Electric Vehicle Battery Mounting via Inverted Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicle power supply devices have complex structures with protruding parts that complicate battery mounting and handling, increasing the risk of damage during handling and storage.

Innovation Solution

A power supply device with a battery case that includes a terminal base with a shelf and engagement projections, allowing for simple and stable mounting and detachment by engaging the battery case side engagement parts with vehicle body side engagement parts, eliminating the need for protruding components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If support shaft and engagement projection are provided on the battery side for mounting, then the battery can be securely locked to the vehicle body, but the battery has protruding parts that complicate handling and increase damage risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidhandling ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by providing engagement parts on the vehicle body side rather than on the battery side. The vehicle body is equipped with support shafts and engagement projections, while the battery has corresponding engagement recesses. This inversion eliminates protruding parts on the battery, making it smoother and safer for handling, while maintaining secure locking through the engagement mechanism on the vehicle body side.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If multiple component parts are provided for mounting and electrical connection, then the battery can be securely mounted and electrically connected, but the number of component parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidcomponent parts quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mounting function and electrical connection function into a single integrated structure. The vehicle body side terminal base simultaneously provides support shafts for mechanical engagement and electrical connection terminals. This allows the battery to be mounted and electrically connected in a single operation using one component structure, rather than requiring separate mounting brackets and electrical connection components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal base on the vehicle body side serves multiple functions: it provides support shafts for mechanical engagement, houses electrical connection terminals, and acts as the engagement structure itself. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets and electrical connection components, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining both mechanical and electrical connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If support shaft and engagement projection are provided on the battery outer surface, then the battery can be locked to the vehicle body, but extra care must be taken during handling to avoid damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoiddamage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9136514B2Power supply device for electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A battery pack includes a battery case for accommodating battery cells for mounting to and detaching from an electric vehicle. Male-side terminals are accommodated in a terminal base provided on the vehicle body side with battery side terminals being provided that are connected to the male-side terminals from above. An upper surface of the terminal base is formed with vehicle body side engagement parts with battery case side engagement parts being provided that are engaged with the vehicle body side engagement parts from above. The vehicle body side engagement parts are disposed at positions deviated to one side from the vehicle-width-directional center. The battery case side engagement parts are disposed at positions deviated to vehicle-width-directionally one side of the battery case, and are formed at vehicle-longitudinal-directionally both end portions of the battery case, in order that the battery case side engagement parts can fit the vehicle body side engagement parts.