Battery loading structure of frame vehicle

Abstract

To provide a battery loading structure in a frame vehicle in which maintenance of a battery can be performed without dismounting a vehicle body from the frame.SOLUTION: A battery loading structure 10 in a frame vehicle 12 with a pair of left and right side rails 16 extending in a vehicle front-back direction and a plurality of cross members extending in a vehicle width direction to connect the side rails 16 to each other comprises: a frame 14 on which a vehicle body 20 is mounted; a battery 50 which is arranged at a vehicle upper side of the frame 14; and cover members 32, 34 which are arranged at an outer side of the battery 50 in a vehicle width direction to be capable of being removed from the vehicle body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery mounting structure for a frame vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A battery holding device for an electric vehicle which includes a holding bracket that holds a battery arranged between two frames extending in the vehicle length direction of the truck, and a connecting bracket that connects the holding bracket to each frame via a connecting portion, the connecting portion being arranged lower than each frame in the vehicle height direction, has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-103765 ​​A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, placing the battery between the frames reduces the vehicle's minimum ground clearance. Therefore, it is desirable to place the battery above the frame, but in a frame vehicle, the body (cabin and deck) is attached above the frame, so every time you want to maintain (replace) the battery, you need to remove the body from the frame, which is cumbersome.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide a battery mounting structure for a frame vehicle that allows battery maintenance to be performed without removing the vehicle body from the frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the battery mounting structure in a frame vehicle of the first aspect of the present invention has a pair of left and right side rails extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of cross members extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the side rails, a frame to which a vehicle body is attached, a battery arranged on the upper side of the frame, and a cover member arranged on the outer side of the battery in the vehicle width direction or on the rear side of the vehicle, and configured to be removable from the vehicle body.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the invention, a battery is disposed on the vehicle upper side of a frame to which the vehicle body is attached, and a cover member configured to be removable from the vehicle body is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction or on the vehicle rear side of the battery. Therefore, by removing the cover member from the vehicle body, the battery can be pulled out to the outer side in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle rear side. In other words, according to the present invention, in a frame vehicle, the battery can be accessed from the outer side in the vehicle width direction or the vehicle rear side, so that battery maintenance can be performed without removing the vehicle body from the frame.

[0008] In addition, a battery mounting structure in a frame vehicle of a second aspect of the present invention is a battery mounting structure in a frame vehicle of the first aspect, in which a floor panel is arranged above the battery in the vehicle and the vehicle width direction outer end of the floor panel is configured not to overlap the battery in a side view.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the invention, even if a floor panel is disposed above the battery, the outer end of the floor panel does not overlap the battery in a side view, and therefore the battery can be pulled outward in the vehicle width direction by removing at least the cover member disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle body.

[0010] A third aspect of the battery mounting structure for a frame vehicle according to the present invention is the battery mounting structure for a frame vehicle according to the first or second aspect, in which the cover member includes at least a bumper cover.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the invention, the cover member includes at least a bumper cover, which makes it easy to remove the cover member from the vehicle body. Effect of the Invention

[0012] As described above, according to the present invention, in a frame vehicle, battery maintenance can be performed without removing the vehicle body from the frame. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] Fig. 1A is a perspective view showing a frame vehicle according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 1B is a schematic side view showing the frame and cabin of the frame vehicle according to the first embodiment, separated from each other vertically. [Diagram 2] 1 is an enlarged schematic side view showing a battery mounting structure according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged schematic rear view showing the battery mounting structure according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a frame vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] 11 is an enlarged schematic side view showing a battery mounting structure according to a second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic rear view showing the battery mounting structure according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the vehicle upward direction, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle forward direction, and the arrow RH indicates the vehicle rightward direction. In addition, in the following explanation, when the directions of up / down, front / rear, and left / right are described without special mention, they refer to up / down in the vehicle up / down direction, front / rear in the vehicle front / rear direction, and left / right in the vehicle left / right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0015] First Embodiment First, the first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1(A) and Fig. 1(B), a frame vehicle 12 equipped with a battery mounting structure 10 according to the first embodiment is, for example, a hybrid SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) equipped with a battery 50 (see also Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 1(B), Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, the frame vehicle 12 is equipped with a frame 14 to which a cabin 20 as a vehicle body is attached from above. The frame 14 has a pair of left and right side rails 16 extending in the front-rear direction.

[0016] A front wheel 22 (see FIG. 1(A)) and a rear wheel 24 are disposed on the outer sides in the vehicle width direction at the front and rear sides of each side rail 16, respectively. Therefore, the dimensions of the front and rear sides of each side rail 16 in the vehicle width direction are made shorter than the dimensions of the center side in the vehicle width direction to avoid interference with the front wheel 22 and the rear wheel 24. In addition, the front and rear sides of each side rail 16 are disposed above the center side because a suspension unit (not shown) and the like are disposed on the lower side (see FIG. 1(B) and FIG. 2).

[0017] In addition, a front bumper reinforcement (not shown) extending substantially along the vehicle width direction is installed at the front end of each side rail 16, and a rear bumper reinforcement 18 (see Figure 3) extending substantially along the vehicle width direction is installed at the rear end of each side rail 16.

[0018] A plurality of cross members 17 (see FIG. 1(B)) extending in the vehicle width direction are installed between each side rail 16 between the front bumper reinforcement and the rear bumper reinforcement 18. In other words, the plurality of cross members 17 extend in the vehicle width direction to connect each side rail 16. This forms a ladder-shaped frame 14. A cabin 20 is attached to the upper side of this frame 14 (see FIG. 1(B)).

[0019] In the frame vehicle 12 having the frame 14 and cabin 20 as described above, as shown in Figures 1(B), 2, and 3, a battery 50 is disposed substantially horizontally above the rear part of the frame 14. A floor panel 30 having a substantially hat-shaped configuration in a side view from the vehicle width direction is disposed above the battery 50. In other words, a storage section (storage space) S for storing the battery 50 is formed between the frame 14 and the floor panel 30.

[0020] A spare tire 26 is disposed below the rear of the frame 14. The spare tire 26 is disposed at an angle such that the front side is lower and the rear side is higher in a side view (see FIG. 2). The floor panel 30 is formed from sheet metal, and a third seat 28 is disposed above the floor panel 30.

[0021] Additionally, the vehicle width direction outer end 30A of the floor panel 30 is configured so as not to overlap the battery 50 in a side view. In other words, the lower surface of the vehicle width direction outer end 30A of the floor panel 30 is located above the upper surface of the battery 50 when viewed from the front-rear direction (see FIG. 3). This allows the battery 50 to be inserted into and removed from the storage space S from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Note that the illustrated vehicle width direction outer end 30A is formed in a generally "L" shape that is inclined diagonally outward and upward (outward and upward in the vehicle width direction) when viewed from the front-rear direction.

[0022] A fender liner 32 as an example of a cover member is removably attached to the cabin 20 on the outer side of the battery 50 in the vehicle width direction. Note that the inner end of the fender liner 32 in the vehicle width direction may be removably attached to the underside of the outer end 30A of the floor panel 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] Further, a bumper cover 34 as an example of a cover member is removably attached to the cabin 20 on the outer side of the battery 50 (fender liner 32) in the vehicle width direction (see also FIG. 1(A)). Note that "removably attached" in the first embodiment refers to being attached with bolts, clips, or the like.

[0024] Next, the operation of the battery mounting structure 10 in the frame vehicle 12 according to the first embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0025] As described above, the battery 50 is disposed above the frame 14 to which the cabin 20 is attached from above (in the storage space S between the frame 14 and the floor panel 30), and the bumper cover 34 and the fender liner 32, which are configured to be removable from the cabin 20, are disposed on the outer side of the battery 50 in the vehicle width direction. Also, the outer end 30A of the floor panel 30 in the vehicle width direction does not overlap the battery 50 in a side view (it is located above the top surface of the battery 50 when viewed from the front-rear direction).

[0026] Therefore, the outer side of the battery 50 in the vehicle width direction is opened by removing at least the bumper cover 34 and the fender liner 32 from the cabin 20. In other words, even if the floor panel 30 is disposed above the battery 50, the battery 50 can be pulled out to the outer side in the vehicle width direction by removing the bumper cover 34 and the fender liner 32 from the cabin 20 (the battery 50 can be removed from the frame vehicle 12).

[0027] Thus, according to the first embodiment, in the frame vehicle 12, the battery 50 can be accessed from the outside in the vehicle width direction, so that the battery 50 can be maintained (replaced) without removing the cabin 20 from the frame 14. Moreover, since the cover members to be removed from the cabin 20 include the fender liner 32 and the bumper cover 34 attached to the cabin 20 by clips or the like, the task of removing them from the cabin 20 can be easily performed.

[0028] After maintenance (replacement) of the battery 50 is completed, the battery 50 is inserted into the storage section S from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Then, the fender liner 32 is attached to the cabin 20, and the bumper cover 34 is attached to the cabin 20. Thus, according to the first embodiment, the frame vehicle 12 can be returned to its original state without removing the cabin 20 from the frame 14.

[0029] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a frame vehicle 12 equipped with a battery mounting structure 10 according to the second embodiment is, for example, a hybrid pickup truck on which a battery 50 (see Figures 5 and 6) is mounted. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of (for example, five) deck reinforcements 46 having different heights in a side view are removably attached to the upper surfaces of a pair of left and right side rails 16.

[0031] Each deck reinforcement 46 is configured by connecting a substantially rectangular flat bottom plate 46B and a top plate 46U at the corners thereof with four square pillar-shaped supports 46S. The upper surface of the top plate 46U of each deck reinforcement 46, in which the lower surface of the bottom plate 46B is attached to each side rail 16 at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction, is flush with the lower surface of the top plate 46U in a side view, and the upper surface of the top plate 46U of each deck reinforcement 46 is removably attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate 42 of the deck (cargo platform) 40 as a part of the vehicle body.

[0032] That is, the height of each deck reinforcement 46 is set in accordance with the shape of each side rail 16 so that the upper surface of the top plate 46U of each deck reinforcement 46 is flush in side view, and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40 is supported horizontally on each side rail 16 via each deck reinforcement 46. Then, in side view, a battery 50 is mounted in the space between the frame 14 (side rail 16) and the bottom plate 42. That is, the space between the frame 14 and the bottom plate 42 forms a storage section S in which the battery 50 is stored.

[0033] A deck back panel 36, which is an example of a cover member constituting the rear plate of the deck 40, is removably attached to the deck 40 on the rear side of the rearmost deck reinforcement 46. A bumper cover 37 (see FIG. 4), which is an example of a cover member, is removably attached to the deck 40 on the lower side of the deck back panel 36.

[0034] Furthermore, on the vehicle width direction outer side of the deck reinforcement 46, a fender 38 (see Figs. 4 and 6) as an example of a cover member is removably attached to a side plate 44 (see Fig. 6) of the deck 40. The side plate 44 of the deck 40 is formed integrally with the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40. Moreover, "removably attached" in the second embodiment refers to being attached with bolts, clips, etc., as in the first embodiment.

[0035] Next, the operation of the battery mounting structure 10 in the frame vehicle 12 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. Note that the explanation of the operation common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0036] As described above, the battery 50 is arranged on the upper side of the frame 14 (the storage space S between the frame 14 and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40) to which the deck 40 is attached via the deck reinforcement 46, and on the rear side of the battery 50, the deck back panel 36 and the bumper cover 37 which are configured to be removable from the deck 40 are arranged.

[0037] Therefore, the rear side of the battery 50 is opened by removing at least the deck back panel 36 and the bumper cover 37 from the deck 40. In other words, by removing the deck back panel 36 and the bumper cover 37 from the deck 40, the battery 50 can be pulled out rearward (the battery 50 can be removed from the frame vehicle 12).

[0038] Thus, according to the second embodiment, in the frame vehicle 12, the battery 50 can be accessed from the rear side, so that the battery 50 can be maintained (replaced) without removing the deck 40 from the frame 14. Moreover, since the cover members to be removed from the deck 40 include the deck back panel 36 and the bumper cover 37 attached to the deck 40 by clips or the like, the task of removing them from the deck 40 can be easily performed.

[0039] After maintenance (replacement) of the battery 50 is completed, the battery 50 is inserted into the storage section S from the rear side. Then, the bumper cover 37 is attached to the deck 40, and the deck back panel 36 is attached to the deck 40. Thus, according to the second embodiment, the frame vehicle 12 can be returned to its original state without removing the deck 40 from the frame 14.

[0040] Also, in this second embodiment, the fender 38 is detachable from the side plate 44 of the deck 40, and the deck reinforcement 46 is also detachable from the side rail 16 and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40. Therefore, by removing the fender 38 from the side plate 44 of the deck 40 and removing the three deck reinforcements 46 on the central side in the fore-aft direction, excluding the front and rear ends, of the five deck reinforcements 46 arranged side by side in the fore-aft direction, from between the side rail 16 and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40, the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the battery 50 is also exposed.

[0041] That is, the length of the battery 50 in the front-to-rear direction is set to be equal to or less than the distance between the rear surface of the foremost deck reinforcement 46 and the front surface of the rearmost deck reinforcement 46 in a side view. Therefore, by removing the fender 38 from the side plate 44 of the deck 40 and removing the three deck reinforcements 46 on the central side in the front-to-rear direction from between the side rail 16 and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40, the battery 50 can be pulled outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] Thus, according to the second embodiment, in the frame vehicle 12, the battery 50 can be accessed from the outside in the vehicle width direction, so that the battery 50 can be maintained (replaced) without removing the deck 40 from the frame 14. After the maintenance (replacement) of the battery 50 is completed, the battery 50 is inserted into the storage section S from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Then, the three deck reinforcements 46 on the center side in the front-rear direction are attached between the side rails 16 and the bottom plate 42 of the deck 40, and the fenders 38 are attached to the side plates 44 of the deck 40.

[0043] The above describes the battery mounting structure 10 in the frame vehicle 12 according to this embodiment based on the drawings. However, the battery mounting structure 10 in the frame vehicle 12 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately modified in design within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0044] For example, the frame vehicle 12 in this embodiment is not limited to a hybrid vehicle, but may be a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Also, the frame vehicle 12 in this embodiment is not limited to the SUV or pickup truck shown in the figure, but may be another vehicle type. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 Battery mounting structure 12 Frame Car 14 Frame 16 Side rail 20 Cabin (body) 30 Floor Panel 34 Bumper cover (cover material) 37 Bumper cover (cover material) 40 Deck (car body) 50 Battery

Claims

1. A frame to which a vehicle body is attached, the frame having a pair of left and right side rails extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle and a plurality of cross members extending in a vehicle width direction and connecting the side rails; A battery disposed on an upper side of the frame; A cover member disposed on an outer side of the battery in a vehicle width direction or on a vehicle rear side and configured to be removable from the vehicle body; A battery mounting structure in a frame vehicle.

2. 2. A battery mounting structure in a frame vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein a floor panel is arranged above the battery, and the vehicle width directional outer end of the floor panel is configured so as not to overlap the battery in a side view.

3. 3. The battery mounting structure for a frame vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes at least a bumper cover.

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