Vehicle structure

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vehicle structure in which poor cooling performance of the rear side of an internal battery as compared with the front side thereof is prevented or suppressed. [Solution] The present invention comprises a battery case 50, a battery 20, an air intake port 30, and an air exhaust port 40. In an internal space of the battery case, a flow path in which a gas flows has, in a cross-section in the longitudinal direction X, a smaller total cross-sectional area on the rear side than on the front side.

Description

Vehicle structure

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

[0002] In recent years, electric vehicles and hybrid cars have been developed as vehicles with low fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. These vehicles are equipped with batteries, which need to be cooled. Conventional battery cooling technology involves placing an exhaust duct between the rear seat and the floor to discharge the air that has cooled the battery.

[0003] International Publication No. 2021 / 240803

[0004] The inventors have investigated the following problem with battery cases, separate from the prior art. Specifically, the front side of the battery case in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is more susceptible to air conditioning, and the front side of the internal battery is more easily cooled by the air conditioning, while the rear side of the battery case is less susceptible to air conditioning. Therefore, the rear side of the internal battery cannot be expected to be cooled by the air conditioning. With a structure like that of Patent Document 1, the air flow inside the battery case is uniform in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so the rear side of the internal battery, which cannot be expected to be cooled by the air conditioning, has inferior cooling performance compared to the front side.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that prevents or suppresses the cooling performance of the rear side of an (internal) battery from being inferior to that of the front side.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a vehicle structure having a battery case, a battery, an air intake port, and an exhaust port. The battery case is provided below the front seats and above a floor panel. The battery is configured to be provided in the internal space of the battery case. The air intake port is located outside the battery case in the vehicle width direction and is configured to communicate with the internal space of the battery case. The exhaust port is located inside the battery case in the vehicle width direction and is configured to communicate with the internal space of the battery case. The internal space of the battery case is configured so that the total cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path through which gas flows in a cross section in the fore-and-aft direction is smaller at the rear side than at the front side.

[0007] According to the above vehicle structure, it is possible to prevent or suppress the cooling performance of the rear side of the battery from being inferior to that of the front side.

[0008] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a vehicle with a portion of an outer wall of the vehicle body cut away according to an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a battery case, a console box, an air intake port, etc. located in the lower part of the vehicle body. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the interior of the battery case according to Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of the battery case as viewed from above. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of the battery case, with the battery case cut along the vehicle width direction. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of gas from the console box.

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. In the drawings, the size and proportions of each component are exaggerated to facilitate understanding of the embodiments, and may differ from the actual size and proportions.

[0010] In each figure, arrows (coordinate system) represented by X, Y, and Z are used to indicate the orientation of members constituting the vehicle structure according to the embodiment. X indicates the front-rear direction, which is referred to as the front-rear direction X. Y indicates the vehicle width direction, which is referred to as the vehicle width direction Y. Z indicates the vehicle height direction, which is referred to as the height direction Z.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a vehicle with a portion of the outer wall of the vehicle body cut away according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the battery case 50, console box cn, air intake 30, etc., located in the lower part of the vehicle body. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the interior of the battery case 50 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the interior of the battery case 50 as seen from above. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the interior of the battery case 50, with the battery case 50 cut along the vehicle width direction Y. Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the flow of gas from the console box cn.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 5, etc., the vehicle has a vehicle body B, a seat 10, a floor consisting of a floor panel top surface portion ft and a floor panel bottom surface portion fp, a battery 20, an air intake port 30, and an exhaust port 40. As shown in Figures 2, 3, etc., the vehicle also has a battery case 50, an inner case 60, a lid portion 70, an exhaust blower 80, and pipes 90. These will be described in detail below.

[0013] (Vehicle Body) The vehicle body B constitutes a framework for carrying passengers and luggage in the vehicle and separating the vehicle interior from the outside. In this embodiment, the vehicle body B of the vehicle is configured as a compact car such as a hatchback, but the vehicle type is not particularly limited as long as it has the same structure as the seats 10, floor, etc. described below.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle body B includes a floor panel bottom portion fp at the bottom of the vehicle, on which a battery 20 (described later) can be disposed.

[0015] (Seats) The seats 10 are configured to be installed in multiple rows on the top surface ft of the floor panel of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the seats 10 include front seats 11 corresponding to the first row of seats when viewed from the front, and rear seats 12 corresponding to the second row of seats, as shown in Figure 1 .

[0016] (Battery) The battery 20 is configured to be provided in the internal space of the battery case 50. The battery 20 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, a current collector, an exterior body, etc., and is configured to be capable of being charged and discharged. In this embodiment, the battery 20 is configured to be disposed near the bottom of the front seat 11 within the seat 10. As shown in FIG. 3 , the battery 20 includes a front battery 21 disposed at the front side in the internal space of the battery case 50, and a rear battery 22 disposed behind the front battery 21.

[0017] (Air intake port) The air intake port 30 is arranged on the outside of the battery case 50 in the vehicle width direction Y, and is configured to communicate with the internal space of the battery case 50. The air intake port 30 is configured as a portion that draws in gas such as air used to cool the battery 20. In this embodiment, the air intake port 30 is arranged near the bottom of the front seat 11 within the seat 10, and further outward in the vehicle width direction Y than the battery 20. The inlet surface of the air intake port 30 can be arranged on approximately the same plane as the floor panel top surface ft.

[0018] (Exhaust port) The exhaust port 40 is disposed inside the battery case 50 in the vehicle width direction Y, and is configured to communicate with the internal space of the battery case 50. As shown in FIG. 5 , the exhaust port 40 is provided inside the console box cn, and is configured to communicate with an exhaust blower 80 located downstream.

[0019] (Battery Case) The battery case 50 is configured to be disposed below the front seat 11 and above the floor panel bottom portion fp. As shown in FIG. 3 , the battery case 50 is configured to house the battery 20, an inner case 60, and pipes 90. The battery case 50 has an internal space that houses the battery 20.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the internal space of the battery case 50 includes a first subspace 51, a second subspace 52, and a third subspace 53. The first subspace 51 is configured as a space through which gas from the intake port 30 communicates. The second subspace 52 is configured to communicate with the first subspace 51 from the intake port side opening 62 and to communicate with the third subspace 53. The second subspace 52 is configured to accommodate the front battery 21 or the rear battery 22 that constitutes the battery 20. In other words, two second subspaces 52 are provided.

[0021] The third partial space 53 communicates with the second partial space 52, and in this embodiment is provided between the two second partial spaces 52 that house the front battery 21 and the rear battery 22, and is configured to communicate with the exhaust port 40. A wall portion having an intake port side opening 62 that constitutes the inner case 60 is disposed between the first partial space 51 and the second partial space 52. A wall portion having an exhaust port side opening 63 that constitutes the inner case 60 is disposed between the second partial space 52 and the third partial space 53. A partition wall 61 located at the top of the inner case 60 is configured to separate the first partial space 51 from the second partial space 52, and also to separate the first partial space 51 from the third partial space 53.

[0022] (Inner case) The inner case 60 is configured to house the battery 20. The inner case 60 includes a partition wall 61, an intake port side opening 62, and an exhaust port side opening 63. The partition wall 61 separates the internal space of the inner case 60 from the internal space of the battery case 50, excluding the area where the intake port side opening 62 or the exhaust port side opening 63 is located. In this embodiment, the inner case 60 separates the internal space of the battery case 50 into a first subspace 51, a second subspace 52, and a third subspace 53, excluding the area where the intake port side opening 62 or the exhaust port side opening 63 is located.

[0023] The intake port side opening 62 is provided in the wall between the first partial space 51 and the second partial space 52, and is configured to allow gas from the intake port 30 to flow into the second partial space 52 through the first partial space 51. In the present embodiment, the intake port side opening 62 is provided in the wall of the inner case 60 on the front side of the front battery 21 and on the rear side of the rear battery 22. The exhaust port side opening 63 is provided in the wall between the second partial space 52 and the third partial space 53, and is configured to allow gas flowing through the second partial space 52 to flow into the third partial space 53. In the present embodiment, the exhaust port side opening 63 is provided in the wall of the inner case 60 on the rear side of the front battery 21 and on the front side of the rear battery 22.

[0024] (Lid) The battery case 50 includes a lid 70 that isolates the internal space from the outside when the battery 20 and other components are housed therein.

[0025] The lid portion 70 is formed so that the total cross-sectional area of ​​the interior space of the battery case 50 decreases from the front side to the rear side. In this embodiment, the lid portion 70 is formed to be inclined in the front-to-rear direction X as shown in FIG. 3 so that the total cross-sectional area of ​​the interior space between the battery case 50 and the top surfaces of the batteries 20 is smaller at the rear side than at the front side. This makes it possible to increase the flow rate of gas flowing over the top surfaces of the batteries 20 relatively faster at the rear side than at the front side, thereby increasing the amount of air flowing to the rear batteries 22 and preventing or suppressing the cooling performance of the rear batteries 22 from being inferior to that of the front batteries 21.

[0026] The cover 70 is also configured to have a protrusion 71 at a location corresponding to the protrusion 23 of the rear battery 22. This configuration suppresses changes in cross-sectional area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, suppressing changes in flow velocity and preventing turbulence in the gas flow.

[0027] (Exhaust Blower) The exhaust blower 80 generates air that cools the battery 20. The exhaust blower 80 can be configured, for example, by a sirocco-type centrifugal fan. The intake port of the exhaust blower 80 can be configured to communicate with the exhaust port 40. Gas downstream of the exhaust blower 80 can flow through the top surface of the floor of the rear seat 12 or the inside of an exhaust duct d below the seat.

[0028] (Pipes) The pipes 90 are configured to be able to conduct power from the battery 20. The pipes 90 are configured to be arranged closer to the front battery 21. This suppresses changes in the flow rate of the rear battery 22, and prevents the rear battery 22 from having inferior cooling performance to the front battery 21.

[0029] Furthermore, the pipes 90 are arranged above the front battery 21. This configuration prevents airflow from being impaired, thereby preventing or minimizing the loss of the cooling effect of the air from the air conditioner.

[0030] Gas such as air flows from the intake port 30 into the first subspace 51 of the battery case 50 (see the arrows in FIG. 4 ), then flows from there into the second subspace 52 through the intake port-side opening 62, and from there into the third subspace 53 through the exhaust port-side opening 63. The gas flows from the third subspace 53 through the exhaust port 40, passes through the exhaust blower 80, and flows inside the exhaust duct d located below the vehicle floor or seat (see the arrows in FIG. 6 ). This configuration makes it possible to cool the battery 20 housed inside the battery case 50.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. In the above, the shape of the lid 70 is configured so that the total cross-sectional area of ​​the interior space of the battery case 50 is smaller at the rear side than at the front side. However, this is not limiting. In addition to the above, the total cross-sectional area of ​​the interior of the battery case may be configured so that it is smaller at the rear side than at the front side by the arrangement of components such as batteries and pipes housed inside the battery case, rather than by the lid. Furthermore, while the battery 20 has been described as including a front battery 21 and a rear battery 22, the battery configuration may be different from the above.

[0032] The following embodiments are also included within the scope of the present invention: the vehicle structure according to claim 1 having the features of claim 2; the vehicle structure according to claim 1 or claim 2 having the features of claim 3; the vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having the features of claim 4; the vehicle structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 having the features of claim 5; and the vehicle structure according to claim 5 having the features of claim 6.

[0033] 20 Battery, 21 Front battery, 22 Rear battery, 23 Protrusion, 30 Air intake port, 40 Exhaust port, 50 Battery case, 62 Air intake port side opening, 63 Exhaust port side opening, 71 Protrusion, 80 Exhaust blower, 90 Pipes, X Front-rear direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle structure having a battery case provided below the front seat and above the floor panel, a battery provided in the internal space of the battery case, an intake port disposed outside the battery case in the vehicle width direction and communicating with the internal space of the battery case, and an exhaust port disposed inside the battery case in the vehicle width direction and communicating with the internal space of the battery case, wherein the total cross-sectional area of the flow path through which the gas flows in the cross-section in the front-rear direction of the internal space of the battery case is smaller at the rear side than at the front side.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes a front battery disposed at the front side in the internal space of the battery case and a rear battery disposed at the rear side of the front battery in the internal space, and the total cross-sectional area between the battery case and the upper surface of the battery in the internal space is smaller at the rear side than at the front side.

3. The gas from the exhaust port flows into an exhaust blower, and the internal space of the battery case includes a first partial space through which the gas from the intake port flows, a second partial space communicating with the first partial space and accommodating the battery, and a third partial space communicating with the second partial space and communicating with the exhaust port. The space between the first partial space and the second partial space is partitioned by a wall portion provided with an intake port side opening for allowing the gas from the intake port to flow into the second partial space through the first partial space, and the space between the second partial space and the third partial space is partitioned by a wall portion provided with an exhaust port side opening for allowing the gas to flow between the second partial space and the third partial space. The vehicle structure according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the battery case has a convex portion at a portion corresponding to the protrusion of the battery.

5. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein in the internal space of the battery case, pipes are arranged so as to collect pipes at the front side of the battery.

6. The vehicle structure according to claim 5, wherein the pipes are arranged above the battery.

Images