Triangular Battery Bracket for Heavy Vehicle Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in developing electrified heavy vehicles lies in securely attaching propulsion batteries to the vehicle frame, as they become heavier than conventional systems, requiring severe connection demands for both normal operation and collision scenarios, while also needing to accommodate multiple battery modules for modularity.

Innovation Solution

A battery module support arrangement using triangularly shaped support brackets with angled portions and multiple battery module support portions, providing a three-point suspension for improved torsional flexibility and modularity, allowing for efficient attachment and protection of multiple battery modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional horizontal brackets are used to support battery modules, then the structure is simple, but the torsional flexibility is insufficient and the support portions cannot be positioned at adequate distances from each other

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional flexibilityVSAvoidbracket structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support bracket transitions from a conventional horizontal configuration to a triangular configuration extending in the vertical dimension. The angled portion extends downwardly from the frame rail attachment point, creating a three-dimensional triangular structure that provides both horizontal and vertical spacing between support portions, thereby improving torsional flexibility while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple battery modules are attached to accommodate different energy requirements, then the energy capacity is improved, but the attachment complexity and requirement for multiple support arrangements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodularity for different energy requirementsVSAvoidattachment arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The triangular support bracket is designed as a universal attachment structure that can accommodate multiple battery modules through its multiple support portions. The bracket provides attachment points for different numbers of battery modules (one or two modules per bracket), allowing the vehicle to be configured for different energy requirements without requiring different support arrangements, thereby simplifying the overall attachment system.

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

3Force

If the support portions are positioned close together, then the bracket structure is compact, but the torsional load distribution is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional load distributionVSAvoidbracket span
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket utilizes the vertical dimension to increase the effective span between support portions. By extending the angled portion downwardly, the support portions are positioned at greater vertical and horizontal distances from each other, improving torsional load distribution without requiring an excessively long horizontal bracket span.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3925807B1Battery module support arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP3925807B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3925807B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3925807B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a battery module support arrangement (100) for supporting a battery module (9) to a longitudinally extending frame rail (13a, 13b) of an electrified heavy vehicle (1); the battery module support arrangement (100) comprising:- a pair of triangularly shaped support brackets (102, 102', 102", 102"') spaced apart from each other, each of the triangularly shaped support brackets (102, 102', 102", 102'") comprising a rail attachment portion (104) for connecting the triangularly shaped support bracket (102, 102', 102", 102'") to the longitudinally extending frame rail (13a, 13b), and an angled portion (106) extending downwardly between the rail attachment portion (104) and a lower end portion (108) of the triangularly shaped support bracket, wherein a first one (102) of the triangularly shaped support brackets comprises at least one battery module support portion (110', 110") positioned along the angled portion (106) of the first support bracket, and a second one of the triangularly shaped support brackets comprises a pair of battery module support portions (110, 110'") positioned along the angled portion (106) of the second support bracket, wherein the battery module support portion (110', 110") of first support bracket is arranged at a different position along the angled portion compared to the position of at least one of the battery module support portions (110, 110'") of the second support bracket. Fig. 2