Battery mounting structure for electric vehicle

Abstract

To provide a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle capable of protecting a battery from foreign objects and facilitating battery replacement work without damaging an exterior member.SOLUTION: An electric vehicle 1 includes: a pair of left and right side members 2 that are disposed below an end of a step member 20 in the vehicle width direction and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction; a cross member 4 extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the side member 2; a storage case 18 that is disposed in storage spaces 16, 17 surrounded by the side member 2 and the cross member 4 below the step member 20, and stores a battery 24 in a detachable manner; and a slide rail that connects the cross member 4 and the storage case 18 and expands and contracts in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The storage case 18 moves to a position below the storage spaces 16, 17 as the slide rail 23 extends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an electric vehicle in which a floor on which a passenger places his / her feet is provided below and in front of a seat on which the passenger sits, and a storage section for storing a battery is provided below the floor. In this electric vehicle, the storage section is configured as a recess that opens upward, and the opening of the recess can be opened and closed by a lid member that forms at least a part of the floor. In addition, a grip is provided at the end of the battery in the front-rear direction. In the electric vehicle described in Patent Document 1, when removing the battery, the lid member is removed from the storage section, the connector is removed, and the battery is pulled upward by gripping the grip. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-230483 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the battery is removed upward from a storage section below the floor, so there is a risk that the removed battery may come into contact with an exterior member such as a leg shield above the floor and damage the exterior member. Therefore, there is a problem that the battery removal work needs to be performed carefully and cannot be performed easily. In addition, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the cover member constitutes a part of the floor, so there is a risk that foreign matter such as mud or water attached to the floor may enter the storage section when the battery is removed.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle that can protect the battery from foreign objects and facilitate battery replacement work without damaging the exterior members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle comprising a step member on which a passenger places their feet, and an exterior member that is arranged above the step member in the vertical direction of the vehicle and forms the outer surface of the vehicle body, the structure comprising a pair of left and right side members that are arranged below the vehicle width end portions of the step member and extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the side members, a storage case that is arranged in a storage space surrounded by the side members and the cross member below the step member and that stores a battery in a removably manner, and a slide rail that connects the cross member and the storage case and expands and contracts in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the storage case moves to a position below the storage space as the slide rail extends. Effect of the Invention

[0007] In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle that can protect the battery from foreign objects falling from the step member and allows battery replacement work to be easily performed without damaging the exterior member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of an electric vehicle equipped with a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electric vehicle equipped with a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, with a step member removed. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a battery storage case is disposed in an accommodation space of an electric vehicle equipped with a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, with a lower end panel removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle including a battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the battery storage case moved to a lower position in the storage space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a step member on which a rider places his / her feet, and an exterior member that is arranged above the step member in the vertical direction of the vehicle and forms the outer surface of the vehicle body, the battery mounting structure includes a pair of left and right side members that are arranged below the ends of the step member in the vehicle width direction and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the side members, a storage case that is arranged in a storage space surrounded by the side members and the cross member below the step member and that detachably stores the battery, and a slide rail that connects the cross member and the storage case and expands and contracts in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the storage case moving to a position below the storage space as the slide rail extends. As a result, the battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention can protect the battery from foreign objects that fall from the step member, and allows the battery to be easily replaced without damaging the exterior member. EXAMPLES

[0010] Hereinafter, a battery mounting structure of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 are diagrams for explaining the battery mounting structure of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric vehicle according to this embodiment may be, for example, a senior car for elderly people that can travel at a low speed, such as walking speed, or a specific small motorized bicycle. In Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, the up, down, left and right directions indicate the directions as seen by a passenger in the vehicle.

[0011] 1, the electric vehicle 1 includes a step member 20 on which a rider places his / her feet, and an exterior member 12 that constitutes the outer surface of the vehicle body and is disposed above the step member 20 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The exterior member 12 is a member that prevents the wind from blowing directly around the legs of the rider while the vehicle is traveling, and is also called a leg shield, for example.

[0012] The electric vehicle 1 is provided with a pair of left and right side members 2 arranged below the ends of the step members 20 in the vehicle width direction and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and three cross members (a front cross member 3, a middle cross member 4, and a rear cross member 5) extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the left and right side members 2. The side members 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5 form a frame (skeleton) that bears the load acting on the vehicle body.

[0013] The electric vehicle 1 has left and right front wheels 8 as steering wheels, and left and right rear wheels 9 as drive wheels. The front wheels 8 are connected to a steering shaft 7 via a steering mechanism (not shown). A handlebar 6 is connected to the upper end of the steering shaft 7. A rider can steer the front wheels 8 by turning the handlebar 6.

[0014] The exterior member 12 is disposed rearward of the steering shaft 7 and covers the steering shaft 7 from the rear. A front panel 11 is disposed in front of the steering shaft 7 and covers the steering shaft 7 from the front.

[0015] A motor and a differential device (not shown) are disposed between the left and right rear wheels 9. The rotation of the motor is transmitted to the left and right rear wheels 9 via the differential device. In other words, the driving force of one motor is distributed by the differential device to drive the left and right rear wheels 9. Note that, with regard to the drive device, two motors may be used to drive the left and right rear wheels 9, respectively. By controlling the drive of the left rear wheel 9 and the right rear wheel 9 with independent drive motors, the turning performance of the electric vehicle 1 can be improved, so that even if multiple heavy batteries 24 are disposed in the accommodation spaces 16, 17 below the step members 20, the mobility of the electric vehicle 1 is not impaired.

[0016] A luggage rack 13 is disposed above the rear wheels 9. A seat 15 on which a passenger sits is connected to the front end of the luggage rack 13 via legs 14.

[0017] Storage spaces 16, 17 are provided below the step member 20 at a position surrounded by the side members 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5. The storage space 16 is provided in front of the middle cross member 4, and is located between the front cross member 3 and the middle cross member 4 in the front-rear direction, and between the left and right side members 2 in the left-right direction. The storage space 17 is provided behind the middle cross member 4, and is located between the middle cross member 4 and the rear cross member 5 in the front-rear direction, and between the left and right side members 2 in the left-right direction. A storage case 18 is accommodated in the storage spaces 16, 17. A battery 24 is detachably accommodated in each storage case 18. In other words, the middle cross member 4 is arranged between the batteries 24 arranged in the front and rear.

[0018] The storage spaces 16, 17 are covered from above by a step member 20, from the left and right sides by side members 21, and from below by a lower end panel 22. The side member 21 is fixed to the inside in the left-right direction of the side member 2. The side member 21 may be formed integrally with the step member 20. The lower end panel 22 is detachably fixed to the side member 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5.

[0019] 2 and 3, the electric vehicle 1 is equipped with slide rails 23 that extend and retract in the up-down direction of the vehicle. The slide rails 23 connect the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5 to the storage case 18. In other words, the storage case 18 is attached to the slide rails 23 so as to be movable in the up-down direction relative to the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5.

[0020] 4, the slide rails 23 extend, and the storage case 18 moves to a position below the storage spaces 16 and 17. More specifically, the slide rails 23 are provided with a locking mechanism (not shown) for maintaining the retracted state. When the locking mechanism for the slide rails 23 is released, the slide rails 23 begin to extend, the storage case 18 moves downward, and the slide rails 23 assume an extended state. When the storage case 18 is lifted and returned to the storage spaces 16 and 17, the locking mechanism is activated, the slide rails 23 are maintained in the retracted state, and the storage case 18 is maintained in the storage spaces 16 and 17.

[0021] 1 and 2, the electric vehicle 1 includes a front cross member 3 in front of the storage space 16, which extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the vicinity of the front ends of the left and right side members 2. The electric vehicle 1 also includes a rear cross member 5 behind the storage space 17, which extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the vicinity of the rear ends of the left and right side members 2.

[0022] The storage case 18 for the storage space 16 has its front end attached to the front cross member 3 via a slide rail 23 so as to be vertically movable, and its rear end attached to the middle cross member 4 via a slide rail 23 so as to be vertically movable. The storage case 18 for the storage space 17 has its front end attached to the middle cross member 4 via a slide rail 23 so as to be vertically movable, and its rear end connected to the rear cross member 5 via the slide rail 23 so as to be vertically movable.

[0023] 2, 3, and 4, storage case 18 has a lid member 18A that can be opened and closed. Lid member 18A is disposed at the left end of storage case 18 in the vehicle width direction, and forms the left side surface of storage case 18. The upper end of lid member 18A is connected to the left end of the top surface of storage case 18 via hinge 18B.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the cover member 18A can move upward by rotating the axis of the hinge 18B attached to the upper part as a rotation center, and the storage case 18 can be opened. When the cover member 18A rotates, an opening 18C appears through which the battery 24 passes when putting it in and taking it out of the storage case 18. When the cover member 18A is closed, the battery 24 is fixed to the storage case 18. For example, the cover member 18A is provided with an engagement portion (not shown) that engages with the battery 24, and when the cover member 18A is closed, the engagement portion engages with the battery 24, and the battery 24 is fixed to the storage case 18, preventing the battery 24 from moving inside the storage case 18. When the cover member 18A is closed, the storage case 18 is sealed liquid-tight. For example, the cover member 18A is provided with a gasket (not shown), and when the cover member 18A is closed, the gasket comes into close contact with the storage case 18 to close the opening 18C, and the storage case 18 is sealed liquid-tight.

[0025] When removing the battery 24 from the electric vehicle 1 configured in this manner, first, the lower end panel 22 covering the lower portions of the storage spaces 16, 17 is removed from the side members 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5 to open the lower portions of the storage spaces 16, 17. Then, the locking mechanism of the slide rails 23 is released. This causes the slide rails 23 to extend, and the storage case 18 moves to a position below the storage spaces 16, 17, and moves below the side members 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5, and moves below the lower end of the side member 21. Then, by opening the cover member 18A at the left end of the storage case 18, the battery 24 can be removed to the left from the opening 18C.

[0026] As described above, in this embodiment, the electric vehicle 1 is provided with a pair of left and right side members 2 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, which are disposed below the ends of the step members 20 in the vehicle width direction, a front cross member 3, a middle cross member 4, and a rear cross member 5 extending in the vehicle width direction and connected to the side members 2, a storage case 18 that is disposed in storage spaces 16, 17 surrounded by the side members 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5 below the step members 20 and that detachably stores a battery 24, and a slide rail 23 that connects the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5 to the storage case 18 and expands and contracts in the vehicle up-down direction. The storage case 18 moves to a position below the storage spaces 16, 17 as the slide rail 23 extends.

[0027] As a result, the storage case 18 is housed in the storage space 16, 17 surrounded by the side member 2, the front cross member 3, the middle cross member 4, and the rear cross member 5, and the battery 24 is housed in this storage case 18, so that the battery 24 can be protected from foreign objects.

[0028] In addition, since the battery 24 can be attached to and detached from the storage case 18 at a position below the storage spaces 16, 17, the battery 24 can be replaced without damaging the exterior member 12 which is located above the step member 20 and is easily visible.

[0029] In addition, since the storage case 18 is positioned in the front, rear, left and right directions by the slide rails 23, it can be easily moved to the storage spaces 16, 17 simply by lifting the storage case 18, and since it is no longer necessary to visually position the storage case 18, the battery 24 can be easily replaced.

[0030] As a result, the battery 24 can be protected from foreign objects, and the battery 24 can be easily replaced without damaging the exterior member 12.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the storage case 18 has a lid member 18A that can be opened and closed freely. When the lid member 18A is opened, an opening 18C appears through which the battery 24 passes when it is attached to or detached from the storage case 18. When the lid member 18A is closed, the battery 24 is fixed to the storage case 18 and the storage case 18 is sealed liquid-tight.

[0032] As a result, the battery 24 is fixed to the storage case 18 by closing the lid member 18A, so that the battery 24 can be easily fixed to the storage case 18. In addition, the storage case 18 is liquid-tightly sealed by closing the lid member 18A, so that the waterproofness of the storage case 18 can be easily ensured.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cover member 18A is disposed at the end of the storage case 18 in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] This allows the battery 24 to be attached to and detached from the storage case 18 from the end side in the vehicle width direction where there are no obstacles such as wheels, making it easy to replace the battery 24.

[0035] In this embodiment, the storage spaces 16, 17 are provided in front of and behind the middle cross member 4, respectively, and a lower end panel 22 that covers the storage spaces 16, 17 from below is removably fixed to the middle cross member 4.

[0036] This allows the middle cross member 4 to be provided, improving the frame rigidity of the electric vehicle 1. Since the storage cases 18 housed in the housing spaces 16, 17 are disposed in front and rear of the middle cross member 4, respectively, a plurality of batteries 24 can be disposed below the step member 20. Therefore, each battery 24 can be made small and light, improving the ease of assembly. In particular, since the work of storing each battery 24 in the housing spaces 16, 17 requires lifting at a low position, making the battery 24 small and light can reduce the burden on the user. In addition, since the lower end panel 22 is fixed to the middle cross member 4, the lower end panel 22 can be fixed not only to the front cross member 3 and the rear cross member 5 but also to the center where the middle cross member 4 is located, and the lower end panel 22 can be attached to the vehicle body with good rigidity.

[0037] Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Electric vehicles 2 Side members 3 Front cross member 4 Middle cross member 5 Rear cross member 12 Exterior materials 16 Containment Space 18 Storage Case 18A Lid material 18C opening 20 Step material 22 Bottom Panel 23 Slide rail 24 Battery

Claims

1. A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle including: a step member on which a rider places his / her feet; and an exterior member that is disposed above the step member in a vertical direction of the vehicle and that constitutes an outer surface of a vehicle body, A pair of left and right side members disposed below the vehicle width direction ends of the step members and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction; A cross member extending in a vehicle width direction and connected to the side member; a storage case that is disposed in an accommodation space surrounded by the side members and the cross member below the step member and that detachably stores a battery; a slide rail that connects the cross member and the storage case and expands and contracts in the vertical direction of the vehicle; A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle, wherein the storage case moves to a lower position in the storage space as the slide rail extends.

2. The storage case has a cover member that can be opened and closed freely, When the cover member is opened, an opening appears through which the battery passes when being attached to or detached from the storage case, 2. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery is fixed to the storage case and the storage case is liquid-tightly sealed by closing the lid member.

3. 3. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the cover member is disposed at an end of the storage case in a width direction of the vehicle.

4. The cross member is composed of a front cross member, a middle cross member, and a rear cross member, which are arranged in this order from the front side of the vehicle, The accommodation spaces are provided in front of and behind the middle cross member, 4. A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein a lower end panel covering the storage space from below is removably fixed to the front cross member, the middle cross member and the rear cross member.

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