Vehicle Battery Mounting Structure for Weight Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle battery mounting configurations struggle to achieve a preferable weight balance in the front-aft direction due to the placement of heavyweight components like electric motors and inverters, causing the center of gravity to shift towards the anterior cell.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle battery mounting structure that arranges batteries in a specific configuration under the floor panel, using a battery mounting frame with a reinforcing member and spacers to stack batteries in both vertical and transverse directions, optimizing the placement to shift the center of gravity rearward and maintain weight balance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If batteries are arranged side by side in a flat plane under the floor panel, then the quantity of batteries that can be mounted is maximized, but the center of gravity shifts towards the anterior cell causing poor weight balance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of batteriesVSAvoidweight balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Batteries are arranged in multiple layers vertically within the floor panel space, utilizing the height dimension to increase battery quantity while maintaining a compact footprint that preserves vehicle weight balance.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where batteries are stacked within a confined space structure formed by the floor panel. Multiple batteries are positioned one above another in a nested configuration, maximizing space utilization without extending the vehicle's length or shifting the center of gravity forward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Power

If heavyweight components are mounted in the anterior cell, then the vehicle's powertrain requirements are met, but the center of gravity shifts forward making it difficult to achieve preferable weight balance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowertrain capabilityVSAvoidweight balance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the battery pack in the rear portion of the vehicle to act as a counterweight to the heavyweight powertrain components located in the anterior cell. This rearward battery placement creates a balanced weight distribution along the vehicle's length, offsetting the forward shift caused by the motor and inverter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP2402192B1Battery installation structure
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2402192B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2402192B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2402192B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A plurality of batteries (3) are disposed under a floor panel (16) of a vehicle (1). A first battery unit (38F) comprising a plurality of batteries (3) stacked in a vertical direction and a second battery unit (38R) comprising a plurality of batteries (3) stacked in a vehicle transverse direction are provided. By arranging a layout of the first battery unit (38F) and the second battery unit (38R) considering the location of an electric equipment (12, 13, 14) to which the batteries (3) supply power as well as the location of passenger seats (32F, 32R), the weight balance of the vehicle (1) in the front-aft direction can be optimized.