Vehicle battery pack support device and electric truck

Abstract

To improve the mountability of on-vehicle equipment while enhancing the protection performance at a side collision, of a vehicle battery pack, and to suppress the weight increase of a support device.SOLUTION: A battery pack 4 is mounted under side rails 21 of a vehicle 3, and includes a pair of battery side surfaces 41 opposing outward in a vehicle width direction D2, and each battery side surface 41 is positioned on an outer side of each side rail 21 in the vehicle width direction D2. A support device 1 for the battery includes a battery side bracket 5, frame side brackets 6 and patterned openings 9. The battery-side bracket 5 includes opposing plates 51 opposing respectively the battery side surfaces 41 and accommodates the battery pack 4 therein. The frame side brackets 6 connect the battery side bracket 5 with the side rail 21. The pattern-shaped opening 9 is formed with a plurality of holes 95 in the opposing plate 51 of the battery side bracket 5, and an on-vehicle device 10 is mounted on the battery side bracket 5 through the plurality of holes 95. The plurality of holes 95 is arranged in a predetermined pattern.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support device for supporting a battery pack for a vehicle, and an electric truck including the support device. [Background technology]

[0002] From the viewpoint of reducing the burden on the environment, development of electric vehicles such as electric cars and hybrid cars that run by supplying electric power from a drive battery to a motor has been progressing. In recent years, electric vehicles have also been developed in the field of commercial vehicles such as trucks (see, for example, Patent Document 1). From the viewpoint of cost reduction, the application of general-purpose battery packs used in passenger cars to such electric commercial vehicles has been considered. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-113063 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because battery packs for passenger vehicles are designed to be installed inside the vehicle body, the load-bearing strength of the housing itself is relatively low.On the other hand, in commercial vehicles such as trucks, the battery pack located below the ladder frame can be subjected to high impact loads in the event of a side collision, so the support device that supports the battery pack must have high load-bearing strength.

[0005] Furthermore, in general, in vehicles equipped with a ladder frame, the space on the sides (outside in the vehicle width direction) of the ladder frame between the wheelbases is used as a mounting space for various on-board devices such as a low-voltage battery, side sensors, etc. However, if a battery pack is disposed below the ladder frame, the mounting space for the on-board devices is reduced by the battery pack, which may result in a deterioration in the mountability of the on-board devices.

[0006] The physical size of the battery pack is determined by the maximum charging capacity required for the vehicle, the shape of the battery cells, and other factors, and is sometimes designed to extend beyond the ladder frame in the vehicle width direction. In this case, considering the side collision safety of the battery pack, it becomes necessary to use a relatively rigid metal such as steel to further increase the rigidity of the support device, or to increase the thickness of the member covering the battery pack. As a result, the total weight of the support device increases, which may adversely affect the driving range and payload of the electric truck.

[0007] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one of its objectives is to provide a support device for a vehicle battery pack and an electric truck that can improve the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack in the event of a side collision, improve the mountability of on-board equipment, and suppress an increase in the weight of the support device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples. (1) The support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example is mounted below the side rails that constitute the ladder frame of the vehicle, and supports a pair of battery side surfaces that face outward in the vehicle width direction. haveThe support device for a vehicle battery pack includes a battery-side bracket having an opposing plate facing the side surface of the battery and accommodating the vehicle battery pack, a frame-side bracket connecting the battery-side bracket and the side rail, and a patterned opening in which a plurality of holes are formed in the opposing plate of the battery-side bracket and vehicle-mounted equipment is mounted on the battery-side bracket through the holes, and the plurality of holes are arranged in a predetermined pattern.

[0009] With this vehicle battery pack support device, an impact load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction during a side collision is input to the vehicle equipment before being input to the battery-side bracket, so the initial input of the impact load is absorbed by the vehicle equipment. This reduces the impact load transmitted to the battery-side bracket, thereby reducing the impact load transmitted to the vehicle battery pack through the battery-side bracket. This improves the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack during a side collision. Furthermore, the opposing plate of the battery-side bracket is provided with a patterned opening formed with multiple holes. This ensures installation space for the vehicle equipment and improves the mountability of the vehicle equipment. Furthermore, the battery-side bracket is lighter due to the multiple holes formed therein, so an increase in the weight of the support device can be suppressed.

[0010] (2) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the plurality of holes may be arranged symmetrically in a side view of the battery-side bracket. By arranging multiple holes symmetrically, the rigidity distribution in the left-right direction (vehicle front-rear direction) of the battery-side bracket can be made uniform in a side view, for example, making the rigidity distribution nearly uniform, thereby further improving the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack.

[0011] (3) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the plurality of holes may be arranged symmetrically in the up-down direction in a side view of the battery-side bracket. By arranging the multiple holes symmetrically in the vertical direction, the rigidity distribution in the vertical direction in a side view of the battery-side bracket can be made uniform, for example, the rigidity distribution can be made nearly uniform, thereby further improving the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack.

[0012] (4) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the plurality of holes may be arranged in a planar grid pattern. The planar grid pattern referred to here includes, for example, a square grid pattern, a rectangular grid pattern, and a rhombic grid pattern. By arranging the multiple holes in a planar grid pattern, the mounting position of the in-vehicle device can be easily changed, thereby increasing versatility. Furthermore, multiple in-vehicle devices can be easily attached, further improving the mountability of the in-vehicle devices.

[0013] (5) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the side rail may have a hole pattern formed on a web surface, and the arrangement of the plurality of holes may correspond to the hole pattern. The arrangement of the holes may be, for example, a layout that matches part of the hole pattern (partial match) or a layout that matches the entire hole pattern (complete match). By matching the arrangement of the holes to the hole pattern, it becomes possible to attach on-board equipment that matches the hole pattern of the side rail to the battery bracket. This maintains compatibility for attaching on-board equipment and improves usability (ease of use for the vehicle user).

[0014] (6) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the arrangement of the plurality of holes may correspond to the hole pattern formed on a portion of the web surface of the side rail that is located directly above the vehicle battery pack. This arrangement of holes allows the mounting positions of the on-board equipment in the vehicle length direction to be substantially the same between vehicles equipped with a vehicle battery pack and vehicles not equipped with a vehicle battery pack.

[0015] (7) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of holes may be set to an integer multiple of the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern. By setting the arrangement pitch in this way, a certain degree of compatibility regarding the installation of in-vehicle devices can be maintained, and usability can be improved.

[0016] (8) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the opposing plate may be formed in a wavy shape in which convex portions that protrude outward in the vehicle width direction and in which the plurality of holes are drilled and concave portions that are located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the convex portions are alternately arranged. By providing the opposing plate with irregularities and drilling multiple holes in the convex portions, the opposing plate can be made thinner, ensuring side impact strength while reducing its weight. Furthermore, by providing holes in the convex portions, it becomes easier to ensure a sufficient distance between the fasteners inserted into the holes and the vehicle battery pack, preventing deformation or damage to the vehicle battery pack due to contact with the fasteners.

[0017] (9) In the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to this application example, the opposing plate may be an extruded material having a cavity extending in the vehicle length direction, and the plurality of holes may be arranged to penetrate the opposing plate from the cavity toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. In this way, by using an extruded material with a cavity as the opposing plate, the cavity can function as a crushable zone against side collisions, ensuring side collision resistance while reducing weight. In addition, by passing multiple holes from the inside of the cavity to the outside in the vehicle width direction, a distance can be maintained between the on-board equipment and the vehicle battery pack, preventing deformation or damage to the vehicle battery pack.

[0018] (10) An electric truck according to this application example includes the support device for a vehicle battery pack according to any one of (1) to (9) above. As a result, similar to the above (1), the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack in the event of a side collision can be improved, the mountability of the vehicle-mounted equipment can be improved, and an increase in the weight of the support device can be suppressed.

[0019] (11) In the electric truck according to this application example, the on-board device may include a housing provided with a charging port for supplying power from an external source to the vehicle battery pack. In an electric truck equipped with such a housing, the charging port of the housing can be more easily positioned outward in the vehicle width direction than when the housing is mounted on a side rail. This makes it possible to position the housing in a predetermined position without having to install a dedicated bracket extending from the side rail for positioning the housing in a predetermined position, thereby reducing the number of parts, simplifying the structure, and ensuring ease of power supply to the charging port.

[0020] (12) In the electric truck according to this application example, the on-board device may include a sensor that detects an object on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In an electric truck equipped with such a sensor, the sensor can be more easily positioned outward in the vehicle width direction than when the sensor is mounted on the side rail. This allows the sensor to be positioned in a predetermined position without having to install a dedicated bracket extending from the side rail for positioning the sensor in a predetermined position, thereby reducing the number of parts, simplifying the structure, and allowing the sensor's detection range to be appropriately set.

[0021] (13) In the electric truck according to this application example, the on-board equipment may include a mounting device mounted on the vehicle or an associated device of the mounting device. The mounted devices may include, for example, a CIB (Charge Inlet Box) device, sensors (radar, camera) for detecting objects on the side of the vehicle provided for preventing entanglement, etc., a refrigeration / freezing device, a power generation device, a lighting device, a water supply device, a shredder device, a waste storage device, a crane device, etc. The ancillary devices may include a motor, a compressor, a pump, wiring materials, piping materials, a toolbox, auxiliary machinery, etc. By making it possible to mount these mounted devices and ancillary devices on the battery-side bracket, it is possible to mount the same mounted devices and ancillary devices in approximately the same positions as, for example, an existing vehicle that does not have a vehicle battery pack, thereby further improving the convenience and usability of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the protection performance of the vehicle battery pack in the event of a side collision, improve the mountability of in-vehicle equipment, and suppress an increase in the weight of the support device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a support device for a vehicle battery pack according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the structure of the support device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2A to 2C are side views illustrating examples of hole patterns formed in the patterned openings of the end cross members in the support device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a left side view illustrating a side rail and an end cross member in the support device of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end cross member included in a support device for a vehicle battery pack according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8]8(A) to 8(C) are side views illustrating examples of hole patterns formed in the patterned openings of the end cross members in the support device of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a left side view illustrating a side rail and an end cross member in the support device of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 7. [Figure 11] 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 7. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end cross member as a modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end cross member as a modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end cross member included in a support device for a vehicle battery pack according to a third embodiment. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 14. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end cross member as a modified example of the third embodiment. [Figure 18] 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method for mounting an in-vehicle device in the support device of FIG. 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The following describes embodiments (first, second, and third embodiments) of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly described in these embodiments. The configurations of the following embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, they can be selected or combined as needed.

[0025] [1. First embodiment] [1-1. Overall structure] As shown in Fig. 1, a support device 1 for a vehicle battery pack according to a first embodiment (hereinafter also simply referred to as the support device 1) is mounted on an electric truck (vehicle) 3 equipped with a ladder frame 2. The electric truck 3 is an electric vehicle (electric car, hybrid car) that runs by supplying electric power from a drive battery pack 4 (vehicle battery pack) to a motor (not shown).

[0026] Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the electric truck 3 is also referred to as the vehicle length direction D1, and the left-right direction of the electric truck 3 is also referred to as the vehicle width direction D2. The vertical direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction is also referred to as the vehicle height direction D3. In the drawings, the front is indicated by "FR," the rear by "RR," the left by "LH," the right by "RH," the top by "UP," and the bottom by "DW." Note that FIG. 1 shows the understructure of the electric truck 3, and the upper structure (body) located above the ladder frame 2 is omitted.

[0027] The ladder frame 2 is a member that forms the framework of the electric truck 3 and has high rigidity and strength. The ladder frame 2 includes a pair of side rails 21 extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and a plurality of cross members 22 extending in the vehicle width direction D2 and connecting the side rails 21 to each other. The pair of side rails 21 are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction D2. Each side rail 21 has a channel shape (U-shaped cross section) in which a pair of plate-shaped flange portions extend inward in the vehicle width direction D2 from the upper and lower edges of a plate-shaped web portion that extends along the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle height direction D3. The multiple cross members 22 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the vehicle length direction D1. Here, two cross members 22 are shown as an example, one arranged at a position overlapping the battery pack 4 in the vehicle height direction D3, and the other arranged at a position rearward of the battery pack 4.

[0028] The battery pack 4 is, for example, a general-purpose high-voltage battery pack used in passenger cars. In the electric truck 3, the battery pack 4 is mounted below a pair of side rails 21 and protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction D2 beyond each side rail 21. Here, a box-shaped battery pack 4 is exemplified, whose dimension in the vehicle height direction D3 is smaller (thinner) than each dimension in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle width direction D2. However, the shape of the battery pack 4 is not particularly limited.

[0029] The battery pack 4 has a pair of battery side surfaces 41 that each face outward in the vehicle width direction D2. The pair of battery side surfaces 41 are each located further outward in the vehicle width direction D2 than the pair of side rails 21. More specifically, the right battery side surface 41 is located to the right of the right side rail 21, and the left battery side surface 41 is located to the left of the left side rail 21.

[0030] As described above, the battery side surface 41 of the battery pack 4 is disposed outward in the vehicle width direction D2 relative to the side rails 21, and therefore the dimension in the vehicle width direction D2 is ensured to be greater than the distance between the web portions of the side rails 21. This allows the battery pack 4 to have a large capacity. Furthermore, in order to ensure the cruising range of the electric truck 3, it is preferable that the battery pack 4 be disposed over a wide range of the wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheel axles). In a relatively small electric truck 3 (with a relatively short wheelbase), one battery pack 4 can be disposed over almost the entire wheelbase. In this case, the front wheels are disposed in close proximity to the front of the battery pack 4, and the rear wheels are disposed in close proximity to the rear of the battery pack 4.

[0031] The size of the electric truck 3 and the number of battery packs 4 are not limited to those illustrated in the first embodiment. A relatively large electric truck 3 (having a relatively long wheelbase) may have multiple battery packs 4 arranged side by side in the vehicle length direction D1. In this case, too, by arranging multiple battery packs 4 over a wide range of the wheelbase, the overall capacity of the battery packs 4 can be increased, ensuring a sufficient cruising range.

[0032] The support device 1 connects the battery pack 4 to the side rails 21 and supports the battery pack 4. In other words, the battery pack 4 is supported on the side rails 21 via the support device 1. In the first embodiment, a support device 1 that is configured to be symmetrical (plane symmetrical) with a vertical plane that passes through the center of the vehicle width direction D2 and extends in the vehicle length direction D1 as the plane of symmetry is exemplified.

[0033] The support device 1 includes a battery-side bracket 5 that houses the battery pack 4, and a frame-side bracket 6 that connects the battery-side bracket 5 and the side rail 21. The battery-side bracket 5 is an outer wall body that is arranged on the outer periphery of the battery pack 4 and functions to protect the battery pack 4 from impact loads. On the other hand, the frame-side bracket 6 extends outward and downward from the side rail 21 in the vehicle width direction D2 and functions to suspend the battery pack 4 housed in the battery-side bracket 5 from the side rail 21.

[0034] The battery-side bracket 5 of the first embodiment has a pair of end cross members 7 arranged on the outer sides (left and right) of the battery pack 4 in the vehicle width direction D2, and a pair of main brackets 8 arranged on the outer sides (front and rear) of the battery pack 4 in the vehicle length direction D1. The battery-side bracket 5 is arranged so that the end cross members 7 and the main brackets 8 surround the battery pack 4 on all four sides.

[0035] The pair of end cross members 7 are formed symmetrically with respect to each other in the left-right direction, with a vertical plane that passes through the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction D2 and extends in the vehicle length direction D1 as the plane of symmetry. The pair of main brackets 8 are also formed symmetrically with respect to each other in the front-rear direction, with a vertical plane that passes through the center of the vehicle in the vehicle length direction D1 and extends in the vehicle width direction D2 as the plane of symmetry. As shown in Fig. 2, the end cross members 7 and the main brackets 8 of the first embodiment are both formed of steel plates and have a channel shape.

[0036] The end cross member 7 has a web portion 71 arranged along the battery side surface 41, and a pair of flange portions 72 that protrude from the upper and lower edges of the web portion 71 toward the battery pack 4 (inward in the vehicle width direction D2). In the end cross member 7 of the first embodiment, the web portion 71 is arranged spaced apart (with a gap) from the battery side surface 41, thereby ensuring a deformation allowance (allowance for absorbing impact loads) during a collision.

[0037] The battery side bracket 5 has an opposing plate 51 that faces the battery side surface 41. The web portion 71 of the end cross member 7 forms the opposing plate 51 that faces the battery side surface 41 on the battery side bracket 5. In the first embodiment, as described above, the web portion 71 of the end cross member 7 is spaced apart from the battery side surface 41, and therefore the opposing plate 51 is not in contact with the battery side surface 41. However, the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71 of the end cross member 7) may be positioned in contact with the battery side surface 41.

[0038] The main bracket 8 has a web portion 81 arranged along the front surface 42 or rear surface 43 of the battery pack 4, and a pair of flange portions 82 protruding from the upper and lower edges of the web portion 81 toward the battery pack 4 (inward in the vehicle length direction D1). The flange portions 82 of the main bracket 8 are overlapped on the battery pack 4 side (inward in the vehicle height direction D3) with respect to the flange portion 72 of the end cross member 7, and are joined to the flange portion 72 of the end cross member 7 via a fastener (not shown) or any joining means (welding, adhesive, etc.).

[0039] As shown in Fig. 1, the frame side bracket 6 is fixed to the portion where the upper flange portions 72, 82 of the end cross member 7 and the main bracket 8 overlap. The frame side bracket 6 is also fixed to the web portion of the side rail 21. Here, an example is shown in which two frame side brackets 6 are provided on each side of the electric truck 3 (outside the vehicle width direction D2 of each side rail 21) (four in total).

[0040] [1-2. Main part configuration] A patterned opening 9 is provided in the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) of the battery-side bracket 5. The patterned opening 9 is a portion in which a plurality of holes 95 arranged in a predetermined pattern are formed, and is a portion to which the in-vehicle device 10 is attached. The "predetermined pattern" here means a pattern including "an arrangement shape of the holes 95 formed by closely arranging planar figures each having at least one hole 95." The "predetermined pattern" includes not only patterns including periodic arrangement shapes, but also patterns including non-periodic arrangement shapes.

[0041] In either case, various in-vehicle devices 10 can be mounted on the battery-side bracket 5 through the multiple holes 95 provided in the patterned opening 9. The shape of the holes 95 can be set arbitrarily, and may be, for example, circular or rectangular. Furthermore, the front and rear edges of the opposing plate 51 of the first embodiment may be formed with crescent-shaped cutouts in side view, for example, to reduce the weight of the battery-side bracket 5. In this case, the patterned opening 9 is positioned within a range sandwiched between these cutouts on the front and rear sides.

[0042] Layouts of the holes 95 formed in the patterned opening 9 are shown in Figures 3(A) to 3(C) and 4. The axis C1 shown in these figures is the center line of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) extending in the vehicle height direction D3 in a side view of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7), and the axis C2 is the center line of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) extending in the vehicle length direction D1.

[0043] 3A and 3B show a side view of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7) in which a plurality of holes 95 are arranged in a planar grid pattern (e.g., a square grid, a rectangular grid, a diagonal grid, etc.) with left-right and top-bottom symmetry. The vertical pitch of the holes 95 is set, for example, to be the same as or an integer multiple of the horizontal pitch. In FIG. 3A, a square grid (or rectangular grid) pattern with six horizontal columns and four vertical rows is arranged at a predetermined interval (e.g., the same as or an integer multiple of the horizontal pitch) in the vehicle length direction D1. In FIG. 3B, the middle rows (the second and third rows from the top) have been deleted from the hole 95 pattern in FIG. 3A, leaving only the top and bottom rows. These layouts are left-right symmetrical about axis C1 and top-bottom symmetrical about axis C2.

[0044] FIG. 3(C) shows a side view of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7) in which a plurality of holes 95 are arranged in a diagonal lattice pattern, symmetrically arranged with respect to the axis C1. Here, four rows are arranged vertically, with the holes 95 arranged at a predetermined horizontal interval. The horizontal positions of the holes 95 are set so that they do not coincide with the horizontal positions of the holes 95 in adjacent rows above and below; for example, the arrangement pattern of the holes 95 is staggered. Furthermore, the vertical pitch of the holes 95 is set to the same as the horizontal pitch, and the diagonal pitch is set to a constant value.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the arrangement of holes 95 in the patterned opening 9 corresponding to the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21. A predetermined hole pattern 24 (e.g., a planar lattice-like hole pattern 24) is formed on the web surface 23 of the side rail 21. The arrangement pitch (vertical and horizontal pitch) of the holes 95 is set to be the same as the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern 24 or an integer multiple thereof. The layout of the holes 95 in the patterned opening 9 may completely or partially match the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21. Furthermore, the arrangement of the multiple holes 95 may be set to correspond to the hole pattern 24 formed in a portion of the web surface 23 of the side rail 21 located directly above the battery pack 4. For example, the multiple holes 95 may be formed in the patterned opening 9 in a layout that is similar to the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21, but shifted vertically downward, as viewed from the side of the electric truck 3. Note that the specific positions and number of the holes 95 are not limited to those illustrated above.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the patterned opening 9 may include a weld bolt 91 and a weld nut 94 for attaching the in-vehicle device 10 to the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7). 5, the weld bolt 91 has a head 92 welded to the opposing plate 51 and a threaded portion 93 protruding outward from the head 92. In detail, the weld bolt 91 is fixed to the opposing plate 51 with the threaded portion 93 inserted from the inside in the vehicle width direction D2 into a hole 95 that penetrates the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) of the battery-side bracket 5. The threaded portion 93 of the weld bolt 91 is inserted into a through-hole (not shown) formed in the in-vehicle device 10 (or its bracket, etc.), and then fastened with the nut 14. In this way, the in-vehicle device 10 is attached to the pattern opening 9 including the weld bolt 91.

[0047] 6, the weld nut 94 is welded to the opposing plate 51. More specifically, the weld nut 94 is fixed to the opposing plate 51 while being arranged coaxially with the hole 95. The weld nut 94 is fastened to a bolt 15 inserted from the outside in the vehicle width direction D2 into a through-hole (not shown) formed in the in-vehicle device 10 (or its bracket, etc.). In this way, the in-vehicle device 10 is attached to the pattern opening 9 including the weld nut 94. Note that the length dimension L of the thread of the bolt 15 fastened to the weld nut 94 is set to be sufficiently shorter than the distance (gap) S between the battery side surface 41 and the opposing plate 51 in order to prevent interference with the battery pack 4 (L <S)。

[0048] The method of mounting the on-vehicle devices 10 in the patterned openings 9 is not limited to the method using the weld bolts 91 and weld nuts 94 described above, and various known methods can be applied. For example, the on-vehicle devices 10 may be mounted in the patterned openings 9 using normal bolts and nuts (not shown) that are not welded to the opposing plate 51. Alternatively, some of the on-vehicle devices 10 may be directly welded to the patterned openings 9.

[0049] 1, the in-vehicle device 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 12 provided with a charging port 11 for supplying power to the battery pack 4 from the outside, and a sensor 13 for detecting an object outside in the vehicle width direction D2. Here, an example is shown in which the housing 12 is mounted in the left patterned opening 9 and the sensor 13 is mounted in the right patterned opening 9. Both the housing 12 and the sensor 13 are provided to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction D2 beyond the battery-side bracket 5.

[0050] The housing 12 is also called a CIB (Charge Inlet Box), and is provided at a predetermined position where the charging port 11 is accessible from outside the electric truck 3. In the housing 12, the charging port 11 is arranged facing outward in the vehicle width direction D2. The sensor 13 is, for example, a radar or a camera applied to a technology (a so-called vehicle side object detection sensor) that detects an object present in the blind spot of the electric truck 3 and notifies the driver. The sensor 13 is provided at a predetermined position where the blind spot is within its detection range.

[0051] [2. Actions and Effects] (1) According to the support device 1 of the first embodiment, the battery-side bracket 5 is provided with the patterned opening 9 for mounting the in-vehicle device 10. Therefore, during a side collision, an impact load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction D2 is input to the in-vehicle device 10 before being input to the battery-side bracket 5. This allows the in-vehicle device 10 to absorb the initial input of the impact load before it is absorbed by the battery-side bracket 5. As a result, the impact load transmitted to the battery-side bracket 5 can be reduced, and therefore the impact load transmitted to the battery pack 4 through the battery-side bracket 5 can also be reduced. This improves the protection performance of the battery pack 4 during a side collision.

[0052] Furthermore, in the electric truck 3, the battery pack 4 is mounted below the side rails 21, and the battery side surfaces 41 are positioned outward of the side rails 21 in the vehicle width direction D2, allowing for a larger capacity battery pack 4. However, because the battery pack 4 protrudes outward of the side rails 21 in the vehicle width direction D2, the mountability of the on-board equipment 10 on the side rails 21 may be reduced. To address this, the opposing plate 51 of the battery-side bracket 5 is provided with a patterned opening 9 in which multiple holes 95 are formed. This ensures a mounting space for the on-board equipment 10 outside the battery-side bracket 5, improving the mountability of the on-board equipment. Furthermore, the weight of the battery-side bracket 5 is reduced by the amount of the multiple holes 95 formed, thereby suppressing an increase in the weight of the support device 1.

[0053] Additionally, a gap of distance S is secured between the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71 of the end cross member 7) of the battery-side bracket 5 and the battery side surface 41. Providing such a gap prevents interference between, for example, fasteners (welded bolts 91, welded nuts 94, etc.) of the in-vehicle device 10 and the battery pack 4, while also ensuring a deformation margin for the battery-side bracket 5 when subjected to an impact during a side collision, thereby further improving impact absorption performance and protection performance for the battery pack 4.

[0054] If only the mountability of the on-board device 10 on the electric truck 3 is considered, it is also possible to mount the on-board device 10 by forming multiple holes in the front or rear side of the battery pack 4 (web portion 81 of the main bracket 8). However, in this case, the on-board device 10 cannot cover the sides of the battery pack 4, which reduces the protection performance of the battery pack 4 in a side collision. In particular, because the battery side surface 41 is disposed to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction D2 beyond the side rails 21, it is desirable to take some kind of protective measure against a side collision. To address this issue, according to the first embodiment, the on-board device 10 can be attached to the patterned opening 9 to cover the sides of the battery pack 4, thereby easily improving the protection performance of the battery pack 4 in a side collision.

[0055] Furthermore, if the type of on-board equipment 10 to be mounted on the electric truck 3 is predetermined, it is conceivable to provide only the holes 95 compatible with that on-board equipment 10 in the patterned opening 9. However, in this case, it is difficult to respond if the type or specifications of the on-board equipment 10 change. Furthermore, the arrangement of the multiple holes 95 on the plate surface of the opposing plate 51 is likely to be non-uniform, which may result in local deformation or stress concentration. To address this issue, the patterned opening 9 of the first embodiment has multiple holes 95 arranged in a predetermined pattern, which allows the rigidity distribution of the opposing plate 51 to be approximately uniform, thereby preventing local deformation or stress concentration.

[0056] Furthermore, if only the protection of the battery pack 4 against a side collision is considered, it is desirable to increase the strength and rigidity of the opposing plate 51 of the battery-side bracket 5 located to the side of the battery pack 4. Therefore, in an existing general support device 1 for a battery pack 4, it is considered recommended not to form multiple holes 95 in the opposing plate 51 of the battery-side bracket 5. However, the inventor of the present invention discovered that the main physical load during a side collision is not absorbed by the opposing plate 51, but is transmitted from the flange portion 72 of the end cross member 7 to the frame-side bracket 6, and is ultimately absorbed by the side rail 21. In addition, the inventor also discovered that by intentionally forming multiple holes 95 in the opposing plate 51 of the battery-side bracket 5 and mounting the on-board device 10 on the opposing plate 51, the physical load during a side collision is absorbed by the on-board device 10, thereby reducing the potential load input. Based on this novel finding, in the first embodiment, the opposing plate 51 of the battery-side bracket 5 is intentionally formed with multiple holes 95 to improve the mountability of the on-board device 10, making it easier to obtain the protective effect of the on-board device 10 on the battery pack 4. In this respect, the support device 1 for the battery pack 4 in the first embodiment is created based on an original idea not found in the prior art, and can be said to have unique properties that are far removed from the prior art.

[0057] (2) The multiple holes 95 can be arranged symmetrically in a side view of the battery-side bracket 5. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4, the multiple holes 95 are arranged symmetrically about the axis C1. By arranging the holes 95 in this way, the rigidity distribution in the left-right direction (vehicle front-rear direction) in a side view of the battery-side bracket 5 can be equalized, for example, the rigidity distribution can be made almost uniform. Therefore, the protection performance of the battery pack 4 can be further improved.

[0058] (3) The multiple holes 95 can be arranged symmetrically in the vertical direction when viewed from the side of the battery-side bracket 5. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A-3B and 4, the multiple holes 95 are arranged symmetrically in the vertical direction about the axis C2. By arranging the holes 95 in this way, the rigidity distribution in the vertical direction when viewed from the side of the battery-side bracket 5 can be equalized, for example, the rigidity distribution can be made almost uniform. Therefore, the protection performance of the battery pack 4 can be further improved.

[0059] (4) The plurality of holes 95 may be arranged in a planar lattice pattern. The planar lattice pattern referred to here includes, for example, a square lattice pattern, a rectangular lattice pattern, and a rhombic lattice pattern. For example, FIG. 3(A) shows an example of a square lattice pattern, and FIG. 3(C) shows an example of a rhombic lattice pattern. By arranging the plurality of holes 95 in a planar lattice pattern in this way, the mounting position of the in-vehicle device 10 can be easily changed (translated), thereby improving versatility. Furthermore, the plurality of in-vehicle devices 10 can be easily attached, further improving the mountability of the in-vehicle device 10.

[0060] (5) The holes 95 can be arranged to correspond to the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the holes 95 are arranged to coincide with a portion of the hole pattern 24. By thus matching the arrangement of the holes 95 with the hole pattern 24, the in-vehicle device 10 that fits the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21 can be easily relocated to the battery-side bracket 5. This allows compatibility for mounting the in-vehicle device 10 to be maintained, and usability (ease of use for the vehicle user) can be improved.

[0061] (6) The holes 95 may be arranged to correspond to the hole pattern 24 formed in a portion of the web surface 23 of the side rail 21 located directly above the vehicle battery pack. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the holes 95 are arranged in a layout that resembles the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21 shifted vertically downward in a side view of the electric truck 3. This arrangement of the holes 95 allows the mounting position of the on-vehicle device 10 in the vehicle length direction to be substantially the same between an electric truck 3 equipped with a battery pack 4 and an electric truck 3 not equipped with a battery pack 4.

[0062] (7) The arrangement pitch of the plurality of holes 95 can be set to an integer multiple of the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern 24. For example, if the vertical and horizontal pitches of the hole pattern 24 are both 50 mm, the vertical and horizontal pitches of the plurality of holes 95 can be set to 50 mm or 100 mm. Setting the arrangement pitch in this manner can maintain a certain degree of compatibility regarding the installation of the in-vehicle device 10, thereby improving usability. Note that, to improve compatibility regarding the installation of the in-vehicle device 10, the arrangement pitch of the plurality of holes 95 can be made to match the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern 24.

[0063] (8) As described above, the electric truck 3 including the support device 1 can improve the protection performance of the battery pack 4 in the event of a side collision while ensuring the mountability of the in-vehicle device 10.

[0064] (9) As shown in FIG. 1 , in an electric truck 3 in which a housing 12 with a charging port 11 is mounted in a patterned opening 9, the charging port 11 can be more easily positioned outward in the vehicle width direction D2 than when the housing 12 is mounted on a side rail 21. This makes it possible to position the housing 12 in a predetermined position without having to extend a dedicated bracket from the side rail 21 for positioning the housing 12 in the predetermined position. This reduces the number of parts and simplifies the structure, while ensuring ease of supplying power to the charging port 11.

[0065] (10) In an electric truck 3 in which the sensor 13 for detecting an object outside in the vehicle width direction D2 is mounted in the patterned opening 9, the sensor 13 can be more easily positioned outside in the vehicle width direction D2 than when the sensor 13 is mounted on the side rail 21. This makes it possible to position the sensor 13 at a predetermined position without having to extend a dedicated bracket from the side rail 21 for positioning the sensor 13 at a predetermined position. This allows the detection range of the sensor 13 to be appropriately set while reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

[0066] [3. Second embodiment] The support device 1 for a vehicle battery pack according to the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in the configuration of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) of the battery-side bracket 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) is provided with a convex portion 52 formed in a shape that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction D2, and a concave portion 53 located more inward in the vehicle width direction D2 than the convex portion 52. The plurality of holes 95 are formed in the convex portion 52. The protruding shape of the convex portion 52 may have a broken line cross-sectional shape or a curved cross-sectional shape. The protruding shape of the convex portion 52 shown in FIG. 7 has a trapezoidal (or rectangular) cross-sectional shape that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction D2, based on a surface of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) that is connected to the flange portion 72.

[0067] Furthermore, the recessed portions 53 are formed in a shape recessed inward in the vehicle width direction D2, based on the portions of the protruding portions 52 where the holes 95 are formed. The protruding portions 52 and the recessed portions 53 are arranged alternately. Therefore, the overall shape of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) is wavy. In other words, when the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) is cut along the direction in which the protruding portions 52 and the recessed portions 53 are arranged alternately, the cross-sectional shape is a wave-like shape that vibrates in the vehicle width direction D2.

[0068] The overall shape of the convex portion 52 shown in FIG. 7 is similar to a ridge having a protruding portion extending linearly in the vehicle length direction D1. Similarly, the overall shape of the concave portion 53 shown in FIG. 7 is similar to a groove having a recessed portion extending linearly in the vehicle length direction D1. The extending directions of the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 53 are parallel. The hole 95 may be disposed at any position on the surface of the convex portion 52. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the hole 95 is disposed in a planar portion of the convex portion 52 that is located outermost in the vehicle width direction D2. In this way, the entire planar portion in which the holes 95 are drilled constitutes the patterned opening 9.

[0069] Layouts of the holes 95 provided in the patterned opening 9 are illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C and 9. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7) is shown in a side view with a plurality of holes 95 arranged in a planar lattice pattern (e.g., a square lattice pattern, a rectangular lattice pattern, a diagonal lattice pattern, etc.) symmetrically and vertically. The vertical pitch of the holes 95 is set to be the same as the horizontal pitch or an integer multiple thereof. Similarly, the vertical pitch of the protrusions 52 (a dimension corresponding to the period of the concaves and convexes) is set to be the same as the vertical pitch of the holes 95 or an integer multiple thereof. In FIG. 8A, a square lattice (or rectangular lattice) pattern with six horizontal columns and four vertical rows is arranged at predetermined intervals (e.g., the same as the horizontal pitch or an integer multiple thereof) in the vehicle length direction D1. In Fig. 8(B), the middle rows (the second and third rows from the top) have been deleted from the pattern of holes 95 in Fig. 8(A), leaving only the top and bottom rows. These layouts are symmetrical left and right about axis C1 and up and down about axis C2. Note that it is also possible to omit only the holes 95 in the middle rows from the pattern of holes 95 in Fig. 8(A), leaving the protrusions 52 where the middle rows were located.

[0070] FIG. 8(C) shows a side view of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7) in which a plurality of holes 95 are arranged in a diagonal lattice pattern symmetrically about the axis C1. Here, four rows are arranged vertically, with the holes 95 arranged at a predetermined horizontal interval. The horizontal positions of the holes 95 are set so that they do not coincide with the horizontal positions of the holes 95 in adjacent rows above and below; for example, the arrangement pattern of the holes 95 is staggered. Furthermore, the vertical pitch of the holes 95 is set to the same as the horizontal pitch, and the diagonal pitch is set to a constant value.

[0071] FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of holes 95 in the patterned opening 9 corresponding to the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21. A predetermined hole pattern 24 (e.g., a planar lattice-like hole pattern 24) is formed on the web surface 23 of the side rail 21. The arrangement pitch (vertical and horizontal pitch) of the holes 95 is set to be the same as the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern 24 or an integer multiple thereof. The layout of the holes 95 in the patterned opening 9 may completely or partially match the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21. Furthermore, the arrangement of the multiple holes 95 may be set to correspond to the hole pattern 24 formed in a portion of the web surface 23 of the side rail 21 located directly above the battery pack 4. For example, the multiple holes 95 may be formed in the patterned opening 9 in a layout that is similar to the hole pattern 24 of the side rail 21, but shifted vertically downward in a side view of the electric truck 3. Note that the specific positions and number of the holes 95 are not limited to those illustrated above.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the patterned opening 9 may include a weld bolt 91 and a weld nut 94 for attaching the in-vehicle device 10 to the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7). As shown in FIG. 10, the welding bolt 91 has a head 92 welded to the opposing plate 51 and a threaded portion 93 protruding outward from the head 92. Specifically, the welding bolt 91 is fixed to the opposing plate 51 in a state where the threaded portion 93 is inserted into a hole 95 penetrating the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) of the battery-side bracket 5 from the inner side in the vehicle width direction D2. Preferably, the height H of the head 92 of the welding bolt 91 is set to be smaller than the protruding dimension P of the convex portion 52 shown in FIG. 6 (H < P). Thereby, when the vehicle collides on the side, it is less likely that the head 92 of the welding bolt 91 and the battery pack 4 interfere with each other. The threaded portion 93 of the welding bolt 91 is inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in the vehicle-mounted device 10 (or its bracket or the like), and then fastened to the nut 14. Thereby, the vehicle-mounted device 10 is attached to the pattern-shaped opening 9 including the welding bolt 91.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 11, the welding nut 94 is welded to the opposing plate 51. Specifically, the welding nut 94 is fixed to the opposing plate 51 in a state where it is coaxially arranged with the hole 95. The welding nut 94 is fastened to a bolt 15 inserted from the outer side in the vehicle width direction D2 into a through hole (not shown) formed in the vehicle-mounted device 10 (or its bracket or the like). Thereby, the vehicle-mounted device 10 is attached to the pattern-shaped opening 9 including the welding nut 94. Note that for the bolt 15 fastened to the welding nut 94, in order to prevent interference with the battery pack 4, the length dimension L of the threaded portion is set to be sufficiently shorter than the distance (gap) S between the battery side surface 41 and the opposing plate 51 (L < S). Preferably, the thickness T of the welding nut 94 is set to be smaller than the protruding dimension P of the convex portion 52 shown in FIG. 7 (T < P). Thereby, when the vehicle collides on the side, it is less likely that the welding nut 94 and the battery pack 4 interfere with each other. Note that it is also desirable to set the length dimension L of the threaded portion of the bolt 15 to be as short as possible while still being able to engage with the welding nut 94.

[0074] As described above, according to the stand device 1 of the second embodiment, by alternately arranging the convex portions 52 and the concave portions 53 on the opposing plate 51, the rigidity of the opposing plate 51 is increased, allowing the thickness of the opposing plate 51 to be reduced. Therefore, the battery-side bracket 5 can be made lighter while still maintaining its side-impact resistance. Furthermore, by providing the holes 95 in the convex portions 52, it becomes easier to ensure a sufficient distance between the battery pack 4 and a fastener (e.g., a weld bolt 91, a weld nut 94, etc.) inserted through the holes 95, preventing deformation or damage to the battery pack 4 due to contact with the fastener. In particular, by setting the height H of the head 92 of the weld bolt 91 or the thickness T of the weld nut 94 to be less than the protrusion dimension P of the convex portions 52, interference between the fastener and the battery pack 4 is suitably suppressed. Therefore, according to the stand device 1 of this embodiment, the mountability of the in-vehicle device 10 can be improved while enhancing the protection performance of the battery pack 4 during a side collision, and an increase in the weight of the stand device 1 can be suppressed.

[0075] 12 and 13 are perspective views showing modified examples of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7). The opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) shown in FIG. 12 has protrusions 52 and recesses 53 extending along the vehicle height direction D3. In this example, a rectangular lattice pattern in which holes 95 are arranged in three columns horizontally and four rows vertically is arranged at predetermined intervals in the vehicle length direction D1. The multiple holes 95 are arranged symmetrically both horizontally and vertically in a side view. In this way, even when the concave-convex grooves are formed vertically, the rigidity of the opposing plate 51 can be increased, and the same functions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved.

[0076] The opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) shown in FIG. 13 has a first convex portion 54 extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and a second convex portion 55 extending in the vehicle height direction D3 as convex portions that protrude outward in the vehicle width direction D2. A third convex portion 56 is provided at the intersection of the first convex portion 54 and the second convex portion 55 in a side view. The portion surrounded by the first convex portion 54 and the second convex portion 55 (the portion that does not belong to either the first convex portion 54 or the second convex portion 55) forms a recess 53. The multiple holes 95 are formed in, for example, the third convex portion 56 and are arranged symmetrically in both the left and right directions and the top and bottom directions in a side view. In this way, even when the concave-convex grooves intersect vertically and horizontally, the rigidity of the opposing plate 51 can be increased, and the same functions and effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

[0077] [4. Third Embodiment] The support device 1 for a vehicle battery pack according to the third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in the configuration of the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) of the battery-side bracket 5. As shown in FIG. 14 , the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) is formed in an extruded shape with a cavity 57 therein. This cavity 57 is formed to cover the entire outer end of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7) in the vehicle width direction D2 and functions as a crushable zone in the event of a side collision. The cross-sectional shape of the peripheral wall surrounding the cavity 57 is preferably a closed cross-sectional shape, more preferably a polygonal shape (e.g., rectangular or trapezoidal). The extension direction (extrusion direction) of the cavity 57 is aligned with the vehicle length direction D1. The number of cavities 57 may be one or more. Furthermore, the composition of the opposing plate 51 is not critical, and examples of materials that can be used include aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, steel, ceramics, and synthetic resins. The opposing plate 51 of this embodiment is made of an extruded aluminum alloy (aluminum extrusion), which is advantageous in terms of formability, weight, and cost.

[0078] The plurality of holes 95 are provided so as to penetrate the opposing plate 51 from the cavity 57 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction D2. In other words, the plurality of holes 95 are drilled in a peripheral wall that surrounds the cavity 57 and that is positioned outside in the vehicle width direction D2. Furthermore, the in-vehicle device 10 that is attached to the patterned opening 9 via the plurality of holes 95 is disposed outside the cavity 57 in the vehicle width direction D2. Therefore, the cavity 57 is interposed between the in-vehicle device 10 and the battery pack 4. As a result, even if an external force acts on the in-vehicle device 10 during a side collision, the impact is cushioned and absorbed by deformation of the peripheral wall surrounding the cavity 57, thereby improving the protection performance of the battery pack 4.

[0079] A plate 58 to which fasteners (e.g., weld bolts 91, weld nuts 94, etc.) for attaching the in-vehicle device 10 are fixed may be inserted inside the cavity 57. A plurality of plate holes 59 corresponding to the plurality of holes 95 are drilled in the plate 58, and a weld bolt 91 or a weld nut 94 is fixed inside each of the plate holes 59. The lateral pitch of the plate holes 59 is set to be the same as the lateral pitch of the holes 95. By inserting the plate 58 inside the cavity 57 so that the centers of the plate holes 59 and the holes 95 are aligned, it becomes easy to install nuts, bolts, etc. that screw into the weld bolts 91 and weld nuts 94 fixed to the plate 58.

[0080] 15 and 16, the patterned opening 9 may include a weld bolt 91 or a weld nut 94 for attaching the on-vehicle device 10 to the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7). FIG. 15 shows a plate 58 to which the weld bolt 91 is fixed, and FIG. 16 shows a plate 58 to which the weld nut 94 is fixed. 15 , weld bolt 91 has a head 92 welded to plate 58 and a threaded portion 93 protruding outward from head 92. More specifically, weld bolt 91 is welded and fixed to plate 58 with threaded portion 93 inserted into plate hole 59 from the inside in the vehicle width direction D2. Plate 58 is also attached to cavity 57 with threaded portion 93 inserted into hole 95 from the inside in the vehicle width direction D2. The threaded portion 93 of the weld bolt 91 is inserted into a through-hole (not shown) formed in the in-vehicle device 10 (or its bracket, etc.), and then fastened with the nut 14. In this way, the in-vehicle device 10 is attached to the patterned opening 9.

[0081] 16, weld nut 94 is welded to plate 58. Specifically, weld nut 94 is fixed to plate 58 while being coaxially disposed with plate hole 59. Plate 58 is inserted into cavity 57 so that the centers of plate hole 59 and hole 95 are aligned. The weld nut 94 is fastened to a bolt 15 inserted from the outside in the vehicle width direction D2 into a through-hole (not shown) formed in the on-vehicle device 10 (or its bracket, etc.). In this way, the on-vehicle device 10 is attached to the pattern opening 9 including the weld nut 94. Note that the length dimension L of the threaded portion of the bolt 15 fastened to the weld nut 94 is set to be sufficiently shorter than the inner dimension (gap) S of the cavity 57 (L <S)。

[0082] As described above, in the support device 1 according to the third embodiment, the opposing plate 51 is made of an aluminum extrusion having a cavity 57 therein. This facilitates weight reduction compared to, for example, a steel support, and is advantageous in terms of molding and cost. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of holes 95 penetrating the opposing plate 51 from the cavity 57 toward the outside in the vehicle width direction D2, the in-vehicle device 10 can be positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction D2 than the cavity 57. This allows the cavity 57 to function as a crushable zone in a side collision, reducing the initial collision energy and preventing deformation and damage to the battery pack 4. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 , when a bolt 15 having a threaded portion with a length L sufficiently small relative to the interior dimension S of the cavity 57 is used, interference between the bolt 15 and a peripheral wall surrounding the cavity 57 that is located on the inside in the vehicle width direction D2 is prevented, and the bolt 15 is less likely to come into contact with the battery pack 4. Therefore, according to the support device 1 of this embodiment, the performance of protecting the battery pack 4 in the event of a side collision can be improved, the mountability of the in-vehicle device 10 can be improved, and an increase in the weight of the support device 1 can be suppressed.

[0083] 17 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the battery-side bracket 5 (end cross member 7), and FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view thereof. The opposing plate 51 (web portion 71) shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is made of an extruded material having a single cavity 57 therein. The multiple holes 95 are formed in the peripheral wall surrounding the cavity 57, on the outer side in the vehicle width direction D2. The plate 58 inserted into the cavity 57 is drilled with multiple plate holes 59 arranged in the same layout as the multiple holes 95. In this way, even if there is only one cavity 57 and one plate 58, the same functions and effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

[0084] [5. Other] The configurations of the battery-side bracket 5 according to the above-described embodiment, second embodiment, and third embodiment are merely examples. The battery-side bracket 5 has at least an opposing plate 51 that faces the battery side surface 41 and has a shape that can accommodate the battery pack 4, and may be formed of members other than the end cross member 7 and main bracket 8 described above. The configuration, arrangement and number of the frame-side brackets 6 are not limited to the above example.

[0085] The specific structure of pattern opening 9 is not limited to the above example. Pattern opening 9 may include both weld bolt 91 and weld nut 94, or may include a structure other than weld bolt 91 and weld nut 94. The on-vehicle device 10 mounted in the patterned opening 9 is not limited to the above-described housing 12 and sensor 13, and various devices mounted on the electric truck 3 can be used. For example, the on-vehicle device 10 may include a low-voltage battery (not shown) for an auxiliary device of the electric truck 3. Even when the on-vehicle device 10 includes such a low-voltage battery, the support device 1 and the electric truck 3 can ensure the mountability of the on-vehicle device 10 while improving the protection performance of the battery pack 4 in the event of a side collision, as in the first, second, and third embodiments.

[0086] Specific examples of the other on-board equipment 10 include mounting devices mounted on the electric truck 3 and devices associated with the mounting devices. Mounting devices include refrigeration / freezing devices, power generation devices, lighting devices, water supply devices, shredder devices, waste storage devices, and cranes. Additionally, the associated devices include motors, compressors, pumps, wiring materials, piping materials, and toolboxes. By making it possible to mount such mounting devices and associated devices on the battery-side bracket 5, it becomes possible to mount the same mounting devices and associated devices in approximately the same positions as, for example, an existing vehicle that does not have a vehicle battery pack 4, thereby further improving usability and convenience.

[0087] In addition, in existing vehicles, mounting devices and ancillary devices are attached to the side rails 21 via relatively long brackets. However, in this embodiment, mounting devices and ancillary devices are attached to the opposing plate 51 (web portion 71 of the end cross member 7) of the battery-side bracket 5, which is located outside the side rails 21 in the vehicle width direction D2, so a bracket shorter than the conventional bracket is sufficient. Therefore, the bracket can be made smaller, vibration resistance can be improved, and costs can be reduced. The application of the support device 1 is not limited to the electric truck 3. The support device 1 can be applied to various vehicles that include a ladder frame 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1 Support device (battery pack support device) 2 ladder frame 3 Electric trucks (vehicles) 4 Battery pack (vehicle battery pack) 5 Battery side bracket 6 Frame side bracket 7 End cross member 8 Main Bracket 9 Patterned openings 10 In-vehicle equipment 11 Charging port 12. Case 13 Sensors 14 Nut 15 volts 21 Side rail 22 Cross member 23 Web page 24 Hole Pattern 41 Battery side 42 Front 43 Rear 51 Opposing plate 52 Convex part 53 Recess 54 First convex part 55 Second convex part 56 Third convex part 57 Cavity 58 Plate 59 Plate Hole 71 Web Department 72 Flange 81 Web Department 82 Flange 91 Welding bolts 92 Head 93 Threaded part 94 Weld Nut 95 holes

Claims

1. A support device for a vehicle battery pack is mounted below a side rail that constitutes a ladder frame of a vehicle, and has a pair of battery side surfaces that each face outward in a vehicle width direction, a battery-side bracket having an opposing plate that faces a side surface of the battery and that houses the vehicle battery pack; a frame-side bracket that connects the battery-side bracket and the side rail; a patterned opening in which a plurality of holes are formed in the opposing plate of the battery-side bracket, and in-vehicle equipment is mounted on the battery-side bracket through the holes, and the plurality of holes are arranged in a predetermined pattern, the side rails have a hole pattern formed in a web surface; The arrangement of the plurality of holes matches a part or all of the hole pattern. A support device for a vehicle battery pack, comprising:

2. The plurality of holes are arranged symmetrically in a side view of the battery-side bracket.

2. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

3. The plurality of holes are arranged symmetrically in the up-down direction in a side view of the battery-side bracket.

3. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The plurality of holes are arranged in a planar grid pattern.

4. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The arrangement of the plurality of holes coincides with a part or all of the hole pattern formed on the web surface of the side rail in a portion located directly above the vehicle battery pack.

5. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. The arrangement pitch of the plurality of holes is set to an integral multiple of the arrangement pitch of the hole pattern.

6. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

7. The opposing plate is formed in a wave shape in which convex portions, which protrude outward in the vehicle width direction and in which the plurality of holes are drilled, and concave portions, which are located inward in the vehicle width direction from the convex portions, are alternately arranged.

7. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

8. The opposing plate is an extruded member having a cavity extending in the vehicle length direction, The plurality of holes are provided so as to penetrate the opposing plate from the cavity toward the outside in the vehicle width direction.

8. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to claim 1, wherein:

9. The vehicle battery pack supporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is included. An electric truck characterized by:

10. The in-vehicle device includes a housing provided with a charging port for supplying power to the vehicle battery pack from an external source.

10. The electric truck according to claim 9.

11. The on-board device includes a sensor that detects an object on the outside in the vehicle width direction.

11. The electric truck according to claim 9 or 10.

12. The on-vehicle equipment includes a mounting device mounted on the vehicle or an associated device of the mounting device. The electric truck according to any one of claims 9 to 11,

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