End portion structure of battery pack in vehicle width direction
The vehicle-width end structure for battery packs addresses the challenge of securing an EA stroke by integrating deformable and reinforcing frames with controlled deformation and stabilization, effectively absorbing collision energy and protecting the battery pack while maintaining vehicle width.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
The challenge of securing an energy absorption stroke (EA stroke) for battery packs in electric vehicles while accommodating larger capacity batteries without increasing vehicle width or reducing battery pack capacity, which is exacerbated by reduced space between the battery case and vehicle side sills during side collisions.
A vehicle-width end structure for battery packs featuring side walls with distinct regions and a fastening frame that allows controlled deformation during collisions, integrating a deformable region with spaces for energy absorption and a reinforcing frame to stabilize tilting, connected to the vehicle frame via a groove mechanism.
Efficiently absorbs collision energy, protects the battery pack by stabilizing deformation, and reduces manufacturing costs through integrated molding, ensuring effective protection and compatibility with larger capacity batteries.
Smart Images
Figure JP2024044214_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
End structure in the vehicle width direction of a battery pack 【0001】 The present invention relates to an end structure in the vehicle width direction of a battery pack. 【0002】 In an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle having a motor as a drive source, a battery pack that supplies power to the motor includes a battery module composed of a plurality of battery cells, a control device for functioning these battery modules, a cooling device for cooling the battery module, and a case of the battery pack that houses them. When the battery pack is disposed under the vehicle body, the end portions in the vehicle width direction of the case of the battery pack are supported by vehicle skeleton members such as side sills via a sheet metal support structure (see Patent Document 1). 【0003】 Japanese Patent No. 5434082 【0004】 By the way, in recent years, with the increase in the capacity of the battery pack, the dimensions in the vehicle width direction of the case of the battery pack tend to increase. Therefore, since the space between both sides of the case of the battery pack and the side sill is reduced, the dimensions of the support structure in the vehicle width direction also have to be reduced, which is disadvantageous in securing an EA stroke (energy absorption stroke) for absorbing the collision energy during a side collision with the support structure. In order to secure the EA stroke, it is conceivable to increase the vehicle width size, but there is a disadvantage that the vehicle body becomes larger. Also, although it is conceivable to reduce the vehicle width direction of the battery pack, there is a disadvantage that it runs counter to the increase in the capacity of the battery pack. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even when a large-capacity battery pack having a large dimension in the vehicle width direction compared to the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body is mounted on the vehicle body, an EA stroke of the battery pack is secured and the collision energy during a side collision can be efficiently absorbed, and an end structure in the vehicle width direction of the battery pack advantageous for protecting the battery pack is provided. 【0005】To achieve the above objective, one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle-width end structure at the bottom of a battery pack, having side walls provided at both ends in the vehicle-width direction of the bottom wall of the battery pack and extending in the vehicle-rear direction, wherein the side walls include a first region that protects the internal equipment of the battery pack when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle-width direction, and a second region provided outside the first region in the vehicle-width direction, and a fastening frame portion is provided that protrudes outward from the second region in the vehicle-width direction and is connected to a vehicle frame member, wherein the second region includes an upper non-deformable region and a lower non-deformable region located at the upper and lower ends, and a deformable region located between the upper non-deformable region and the lower non-deformable region, wherein the fastening frame portion protrudes from the vehicle-width-outward end of the deformable region, and the deformable region is configured to include a plurality of spaces that allow the fastening frame portion to enter when a load is applied to the fastening frame portion from the outside in the vehicle-width direction. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the fastening frame portion has a base portion connected to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region and a tip portion located away from the base portion and connected to the vehicle frame member, and the base portion is provided with a groove that, by making the thickness of the base portion smaller than the thickness of the tip portion, displaces the tip portion upward relative to the base portion when a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the tip portion, thereby inducing the tilting of the fastening frame portion. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the deformable region comprises a deformable vertical plate portion that connects the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper non-deformable region and the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lower non-deformable region and extends in the vertical direction, and a plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from a vertically spaced position at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first region between the upper non-deformable region and the lower non-deformable region and connect to the deformable vertical plate portion, wherein the plurality of spaces are formed between the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first region, the upper non-deformable region, the lower non-deformable region, the plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions, and the deformable vertical plate portion, and the fastening frame portion is provided projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from the deformable vertical plate portion that is displaced vertically from the deformable horizontal plate portion.Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a reinforcing frame portion is provided that protrudes from the lower part of the lower non-deformable region with an inclination that rises as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction below the fastening frame and is connected to the tip of the fastening frame portion, and the reinforcing frame portion is formed to be extendable in accordance with the tilting of the fastening frame. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the first region, the second region, and the fastening frame portion are integrally molded from an extruded material. 【0006】According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the battery pack includes a first region that protects the internal components of the battery pack when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a second region provided on the outside in the vehicle width direction of the first region. A fastening frame portion is provided that protrudes outward from the second region in the vehicle width direction and is connected to a vehicle frame member. The second region includes an upper non-deformable region and a lower non-deformable region located at the upper and lower ends, and a deformable region located between the upper non-deformable region and the lower non-deformable region. The fastening frame portion protrudes from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region, and the deformable region is configured to include a plurality of spaces that allow the fastening frame portion to enter when a load is applied to the fastening frame portion from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, deformation of the fastening frame portion inward in the vehicle width direction due to the collision load input during a side collision is permitted by the fastening frame portion entering the spaces of the second region, which is advantageous in absorbing collision energy during a side collision by deformation of the deformable region of the second region, thereby securing the EA stroke of the battery pack and efficiently absorbing collision energy during a side collision, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack. Furthermore, the fastening frame portion has a base portion that connects to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region, and a tip portion that is located away from the base portion and connected to the vehicle frame member. By providing a groove in the base portion that guides the tilting of the fastening frame portion, the downward displacement of the battery pack is promoted, thereby suppressing interference between the battery pack and other structures such as the floor panel located above the battery pack. Therefore, collision energy during a side collision can be efficiently absorbed, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack. In addition, the direction in which the fastening frame portion tilts can be stabilized, and the inward deformation mode of the fastening frame portion in the vehicle width direction can be stabilized. Furthermore, since the location of the groove can easily enter the space of the second region, the inward deformation mode of the fastening frame portion in the vehicle width direction can be stabilized.Furthermore, if the deformable region comprises a deformable vertical plate portion and a plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions connected to the deformable vertical plate portion, and a plurality of spaces are formed between the outer end of the first region in the vehicle width direction, the upper non-deformable region, the lower non-deformable region, the plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions, and the deformable vertical plate portion, and the fastening frame portion is projected outward in the vehicle width direction from the deformable vertical plate portion which is displaced vertically from the deformable horizontal plate portion, then when the fastening frame portion deforms inward in the vehicle width direction, the fastening frame portion can enter the space in the second region without hindrance, which is more advantageous in absorbing collision energy during a side collision by the deformation of the deformable region of the second region. In addition, if the reinforcing frame portion is provided which is projected from the lower part of the lower non-deformable region with an inclination that rises as it goes from below the fastening frame to the outer side in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the tip of the fastening frame portion, and the reinforcing frame portion is formed to be extendable in accordance with the tilting of the fastening frame portion, then the reinforcing frame portion extends due to the collision load F, so the tilting of the fastening frame portion can be performed without hindrance, and the inward deformation mode of the fastening frame portion in the vehicle width direction can be further stabilized. Furthermore, integrally molding the first region, the second region, and the fastening frame portion using extruded material allows for easy manufacturing of the side walls and fastening frame portion, which is advantageous in reducing the manufacturing cost of the battery pack. 【0007】 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the end structure in the vehicle width direction of the battery pack according to the first embodiment, broken in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal direction. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure before a side collision in the first embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure showing the state in which deformation due to a side collision has begun in the first embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure showing the state in which deformation due to a side collision has ended in the first embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure in the vehicle width direction of the battery pack according to the second embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure showing the state in which deformation due to a side collision has begun in the second embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view of the end structure showing the state in which deformation due to a side collision has ended in the second embodiment. 【0008】(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1-4. The end structure of the battery pack in the vehicle width direction of this embodiment (hereinafter simply referred to as the end structure of the battery pack) is applied to a battery pack that is mounted on an electric vehicle that uses only a motor as a driving source, or a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle that is capable of external charging or external power supply, and supplies power to the motor. 【0009】 As shown in Figure 1, the battery pack 10 is located at the bottom of the vehicle body. In the following drawings, the symbol UP indicates the top of the vehicle, the symbol IN indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the symbol OUT indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle body comprises a floor panel 12 extending in the vehicle's longitudinal and vehicle width directions, a seat cross member 14 extending in the vehicle width direction on the upper surface of the floor panel 12, and side sills 16 as vehicle frame members extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The side sills 16 are connected to both sides of the floor panel 12 in the vehicle width direction and to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the seat cross member 14. The side sills 16 are composed of a side sill outer 16A provided on the outside in the vehicle width direction, a side sill inner 16B provided on the inside in the vehicle width direction, and a side sill reinforcement 16C provided between the side sill outer 16A and the side sill inner 16B, and exhibit a closed cross section structure. 【0010】The battery pack 10 is located below the floor panel 12. The battery pack 10 consists of a battery case 18, a battery pack 1002 (not shown) consisting of multiple battery modules housed in the battery case 18, a control device (not shown) for controlling the battery pack 1002, a DC / DC converter (not shown), and a cooling device (not shown) for cooling the battery modules. The battery case 18 is made of steel and consists of a rectangular bottom wall (battery tray) 20 in plan view, side walls 22 provided at both ends of the bottom wall 20 in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a cover 24 provided on both side walls 22. The battery pack 1002, control device, DC / DC converter, and cooling device are housed in the space enclosed by the bottom wall 20, side walls 22, and cover 24. 【0011】 The side wall 22 comprises a first region 26 and a second region 28, with a fastening frame portion 30 and a reinforcing frame portion 32 provided in the second region 28. These first region 26, second region 28, fastening frame portion 30, and reinforcing frame portion 32 extend along both ends of the bottom wall 20 in the vehicle width direction. The side wall 22, fastening frame portion 30, and reinforcing frame portion 32 are formed from extruded material rather than conventional sheet metal, and therefore the first region 26, second region 28, fastening frame portion 30, and reinforcing frame portion 32 are integrally molded. The first region 26 is provided on the inner side of the side wall 22 in the vehicle width direction. The first region 26 is a region that protects the battery case 18's components, such as the battery pack 1002, control device, DC / DC converter, and cooling device, when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the first region 26 is formed as a non-deformable region with rigidity that is less likely to deform when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the first region 26 is formed of a steel portion with a predetermined thickness in the vehicle width direction and a vertically elongated rectangular cross-section that extends in the vertical direction, and three (or more) vertically elongated spaces are formed inside for weight reduction. 【0012】As shown in Figure 2, the second region 28 is located outside the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction. The second region 28 comprises an upper non-deformable region 34 and a lower non-deformable region 36 located at the upper and lower ends, and a deformable region 38 located between the upper non-deformable region 34 and the lower non-deformable region 36. The upper non-deformable region 34 is composed of an upper wall portion 3402 that extends outward from the top in the vehicle width direction at the outer end of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction. The lower non-deformable region 36 is composed of a lower wall portion 3602 that extends outward from the bottom in the vehicle width direction at the outer end of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction. The upper non-deformable region 34 and the lower non-deformable region 36 are formed with a rigidity that makes them resistant to deformation when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction. 【0013】 As shown in Figure 2, the deformable region 38 is composed of a deformable vertical plate portion 3802, a plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions 3804, and a plurality of space portions 3806. The deformable vertical plate portion 3802 connects the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper non-deformable region 34 and the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lower non-deformable region 36 and extends in the vertical direction. The plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions 3804 extend outward in the vehicle width direction from vertically spaced locations at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first region 26 between the upper non-deformable region 34 and the lower non-deformable region 36 and connect to the deformable vertical plate portion 3802. The deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and the plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions 3804 are formed with a rigidity that allows them to absorb loads by deforming when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the deformable horizontal plate portion 3804 consists of two plates: a first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A and a second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B located below the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A. The space portion 3806 is formed between the outer end of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction, the deformable vertical plate portion 3802, the upper wall portion 3402, the lower wall portion 3602, the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A, and the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B, with three spaces formed from above: the first space portion 3806A, the second space portion 3806B, and the third space portion 3806C. The second space portion 3806B has a greater vertical height than the first space portion 3806A, while the third space portion 3806C has the smallest vertical height. 【0014】As shown in Figure 2, the fastening frame portion 30 protrudes from the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 which constitutes the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region 38, and as shown in Figure 1, it is connected to the side sill 16 (side sill inner 16B) which constitutes the vehicle frame member by bolts 40. The first space portion 3806A, the second space portion 3806B, and the third space portion 3806C are locations that allow the fastening frame portion 30 to enter when a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the fastening frame portion 30. In detail, the fastening frame portion 30 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the location of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 which is displaced vertically from the deformable horizontal plate portion 3804, and in detail, it protrudes from the location of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 which is located closer to the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B and located in the second space portion 3806B. The fastening frame portion 30 has a base portion 3002 connected to the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and a tip portion 3004 located away from the base portion 3002 and connected to the vehicle frame member. The base portion 3002 is provided with a groove 3006 that, by making the thickness of the base portion 3002 smaller than the thickness of the tip portion 3004, displaces the tip portion 3004 above the base portion 3002 when a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the tip portion 3004, thereby inducing the fastening frame portion 30 to tilt. The groove 3006 is provided on the upper surface of the base portion 3002. In addition, the deformable region 38 on which the fastening frame portion 30 is projected is located at a position displaced below the vertical center of the second region 28 so that when the fastening frame portion 30 tilts, the tip portion 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30 falls within the height range of the second region 28. 【0015】 The reinforcing frame portion 32 is projected from the lower part of the lower wall portion 3602 that constitutes the lower non-deformable region 36, with an upward slope that extends outward in the vehicle width direction below the fastening frame portion 30, and is connected to the tip portion 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30, thereby reinforcing the fastening frame portion 30. The reinforcing frame portion 32 is formed with a cross-sectional area that can extend in accordance with the tilting of the fastening frame portion 30. 【0016】Next, the effects of the end structure of the battery pack in this embodiment during a side collision will be explained with reference to Figures 2-4. In Figures 2-4, the side sill 16 is simplified and shown with a dashed line. Figure 2 shows the state before a side collision. As shown in Figure 3, when a side collision occurs and a collision load F from the outside in the vehicle width direction is input to the front part 3004 of the fastening frame part 30 via the side sill 16, the fastening frame part 30 tilts, with the front part 3004 displaced above the base part 3002, using the groove 3006 on the upper surface of the base part 3002 as the pivot point. The collision energy is absorbed by the fastening frame part 30 due to this deformation of the fastening frame part 30. In addition, as the fastening frame part 30 tilts, displacing the front part 3004 fastened to the side sill 16 above the base part 3002, the battery pack 10 is displaced in a direction such that the side on which the collision load F was input moves downward away from the side sill 16. As the tip 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30 is displaced upward, a force is applied from the tip 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30 to the reinforcing frame portion 32 in a direction that extends the reinforcing frame portion 32, causing the reinforcing frame portion 32 to extend. Therefore, the fastening frame portion 30 can be tilted without hindrance, and the impact energy is absorbed by the reinforcing frame portion 32 through its extension. 【0017】As shown in Figure 4, the collision load F causes the fastening frame portion 30 to tilt, and the collision load F from the outside in the vehicle width direction applied to the fastening frame portion 30 is added to the deformable region 38 of the second region 28. As a result, the portion of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 that constitutes the deformable region 38 of the second region 28 deforms inward in the vehicle width direction, and the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A and the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B that constitute the deformable region 38 also deform so as to collapse inward in the vehicle width direction. Since the inward deformation of the portion of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 in the vehicle width direction is permitted by the first space portion 3806A, the second space portion 3806B, and the third space portion 3806C, in this embodiment, the portion of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and the base portion 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 penetrate into the second space portion 3806B. In this way, the deformation of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is permitted by the space portion 3806, and the collision energy is absorbed by the deformation of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and the deformation of the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A and the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804. 【0018】 Furthermore, the base 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 that has entered the space 3806 is received by the first region 26 via the second region 28, thereby preventing the base 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 from entering any further inward in the vehicle width direction. 【0019】 Therefore, the collision energy due to the collision load F is absorbed by the bending of the fastening frame portion 30, the extension of the reinforcing frame portion 32, and the deformation of the deformable region 38 of the second region 28, while the first region 26 is not deformed by the collision energy, thus protecting the equipment inside the battery case 18 from the collision energy due to the collision load F. Furthermore, if the magnitude of the collision load F applied to the side sill 16 from the outside in the vehicle width direction is small enough not to cause bending of the fastening frame portion 30, the reinforcing frame portion 32 will absorb the collision load F together with the fastening frame portion 30. Therefore, the collision load F is transmitted from the fastening frame and the reinforcing frame portion 32 to the first region 26 via the second region 28, and then distributed and transmitted throughout the entire battery pack 10 via the side wall 22. 【0020】According to this embodiment, the side wall 22 of the battery pack includes a first region 26 that protects the internal components of the battery pack 10 when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and a second region 28 provided on the outside of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction. A fastening frame portion 30 is provided that protrudes outward from the second region 28 in the vehicle width direction and is connected to a vehicle frame member. The second region 28 includes an upper non-deformable region 34 and a lower non-deformable region 36 located at its upper and lower ends, and a deformable region 38 located between the upper non-deformable region 34 and the lower non-deformable region 36. The fastening frame portion 30 protrudes from the outer end of the deformable region 38 in the vehicle width direction, and the deformable region 38 is configured to include a plurality of spaces 3806 that allow the fastening frame portion 30 to enter when a load is applied to the fastening frame portion 30 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the deformation of the fastening frame portion 30 in the vehicle width direction due to the collision load F applied during a side collision is permitted by the fastening frame portion 30 entering the space portion 3806 of the second region 28, and the deformation of the deformable region 38 of the second region 28 is advantageous in absorbing the collision energy during a side collision. Consequently, even when a large-capacity battery pack 10 having a large width dimension compared to the width dimension of the vehicle body is mounted on the vehicle body, the EA stroke of the battery pack 10 can be secured, allowing for efficient absorption of collision energy during a side collision, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack 10. 【0021】Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fastening frame portion 30 has a base portion 3002 connected to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region 38, and a tip portion 3004 located away from the base portion 3002 and connected to the vehicle frame member. The base portion 3002 is provided with a groove 3006 that, by making the thickness of the base portion 3002 smaller than the thickness of the tip portion 3004, displaces the tip portion 3004 upward above the base portion 3002 when a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the tip portion 3004, thereby inducing the tilting of the fastening frame portion 30. As a result, downward displacement of the battery pack 10 is promoted, which suppresses interference between the battery pack 10 and other structures such as the floor panel 12 located above the battery pack 10. Therefore, since the deformation of the fastening frame portion 30 and the deformable region 38 of the second region 28 is not hindered by interference between the battery pack 10 and other structures, collision energy during a side collision can be efficiently absorbed, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack 10. Furthermore, the collision load F input from the side sill 16 during a side collision stabilizes the direction in which the fastening frame portion 30 tilts, thereby stabilizing the inward deformation mode of the fastening frame portion 30 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, collision energy can be efficiently absorbed by the fastening frame portion 30 and the deformable region 38 of the second region 28, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack 10. In addition, since the groove 30 is structurally weak and prone to bending and crushing, the groove 30 can easily enter the space 3806 of the second region 28, thus stabilizing the inward deformation mode of the fastening frame portion 30 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, collision energy can be efficiently absorbed by the fastening frame portion 30 and the deformable region 38 of the second region 28, which is advantageous in protecting the battery pack 10. 【0022】Furthermore, in this embodiment, the deformable region 38 includes a deformable vertical plate portion 38 that extends vertically, connecting the outer end of the upper non-deformable region 34 in the vehicle width direction and the outer end of the lower non-deformable region 36 in the vehicle width direction, and a plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions 3804 that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from vertically spaced locations at the outer end of the first region in the vehicle width direction between the upper non-deformable region 34 and the lower non-deformable region 36 and connect to the deformable vertical plate portion 38. The plurality of spaces 3806 are formed between the outer end of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction, the upper non-deformable region 34, the lower non-deformable region 36, the plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions 3804, and the deformable vertical plate portion 38. The fastening frame portion 30 is provided projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from the deformable vertical plate portion 38 that is displaced vertically from the deformable horizontal plate portion 3804. Therefore, when the fastening frame portion 30 deforms inward in the vehicle width direction due to the collision load F applied during a side collision, the fastening frame portion 30 can enter the space portion 3806 of the second region 28 without any problems, which is advantageous in absorbing the collision energy during a side collision by the deformation of the deformable region 38 of the second region 28. 【0023】 Furthermore, in this embodiment, a reinforcing frame portion 32 is provided that protrudes from the lower part of the lower non-deformable region 36, below the fastening frame portion 30, with an inclination that rises as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction, and is connected to the tip portion 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30. The reinforcing frame portion 32 is formed to extend in accordance with the tilting of the fastening frame portion 30. Therefore, when a side collision occurs, the reinforcing frame portion 32 extends due to the collision load F input from the side sill 16, allowing the fastening frame portion 30 to tilt without hindrance, and further stabilizing the deformation mode of the fastening frame portion 30 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction. Consequently, collision energy can be efficiently absorbed by the fastening frame portion 30 and the deformable region 38 of the second region 28, and collision energy is also absorbed by the reinforcing frame portion 32 as it extends, which is more advantageous in protecting the battery pack 10. 【0024】Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the first region 26, the second region 28, and the fastening frame portion 30 are integrally molded from an extruded material, the side wall 22 comprising the first region 26 and the second region 28, the fastening frame portion 30, and the reinforcing frame portion 32 can be easily manufactured, which is advantageous in reducing the manufacturing cost of the battery pack 10. 【0025】 (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 5-7. Note that components and parts similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified, with the focus being on the parts that differ from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the second region 28 differs from that of the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the side wall 22 comprises a first region 26 and a second region 28, with a fastening frame portion 30 and a reinforcing frame portion 32 provided in the second region 28. These first region 26, second region 28, fastening frame portion 30, and reinforcing frame portion 32 extend along both ends of the bottom wall 20 in the vehicle width direction. Similar to the first embodiment, the space 3806 is formed between the outer end of the first region 26 in the vehicle width direction, the deformable vertical plate portion 3802, the upper wall portion 3402, the lower wall portion 3602, the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A, and the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B, with three spaces formed from above: the first space 3806A, the second space 3806B, and the third space 3806C. 【0026】 Unlike the first embodiment, the vertical height of the third space 3806C is the largest compared to the first space 3806A and the second space 3806B. The fastening frame portion 30 is located closer to the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804B and protrudes from the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 located above the third space 3806C. As in the first embodiment, the location of the deformable region 38 from which the fastening frame portion 30 protrudes is positioned below the vertical center of the second region 28, so that when the fastening frame portion 30 is tilted, the tip portion 3004 of the fastening frame portion 30 remains within the height range of the second region 28. 【0027】As shown in Figure 6, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when a side collision occurs and a collision load F from the outside in the vehicle width direction is input to the front part 3004 of the fastening frame part 30 via the side sill 16, the fastening frame part 30 tilts, with the front part 3004 displaced above the base part 3002, using the groove 3006 on the upper surface of the base part 3002 as the pivot point, and the battery pack 10 is displaced in a direction such that the side on which the collision load F was input moves downward away from the side sill 16. As shown in Figure 7, as the tilting of the fastening frame part 30 progresses due to the collision load F, the collision load F from the outside in the vehicle width direction that was input to the fastening frame part 30 is applied to the deformable region 38 of the second region 28. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the portion of the deformable vertical plate part 3802 deforms inward in the vehicle width direction, and the first deformable horizontal plate part 3804A and the second deformable horizontal plate part 3804B that constitute the deformable region 38 also deform so as to collapse inward in the vehicle width direction. Here, unlike in the first embodiment, the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and the base portion 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 penetrate into the third space portion 3806C, rather than the second space portion 3806B. 【0028】 In this way, the collision energy is absorbed by the deformation of the deformable vertical plate portion 3802 and the deformation of the first deformable horizontal plate portion 3804A and the second deformable horizontal plate portion 3804, and the base portion 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 that has entered the space portion 3806 is received by the first region 26 via the second region 28, and the base portion 3002 of the fastening frame portion 30 is prevented from entering further inward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, the collision energy due to the collision load F is absorbed by the bending of the fastening frame portion 30, the extension of the reinforcing frame portion 32 and the deformation of the deformable region 38 of the second region 28, while the first region 26 is not deformed by the collision energy, thus protecting the equipment inside the battery case 18 from the collision energy due to the collision load F. Therefore, the same effects as the first embodiment are achieved in the second embodiment as well. 【0029】10 Battery pack 1002 Battery assembly 12 Floor panel 14 Seat cross member 16 Side sill 16A Side sill outer 16B Side sill inner 16C Side sill reinforcement 18 Battery case 20 Bottom wall 22 Side wall 24 Cover 26 First region 28 Second region 30 Fastening frame section 3002 Base section 3004 Front section 3006 Groove 32 Reinforcement frame section 3202 Inclined section 3204 Extension section 34 Upper non-deformable region 3402 Upper wall section 36 Lower non-deformable region 3602 Lower wall section 38 Deformable region 3802 Deformable vertical plate section 3804 Deformable horizontal plate section 3804A First deformable horizontal plate section 3804B Second deformable horizontal plate section 3806 Space 3806A First space 3806B Second space 3806C Third space 40 volts
Claims
1. A vehicle-width end structure for the lower part of a battery pack, comprising: side walls provided at both ends in the vehicle-width direction of the bottom wall of the battery pack and extending in the vehicle-rear direction; the side walls comprising: a first region for protecting the internal equipment of the battery pack when a load is applied from the outside in the vehicle-width direction; and a second region provided on the outside in the vehicle-width direction of the first region; a fastening frame portion provided projecting outward from the second region in the vehicle-width direction and connected to a vehicle frame member; the second region comprising: an upper non-deformable region and a lower non-deformable region located at the upper and lower ends; a deformable region located between the upper non-deformable region and the lower non-deformable region; the fastening frame portion projecting from the outer end in the vehicle-width direction of the deformable region; and the deformable region comprising a plurality of spaces that allow the fastening frame portion to enter when a load is applied to the fastening frame portion from the outside in the vehicle-width direction.
2. The fastening frame portion has a base portion connected to the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the deformable region, and a tip portion located away from the base portion and connected to the vehicle frame member, and the base portion is provided with a groove that, by making the thickness of the base portion smaller than the thickness of the tip portion, displaces the tip portion upward relative to the base portion when a load from the outside in the vehicle width direction is applied to the tip portion, thereby inducing the tilting of the fastening frame portion.
3. The deformable region comprises a deformable vertical plate portion that connects the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the upper non-deformable region and the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lower non-deformable region and extends in the vertical direction, and a plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from a vertically spaced position at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first region between the upper non-deformable region and the lower non-deformable region and connect to the deformable vertical plate portion, wherein the plurality of spaces are formed between the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the first region, the upper non-deformable region, the lower non-deformable region, the plurality of deformable horizontal plate portions, and the deformable vertical plate portion, and the fastening frame portion is provided protruding outward in the vehicle width direction from the deformable vertical plate portion that is displaced vertically from the deformable horizontal plate portion, characterized in that the lower end structure in the vehicle width direction of the battery pack according to claim 1.
4. The lower end structure of the battery pack in the vehicle width direction according to claim 2, characterized in that it is provided with a reinforcing frame portion that protrudes from the lower part of the lower non-deformable region with an inclination that rises as it extends outward in the vehicle width direction below the fastening frame and is connected to the tip of the fastening frame portion, wherein the reinforcing frame portion is formed to be extendable in accordance with the tilting of the fastening frame.
5. The lower end structure in the vehicle width direction of the battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the first region, the second region, and the fastening frame portion are integrally molded from an extruded material.