Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure which enables improvement of cooling efficiency and contributes to improvement of energy efficiency.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure includes a rechargeable battery (100) which stores electric power used for operation of a vehicle (1). The rechargeable battery (100) includes: an elongated part (101) having a longitudinal direction in a vehicle side view; and a protruding part (102) protruding from a part in the longitudinal direction of the elongated part (101). The elongated part (101) is disposed so as to incline forward, and the protruding part (102) is disposed at the upper side of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, efforts to realize a low-carbon or carbon-free society have become more active, and research and development into electrification technologies is being conducted in vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle that includes a drive motor that drives the rear wheels and a battery that supplies power to the drive motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-92279 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the field of electrification technology, improving cooling efficiency is an issue.

[0005] The present invention aims to achieve an improvement in cooling efficiency in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in turn contribute to improving energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A vehicle structure according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a storage battery (100) for storing electricity to be used in the operation of a vehicle (1), the storage battery (100) comprising an elongated portion (101) having a longitudinal direction in a side view of the vehicle, and a protruding portion (102) protruding from a part of the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion (101), the elongated portion (101) being positioned so that the longitudinal direction is tilted forward, and the protruding portion (102) being positioned on the upper side of the vehicle. With this configuration, the elongated portion is positioned so as to be inclined forward, and the protruding portion is positioned on the upper side of the vehicle, so that the portion of the storage battery with the greatest heat mass is positioned in front and above the vehicle. In other words, compared to when the elongated portion is positioned so as to extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle and the protruding portion is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle, the area of ​​the storage battery in a front view of the vehicle (the area through which the storage battery is exposed to wind from the front of the vehicle) is larger. This can improve cooling efficiency, which in turn contributes to improving energy efficiency.

[0007] (2) In the vehicle structure described in (1) above, the storage battery (100) may have a continuous upper surface portion (103) that connects the elongated portion (101) to the protruding portion (102), and the upper surface portion (103) may be formed to slope forward when viewed from the side of the vehicle. With this configuration, the upper surface portion is formed longer than if the storage battery had no protruding portion, and therefore, wind from the front of the vehicle hits the upper surface portion, which contributes to further improving cooling efficiency.

[0008] (3) In the vehicle structure described in (1) or (2) above, a control device (9) may be provided behind the protruding portion (102). With this configuration, at least a portion of the airflow flowing along the upper surface portion can be directed toward the control device, thereby contributing to improving the cooling efficiency of the control device.

[0009] (4) In the vehicle structure described in (3) above, a cooling air passage (140) through which air passes to cool the control device (9) is formed between the protrusion (102) and the control device (9), and an electric motor (50) may be provided downstream in the cooling air passage (140) in the direction of travel of the cooling air. With this configuration, at least a portion of the air passing through the cooling air passage can be directed toward the electric motor, so that the air that has cooled the control device can also be used to cool the electric motor.

[0010] (5) In the vehicle structure described in any one of (1) to (4) above, each of the elongated portion (101) and the protruding portion (102) may be rectangular in a side view of the vehicle, and the storage battery (100) may be L-shaped in a side view of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the strength and rigidity of the storage battery can be improved compared to when the storage battery is rectangular in shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve cooling efficiency, which in turn contributes to improving energy efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view including a cross section of a main part of the vehicle taken along the center line of the vehicle width. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a left side view illustrating an example of an airflow in the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that directions such as front, rear, up, down, left, and right in the following description are the same as directions in a vehicle described below. That is, the up and down direction corresponds to the vertical direction, and the left and right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. In the vehicle width direction, a direction away from the vehicle width center is referred to as the outward direction in the vehicle width direction, and a direction approaching the vehicle width center is referred to as the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, in the drawings used in the following description, the arrow UP indicates upward, and the arrow FR indicates forward, respectively.

[0014] <Vehicle> FIG. 1 is a left side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment. 1, a vehicle 1 according to the embodiment is an electric two-wheeled vehicle (an example of a saddle-ride type electric vehicle). For example, the vehicle 1 is a lightweight motorcycle. The vehicle 1 includes front wheels 2, rear wheels 3, a front wheel suspension system 4, a body frame 5, a body cover 6, a rear wheel suspension system 7, a power unit 8, a control device 9, and a storage battery 100.

[0015] The front wheel suspension system 4 includes a pair of left and right front forks 10 that pivotally support the front wheel 2 at their lower ends, a top bridge 11 and a bottom bridge 12 that are provided between the upper parts of the pair of front forks 10, and a stem pipe (not shown) that is provided between the top bridge 11 and the bottom bridge 12 and inserted into a head pipe 20. The front wheel 2 is steerably supported on the head pipe 20 of the body frame 5 via the front wheel suspension system 4. A steering handlebar 13 is supported on the top bridge 11.

[0016] A power unit 8 for running the vehicle is mounted inside the body frame 5, and a storage battery 100 for storing electricity to be supplied to the power unit 8 is also mounted inside the body frame 5. The body frame 5 includes a head pipe 20, a main frame 21, a down frame 22, a hanger bracket 23, a pivot bracket 24, a seat rail 25, and a support pipe 26.

[0017] The head pipe 20 is provided at the front end of the body frame 5. The head pipe 20 rotatably supports a stem pipe that is inserted through the head pipe 20. The main frame 21 extends downward and rearward from an upper portion of the head pipe 20, and then bends and extends downward toward the rear. The down frame 22 extends downward and rearward from the lower portion of the head pipe 20 . The hanger bracket 23 extends downward and rearward so as to connect to the lower end of the down frame 22 . The pivot bracket 24 is provided at the lower end of the main frame 21 . The seat rails 25 extend rearward from the bent portion of the main frame 21. Above the seat rails 25, the seat 15 is disposed. The support pipe 26 extends upward and rearward from the pivot bracket 24 downwardly to the middle portion of the seat rail 25 between the front and rear.

[0018] The body cover 6 covers the body frame 5 and the like. The body cover 6 includes a front cowl 30, a front fender 31, a middle side cover 32, a rear side cover 33, a rear end cover 34, a rear fender 35, and a top cover 36.

[0019] The front cowl 30 is attached in front of the head pipe 20 so as to surround the head pipe 20 . The front fender 31 is attached between the left and right front forks 10. The middle side covers 32 are attached to the left and right sides of the front-rear intermediate portion of the body frame 5 . The rear side covers 33 are attached to the left and right sides of the rear part of the body frame 5. The rear end cover 34 is attached to the rear end of the body frame 5. The rear fender 35 is attached to the rear end of the body frame 5. The rear fender 35 extends downward and rearward from the rear end of the body frame 5. The top cover 36 is attached to the upper front part of the body frame 5. The top cover 36 covers the storage battery 100 from above.

[0020] The rear wheel suspension system 7 includes a swing arm 40 that supports the rear wheel 3 at its rear end, and a rear cushion 41 that extends between the rear end of the swing arm 40 and the front-rear intermediate portion of the seat rail 25.

[0021] The rear wheel 3 is connected to the power unit 8 via a chain-type transmission mechanism disposed on the left rear side of the vehicle body. The transmission mechanism is covered from the outside of the vehicle by a chain cover 42. The chain cover 42 is attached to the swing arm 40.

[0022] The swing arm 40 is disposed below the rear of the vehicle body. The swing arm 40 extends in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of the swing arm 40 is supported by the pivot bracket 24 via a pivot shaft 45 so as to be able to swing up and down. The rear cushions 41 are provided on the left and right sides of the rear of the vehicle body. The lower end of the rear cushion 41 on the left side of the vehicle is disposed outside the chain cover 42. A portion of the rear cushion 41 overlaps the rear wheel 3 in a side view.

[0023] The power unit 8 includes an electric motor 50, a reducer 51 that reduces the output of the electric motor 50, an output shaft 51a that outputs the power of the electric motor 50 reduced by the reducer 51, and a housing 52 that accommodates the driving parts such as the electric motor 50 and the reducer 51.

[0024] The electric motor 50 is a motor for driving the vehicle. The electric motor 50 is arranged with its rotational axis aligned with the vehicle width direction. The electric motor 50 is housed in a motor case formed in the upper part of a housing 52. A gear-type reducer 51 is arranged on one of the left and right sides of the electric motor 50. The output shaft 51a is disposed at the rear lower portion of the housing 52. The output shaft 51a extends in the vehicle width direction, with a portion of it protruding outside the housing 52. The output shaft 51a and the rear wheels 3 are linked via a chain-type transmission mechanism. This allows the output of the electric motor 50 to be transmitted to the rear wheels 3.

[0025] The power unit 8 (housing 52) is supported on the body frame 5 via multiple fixing parts (including rubber mounts). An upper part of the power unit 8 is supported by the main frame 21. A lower front part of the power unit 8 is supported by the storage battery 100. A rear end part of the power unit 8 is supported by the pivot bracket 24.

[0026] The control device 9 is disposed above the power unit 8. The control device 9 includes a PCU 60 (Power Control Unit) that controls the electric motor 50. The PCU 60 includes a PDU (Power Drive Unit) that is a motor driver, an ECU (Electric Control Unit) that controls the PDU, and the like. The PDU includes an inverter, and converts the current supplied from the storage battery 100 from direct current to alternating current, and then supplies the power to the electric motor 50.

[0027] The control device 9 is disposed so as to be inclined forward in a side view of the vehicle. A fin 61 is provided on the rear surface of the control device 9. The fin 61 is formed in a rectangular shape with its longitudinal direction following the inclination of the control device 9 in a side view of the vehicle. The fin 61 extends obliquely in the up-down direction from the upper end of the rear surface of the control device 9 to the lower end of the rear surface in a side view of the vehicle. A plurality of fins 61 are provided at intervals in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0028] <Storage battery> FIG. 2 is a left side view including a cross section taken along the center line of the vehicle width of a main part of the vehicle 1. FIG. 1 and 2, the storage battery 100 is disposed from the front to the top of the power unit 8. The storage battery 100 may be provided symmetrically on the whole with the center of the vehicle width as the axis of symmetry. This allows the storage battery 100, which is a heavy object, to be provided symmetrically on the left and right, thereby reducing the impact of the vehicle weight on the left-right balance.

[0029] The storage battery 100 includes an elongated portion 101 having a longitudinal direction in a side view of the vehicle, and a protruding portion 102 that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle from a longitudinal portion of the elongated portion 101 (the upper end portion in this embodiment). The elongated portion 101 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is tilted forward. The protruding portion 102 is arranged on the upper side of the vehicle (on the upper surface side along the longitudinal direction).

[0030] In this embodiment, the elongated portion 101 and the protruding portion 102 are each rectangular in a side view of the vehicle. The storage battery 100 is L-shaped in a side view of the vehicle. The storage battery 100 is arranged so that its rear upper end protrudes above the main frame 21 and its front upper end protrudes forward toward the down frame 22 in a side view of the vehicle.

[0031] The upper front end of the storage battery 100 is supported by the upper part of the down frame 22 via a first mount 111 and the like. The lower front end of the storage battery 100 is supported by a hanger bracket 23 connected to the lower part of the down frame 22 via a second mount 112 and the like. The lower rear end of the storage battery 100 is supported by the lower front part of the power unit 8 (housing 52) via a third mount 113 and the like. In this embodiment, each mount is rigidly mounted, but may also be indirectly supported via a rubber mount using an elastic member or a stay member.

[0032] The long portion 101 is disposed between the down frame 22 and the power unit 8 in the front-to-rear direction. The long portion 101 extends downward and rearward from near the rear lower portion of the head pipe 20 so as to follow the down frame 22 in a side view of the vehicle. An upper front end portion of the long portion 101 is disposed at the height of the bottom bridge 12 in a side view of the vehicle. A lower end portion of the long portion 101 is disposed below the axles of the front wheel 2 and the rear wheel 3 in a side view of the vehicle. The lower end portion of the long portion 101 is disposed below the power unit 8 in a side view of the vehicle. The first mount portion 111, the second mount portion 112, and the third mount portion 113 are provided at positions corresponding to the upper front end portion, the lower front end portion, and the lower rear end portion of the long portion 101, respectively.

[0033] The storage battery 100 includes a battery assembly 120 formed by combining a plurality of battery modules 121, and a battery cover 130 that covers the battery assembly 120.

[0034] The battery module 121 is formed by arranging a plurality of battery cells (not shown) vertically and horizontally. The battery cells may be arranged so that their positions in the vehicle width direction are aligned. That is, the battery modules 121 may be arranged so that their positions in the vehicle width direction are aligned. This makes it possible to more effectively suppress the impact of the vehicle weight on the left-right balance.

[0035] Each battery module 121 may have a slender outer shape that is long in one direction. This allows for easy placement even in a small space inside the battery cover 130. The storage battery 100 can easily be shaped to fit into the available space in the vehicle body (body frame 5) by rearranging the multiple battery modules 121 to change the overall outer shape. Increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the storage battery 100, which is a heavy object, and increasing the degree of freedom in placement in the available space in the vehicle body reduces the impact on the center of gravity of the vehicle.

[0036] The elongated portion 101 that is tilted forward in a side view of the vehicle may be formed by, for example, arranging two battery modules 121 so that each is tilted forward. This allows the battery modules 121 to be arranged by making full use of the shape of the elongated portion 101.

[0037] The storage battery 100 houses electrical components such as a contactor 122. The electrical components such as the contactor 122 may be housed in a protruding portion 102 that protrudes rearward and upward from the upper rear portion of the elongated portion 101 in a side view of the vehicle. The protruding portion 102 overlaps with a portion of the main frame 21 in a side view of the vehicle, and is covered from above by a top cover 36. This makes it possible to prevent the electrical components such as the contactor 122 from being exposed to the outside of the vehicle.

[0038] Cable connection portions 131, 132 are provided at the upper rear portion of the storage battery 100 to which ends of high-voltage cables (positive and negative cables) extending from the PCU 60 and / or ends of low-voltage cables extending from a 12V battery (not shown) are connected. The cable connection portions 131, 132 may be provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the protrusion 102. For example, a drive current may be supplied from the storage battery 100 to the PCU 60 via the high-voltage cables, and a drive current may be supplied from the 12V battery to electrical components such as the contactor 122 via the low-voltage cables.

[0039] The storage battery 100 has an upper surface portion 103 that connects the elongated portion 101 to the protruding portion 102 in a straight line when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The upper surface portion 103 is formed so as to slope downward toward the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The rear portion of the upper surface portion 103 overlaps with a portion of the main frame 21 when viewed from the side of the vehicle. A space that opens in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is formed between the upper surface portion 103 and the top cover 36 along the slope of the upper surface portion 103.

[0040] When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the storage battery 100 is formed with a front surface portion 104 extending rearward and downward from the front end of the upper surface portion 103, an upper rear surface portion 105 extending rearward and downward from the rear end of the upper surface portion 103, an upper lower surface portion 106 extending frontward and downward from the lower end of the upper rear surface portion 105 and then curving frontward and downward, a lower rear surface portion 107 extending rearward and downward from the lower end of the upper lower surface portion 106, and a lower lower surface portion 108 connecting the lower end of the front surface portion 104 and the lower end of the lower rear surface portion 107 and extending so as to protrude downward.

[0041] Fig. 3 is a left side view illustrating an example of wind flow in the vehicle 1. Fig. 3 shows a simplified view of the shape of the storage battery 100, the control device 9, etc. as viewed from the side of the vehicle. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, a control device 9 is provided behind the protruding portion 102. A cooling air passage 140 is formed between the protruding portion 102 and the control device 9, through which air passes to cool the control device 9. An electric motor 50 is provided downstream in the cooling air passage 140 in the direction of travel of the cooling air.

[0042] In a side view of the vehicle, cooling air passage 140 extends rearward and downward from near the rear end of upper surface portion 103 so as to follow the rear surface (upper rear surface portion 105) of protrusion 102, and then curves and extends frontward and downward. As a result, at least a portion of the air flowing along upper surface portion 103 flows in the direction of arrow W1 in the figure and is guided toward control device 9. At least a portion of the air passing through cooling air passage 140 flows in the direction of arrow W2 in the figure and is guided toward electric motor 50 constituting power unit 8. At least a portion of the air flowing along upper surface portion 103 flows in the direction of arrow W3 in the figure and is guided toward fins 61 provided on control device 9. Fins 61 extend vertically along the air flow in the direction of arrow W3.

[0043] <Action and effect> As described above, the vehicle structure in the above embodiment includes a storage battery 100 that stores power used to operate the vehicle 1. The storage battery 100 includes an elongated portion 101 having a longitudinal direction when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and a protruding portion 102 that protrudes from a portion of the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion 101. The elongated portion 101 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is tilted forward. The protruding portion 102 is arranged on the upper side of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the elongated portion 101 is arranged so as to be inclined forward, and the protruding portion 102 is arranged on the upper side of the vehicle, so that the portion of the storage battery 100 with the greatest heat mass is arranged in front and above the vehicle. In other words, compared to a case where the elongated portion is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction of the vehicle and the protruding portion is arranged on the rear side of the vehicle, the area of ​​the storage battery 100 in a front view of the vehicle (the area through which the storage battery 100 is exposed to wind from the front of the vehicle) is larger. This can therefore improve cooling efficiency, which in turn contributes to improving energy efficiency.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the storage battery 100 is continuously formed with an upper surface portion 103 that connects the elongated portion 101 to the protruding portion 102. The upper surface portion 103 is formed to slope downward toward the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle. According to this configuration, the upper surface portion 103 is formed longer than when the storage battery 100 does not have the protruding portion 102. Therefore, wind from the front of the vehicle hits the upper surface portion 103, which contributes to further improving the cooling efficiency.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the control device 9 is provided behind the protrusion 102 . According to this configuration, at least a part of the airflow flowing along the upper surface portion 103 can be guided toward the control device 9. This contributes to improving the cooling efficiency of the control device 9.

[0046] In the above embodiment, a cooling air passage 140 through which air passes to cool the control device 9 is formed between the protruding portion 102 and the control device 9. The electric motor 50 is provided on the downstream side of the cooling air passage 140 in the direction of travel of the cooling air. According to this configuration, at least a part of the air passing through the cooling air passage 140 can be guided toward the electric motor 50. Therefore, the air that has cooled the control device 9 can also be used to cool the electric motor 50.

[0047] In the above embodiment, each of the elongated portion 101 and the protruding portion 102 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The storage battery 100 has an L-shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. This configuration can improve the strength and rigidity of the storage battery 100 compared to a storage battery that is rectangular in shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0048] <Modification> In the above embodiment, the storage battery has an upper surface portion that connects the elongated portion to the protruding portion, and the upper surface portion is formed to slope downward toward the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the upper surface portion may be formed to extend along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle when viewed from the side of the vehicle, or may be formed to slope downward toward the rear. The shape of the upper surface portion can be changed depending on the design specifications.

[0049] In the above embodiment, an example in which a control device is provided behind the protrusion has been described, but this is not limiting. For example, an electric motor may be provided behind the protrusion. For example, devices and equipment other than the control device (e.g., electrical components such as a converter or a BCU (body control unit)), members, etc. may be provided behind the protrusion. The installation mode of the control device can be changed according to design specifications.

[0050] In the above embodiment, a cooling air passage through which air for cooling the control device passes is formed between the protrusion and the control device, and an electric motor is provided downstream of the cooling air passage in the direction of travel of the cooling air. However, this is not limiting. For example, the electric motor may be provided upstream of the cooling air passage in the direction of travel of the cooling air. For example, a device, apparatus, or member other than the electric motor may be provided downstream of the cooling air passage in the direction of travel of the cooling air. The installation mode of the electric motor can be changed according to design specifications.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the elongated portion and the protruding portion are each rectangular in a side view of the vehicle, and the storage battery is L-shaped in a side view of the vehicle. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the storage battery may be rectangular in a side view of the vehicle. For example, the storage battery may include an elongated portion having a longitudinal direction in a side view of the vehicle and a protruding portion protruding from a part of the elongated portion, and the elongated portion may be arranged so as to be tilted forward, and the protruding portion may be arranged on the upper side of the vehicle. The protruding portion may be arranged below the upper end of the elongated portion. The shape of the storage battery in a side view of the vehicle can be changed according to design specifications.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the configurations of the embodiments may be applied not only to lightweight motorcycles but also to various saddle-ride vehicles. Saddle-ride vehicles include all vehicles on which a rider straddles the body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). The configurations in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, such as replacing the components of the embodiments with well-known components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 vehicle 9 Control Device 50 Electric motor 100 storage batteries 101 Long section 102 Protrusion 103 Top part 140 Cooling air passage

Claims

1. A storage battery (100) that supplies power to an electric motor (50); A vehicle structure of a vehicle (1) including a control device (9) that controls the electric motor (50), The storage battery (100) comprises an elongated portion (101) having a longitudinal direction in a side view of the vehicle, and a protruding portion (102) protruding from a part of the longitudinal direction of the elongated portion (101) and disposed on an upper side of the vehicle; The elongated portion (101) is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is inclined forward, The storage battery (100) has an upper rear surface (105) that protrudes rearward from a lower rear surface (107), The control device (9) is disposed behind the upper rear surface portion (105), and a cooling air passage (140) is formed between the control device (9) and the upper rear surface portion (105), The electric motor (50) is disposed behind the lower rear surface portion (107) and downstream of the cooling air passage (140) in the direction of cooling air travel, At least a part of the air flowing over the upper surface of the storage battery (100) flows in a direction (W1) directed toward the control device (9), a direction (W2) directed toward the electric motor (50) through the cooling air passage (140), and a direction (W3) directed toward the rear surface of the control device (9). Vehicle structure.

2. The storage battery (100) has a continuous upper surface (103) that connects the elongated portion (101) to the protruding portion (102), The upper surface portion (103) is formed to slope downward toward the front when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 .

3. Each of the elongated portion (101) and the protruding portion (102) has a rectangular shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle, The storage battery (100) is L-shaped when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2.

Images