Console Box Support via Battery Case Rigidity

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle designs that incorporate a console box with a battery case require increased rigidity to support the console box, leading to weight and cost increments.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design that fastens the console box to both the body and battery case using specific fastening members, allowing the battery case to maintain only high-rigidity sections for support, thereby avoiding overall weight and cost increases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the battery case rigidity is increased to support the console box, then the console box can be firmly supported, but the vehicle weight and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery case rigidityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is designed with locally reinforced high-rigidity sections positioned specifically at the console box support location, while other areas maintain standard thickness. This localized reinforcement provides necessary support strength only where required, avoiding unnecessary weight and cost increases across the entire battery case structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support function for the console box is merged with the existing battery case structure by utilizing the battery case's high-rigidity sections as integral support elements. The console box support portion and battery case are combined such that the battery case itself provides the support function through its strategically positioned rigid sections, eliminating the need for separate support structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If the battery case rigidity is increased to support the console box, then the console box can be firmly supported, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery case rigidityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery case is designed with locally reinforced high-rigidity sections positioned specifically at the console box support location, while other areas maintain standard thickness. This localized reinforcement provides necessary support strength only where required, avoiding unnecessary weight and cost increases across the entire battery case structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The high-rigidity sections of the battery case serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the console box, maintain battery case integrity, and contribute to overall vehicle structural strength. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and reduces manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10040413B2Vehicle

Publication Date: 2018.08.07 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP

AI summary

A vehicle includes: a body forming a floor portion in a vehicle compartment; a console box provided on the body and placed in the vehicle compartment; a battery provided below the console box; a battery case configured to accommodate the battery; and a fastening member and a fastening member configured to fasten the console box to the body side and the battery case side, respectively. With such a configuration, there is provided a vehicle capable of supporting a console box in a vehicle compartment without causing an increase in weight and a higher cost.