Vehicle Battery Casing Impact Isolation via Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle battery configurations face challenges in absorbing impact during collisions, leading to potential damage transmission between battery groups and increased manufacturing costs due to the number of parts.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design featuring independently fixed front and rear battery units with a space between them, where each unit is arranged under the floor panel and surrounded by structural elements to absorb and distribute impact, improving weight balance and maintainability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple battery groups are accommodated in one unit, then the number of parts is reduced, but impact transmission between battery groups increases during collision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidimpact transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is divided into multiple independent battery units (front battery unit and rear battery unit), each with its own casing. This segmentation allows impact to be localized to one unit without transmitting to other units, while still maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cushioning member is introduced as an intermediary element between adjacent battery units. This cushioning member absorbs and attenuates impact forces, preventing direct transmission of impact between battery units while maintaining the integrated multi-unit configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple battery groups are separately unitized, then impact transmission is suppressed, but the number of parts and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact transmissionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple battery units are combined within a single integrated battery assembly structure, where adjacent units share common support frameworks and mounting points. This merging approach reduces the total number of independent parts compared to fully separate units, while maintaining impact isolation through the cushioning member.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Weight of moving object

If battery units are arranged in rear portion of vehicle, then weight balance is improved, but impact susceptibility during rear collision increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight balanceVSAvoidimpact susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rear battery unit is segmented as an independent unit with its own casing and mounting structure. This segmentation allows the rear battery unit to be positioned for optimal weight balance while being protected from impact by the cushioning member that isolates it from the front battery unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cushioning member is pre-installed between the front and rear battery units to provide beforehand protection. This cushioning element is designed to absorb and attenuate impact forces that may occur during rear collisions, protecting the rear battery unit before impact occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS10245955B2Vehicle capable of suppressing an impact to battery units at a time of collision

Publication Date: 2019.04.02 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle includes: a first battery unit including a front module group which has a plurality of battery modules and which is arranged under a front seat of the vehicle, a middle module group which has a plurality of battery modules and which is arranged under a rear seat of the vehicle, and a front casing accommodating the front module group and the middle module; and a second battery unit including a rear module group which has a plurality of battery modules and which is arranged in a rear portion of the vehicle, and a rear casing accommodating the rear module group. The front casing and the rear casing are independently fixed to a skeletal structure of the vehicle, and a space is provided between the front casing and the rear casing.