Battery pack protection structure

Abstract

To provide a battery pack protection structure that can protect the battery pack from impact during a side collision of a vehicle. [Solution] The cover 40 that covers the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 from above and the side has a first cover portion 40A that covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction, and a second cover portion 40B that extends from the first cover portion 40A to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction. The rear surface 42 and front surface 41 of the cover 40 have notches 41A and 42A that are cut out from below in a parabolic shape with the apex at the boundary between the first cover portion 40A and the second cover portion 40B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection structure for a battery pack.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a battery is mounted on a floor panel. The battery is disposed in a space surrounded by a closed cross-section member disposed on the floor panel. An air discharge hole is formed at a predetermined position corresponding to the battery in the closed cross-section member to communicate with the outside of the vehicle. This discloses a cooling structure for a vehicle battery. In this cooling structure for a vehicle battery, the closed cross-section member includes a side sill portion, a plurality of front and rear cross member portions, and a floor tunnel portion, which surround the battery. In addition, a seat fixing portion is provided in the cross member portion, and a seat is disposed above the battery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1, the battery pack may be damaged by the impact during a side collision of the vehicle. That is, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the battery is mounted below the front seat, and the outer end portion of the battery in the vehicle width direction is close to the side end portion of the vehicle. Therefore, the impact during a side collision of the vehicle may act on the battery, and the battery pack may be damaged.

[0005] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a protection structure for a battery pack that can protect the battery pack from the impact during a side collision of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a protective structure for a battery pack in a vehicle, comprising: a floor panel constituting the floor surface of the passenger compartment; a battery pack positioned below the front seat on one side in the vehicle width direction of the upper surface of the floor panel; a bracket covering the battery pack and fixed to the floor panel; an exhaust port formed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the bracket on the floor panel and communicating with the outside of the passenger compartment below the floor panel; a battery connection portion connected to the rear surface of the battery pack; an exhaust port connection portion connected to the exhaust port; and a hose portion connecting the battery connection portion and the exhaust port connection portion, wherein the exhaust port is formed near one side surface in the vehicle width direction of the bracket on the floor panel, and the hose portion is connected to the bracket The bracket extends from the battery connection portion along the rear surface of the bracket in one direction in the vehicle width direction, curves at the position of one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction and extends forward of the vehicle before being connected to the exhaust port connection portion. The bracket and the exhaust duct are covered from above and the side by a cover, the cover having a first cover portion that covers the portion of the bracket and the exhaust duct located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, and a second cover portion that extends from the first cover portion to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket and the exhaust duct located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, the rear and front surfaces of the cover are characterized by having a parabolic notch cut out from below, with the apex at the boundary between the first cover portion and the second cover portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack protection structure that can protect the battery pack from the impact during a side collision of a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle equipped with a battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack and cover equipped with a protective structure for a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery pack equipped with a protective structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a plan view of a battery pack and cover equipped with a battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a rear view of a battery pack and cover equipped with a protective structure for a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a rear view showing the state of a battery pack and cover equipped with a battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention during a side collision with a vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is a battery pack protection structure in a vehicle comprising: a floor panel constituting the floor surface of the passenger compartment; a battery pack positioned below the front seat on one side in the vehicle width direction of the upper surface of the floor panel; a bracket covering the battery pack and fixed to the floor panel; an exhaust port formed on one side in the vehicle width direction of the bracket on the floor panel and communicating with the outside of the passenger compartment below the floor panel; a battery connection portion connected to the rear surface of the battery pack; an exhaust port connection portion connected to the exhaust port; and a hose portion connecting the battery connection portion and the exhaust port connection portion, wherein the exhaust port is formed near one side surface in the vehicle width direction of the bracket on the floor panel. The hose portion extends along the rear surface of the bracket from the battery connection portion in one direction in the vehicle width direction, curves at the position of one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction and extends forward of the vehicle before being connected to the exhaust port connection portion. The bracket and exhaust duct are covered from above and the side by a cover. The cover has a first cover portion that covers the portion of the bracket and exhaust duct located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, and a second cover portion that extends from the first cover portion to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket and exhaust duct located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction. The rear and front surfaces of the cover are characterized by having a parabolic notch cut out from below, with the apex at the boundary between the first cover portion and the second cover portion. Thus, the battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention can protect the battery pack from impact during a side collision of the vehicle. [Examples]

[0010] The following describes a battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 6 show the battery pack protection structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figures 1 to 6, the directions indicated by up, down, right, and left are the directions as viewed from the driver's seat.

[0011] First, let's explain the configuration. In Figure 1, vehicle 1 has a body 2. The body 2 has a floor panel 3, and the floor panel 3 constitutes the floor surface of the passenger compartment 8.

[0012] A floor tunnel 4 extending in the longitudinal direction is provided in the center of the floor panel 3 in the vehicle width direction. The floor tunnel 4 protrudes upward in a trapezoidal shape. Left and right side sills 9L and 9R extending in the longitudinal direction are provided at both ends of the floor panel 3 in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The floor panel 3 is provided with seat cross members 5 and 6 that extend in the vehicle width direction. The seat cross members 5 and 6 support the front seats 7 via seat rails (not shown).

[0014] The seat cross members 5 and 6 are connected to the floor tunnel 4 and the left and right side sills 9L and 9R, respectively, and protrude upward in a trapezoidal shape. The seat cross member 6 is located behind the seat cross member 5.

[0015] The right front seat 7 is located on one side (the right side) of the upper surface of the floor panel 3 in the vehicle width direction. The right side (the right side) of the upper surface of the floor panel 3 in the vehicle width direction refers to the portion of the floor panel 3 enclosed by the floor tunnel 4 and the right side sill 9R. The battery pack 10 is located on the upper surface of the floor panel 3 below the front seat 7.

[0016] The battery pack 10 is located between the front and rear seat cross members 5 and 6. The battery pack 10 is a battery pack composed of multiple battery modules, each consisting of multiple cells (not shown). The battery pack 10 supplies, for example, 48V of power to electrical components and motors of the vehicle 1 (not shown).

[0017] The floor panel 3 has an exhaust port 3A (see FIG. 4). The exhaust port 3A communicates with the outside of the vehicle cabin below the floor panel 3. The exhaust port 3A is formed in the vicinity of one side surface (right side surface) in the vehicle width direction of the bracket 30 on the floor panel 3.

[0018] In FIG. 3, the battery pack 10 is covered by the bracket 30. The bracket 30 is fixed to the floor panel 3.

[0019] In FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the battery pack 10 covered by the bracket 30 is further covered by a resin cover 40.

[0020] In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the bracket 30 has a front surface 31 covering the front surface of the battery pack 10, a rear surface 32 covering the rear surface of the battery pack 10, a left side surface 33 covering the left side surface of the battery pack 10, a right side surface 34 covering the right side surface of the battery pack 10, an upper surface 35 covering the upper surface of the battery pack 10, and a bottom surface 36 covering the bottom surface of the battery pack 10.

[0021] Further, the bracket 30 has a front leg portion 37 fixed to the upper surface of the seat cross member 5, a rear leg portion 38 fixed to the upper surface of the floor panel 3 in the vicinity behind the battery pack 10, and a left leg portion 39 fixed to the upper surface of the floor panel 3 in the vicinity to the left of the battery pack 10.

[0022] Further, the bracket 30 has a lower bracket 30A covering the bottom surface and the lower part of the side surface of the battery pack 10, and an upper bracket 30B covering the upper surface and the upper part of the side surface of the battery pack 10 and overlapping the lower bracket on the side surface of the battery pack 10.

[0023] In Figure 3, a smoke exhaust duct 20 is connected to the battery pack 10, and the smoke exhaust duct 20 discharges the gas generated by the battery pack 10 to the outside of the vehicle. The smoke exhaust duct 20 has a battery connection part 21 connected to the rear of the battery pack 10, an exhaust port connection part 22 connected to the exhaust port 3A, and a hose part 23 connecting the battery connection part 21 and the exhaust port connection part 22. The battery connection part 21 and the exhaust port connection part 22 are made of hard resin, and the hose part 23 is made of rubber.

[0024] The hose section 23 extends from the battery connection section 21 along the rear surface 32 of the bracket 30 in one direction in the vehicle width direction, curves at one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction, extends forward of the vehicle, and is then connected to the exhaust port connection section 22.

[0025] In Figures 2, 4, and 5, the bracket 30 and the smoke exhaust duct 20 are covered from above and from the side by the cover 40.

[0026] The front surface 41 of the cover 40 covers the bracket 30 from the front and is opposed to the front surface 31 of the bracket 30 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0027] The rear surface 42 of the cover 40 covers the bracket 30 from the rear and faces the rear surface 32 of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0028] The left side surface 43 of the cover 40 covers the bracket 30 from the left and is opposite the left side surface 33 of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] The right side surface 44 of the cover 40 covers the bracket 30 from the right and is opposite the right side surface 34 of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction.

[0030] The upper surface 45 of the cover 40 covers the bracket 30 from above and faces the upper surface 35 of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the portion of the upper surface 45 of the cover 40 near the left end is fixed to the portion of the upper surface 35 of the bracket 30 near the left end by a clip 51. The portion of the upper surface 45 of the cover 40 near the right end is fixed to the portion of the upper surface 35 of the bracket 30 near the right end by a clip 52. Furthermore, the portion of the front surface 41 of the cover 40 near the right end forms a projection 47 that protrudes forward, and this projection 47 covers the front leg portion 37 of the bracket 30 from above. A triangular projection (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the front end of the projection 47, which engages with the front end of the front leg portion 37, and the projection 47 of the cover 40 is locked by the front leg portion 37. In this way, the cover 40 is fixed to the bracket 30 at three points.

[0032] In this embodiment, the cover 40 has a first cover portion 40A that covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction, and a second cover portion 40B that extends from the first cover portion 40A to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction. Here, the end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction is the position of the right side surface 34 of the bracket 30, which is the position indicated by position P1. Position P1 is the boundary position between the first cover portion 40A and the second cover portion 40B.

[0033] In Figure 5, the rear surface 42 and front surface 41 of the cover 40 have notches 41A and 42A formed in a parabolic shape, with the apex located at the boundary between the first cover portion 40A and the second cover portion 40B, and cut out from below. In other words, the notches 41A and 42A are formed in a parabolic shape with the deepest part of the notch being the apex.

[0034] The upper surface 45 of the second cover portion 40B is inclined downward toward one side in the vehicle width direction.

[0035] The second cover portion 40B has a protruding portion 40C that protrudes to one side in the vehicle width direction above the exhaust port connection portion 22.

[0036] In Figure 4, the upper surface 45 of the second cover portion 40B has a plurality of pores 40D that communicate with the inner and outer surfaces of the second cover portion 40B.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, the exhaust port 3A is formed near one side (right side) of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction on the floor panel 3, and the hose portion 23 extends from the battery connection portion 21 along the rear surface 32 of the bracket 30 in one direction in the vehicle width direction, curves at the position of one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction and extends forward of the vehicle before being connected to the exhaust port connection portion 22. The bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 are covered from above and from the side by the cover 40. The cover 40 has a first cover portion 40A that covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction, and a second cover portion 40B that extends from the first cover portion 40A to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket 30 and the exhaust duct 20 located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end of the bracket 30 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, notches 41A and 42A are formed on the rear surface 42 and front surface 41 of the cover 40, with the apex being at the boundary between the first cover portion 40A and the second cover portion 40B, and are cut out from below in a parabolic shape.

[0038] This makes the notches 41A and 42A of the cover 40 vulnerable, so as shown in Figure 6, the impact of a side collision with the vehicle 1 will preferentially bend the notches 41A and 42A and displace the second cover portion 40B downward, allowing the second cover portion 40B to function as a cushioning material, thereby protecting the battery pack 10 from the impact of a side collision with the vehicle 1. In addition, since a part of the hose portion 23 of the exhaust duct 20 is positioned between the battery pack 10 and the second cover portion 40B, the hose portion 23 can function as a cushioning material, protecting the battery pack 10 from the collision load during a side collision with the vehicle 1. As a result, the battery pack 10 can be protected from the impact of a side collision with the vehicle 1.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper surface 45 of the second cover portion 40B is inclined to slope downward toward one side in the vehicle width direction.

[0040] As a result, the impact of a side collision with vehicle 1 acts to push the second cover portion 40B downward, bending the notches 41A and 42A and making it easier to displace the second cover portion 40B downward, thus protecting the battery pack 10 from the impact of a side collision with vehicle 1.

[0041] In this embodiment, the second cover portion 40B has a protruding portion 40C that protrudes to one side in the vehicle width direction above the exhaust port connection portion 22.

[0042] As a result, the protruding portion 40C of the second cover portion 40B can preferentially absorb the impact during a side collision of vehicle 1, thereby protecting the battery pack 10.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of pores 40D are formed on the upper surface 45 of the second cover portion 40B, communicating with the inner and outer surfaces of the second cover portion 40B.

[0044] This allows the heat generated in the battery pack 10 to be released to the outside through the pores 40D of the second cover portion 40B. In addition, the presence of the pores 40D makes the upper surface 45 of the second cover portion 40B more flexible, so that the notches 41A and 42A are more likely to bend during a side collision of the vehicle 1, and the second cover portion 40B is more likely to be displaced downward.

[0045] In this embodiment, the hose portion 23 is made of rubber.

[0046] This allows the rubber hose section 23 to function as a cushioning material, protecting the battery pack 10 from collision loads during a side collision of the vehicle 1.

[0047] While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 vehicle 3 Floor Panels 3A Exhaust port 7 Front Seats 8 Cabin 10 Battery Packs 20 Smoke exhaust duct 21 Battery connection 22 Exhaust port connection 23 Hose section 30 brackets 32 Rear 34 Right side (one side in the direction of the vehicle width) 40 Cover 40A First cover section 40B Second Cover Section 40C protrusion 40D pores 41A, 42A notch 42 Rear 45 Top P1 Position (position at one end in the vehicle width direction)

Claims

1. The floor panel that makes up the floor surface of the vehicle interior, On one side of the upper surface of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, a battery pack is positioned below the front seat, A bracket that covers the battery pack and is fixed to the floor panel, An exhaust port is formed on one side of the bracket in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel, and communicates with the outside of the vehicle compartment below the floor panel, A protective structure for a battery pack in a vehicle, comprising a battery connection portion connected to the rear surface of the battery pack, an exhaust port connection portion connected to the exhaust port, and a hose portion connecting the battery connection portion and the exhaust port connection portion, and an exhaust duct for discharging gas generated by the battery pack to the outside of the vehicle compartment, The exhaust port is formed near one side surface of the bracket in the vehicle width direction on the floor panel. The hose portion extends from the battery connection portion along the rear surface of the bracket in one direction in the vehicle width direction, curves at one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, extends forward of the vehicle, and is then connected to the exhaust port connection portion. The bracket and the smoke exhaust duct are covered from above and from the side by covers. The aforementioned cover is A first cover portion of the bracket and the exhaust duct that covers the portion of the bracket located on the other side in the vehicle width direction from one end in the vehicle width direction, It has a second cover portion that extends from the first cover portion to one side in the vehicle width direction and covers the portion of the bracket and the exhaust duct that is located on one side in the vehicle width direction beyond one end of the bracket in the vehicle width direction, A battery pack protection structure characterized in that a notch is formed on the rear and front surfaces of the cover, which is cut out from below in a parabolic shape with its apex at the boundary between the first cover portion and the second cover portion.

2. The battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the second cover portion is inclined to slope downward toward one side in the vehicle width direction.

3. The battery pack protection structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second cover portion has a protrusion that protrudes in one direction in the vehicle width direction above the exhaust port connection portion.

4. The battery pack protection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of pores communicating with the inner and outer surfaces of the second cover are formed on the upper surface of the second cover.

5. The battery pack protection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the hose portion is made of rubber.

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