vehicle

Abstract

To facilitate battery replacement in vehicles equipped with side guards. [Solution] The vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle frame 10 extending in the front-rear direction, a replaceable first battery 20L provided on the side of the vehicle frame 10 in the vehicle width direction, a support portion 30L connected to the vehicle frame 10 and supporting the first battery 20L, and a plurality of side guards 40L provided at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction, outward from the first battery 20L in the vehicle width direction. The plurality of side guards 40L include a first side guard 42L supported on a support surface of the support portion 30L parallel to the front-rear direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having side guards.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as trucks have side guards to prevent pedestrians, bicycles, etc. from being involved. The side guard disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is provided along the front-rear direction on the outside of the vehicle body frame.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, when the remaining amount of the battery provided in the vehicle body frame decreases, a method of replacing it with a fully charged battery has been proposed from the viewpoint of shortening the charging time, etc. However, when a side guard is provided on the vehicle, the battery contacts the side guard during replacement, so the replacement work cannot be carried out smoothly.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to enable easy replacement of the battery in a vehicle having side guards.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle is provided comprising: a vehicle frame extending in the front-rear direction; a replaceable first battery provided on the side surface of the vehicle frame in the vehicle width direction; a support portion connected to the vehicle frame and supporting the first battery; and a plurality of side guards provided at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction, outward from the first battery in the vehicle width direction, wherein the plurality of side guards include a first side guard supported on a support surface of the support portion parallel to the front-rear direction.

[0007] Furthermore, the length of the first side guard in the front-to-rear direction may be smaller than the length of the first battery in the front-to-rear direction.

[0008] Furthermore, the support portion may be movable along a rail provided parallel to the vehicle width direction while supporting the first battery.

[0009] Furthermore, the support portion may be further provided with a plurality of fixing brackets fixed to the support surface, and the first side guard may be fixed to the plurality of fixing brackets.

[0010] Furthermore, the multiple side guards may be provided at the same position in the vehicle height direction.

[0011] Furthermore, the vehicle may further include a bodywork supported on the vehicle frame, and the plurality of side guards may include a second side guard supported on a stay extending from the bodywork.

[0012] Furthermore, the vehicle may further include a second battery supported by the vehicle frame, and the second side guard may further include a first stay provided at a position corresponding to the second battery in the front-rear direction, provided in front of the second battery in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction, supporting one end of the second side guard, and a second stay provided in rear of the second battery in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction, supporting the other end of the second side guard.

[0013] Furthermore, the vehicle may further include a charging box supported by the vehicle frame, and the second side guard may further include a first stay provided at a position corresponding to the charging box in the front-rear direction, located in front of the charging box in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction, supporting one end of the second side guard, and a second stay provided in rear of the charging box in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction, supporting the other end of the second side guard. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the battery can be easily replaced in vehicles equipped with side guards. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the surrounding configuration of the left side guard 40L of vehicle 1. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the state after the first Battery 20L has been moved. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the support structure of the first side guard 42L to the support section 30L. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the side guard 140 related to the comparative example. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram showing the surrounding configuration of the right-side guard 40R of vehicle 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] <Vehicle Configuration> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the surrounding configuration of the left side guard 40L of vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 has a frame structure, and in this example it is a truck. Vehicle 1 is a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) in which power is supplied from a battery to the drive motor.

[0017] The vehicle 1 has side guards for preventing the entanglement of pedestrians, bicycles, etc. However, the side guards of this embodiment are divided. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 has a vehicle body frame 10, a mounting 15, a first battery 20L, a second battery 25, a support portion 30L, and a side guard 40L.

[0018] The vehicle body frame 10 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. Specifically, the vehicle body frame 10 is a pair of side frames extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. The pair of side frames are connected to a cross member extending in the vehicle width direction. For example, a driving motor, a cab, etc. are supported by the vehicle body frame 10.

[0019] The mounting 15 is supported by the vehicle body frame 10. The mounting 15 is located behind the cab in the vehicle body frame 10. The mounting 15 is, for example, a loading platform and is supported on the upper surface of the vehicle body frame 10.

[0020] The first battery 20L is provided on the side surface in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body frame 10. The first battery 20L is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The first battery 20L supplies power to, for example, a driving motor. Here, two first batteries 20L are provided at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction.

[0021] The first battery 20L is a replaceable battery. For example, when the remaining amount of the first battery 20L decreases, it is replaced with a new first battery 20L (for example, a fully charged first battery 20L) at an exchange station.

[0022] The second battery 25 is supported by the vehicle body frame 10. The second battery 25 is, for example, a lead battery and supplies power to the auxiliary equipment of the vehicle 1. Different from the first battery 20L, the second battery 25 is not replaced at an exchange station.

[0023] The support section 30L supports the first battery 20L. Similar to the first battery 20L, there are two support sections 30L, but the configuration of the two support sections 30L is identical. The support section 30L is located below the first battery 20L and is connected to the vehicle frame 10. The support section 30L is flat and supports the bottom surface of the first battery 20L. The support section 30L is movable in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, while supporting the first battery 20L, the support section 30L can move along rails provided parallel to the vehicle width direction. Rails are provided on both sides of the support section 30L, and the support section 30L slides along the rails.

[0024] Figure 2 shows the state in which the first battery 20L has moved. The support unit 30L moves outward in the vehicle width direction along the rail 36 to the replacement position of the first battery 20L shown in Figure 2. Here, the support unit 30L is moved to the replacement position by an arm 70 provided on the replacement station. When the support unit 30L is in the replacement position, the first battery 20L is replaced.

[0025] The side guards 40L prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects from getting caught in the vehicle. For example, the side guards 40L are installed between the front and rear wheels of vehicle 1 to prevent pedestrians and other objects from getting caught in the rear wheels. Multiple side guards 40L are installed at predetermined intervals along the front-to-rear direction, outward from the first battery 20L and the second battery 25 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, multiple side guards 40L are installed at the same position in the vehicle height direction.

[0026] The multiple side guards 40L include a first side guard 42L, a second side guard 44L, and a third side guard 46L, as shown in Figure 1. The first side guard 42L is positioned in the front-to-rear direction to correspond to the first battery 20L. Specifically, the first side guard 42L is positioned opposite the support portion 30L that supports the first battery 20L. Since there are two first batteries 20L, there are also two first side guards 42L. The configuration of the two first side guards 42L is identical.

[0027] The first side guard 42L is supported by the support portion 30L. Specifically, the first side guard 42L is supported by a support surface parallel to the front-rear direction of the support portion 30L. Therefore, the first side guard 42L moves together with the support portion 30L when the support portion 30L moves. The first side guard 42L is located below the first battery 20L in the vehicle height direction. As a result, the first battery 20L does not interfere with the first side guard 42L when replacing the first battery 20L, allowing the operator to replace the first battery 20L smoothly.

[0028] Figure 3 shows the support structure of the first side guard 42L to the support portion 30L. Multiple (two as an example) fixing brackets 32 are provided on the support surface 31 of the support portion 30L. The support surface 31 is the outer surface in the vehicle width direction among the surfaces of the support portion 30L that are parallel to the front-rear direction. Multiple fixing brackets 32 are fixed to the support surface 31 of the support portion 30L. The first side guard 42L is fixed to the multiple fixing brackets 32. Specifically, the first side guard 42L is fixed to the fixing brackets 32 by fastening members (e.g., screws) 34 being screwed into the screw holes of the fixing brackets 32. The fixing brackets 32 are, but are not limited to, a so-called hat shape in order to secure space for the fastening members 34 to screw into the screw holes.

[0029] Returning to Figure 1, the length of the first side guard 42L in the front-to-rear direction is smaller than the length of the first battery 20L in the front-to-rear direction. Specifically, the length of the first side guard 42L in the front-to-rear direction is the same as the length of the support part 30L in the front-to-rear direction. This prevents the arm 70 (Figure 2) from coming into contact with the first side guard 42L when the arm 70 moves the support part 30L to the replacement position.

[0030] The second side guard 44L is positioned in the front-to-rear direction to correspond to the second battery 25. In the vehicle height direction, the second side guard 44L is located below the second battery 25. The height of the second side guard 44L in the vehicle height direction is the same as the height of the first side guard 42L in the vehicle height direction. As a result, when an operator removes the upper case of the second battery 25 to perform inspection or other work, the second side guard 44L is positioned so as not to obstruct the work, allowing the operator to perform the work smoothly.

[0031] The second side guard 44L is supported by a first stay 50 and a second stay 52 extending from the body 15. The first stay 50 supports one end of the second side guard 44L. The second stay 52 supports the other end of the second side guard 44L. In this way, both ends of the second side guard 44L are supported by the first stay 50 and the second stay 52, so that the second side guard 44L is stably supported even when it is separated from the body 15.

[0032] The first stay 50 is positioned in front of the second battery 25 in the longitudinal direction and along the vehicle height direction. The second stay 52 is positioned behind the second battery 25 in the longitudinal direction and along the vehicle height direction. As a result, the first stay 50 and the second stay 52 are positioned away from the second battery 25 in the longitudinal direction, making it easier for workers to perform inspection work on the second battery 25.

[0033] In the above description, the second side guard 44L is assumed to be supported by the first stay 50 and the second stay 52, but this is not limited to this. For example, the second side guard 44L may be supported by a single stay extending from the bodywork 15.

[0034] The third side guard 46L is provided in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 in areas where the first side guard 42L and the second side guard 44L are not provided. Here, the third side guard 46L is provided between the two first side guards 42L and between the first side guard 42L and the rear wheel. This allows the divided side guards to be positioned over a wide area in the longitudinal direction, preventing pedestrians and other objects from being caught in the vehicle. The third side guard 46L is supported by a stay 53 extending from the bodywork 15.

[0035] In this embodiment, since the side guard 40L is divided into multiple parts, when the support part 30L that supports the first battery 20L is moved, the first battery 20L and the support part 30L do not come into contact with the first side guard 42L, so that the first battery 20L can be easily replaced.

[0036] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the side guard 140 of the comparative example. The side guard 140 of the comparative example is not divided, but is a single rod extending in the front-to-back direction. In this case, when moving the support part 30L that supports the first battery 20L, the first battery 20L comes into contact with the side guard 140, making it impossible to move the support part 30L to the replacement position. In order to move the support part 30L to the replacement position, it is necessary to remove the side guard 140. In contrast, in this embodiment, the side guard 40L is divided, and the first side guard 42L at the position corresponding to the first battery 20L is supported by the support part 30L. Therefore, when the support part 30L is moved to the replacement position, the first battery 20L does not come into contact with the first side guard 42L.

[0037] The above describes the configuration of the left side of the vehicle frame 10, but the configuration of the right side of the vehicle frame 10 is similar. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the surrounding configuration of the right-side side guard 40R of vehicle 1. The right side of the vehicle frame 10 is provided with the first battery 20R, the charging box 28, the support part 30R, and the side guard 40R.

[0038] The configuration of the first battery 20R and support part 30R is the same as that of the first battery 20L and support part 30L shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the support part 30R can also be moved in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 2, in order to replace the first battery 20L.

[0039] The charging box 28 is, for example, a box for charging the first battery 20R. The charging box 28 is supported by the vehicle frame 10. The charging box 28 is located on the opposite side of the second battery 25 when viewed from the vehicle frame 10. The first battery 20R is charged when a charging gun is attached to the charging box 28.

[0040] The side guard 40R, like the side guard 40L on the left side of the vehicle frame 10, is divided into a first side guard 42R, a second side guard 44R, and a third side guard 46R. This allows for smooth replacement of the first battery 20R even on the left side of the vehicle frame 10. In particular, because the first side guard 42R is supported by the support part 30R, it is possible to prevent the first side guard 42R from getting in the way when the support part 30R is moved by the arm 70 (Figure 2) to replace the first battery 20R.

[0041] The second side guard 44R is positioned in the front-to-rear direction to correspond to the charging box 28. In the vehicle height direction, the second side guard 44R is located below the charging box 28. This prevents the door of the charging box 28 from coming into contact with the second side guard 44L when the operator opens and closes the door, thus enabling smooth charging operations.

[0042] The second side guard 44R is supported by a first stay 55 and a second stay 57 extending from the body 15. The first stay 55 supports one end of the second side guard 44R. The second stay 57 supports the other end of the second side guard 44R. In this way, both ends of the second side guard 44R are supported by the first stay 55 and the second stay 57, so that the second side guard 44R is stably supported even when it is separated from the body 15.

[0043] The first stay 55 is provided in front of the charging box 28 in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction. The second stay 57 is provided in rear of the charging box 28 in the front-rear direction and along the vehicle height direction. The second stay 57 is formed in an L shape, and the portion extending in the front-rear direction is connected to the first stay 55. This portion is located above the charging box 28 in the vehicle height direction. As a result, the first stay 55 and the second stay 57 are positioned away from the charging box 28, making it easier for the operator to perform charging work.

[0044] The third side guard 46R is provided in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 where the first side guard 42R and the second side guard 44R are not provided. The third side guard 46R is supported by a stay 58 extending from the bodywork 15.

[0045] <Effects of this embodiment> The vehicle 1 of the above-described embodiment includes a replaceable first battery 20L provided on the side of the vehicle body frame 10 in the vehicle width direction, a support portion 30L supporting the first battery 20L, and a plurality of side guards 40L provided at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction, outward from the first battery 20L in the vehicle width direction. The plurality of side guards 40L include a first side guard 42L supported on a support surface 31 parallel to the front-rear direction of the support portion 30L. As a result, the first side guard 42L, which is part of the divided side guard, is supported by the support part 30L, so there is no risk of the first battery 20L coming into contact with the first side guard 42L when replacing the first battery 20L. Therefore, the operator can smoothly replace the first battery 20L while the first side guard 42L is supported by the support part 30L.

[0046] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0047] 1 vehicle 10. Vehicle frame 15. Bodywork 20L, 20R 1st Battery 25 Second Battery 30L, 30R support part 32 Fixing brackets 40L, 40R Side Guards 42L, 42R 1st side guard 44L, 44R Second side guard 50 First Stage 52 Second Stage

Claims

1. The vehicle frame extends in the front-to-back direction, A replaceable first battery is provided on the side of the vehicle body frame in the vehicle width direction, A support portion connected to the vehicle frame and supporting the first battery, In the vehicle width direction, a plurality of side guards are provided outward from the first battery and at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction, Equipped with, A vehicle in which the plurality of side guards include a first side guard supported on a support surface of the support portion parallel to the front-rear direction.

2. The length of the first side guard in the front-to-rear direction is smaller than the length of the first battery in the front-to-rear direction. The vehicle according to claim 1.

3. The support portion is movable along a rail provided parallel to the vehicle width direction while supporting the first battery. The vehicle according to claim 1.

4. The support portion further comprises a plurality of fixing brackets fixed to the support surface, The first side guard is fixed to the plurality of fixing brackets, The vehicle according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned multiple side guards are provided at the same position in the vehicle height direction. The vehicle according to claim 1.

6. The vehicle body frame is further equipped with a body support, The plurality of side guards include a second side guard supported by a stay extending from the mounting, The vehicle according to claim 1.

7. The vehicle further comprises a second battery supported by the aforementioned vehicle frame, The second side guard is provided at a position corresponding to the second battery in the front-rear direction, A first stay is provided in the direction of the vehicle height, in front of the second battery in the front-rear direction, and supports one end of the second side guard, The system further includes a second stay, which is provided along the vehicle height direction and is located behind the second battery in the front-rear direction, and supports the other end of the second side guard. The vehicle according to claim 6.

8. The vehicle body frame is further equipped with a charging box, The second side guard is provided at a position corresponding to the charging box in the front-rear direction, A first stay is provided in the direction of the vehicle height, in front of the charging box in the front-rear direction, and supports one end of the second side guard, The system further includes a second stay, which is provided along the vehicle height direction at the rearward side of the charging box and supports the other end of the second side guard. The vehicle according to claim 6.

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