Floor member

Abstract

To provide a floor member that is able to protect an electric wire from external force without increasing a weight of an electric vehicle.SOLUTION: A floor member 10 is disposed so as to cover a battery 2 that supplies electric power to a drive source that drives an electric vehicle. The floor member 10 has a plurality of hollow portions 12a, 14a, 16a extending along a cross direction of the electric vehicle. An electric wire 22 is inserted into at least one of the plurality of hollow portions 12a, 14a, 16a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a floor member disposed above a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, automobiles equipped with a motor as a driving source (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)) have become widespread. These automobiles (hereinafter collectively referred to as "electric vehicles") are equipped with a battery for driving the motor. The battery of an electric vehicle is sometimes placed on the floor, near the feet of the occupants.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a floor structure for an electric vehicle that has an upper floor and a lower floor arranged below the upper floor at a predetermined distance. On the lower floor of this floor structure, a plurality of batteries are placed on a mounting section in a state in which the batteries are isolated from each other by members arranged in a lattice pattern, and a removable frame is provided around the mounting section. As a result, each battery is surrounded by the frame and members, and the batteries are protected from external forces in the vicinity due to collisions, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-219336 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the case of a non-electric vehicle such as a gasoline-powered vehicle, electrical wiring such as conductors can be arranged along the center of the vehicle width of the floor in the front-rear direction. However, in the case of an electric vehicle having the floor structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the battery is arranged in the center of the vehicle width of the floor, the electrical wiring cannot be arranged along the center of the vehicle width of the floor in the front-rear direction, and it is necessary to arrange it by drawing it around in the space between the battery and the side sill. This increases the length of the wiring and increases the weight of the electric vehicle. In addition, since the space between the battery and the side sill is located at the end of the vehicle width, there is a risk that the electrical wiring will be cut by an external force due to a side collision, etc., and there is room for further improvement.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for a floor member that can protect electrical wiring from external forces without increasing the weight of the electric vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One embodiment of a floor member according to the present invention is a floor member arranged to cover a battery that supplies power to a drive source that drives an electric vehicle, and has a plurality of hollow portions extending along the fore-and-aft direction of the electric vehicle, with electrical wiring being inserted into at least one of the plurality of hollow portions.

[0008] According to this embodiment, the electric wiring of the electric vehicle is inserted into at least one hollow portion of the plurality of central portions, so there is no need to route the electric wiring through the space between the battery and the side sill. Therefore, the length of the electric wiring is not increased, and the weight of the electric vehicle is not increased. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of battery units in an electric vehicle. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the floor member according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, a battery unit 1 for a vehicle is mounted at the center in the vehicle width direction of an electric vehicle C and under the floor between the front and rear wheels. The electric vehicle C is an automobile equipped with a rotating electric machine M (one example of a driving source) such as a motor as a driving source for traveling, and examples thereof include a hybrid vehicle (HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a battery vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). The electric vehicle C includes the rotating electric machine M that is driven by power supplied from the battery unit 1, and wheels T to which the power from the rotating electric machine M is transmitted via a reduction mechanism (not shown) or the like. The electric vehicle C travels when power is supplied to the rotating electric machine M and the wheels T rotate.

[0012] [Battery unit configuration] 2, the battery unit 1 includes a battery pack 2 (an example of a battery), a battery case 3, a share panel 4, an energy absorbing section 5, a floor cloth 6, and a floor member 10. In the following, the vehicle width direction of the electric vehicle C is defined as the X direction, the vehicle length direction as the Y direction, and the vehicle height direction as the Z direction (see FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0013] The battery pack 2 includes a plurality of battery modules 2a (four in this embodiment) arranged in parallel along the X direction with a plurality of cells 2b (12 in this embodiment) connected in series, the battery modules 2a being electrically connected along the Y direction. The battery pack 2 is a rechargeable battery (secondary battery) such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery. The battery pack 2 is housed in a battery case 3 consisting of a rectangular frame plate 3a and a bottom plate 3b in a plan view (Z direction view). The frame plate 3a and the bottom plate 3b are made of metal such as iron or aluminum. A share panel 4 is arranged in close contact with the bottom plate 3b on the opposite side of the bottom plate 3b from the battery modules 2a.

[0014] A pair of first flanges 3c extending along the X direction are provided on the frame plate 3a of the battery case 3 at the end in the Y direction and the end opposite to the bottom plate 3b in the Z direction, so as to protrude outward (Y direction) from the frame plate 3a. A pair of second flanges 3d extending along the Y direction are provided on the end in the X direction and in the middle in the Z direction of the frame plate 3a, so as to protrude outward (X direction) from the frame plate 3a. A floor member 10 is placed on the pair of first flanges 3c. That is, the floor member 10 is placed on the battery pack 2 so as to cover the battery pack 2, and is supported by the pair of first flanges 3c. The length of the floor member 10 in the X direction is equal to the width of the frame plate 3a, and the length in the Y direction is equal to the length connecting both ends of the pair of first flanges 3c. The battery case 3 is covered by the floor member 10. A detailed configuration of the floor member 10 will be described later.

[0015] An energy absorbing section 5 is placed on each of the pair of second flanges 3d in close contact with the frame plate 3a. The energy absorbing section 5 is a hollow rectangular tubular member made of metal such as iron or aluminum. In the energy absorbing section 5 of this embodiment, the hollow section is divided into multiple sections (five sections in this embodiment). The energy absorbing section 5 absorbs the component of the external force acting in the X direction by collapsing the hollow sections, thereby suppressing the external force from being transmitted to the battery pack 2. The floor member 10 is disposed between the pair of energy absorbing sections 5.

[0016] On the opposite side of the floor member 10 to the battery case 3, a plurality of (two in this embodiment) floor cloths 6 are arranged in close contact with the floor member 10. The floor cloths 6 are hollow rectangular tubular members extending in the X direction, and are made of metal such as iron or aluminum. In the floor cloths 6 of this embodiment, the hollow portion is divided into a plurality of (two in this embodiment). The two floor cloths 6 are in close contact with the floor member 10 and the pair of energy absorbing parts 5. That is, the length of the floor cloths 6 in the X direction is equal to the length of the floor member 10 in the X direction. The two floor cloths 6 cover a part of the floor member 10 in a plan view. In other words, the floor member 10 can be viewed by removing the interior floor mat, except for the places where the two floor cloths 6 are placed. The floor cloths 6 and the floor member 10 suppress the transmission of external force to the battery pack 2.

[0017] [Configuration of floor components] The floor member 10 is a plate-like member having a rectangular shape in a plan view. The floor member 10 is composed of a central member 12, a pair of first side members 14, and a pair of second side members 16. The central member 12, the pair of first side members 14, and the pair of second side members 16 are arranged in parallel along the X direction, and all extend along the Y direction. The central member 12, the pair of first side members 14, and the pair of second side members 16 are all hollow rectangular tubular members formed of metal such as iron or aluminum.

[0018] Each of the pair of first side members 14 is disposed adjacent to both sides of the central member 12 in the X direction. Each of the pair of second side members 16 is disposed adjacent to each of the pair of first side members 14. That is, the first side member 14 and the second side member 16 are disposed in this order on both sides of the central member 12 in the X direction. The central member 12 and the first side member 14, and the first side member 14 and the second side member 16 are all joined by a method such as welding and integrated as the floor member 10. The central member 12 is disposed in a central region that is the center of the floor member 10 in the X direction, and the first side member 14 and the second side member 16 are disposed in side regions located outside the central region of the floor member 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] The central member 12 has a central hollow portion 12a (one example of a hollow portion) which is a hollow space. The first side member 14 has a first side hollow portion 14a (one example of a hollow portion and a side hollow portion) which is a hollow space. The second side member 16 has a second side hollow portion 16a (one example of a hollow portion and a side hollow portion) which is a hollow space. The central hollow portion 12a, the first side hollow portion 14a, and the second side hollow portion 16a are all through holes extending along the Y direction. The central hollow portion 12a is disposed in the central region, and the pair of first side hollow portions 14a and the pair of second side hollow portions 16a are disposed in the side regions.

[0020] An electric wiring 22 and a coolant pipe 24 are inserted into the central hollow portion 12a of the central member 12 of the floor member 10. The electric wiring 22 is a wiring that supplies power to a rotating electric machine (not shown) at the front of the electric vehicle C when the electric power generated by the battery unit 1 is taken out from the rear of the electric vehicle C, or supplies power to a rotating electric machine M (see FIG. 1) at the rear of the electric vehicle C when the electric power generated by the battery unit 1 is taken out from the front of the electric vehicle C. The coolant pipe 24 is a pipe that supplies cooling water that cools a power conversion module 26 (an example of a heating element, see FIG. 1) including an inverter that drives the rotating electric machine M.

[0021] By inserting the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 of the electric vehicle C into the central hollow portion 12a, it is not necessary to route the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 in the space between the battery and the side sill. Therefore, the length of the electric wiring 22 and the length of the coolant pipe 24 are not long, so the weight of the electric vehicle C does not increase. In addition, the central hollow portion 12a is located in the center of the electric vehicle C in the X direction (the central region of the floor member 10), and the second side hollow portion 16a is divided into three hollow portions. As a result, even if an external force due to a collision or the like acts on the battery unit 1 from the side, the energy absorbing portion 5, the first side member 14, and the second side member 16 absorb the external force, so that the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 inserted into the central hollow portion 12a are unlikely to be cut or damaged. Furthermore, since a floor cloth 6 extending in the X direction is disposed on the floor member 10, external forces are received by the floor cloth 6 and the floor member 10, and the external forces are prevented from being transmitted to the battery pack 2.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the floor member 10 is disposed on the battery pack 2. In this embodiment, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, the central hollow portion 12a of the central member 12 is configured to allow cold air for cooling the vehicle interior to flow. In addition, the first side hollow portion 14a of the first side member 14 and the second side hollow portion 16a of the second side member 16 are configured to allow hot air for heating the vehicle interior to flow. When cold air is to be circulated, outside air introduced into the air duct 32 of the electric vehicle C is cooled by the refrigerant in the evaporator 34, and the flow path toward the heater core 36 is closed by the air mix door 38, so that the cold air is supplied only to the central hollow portion 12a. Conversely, when warm air is to be circulated, the air mix door 38 is opened so that the dehumidified outside air that has passed through the evaporator 34 is supplied to the heater core 36, where it is heated, and the warm air is supplied to the first side hollow portion 14a and the second side hollow portion 16a. Since the configuration for cooling and heating the outside air is well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0023] In this embodiment, each of the battery modules 2a has a plurality of cells 2b arranged in parallel along the X direction, and is heated by power generation. In this case, the cells 2b arranged in the center of the battery module 2a, i.e., at a position facing the central region of the floor member 10, tend to increase in temperature more easily than the cells 2b arranged at the ends of the battery module 2a. If the cells 2b at a specific location overheat, the battery pack 2 as a whole cannot perform its functions. Therefore, in the floor member 10 of this embodiment, by circulating cold air through the central hollow portion 12a of the central member 12, heat exchange occurs between the cold air and the central cell 2b, and the temperature rise of the central cell 2b can be suppressed.

[0024] During start-up in cold regions, it is necessary to raise the temperature of each cell 2b early in order to maximize the performance of the battery pack 2. At this time, the cells 2b arranged at the ends of the battery module 2a are more difficult to increase in temperature due to the influence of low-temperature outside air than the cells 2b arranged in the center of the battery module 2a. Therefore, in the floor member 10 of this embodiment, by circulating hot air through the first side hollow portion 14a of the first side member 14 and the second side hollow portion 16a of the second side member 16, heat exchange occurs between the hot air and the cells 2b at the ends, and the temperature of the cells 2b at the ends can be raised in a short time.

[0025] [Another embodiment] The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the above-described embodiment.

[0026] <1> In the above embodiment, the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 of the electric vehicle C are inserted through the central hollow portion 12a. However, other than this, for example, a brake pipe through which brake oil flows may also be inserted.

[0027] <2> In the above embodiment, the central hollow portion 12a is one space through which the electrical wiring 22 and the cooling liquid pipe 24 are inserted, but the central hollow portion 12a may be divided into two spaces through which the electrical wiring 22 and the cooling liquid pipe 24 are inserted. In addition, when a brake pipe is inserted through the central hollow portion 12a, the central hollow portion 12a may be divided into three spaces.

[0028] <3> In the above embodiment, the electrical wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 are inserted through the central hollow portion 12a, but either one or both may be inserted through the first side hollow portion 14a or the second side hollow portion 16a. In this case, it is preferable that the cold air for cooling the vehicle compartment and the hot air for heating the vehicle compartment are circulated through hollow portions other than the hollow portions through which the electrical wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 are inserted. With this configuration, temperature changes of the cold air and the hot air caused by heat generation of the electrical wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 are suppressed.

[0029] <4> In the above embodiment, hot air was circulated through both the first side hollow portion 14a and the second side hollow portion 16a, but it may also be configured so that hot air is circulated through only one of the first side hollow portion 14a and the second side hollow portion 16a.

[0030] <5> In the above embodiment, the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 are inserted through the central hollow portion 12a, and cold air for cooling the vehicle interior flows through the central hollow portion 12a, but this is not limited thereto. When the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 are inserted through the central hollow portion 12a, the cold air for cooling the vehicle interior may be configured to flow through hollow portions other than the central hollow portion 12a, i.e., either or both of the first side hollow portion 14a and the second side hollow portion 16a. With this configuration, even if the electric wiring 22 and the coolant pipe 24 generate heat in the central hollow portion 12a, the temperature change of the cold air caused by the heat generation is suppressed.

[0031] In the embodiment of the floor element 10 described above, the following configurations are envisaged.

[0032] (1) One embodiment of the floor member 10 is a floor member 10 arranged to cover a battery (battery pack 2) that supplies power to a driving source (rotating electric machine M) that drives an electric vehicle C, and has a plurality of hollow portions (a central hollow portion 12a, a first side hollow portion 14a, a second side hollow portion 16a) extending along the fore-and-aft direction of the electric vehicle C, and an electrical wiring 22 is inserted into at least one of the plurality of hollow portions (the central hollow portion 12a, the first side hollow portion 14a, the second side hollow portion 16a).

[0033] In this embodiment, the electric wiring 22 of the electric vehicle C is inserted into at least one of the hollow portions (the central hollow portion 12a, the first side hollow portion 14a, and the second side hollow portion 16a) among the multiple hollow portions (the central hollow portion 12a, the first side hollow portion 14a, and the second side hollow portion 16a), so that it is not necessary to route the electric wiring 22 in the space between the battery (the battery pack 2) and the side sill. Therefore, the wiring length of the electric wiring 22 is not long, so that the weight of the electric vehicle C does not increase. In addition, when the electric wiring 22 is inserted into the hollow portion (the central hollow portion 12a) arranged in the center of the electric vehicle C in the X direction (the central region of the floor member 10), the electric wiring 22 is unlikely to be cut or damaged even if an external force due to a side collision or the like acts on the floor member 10.

[0034] (2) In (1), it is preferable that a pipe (coolant pipe 24) for circulating a coolant capable of cooling a heating element (power conversion module 26) mounted on the electric vehicle C in the fore-and-aft direction is inserted into at least one of the multiple hollow portions (central hollow portion 12a, first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a).

[0035] According to this, by inserting the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) of the electric vehicle C into at least one of the hollow parts (the central hollow part 12a, the first side hollow part 14a, and the second side hollow part 16a) among the multiple hollow parts (the central hollow part 12a, the first side hollow part 14a, and the second side hollow part 16a), it is not necessary to route the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) in the space between the battery (battery pack 2) and the side sill. Therefore, since the length of the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) is not long, the weight of the electric vehicle C does not increase, and heat energy loss can be reduced. In addition, when the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) is inserted into the hollow part (the central hollow part 12a) arranged in the center of the electric vehicle C in the X direction (the central region of the floor member 10), the cooling liquid pipe 24 is unlikely to be cut or damaged even if an external force due to a side collision or the like acts on the floor member 10.

[0036] (3) In (2), among the multiple hollow portions (central hollow portion 12a, first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a), the central hollow portion 12a arranged in the central region in the vehicle width direction of the electric vehicle C is configured to allow cold air to flow for cooling the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle C, and it is preferable that the electrical wiring 22 and piping (coolant pipe 24) are inserted into hollow portions (first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a) other than the central hollow portion 12a.

[0037] The battery (battery pack 2) is configured with a plurality of cells 2b arranged in parallel, and the battery (battery pack 2) is heated by power generation. In this case, the cell 2b arranged in the center of the battery (battery pack 2), i.e., at a position facing the central region of the floor member 10, is more likely to rise in temperature than the cell 2b arranged at the end. If a specific cell 2b overheats, the battery (battery pack 2) as a whole cannot perform its performance. With this configuration, by circulating cold air through the central hollow portion 12a, heat exchange can be performed between the cold air and the cell 2b located in the center, so that it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the central cell 2b. In addition, since the electrical wiring 22 and the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) are inserted into hollow portions (the first side hollow portion 14a, the second side hollow portion 16a) other than the central hollow portion 12a, the temperature change of the cold air caused by the heat generation of the electrical wiring 22 and the piping (the cooling liquid pipe 24) is suppressed.

[0038] (4) In (2), among the multiple hollow portions (central hollow portion 12a, first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a), the lateral hollow portions (first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a) arranged in the lateral regions in the vehicle width direction excluding the central region in the vehicle width direction of the electric vehicle C are configured to allow warm air for heating the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle C to flow, and it is preferable that the electrical wiring 22 and piping (coolant pipe 24) are inserted into a hollow portion (central hollow portion 12a) other than the lateral hollow portions (first lateral hollow portion 14a, second lateral hollow portion 16a).

[0039] When starting the vehicle in cold regions, it is necessary to raise the temperature of each cell 2b early in order to make the battery (battery pack 2) perform its best. At this time, the cells 2b arranged at the ends of the battery (battery pack 2) are less likely to rise in temperature due to the influence of low-temperature outside air than the cells 2b arranged in the center. With this configuration, by circulating hot air through the side hollows (first side hollow 14a, second side hollow 16a) arranged in the side regions in the vehicle width direction excluding the center region, heat exchange can be performed between the hot air and the cells 2b at the ends, so that the temperature of the cells 2b at the ends can be raised in a short time. In addition, since the electrical wiring 22 and the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) are inserted into a hollow portion (central hollow 12a) other than the side hollow portions (first side hollow 14a, second side hollow 16a), the temperature change of the hot air due to heat generation of the electrical wiring 22 and the piping (cooling liquid pipe 24) is suppressed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0040] The present invention can be utilized in a floor member that is placed above a battery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 2: battery pack (battery), 10: floor member, 12: central member, 12a: central hollow portion (hollow portion), 14: first side member, 14a: first side hollow portion (hollow portion, side hollow portion), 16: second side member, 16a: second side hollow portion (hollow portion, side hollow portion), 22: electrical wiring, 24: cooling liquid pipe (piping), 26: power conversion module (heat generating element), C: electric vehicle, M: rotating electric machine (drive source)

Claims

1. A floor member arranged to cover a battery that supplies power to a drive source that drives an electric vehicle, a plurality of hollow portions extending along a front-rear direction of the electric vehicle; A floor member having electrical wiring inserted into at least one of the plurality of hollow portions.

2. The floor member according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of hollow portions has a pipe inserted therethrough for circulating a coolant capable of cooling a heat generating element mounted on the electric vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction.

3. a central hollow portion disposed in a central region in a vehicle width direction of the electric vehicle among the plurality of hollow portions is configured to allow cool air for cooling a vehicle compartment of the electric vehicle to flow therethrough; The floor member of claim 2 , wherein the electrical wiring and the piping are inserted through a cavity separate from the central cavity.

4. a side hollow portion disposed in a side region in the vehicle width direction excluding a central region in the vehicle width direction of the electric vehicle among the plurality of hollow portions is configured to allow hot air for heating a vehicle compartment of the electric vehicle to flow through the side hollow portions; The floor member according to claim 2 , wherein the electrical wiring and the piping are inserted through the hollow portion separate from the side hollow portion.

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