Electric Bus Seat Battery Arrangement for Side Collision Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric buses face challenges in passenger safety, particularly during side collisions, where the intrusion of a vehicle's front bumper into the passenger compartment poses a risk to standing and sitting passengers.

Innovation Solution

The electric bus design incorporates electric energy storing means, such as batteries, positioned between the side wall and the seat leg area, forming a protective barrier. These energy storing means are strategically located at corners and fixed to the bus structure, providing additional protection against side and rear collisions by acting as a safety block and energy absorption mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If electric batteries are positioned to maximize passenger compartment space, then seating capacity increases, but passenger safety during side collisions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating capacityVSAvoidside collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protective structure as an intermediary element between the battery and the passenger compartment. This protective structure absorbs collision energy and prevents direct intrusion into the passenger area, thereby mediating between the need for battery placement (to maximize space) and the need for passenger safety during side collisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electric batteries are positioned near the side wall to protect against side collisions, then passenger safety improves, but available space for seating and standing areas decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside collision protectionVSAvoidpassenger compartment area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where the protective structure is integrated within the existing battery housing or mounting structure. This nesting approach allows the protective function to be added without requiring additional external space, thereby maintaining passenger compartment area while providing side collision protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective structures are added to the side wall to prevent bumper intrusion, then passenger safety improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveside collision protectionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the protective structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides side collision protection, acts as a structural support element, and integrates with the battery mounting system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11524612B2Electric bus seat and electric battery arrangement

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 ALPHA EC IND 2018 S A R L

AI summary

An electric bus exhibiting a seat arrangement. The electric bus includes a side wall, a wheel with an electric engine disposed in the rim, a seat with a seat base and a leg area. The leg area is below the seat base and vertically level with the wheel. The electric bus also includes an electric energy storing device powering the electric engine of the wheel and arranged transversally between the side wall and the leg area of the seat.