EV Battery Mounting Bracket Layout for Lateral Collision Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery mounting structures for electric vehicles face challenges in increasing battery capacity while maintaining protection during lateral collisions without incurring weight or cost increases, as the closer proximity of the battery side surface to the side sill complicates collision protection.

Innovation Solution

A lower structure for electric vehicles featuring an attachment bracket that connects the battery unit to the tunnel and floor side frames, with a design allowing the bracket to oscillate during a lateral collision, thereby displacing the battery unit to the lower side and utilizing a floor crossmember to protrude upward, reducing interference and enhancing protection without additional weight or cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the floor side frame is arranged on the vehicle outer side to increase the distance between the tunnel side frame and the floor side frame, then the battery capacity is improved, but the battery side surface becomes closer to the side sill which worsens the protection during lateral collision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidprotection during lateral collision
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment bracket is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to oscillate during lateral collisions. The bracket can rotate about the tunnel side frame connection point, enabling the battery to dynamically adjust its position and move away from the side sill during impact, thus maintaining both high battery capacity and collision protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the harmful effect of the battery being close to the side sill into a benefit by allowing the attachment bracket to oscillate. During lateral collision, the bracket's oscillation causes the battery to move away from the side sill, transforming the potential hazard of close proximity into a protective mechanism that reduces interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If an energy absorbing member is provided on the side of the battery to protect during lateral collision, then the protection during lateral collision is improved, but the weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection during lateral collisionVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment bracket itself serves the dual function of mounting the battery and providing collision protection through its oscillation capability. The bracket's ability to rotate and allow battery displacement during lateral impact provides the protective function without requiring separate energy absorbing members, thus avoiding additional weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment bracket is designed to perform multiple functions: it secures the battery to the vehicle structure during normal operation and simultaneously provides collision protection during lateral impacts through its oscillation mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective components

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

Data Source

PatentEP4063159B1Lower structure of electric vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP4063159B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4063159B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4063159B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Task] To simultaneously improve battery capacity and protect a battery during a lateral collision without causing a weight increase, a cost increase, and the like. [Solution] An electric vehicle 1 includes: a battery unit 4 arranged below a floor panel 61 and arranged between a tunnel side frame 63 and a floor side frame 66; and an attachment bracket 8 connecting the battery unit 4 to the tunnel side frame 63 and the floor side frame 66. The attachment bracket 8 has: a lower wall portion 80 supporting a bottom portion of the battery unit 4; an outer vertical wall portion 81 extending upward from an end portion on an outer side of the lower wall portion 80 and connected to the floor side frame 66; and an inner vertical wall portion 82 extending upward from an end portion on an inner side of the lower wall portion 80 and connected to the tunnel side frame 63. A connected position between the inner vertical wall portion 82 and the tunnel side frame 63 is located higher in the vehicle than a connected position between the outer vertical wall portion 81 and the floor side frame 66.