Battery pack fixing structure

Abstract

This battery pack fixing structure comprises: a pair of connection parts, which is a pair of members each extending vertically along an end part of a battery pack and disposed at an interval in the horizontal direction, the upper end side of each being fixed to a vehicle body side, and the lower end side of each being fixed to the end part of the battery pack; a vehicle body-side fixing part, which is a member extending so as to connect the upper end sides of the connection parts, and which fixes these upper end sides to the vehicle body side; and a battery-side fixing part, which is a member extending so as to connect the lower end sides of the connection parts, and which fixes these lower end sides to the end part side of the battery pack. The pair of connection parts are arranged such that one among an interval between the upper ends and an interval between the lower ends is narrower than the other. With reference to a position at which an area sandwiched between the connection parts is divided into two along a direction from one to the other of the connection parts, the vehicle body-side fixing part and the battery-side fixing part are fixed at two symmetrical locations in this direction.

Description

Battery Pack Fixing Structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing structure for fixing a battery pack to a vehicle body.

[0002] Conventionally, a fixing structure for fixing a battery pack along the back surface of a vehicle body is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As this fixing structure, a general configuration is that the end face of the battery pack and the vehicle body are connected vertically by a pair of connecting portions (brackets) arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-10129

[0004] However, in the above configuration, the battery pack is prone to swing in the vehicle width direction under the influence of shaking and vibration during driving. There are concerns about problems caused by the swinging of the battery pack, such as generation of abnormal noise, damage or falling off of the fixing portion, and unintended contact or collision of the battery pack with the vehicle body side.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to prevent problems associated with swinging of a battery pack in a battery pack fixing structure.

[0006] The battery pack fixing structure of the present disclosure is a pair of members each extending vertically along an end portion of a battery pack and arranged at intervals in a horizontal direction, each of which has an upper end side fixed to a vehicle body side and a lower end side fixed to the end portion of the battery pack; a vehicle body side fixing portion which is a member extending to connect the upper end sides of the respective connecting portions and fixes these upper end sides to the vehicle body side; and a battery side fixing portion which is a member extending to connect the lower end sides of the respective connecting portions and fixes these lower end sides to the end portion side of the battery pack, wherein the pair of connecting portions are arranged such that one of an interval between upper ends and an interval between lower ends is narrower than the other, and the vehicle body side fixing portion and the battery side fixing portion are fixed at two positions symmetrical in a direction from one side to the other side of a region sandwiched between the respective connecting portions, with reference to a position bisecting the region along the direction.

[0007] In this battery pack fixing structure, each element forms a triangular or trapezoidal structure due to its arrangement, so compared with the conventional structure using a pair of connecting portions, the structure has higher strength and can effectively disperse external force.

[0008] As a result, even when affected by shaking and vibration during driving, the oscillation of the battery pack is suppressed, effectively preventing problems such as abnormal noises associated with oscillation, structural damage or detachment, and contact or collision of the battery pack with the vehicle body. Thus, the above battery pack fixing structure allows for more stable fixing of the battery pack.

[0009] Side view showing the fixing structure between the vehicle body and the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Rear view showing the fixing structure between the vehicle body and the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Perspective view showing the bracket in an embodiment of the present disclosure Rear view (1) showing the fixing structure between the vehicle body and the battery pack in another embodiment Rear view (2) showing the fixing structure between the vehicle body and the battery pack in another embodiment

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the forward direction is indicated by F, the rear direction by B, the left direction by L, and the right direction by R.

[0011] (1) Overall Configuration In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a fixing structure for fixing the battery pack 200 to the back side of the vehicle body 100 will be described. This battery pack 200 is mounted on vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles (including plug-in hybrid vehicles that enable external charging and external power supply).

[0012] The fixing structure of this embodiment is realized by a bracket 1 positioned at one of the front or rear ends (the rear end in this embodiment) of the battery pack 200. The other end of the battery pack 200 is fixed to the vehicle body 100 by a screw member 210.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bracket 1 comprises a pair of connecting parts 10 that extend vertically along the ends of the battery pack 200, a vehicle body side fixing part 20 that extends to connect the upper ends of each connecting part 10, a battery side fixing part 30 that extends to connect the lower ends of each connecting part 10, and reinforcing ribs 40 formed along the edges of the holes 41 surrounded by each part.

[0014] The pair of connecting parts 10 are arranged with a gap between them in the horizontal direction (left-right direction in this embodiment), with their upper ends fixed to the vehicle body (vehicle body 100) and their lower ends fixed to the ends of the battery pack 200.

[0015] Furthermore, in the pair of connecting parts 10, the distance between the upper and lower ends is narrower than the distance between the other. In this embodiment, the distance between the lower ends of the pair of connecting parts 10 is narrower than the distance between the upper ends.

[0016] The vehicle body-side fixing portion 20 has an area that extends to connect the upper ends of each of the connecting portions 10, thereby fixing these upper ends to the back surface of the vehicle body 100. Here, the vehicle body-side fixing portion 20 and the vehicle body 100 are fixed together by a screw member 120.

[0017] Here, the vehicle body side fixing portion 20 has a vehicle body side flange 21 that extends along the back surface of the vehicle body 100, and is fixed to the vehicle body 100 by this vehicle body side flange 21. In this embodiment, the vehicle body side flange 21 extends along the back surface of the vehicle body 100 toward the side where the battery pack 200 is not located (the rear in this embodiment).

[0018] Furthermore, the vehicle body side fixing portion 20 has a vehicle body side protrusion 23 formed in the region between the fixing points with the vehicle body 100, which protrudes toward the battery pack 200 (downward in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the vehicle body side protrusion 23 is formed by bending the region between the fixing points with the vehicle body 100 into a convex shape toward downward.

[0019] The battery-side fixing portion 30 has an area that extends to connect the lower ends of each of the connection portions 10, thereby fixing these lower ends to the end of the battery pack 200. Here, the battery-side fixing portion 30 and the battery pack 200 are fixed together by a screw member 220.

[0020] Here, the battery-side fixing portion 30 has a battery-side flange 31 that extends along the back surface of the battery pack 200, and is fixed to the end side of the battery pack 200 by this battery-side flange 31. In this embodiment, the battery-side flange 31 extends along the back surface of the battery pack 200 toward the side where the battery pack 200 is placed (forward in this embodiment).

[0021] Furthermore, the battery-side fixing portion 30 has a battery-side protrusion 33 formed in the region between the fixing point with the battery pack 200, which protrudes in a direction away from the battery pack 200 (upward in this embodiment). In this embodiment, the battery-side protrusion 33 is formed by bending the region between the fixing point with the battery pack 200 into a convex shape upward.

[0022] In this bracket 1, the vehicle body side fixing portion 20 and the battery side fixing portion 30 are fixed by members at two points symmetrical in this direction (two points symmetrical left and right with respect to the center line c in Figure 2), with reference to a position that divides the area sandwiched between the respective connection portions 10 in two along the direction from one to the other.

[0023] The reinforcing rib 40 is formed along at least a portion of the edge (the entire edge in this embodiment) of the hole 41, which is surrounded by a pair of connecting portions 10, a vehicle body side fixing portion 20, and a battery side fixing portion 30. The reinforcing rib 40 extends from the edge of the hole 41 toward the side where the battery pack 200 is not placed (the rear in this embodiment).

[0024] (2) Function and Effects In the battery pack fixing structure of the above embodiment, each element forms a triangular or trapezoidal structure depending on its arrangement, so the structure has higher strength and can effectively distribute external forces compared to conventional structures with a pair of connecting parts.

[0025] As a result, even when affected by shaking and vibration during driving, the oscillation of the battery pack 200 is suppressed, effectively preventing problems such as abnormal noises associated with the oscillation, structural damage or detachment, and contact or collision of the battery pack 200 with the vehicle body. Thus, the above battery pack fixing structure allows for more stable fixing of the battery pack 200.

[0026] Furthermore, the battery pack fixing structure of the above embodiment has higher structural strength because reinforcing ribs 40 are formed along the edge of the hole 41.

[0027] Furthermore, in the above-described battery pack fixing structure, since the reinforcing rib 40 extends from the edge of the hole 41 toward the side where the battery pack 200 is not placed, it is possible to increase the strength of the structure while appropriately ensuring a distance from the battery pack 200.

[0028] Furthermore, in the higher-end embodiment, the battery pack fixing structure has the vehicle body side fixing portion 20 fixed to the vehicle body side by the vehicle body side flange 21, and the battery side fixing portion 30 fixed to the end side of the battery pack 200 by the battery side flange 31. In this way, the structure formed by each element can increase strength by functioning as a flange while securing fixing points with both the vehicle side and the battery pack 200 side.

[0029] Furthermore, in the battery pack structure of the above embodiment, a vehicle-side protrusion 23 is formed on the vehicle-side fixing portion 20, and a battery-side protrusion 33 is formed on the battery-side fixing portion 30. Therefore, the strength of the structure formed by these fixing portions and other elements can be further increased.

[0030] (3) Modifications Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited in any way to the above embodiments and can take various forms as long as they fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0031] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration was shown in which the distance between the lower ends of the pair of connecting parts 10 is narrower than the distance between the upper ends. However, the pair of connecting parts 10 may also be configured in which the distance between the upper ends is narrower than the distance between the lower ends, as shown in Figure 4.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the reinforcing rib 40 is shown as extending from the edge of the hole 41 toward the side where the battery pack 200 is not placed. However, the reinforcing rib 40 may be configured to extend toward the side where the battery pack 200 is placed.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the battery-side fixing portion 30 is shown as being fixed to the back surface of the end side of the battery pack 200 by a battery-side flange 31 that extends along the back surface of the battery pack 200. However, as shown in Figure 5, the battery-side fixing portion 30 may also be fixed to the end surface (specifically, the rear end surface) of the battery pack 200.

[0034] 1...Bracket, 10...Connecting part, 20...Vehicle body side fixing part, 21...Vehicle body side flange, 23...Vehicle body side protrusion, 30...Battery side fixing part, 31...Battery side flange, 33...Battery side protrusion, 40...Reinforcement rib, 41...Hole, 100...Vehicle body, 120...Screw member, 200...Battery pack, 210...Screw member, 220...Screw member.

Claims

1. A battery pack fixing structure comprising: a pair of connecting parts, each extending vertically along the end of the battery pack and spaced apart horizontally, with the upper end of each connecting part fixed to the vehicle body and the lower end fixed to the end of the battery pack; a vehicle body side fixing part extending to connect the upper ends of each connecting part and fixing the upper ends of these parts to the vehicle body; and a battery side fixing part extending to connect the lower ends of each connecting part and fixing the lower ends of these parts to the end of the battery pack, wherein the spacing between the upper and lower ends of the pair of connecting parts is narrower than that of the other, and the vehicle body side fixing part and the battery side fixing part are fixed at two symmetrical locations in the direction from which the region sandwiched between the connecting parts is divided in two along the direction from one to the other.

2. The battery pack fixing structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a reinforcing rib formed along at least a portion of the edge of the hole surrounded by the pair of connecting portions, the vehicle body side fixing portion, and the battery side fixing portion, and extending from this edge toward the side where the battery pack is not placed.

3. The battery pack fixing structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pair of connecting parts are arranged such that the distance between their lower ends is narrower than the distance between their upper ends.

4. The vehicle body side fixing portion has a vehicle body side flange that extends along the underside of the vehicle body and is fixed to the vehicle body by this vehicle body side flange, and the battery side fixing portion has a battery side flange that extends along the end face or top surface of the battery pack and is fixed to the end side of the battery pack by this battery side flange, the battery pack fixing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 2.

5. The vehicle body side flange extends along the underside of the vehicle body toward the side where the battery pack is not located, the battery pack fixing structure according to claim 4.

6. The battery pack fixing structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the vehicle body side fixing portion has a vehicle body side protruding portion that protrudes toward the battery pack in the region between the fixing point with the vehicle body.

7. The battery pack fixing structure according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the battery-side fixing portion has a battery-side protrusion formed in the region between the fixing point with the battery pack, which protrudes in a direction away from the battery pack.

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