Sliding Door Lower Hinge Layout to Protect EV Battery Stack
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle designs with sliding doors and battery cases are prone to interference between the lower hinge and battery stack during side collisions, as the hinge is positioned outside the battery case, potentially damaging the battery cells.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side portion structure with a dividing member extending in the vehicle width direction and a lower hinge positioned outside the battery case, where the inner end of the hinge aligns with the outer end of the dividing member in plan view, minimizing interference with the battery stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lower hinge is disposed at the vehicle width direction outer side of the battery case in elevation view to increase space inside the vehicle, then the space utilization is improved, but the lower hinge may interfere with the battery stack during side collision
Solution Approach 1:
The battery case is divided into multiple compartments by dividing members that extend in the vehicle width direction. This segmentation creates a protective structure where the dividing members act as barriers to redirect collision forces away from the battery stack, allowing the lower hinge to be positioned at the outer side without risking battery damage during side collisions
Solution Approach 2:
The dividing members serve as intermediary elements between the lower hinge and the battery stack. When the lower hinge displaces during a side collision, the dividing members intercept the movement and redirect the force, preventing direct contact between the hinge and the battery stack while maintaining the space-efficient configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle side portion structure (10) includes a battery case (70) and a lower hinge (30). The battery case (70) is disposed at a vehicle (12) lower side of a floor panel (50) of a vehicle (12). The lower hinge (30) is provided at a lower portion of a sliding door (20) that opens and closes a side portion (74S) of the vehicle (12). The lower hinge (30) supports the sliding door (20) to be slidable in the vehicle (12) front-and-rear direction. In a state in which the sliding door (20) is closed, at least a vehicle width direction inner side end portion (40A) of the lower hinge (30) is disposed at a vehicle (12) width direction outer side of the battery case (70) in elevation view. In the closed state of the sliding door (20), the vehicle width direction inner side end portion (40A) is disposed at the same position in the vehicle (12) front-and-rear direction as a vehicle width direction outer side end portion (78A) of the dividing member (78).