provided on a side surface of the case, and the cover has: an insertion portion that is inserted between the pressure release valve and the cable, and a restriction portion that restricts a flow of gas discharged from the pressure release valve toward the breather membrane.

3. The vehicle underbody structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the insertion portion has an intermediate portion positioned between a portion above the pressure release valve and a portion above the breather membrane, and the restriction portion has a shape that extends downward from the intermediate portion.

4. The vehicle substructure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that further including a vehicle body, wherein the electrical storage device is mounted to a lower portion of the vehicle body, the vehicle body includes: a mounting portion to which the electrical storage device is mounted, and a recessed portion that has a recessed shape recessed upward from the mounting portion, and the cable and the insertion portion are provided in the recessed portion.

5. The vehicle substructure according to claim 1, characterized by the cable includes a high-voltage cable.

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