Component connection structure and battery case

Abstract

To surely transmit impact loads at the time of collisions from various directions with a simple structure.SOLUTION: There is provided a member connection structure 100 that connects a first end 20 of a first longitudinal member 10 with a second end 30a of a second longitudinal member 30 at an angle. The first longitudinal member 10 includes a first partition plate 15 that divides the internal space in the width direction by a closed cross section. The first end 20 has a notch part 21 obtained by notching a tip portion from an outer side surface of a left side plate 14 to the front side of the first partition plate 15 in the width direction. The second end 30a is welded to the first end 20 by being engaged with the notch part 21 such that the tip surface hits the first partition plate 15 of the notch part 21, and the outer side surface of the rear side plate 33 hits the longitudinal direction end surfaces 11a, 14a, 12a of the notch part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure that connects the ends of two longitudinal members with a closed cross-section structure, and to a battery case in which the longitudinal members are connected in a rectangular frame shape by the connection structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Battery cases that house batteries that supply power to a vehicle's traction motor are required to protect the batteries housed inside in the event of a collision from various directions, and are also required to prevent water from entering from the outside.

[0003] For this reason, battery trays using metal outer frames have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The outer frames of the battery trays described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are configured by connecting aluminum extrusion members with square closed cross sections in a square frame shape. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-256705 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2021-516187 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the battery tray described in Patent Document 1, the end face of one aluminum extrusion member is butted against the side face of another extrusion member, and the two are welded together. Therefore, in the event of a collision in a direction that applies a shear force to the weld, the load is not transmitted sufficiently, and the internal batteries may not be protected sufficiently.

[0006] Furthermore, in the battery case described in Patent Document 2, the connection between the rib plate provided inside the member extending in the long side direction and the member extending in the short side direction was insufficient, and in some cases the internal battery could not be adequately protected in the event of a collision from various directions.

[0007] On the other hand, to ensure reliable transmission of collision loads in the event of a collision from various directions, it is possible to use a complex mortise and tenon joint at the end of the aluminum extrusion. However, making the structure of the connection more complex can make cutting and welding difficult.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to reliably transmit collision loads in the event of a collision from various directions using a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The member connection structure of the present invention is a member connection structure that connects a first end of a first longitudinal member and a second end of a second longitudinal member at an angle, wherein the first longitudinal member has a closed cross section and is provided with a first partition plate that divides an internal space in the width direction, the first end has a notch portion that is cut out in the width direction at a tip portion from a first outer surface to just before the first partition plate, and the second end is combined with the notch portion so that its tip surface abuts against the first partition plate at the notch portion and its second outer surface abuts against a longitudinal end face of the notch portion, and is welded and connected to the first end. the second longitudinal member has a closed cross section and includes a second partition plate that divides an internal space in a width direction, the length of the cutout portion in the longitudinal direction is the same as the length of the width direction between the second outer side surface of the second longitudinal member and the second partition plate, and the second end portion is combined with the cutout portion so that a part of the tip end surface abuts against the first partition plate of the cutout portion, and is welded and connected to the first end portion. It is characterized by:

[0010] With this configuration, a load applied in the longitudinal direction of the second longitudinal member is transmitted from the tip end surface of the second longitudinal member to the first partition plate of the first longitudinal member. Furthermore, a load applied in the longitudinal direction of the first longitudinal member is transmitted from the longitudinal end surface of the notch of the first longitudinal member to the second outer surface of the second longitudinal member. Therefore, the member connection structure of the present invention can reliably transmit collision loads in the event of a collision from various directions. Furthermore, with this simple configuration, collision load can also be transmitted between the first partition plate of the first longitudinal member and the second partition plate of the second longitudinal member.

[0013] In the member connection structure of the present invention, a first plate end portion of the first partition plate may be connected to a second plate end portion of the second partition plate by welding.

[0014] This structure allows collision loads to be transmitted more reliably in the event of a collision from any direction.

[0015] The battery case of the present invention is a battery case in which two of the first longitudinal members and two of the second longitudinal members are connected in the shape of a rectangular frame, and each of the first longitudinal members and each of the second longitudinal members is connected by the member connection structure described above.

[0016] This makes it possible to provide a battery case that is resistant to collisions from various directions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The present invention can reliably transmit collision loads in the event of a collision from various directions with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a member connection structure according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1A is a perspective view of a first end portion of a first longitudinal member, a perspective view of a second end portion of a second longitudinal member, and a perspective view showing the second longitudinal member being fitted into a cutout portion of the first longitudinal member. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a member connection structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a plan view showing a battery case to which a member connection structure according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a member connection structure according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, a member connection structure 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the member connection structure 100 is a structure that connects a first end 20 of a first longitudinal member 10 and a second end 30a of a second longitudinal member 30 at a 90-degree angle. The symbols FR, RH, and UP in each figure indicate the forward, rightward, and upward directions of the member connection structure 100, and the opposite directions to the symbols FR, RH, and UP indicate the rearward, leftward, and downward directions, respectively.

[0020] First, with reference to FIG. 2, the first longitudinal member 10 and the second longitudinal member 30 will be described before they are combined. As shown in FIG. 2, the first longitudinal member 10 extends in the front-rear direction of the component connection structure 100, and its front end constitutes the first end 20. Therefore, the front-rear direction of the component connection structure 100 is the longitudinal direction of the first longitudinal member 10. Furthermore, the left-right direction of the component connection structure 100 is the width direction of the first longitudinal member 10. The up-down direction of the component connection structure 100 is the up-down direction of the first longitudinal member 10. Similarly, the second longitudinal member 30 extends in the left-right direction of the component connection structure 100, and its right end constitutes the second end 30a. Therefore, the left-right direction of the component connection structure 100 is the longitudinal direction of the second longitudinal member 30. Furthermore, the front-rear direction of the component connection structure 100 is the width direction of the second longitudinal member 30. The up-down direction of the component connection structure 100 is the up-down direction of the second longitudinal member 30.

[0021] The first longitudinal member 10 has a rectangular closed cross-sectional structure composed of an upper plate 11, a lower plate 12, a right side plate 13, a left side plate 14, and a first partition plate 15. The first partition plate 15 divides the internal space of the first longitudinal member 10 into two spaces aligned in the width direction (left-right direction) and extends in the longitudinal direction of the first longitudinal member 10.

[0022] A cutout portion 21 is provided at the first end portion 20 of the first longitudinal member 10. The cutout portion 21 is a portion obtained by cutting out the left side of the tip portion of the first end portion 20 by a length A in the front-to-rear direction. More specifically, the cutout portion 21 is a portion obtained by cutting out in the width direction from the outer surface of the left side plate 14 at the tip portions of the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 12 to just before the side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15. The length of the cutout portion 21 in the front-to-rear direction is length A. Furthermore, this portion of the left side plate 14 is also cut out. The first partition plate 15 is not cut out. The outer surface of the left side plate 14 constitutes the first outer surface.

[0023] As described above, the upper plate 11, the lower plate 12, and the left plate 14 are cut out, so that the left side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15 is exposed in the cutout portion 21. The cutouts also form an upper-left front end surface 11a of the upper plate 11, a lower-left front end surface 12a of the lower plate 12, and a left-side front end surface 14a of the left plate 14, a distance A rearward from the front end. The upper-left front end surface 11a, the lower-left front end surface 12a, and the left-side front end surface 14a form the longitudinal end surfaces of the cutout portion 21. In this manner, the cutout portion 21 is a space defined by the left side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15, the upper-left front end surface 11a of the upper plate 11, the lower-left front end surface 12a of the lower plate 12, and the left-side front end surface 14a of the left plate 14. Here, the length A is the same as the length B in the width direction between the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30 and the center of the second partition plate 35, which will be described later.

[0024] Similar to the first longitudinal member 10, the second longitudinal member 30 has a rectangular closed cross-sectional structure composed of an upper plate 31, a lower plate 32, a rear plate 33, a front plate 34, and a second partition plate 35. The second partition plate 35 divides the internal space of the second longitudinal member 30 into two spaces aligned in the width direction (front-to-rear direction) and extends in the longitudinal direction of the second longitudinal member 30. The second partition plate 35 is disposed in the center of the second longitudinal member 30 in the width direction. The length B in the width direction between the outer surface of the rear plate 33 and the center of the second partition plate 35 is the same as the length B in the width direction between the outer surface of the front plate 34 and the center of the second partition plate 35. The second end 30a of the second longitudinal member 30 is made up of a right end surface 31a of the upper plate 31, a right end surface 32a of the lower plate 32, a right end surface 33a of the rear plate 33, a right end surface 34a of the front plate 34, and a right end surface 35a of the second partition plate 35. The right end surfaces 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a and the right end surface 35a form the leading end surface of the second longitudinal member. The outer surface of the rear plate 33 forms a second outer surface.

[0025] Next, the combination of the first longitudinal member 10 and the second longitudinal member 30 will be described. As indicated by arrows 91, 92, 94, and 95 in Figure 2, the right end surface 33a of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30, the rear half of the right end surface 31a of the upper plate 31, the rear half of the right end surface 32a of the lower plate 32, and the plate right end surface 35a of the second partition plate 35 are brought into contact with the left side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15 of the cutout portion 21. Then, the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30 is brought into contact with the upper left front end surface 11a of the upper plate 11, the lower left front end surface 12a of the lower plate 12, and the left plate front end surface 14a of the left plate 14. As explained above, the length A of the cutout portion 21 is the same as the widthwise length B between the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30 and the center of the second partition plate 35, so the right end surface 35a of the second partition plate 35 abuts against the front end portion 15b of the first partition plate 15. Furthermore, as shown by arrows 93 and 96 in FIG. 2 , the front half of the second end portion 30a of the second longitudinal member 30 protrudes forward of the cutout portion 21.

[0026] In this way, the first longitudinal member 10 and the second longitudinal member 30 are combined so that the rear half, which is part of the second end portion 30a of the second longitudinal member 30, abuts against the left side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15, and the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30 abuts against the longitudinal end surface of the cutout portion 21. Then, when the exposed inner and outer surfaces of each abutted portion are welded together, a member connection structure 100 such as that shown in FIG. Welding may be performed, for example, between the rear half of the right end face 31a of the upper plate 31 and the upper end of the left side face 15a of the first partition plate 15, between the rear half of the right end face 32a of the lower plate 32 and the lower end of the left side face 15a of the first partition plate 15, between the front end face 14a of the left side plate of the first longitudinal member 10 and the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30, between the upper left front end face 11a of the upper plate 11 of the first longitudinal member 10 and the upper end of the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30, between the lower left front end face 12a of the lower plate 12 of the first longitudinal member 10 and the lower end of the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30, or between the front end 15b of the first partition plate 15 and the right end 35b of the second partition plate 35. The front end 15b of the first partition plate 15 and the right end 35b of the second partition plate 35 constitute a first end portion and a second end portion, respectively.

[0027] Next, with reference to Fig. 3, the transmission of impact forces F and G when they are applied to the component connection structure 100 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3, when an impact force F is applied in the front-to-rear direction of the component connection structure 100, the impact force F is transmitted from the upper left front end surface 11a of the upper plate 11 of the first longitudinal member 10, the lower left front end surface 12a of the lower plate 12, and the left plate front end surface 14a of the left plate 14 to the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30. In other words, the impact load F applied in the longitudinal direction of the first longitudinal member 10 is transmitted from the longitudinal end surface of the cutout portion 21 of the first longitudinal member 10 to the outer surface of the rear plate 33 of the second longitudinal member 30. Furthermore, when an impact force G is applied in the left-right direction of the component connection structure 100, the impact force G is transmitted from the rear half of the right end face 31a of the upper plate 31 of the second longitudinal member 30, the rear half of the right end face 33a of the lower plate 32, and the right end face 35a of the second partition plate 35 to the side surface 15a of the first partition plate 15 of the first longitudinal member 10. In other words, the impact load G applied in the longitudinal direction of the second longitudinal member 30 is transmitted from a part of the tip end face of the second longitudinal member 30 to the first partition plate 15 of the first longitudinal member 10. In this way, when the component connection structure 100 receives impact forces F and G from various directions, it can reliably transmit the impact forces F and G via the cutout portion 21.

[0028] Furthermore, the member connection structure 100 has a simple configuration in which a simply configured notched portion 21 is formed in the first longitudinal member 10, and the second end portion 30a of the unprocessed second longitudinal member 30 is butted against the notched portion 21 and welded. This makes it easier to cut and weld the joint, improving the joint quality.

[0029] Next, with reference to Figure 4, a battery case 50 to which the component connection structure 100 described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 is applied will be described. The battery case 50 is composed of vertical frames 51, horizontal frames 52, horizontal ribs 53, and flat plates 54. The vertical frames 51 are a pair of left and right closed-section members extending vertically. The horizontal frames 52 are closed-section members whose ends 52a are connected to the ends 51a of the vertical frames 51 to form a rectangular outer frame. The horizontal ribs 53 are multiple closed-section members spanning between the left and right vertical frames 51. The flat plates 54 are connected to the undersides of the vertical frames 51, horizontal frames 52, and horizontal ribs 53 to form the bottom surface. Stacked batteries are housed in each compartment 55 separated by the vertical frames 51, horizontal frames 52, or horizontal ribs 53.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the end 51a of the vertical frame 51 and the end 52a of the horizontal frame 52 are connected by the member connection structure 100 previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. This makes the battery case 50 resistant to impact forces F and G from various directions. Furthermore, because the joints can be easily machined and welded, the joint quality is improved and water intrusion from the outside into the battery case 50 can be prevented.

[0031] Next, a member connection structure 200 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The same parts as those in the member connection structure 100 previously described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 will be assigned the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5 , the member connection structure 200 has a cutout 49 with a length C provided in the first end 48 of the first longitudinal member 40. The length C of the cutout 49 is the same as the width direction length of the second longitudinal member 30. Therefore, when the second longitudinal member 30 is fitted to the cutout 49, the right end face 33 a of the rear panel 33 of the second longitudinal member 30, the right end face 31 a of the upper panel 31, the right end face 32 a of the lower panel 32, the right end face 35 a of the second partition panel 35, and the right end face 34 a of the front panel 34 abut against the left side surface 15 a of the first partition panel 15. In other words, the entire second end 30 a of the second longitudinal member 30 abuts against the left side surface 15 a of the first partition panel 15.

[0033] When impact forces F and G are input to the component connection structure 200, the impact forces F and G can be reliably transmitted via the cutout portion 49, as in the case of the component connection structure 100 described with reference to Figure 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10, 40 First longitudinal member, 11, 31 Upper plate, 11a Upper left front end surface, 12, 32 Lower plate, 12a Lower left front end surface, 13 Right side plate, 14 Left side plate, 14a Left side plate front end surface, 15 First partition plate, 15a Side surface, 15b Plate front end portion, 20, 48 First end portion, 21, 49 Notch portion, 30 Second longitudinal member, 30a Second end portion, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a Right end surface, 33 Rear side plate, 34 Front side plate, 35 Second partition plate, 35a Plate right end surface, 35b Plate right end portion, 50 Battery case, 51 Vertical frame, 51a, 52a End portion, 52 Horizontal frame, 53 Horizontal rib, 54 Flat plate, 55 Compartment, 100, 200 Component connection structure.

Claims

1. A member connection structure that connects a first end of a first longitudinal member and a second end of a second longitudinal member at an angle, The first longitudinal member has a closed cross section and includes a first partition plate that divides the internal space in the width direction, the first end portion includes a notch portion formed by cutting out a tip portion in a width direction from the first outer surface to just before the first partition plate, the second end portion is joined to the cutout portion such that a tip surface thereof abuts against the first partition plate of the cutout portion and a second outer surface thereof abuts against a longitudinal end surface of the cutout portion, and is welded to the first end portion; The second longitudinal member has a closed cross section and includes a second partition plate that divides the internal space in the width direction, a length in a longitudinal direction of the cutout portion is the same as a length in a width direction between the second outer surface of the second longitudinal member and the second partition plate, the second end portion is fitted to the notch portion so that a part of the tip surface abuts against the first partition plate of the notch portion, and is welded to the first end portion; A component connection structure characterized by the above.

2. The member connection structure according to claim 1, a first plate end portion of the first partition plate is welded to a second plate end portion of the second partition plate; A component connection structure characterized by the above.

3. A battery case in which two of the first longitudinal members and two of the second longitudinal members are connected to form a rectangular frame, Each of the first longitudinal members and each of the second longitudinal members are connected by the member connection structure according to claim 1 or 2; A battery case characterized by:

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