Battery Protection Frame Layout for Rigid EV Component Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

In electric vehicles, the mounting of peripheral components in the lower vehicle body requires dedicated brackets, leading to degraded space and manufacturing efficiency, especially when enhancing mounting rigidity.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-body structure with a battery protection frame having a hollow cross-section and plural closed cross-section portions, allowing for efficient mounting of various components without dedicated brackets, enhancing rigidity and space efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If dedicated brackets are provided for each peripheral component, then mounting rigidity is improved, but space efficiency and manufacturing efficiency are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting rigidityVSAvoidnumber of brackets
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple mounting functions into a single integrated battery protection frame. The frame structure incorporates multiple closed cross-section portions that serve as mounting locations for different peripheral components (suspension apparatus, battery unit, etc.), eliminating the need for separate dedicated brackets for each component. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts while maintaining mounting rigidity through the frame's inherent structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The battery protection frame is designed as a universal mounting structure with multiple closed cross-section portions that can accommodate various peripheral components. Each closed cross-section portion serves as a multi-functional mounting point that can support different types of components, making the frame a versatile platform rather than requiring component-specific brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If bracket sizes are increased to enhance mounting rigidity, then mounting rigidity is improved, but space efficiency is further degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting rigidityVSAvoidspace occupied by brackets
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery protection frame is segmented into multiple closed cross-section portions distributed at different locations. This segmentation allows mounting of peripheral components at distributed points along the frame rather than requiring large集中ized brackets, thereby maintaining rigidity through distributed mounting while minimizing the space occupied by mounting structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame utilizes its three-dimensional hollow cross-section structure to provide mounting capability. The closed cross-section portions create rigid structural elements without requiring additional lateral space, as the rigidity is derived from the framed geometry itself rather than from the size of mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the number of fixing points for brackets is increased, then mounting rigidity is improved, but manufacturing efficiency is further degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting rigidityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery protection frame is designed with closed cross-section portions positioned at optimal locations before assembly. This preliminary structural design establishes the mounting geometry in advance, allowing peripheral components to be directly mounted at these pre-positioned locations without requiring additional bracket fabrication or complex assembly procedures, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The frame integrates multiple mounting functions into a single structural element that is manufactured as one piece or pre-assembled unit. This merging of multiple bracket functions into a single frame structure reduces the total number of assembly operations required, improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining multiple fixing points for rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4234303B1Vehicle-body structure
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP4234303B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4234303B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4234303B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] Peripheral components in a lower portion of a vehicle body are enabled to be efficiently mounted on the vehicle body, and high mounting rigidity can be obtained as well. [Means for Solution] A vehicle-body structure A includes a battery protection frame 33 which has a hollow cross-section. A partition wall portion 33e is provided in an internal portion of the battery protection frame 33. Plural closed cross-section portions D1 to D4 are formed in the battery protection frame 33 by wall portions 33a to 33d and the partition wall portion 33e. Peripheral components 34, 35, and 40 which are different from each other are mounted on the plural closed cross-section portions D1 to D4.