Underfloor Battery Pack Layout for Side-Impact Energy Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles equipped with battery packs, the small space between the longitudinal frame and the battery can lead to deformation during side collisions, potentially damaging the battery, and reinforcing the longitudinal frame to prevent this increases the vehicle's weight.
Innovation Solution
The battery pack is arranged under the vehicle floor with its center of gravity positioned rearward of the vehicle's center of gravity, and a collision stroke space is created by deforming easily, allowing the vehicle to absorb impact energy without additional weight through the use of inclined cross members and deformable portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the longitudinal frame is reinforced to suppress deformation caused by side collision load, then the strength and rigidity of the vehicle body is improved, but the weight of the vehicle body increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by creating a deformable portion in the longitudinal frame that can absorb impact energy during side collisions. The deformable portion is designed to yield in a controlled manner, creating a cushioning effect that protects the battery pack without requiring additional reinforcement of the entire longitudinal frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific deformable portion with reduced thickness only at the location where side collision impacts are most likely to occur, rather than uniformly reinforcing the entire longitudinal frame. This localized modification allows the frame to absorb impact energy where needed while maintaining overall structural integrity and minimizing additional weight.
2Volume of moving object
If the space between the longitudinal frame and the battery is kept small to maximize interior space, then the vehicle's interior volume is improved, but the battery pack becomes vulnerable to deformation and damage during side collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable portion acts as a pre-designed cushioning mechanism that activates during side collisions. By positioning this deformable section between the longitudinal frame and battery pack, it provides a safety buffer that protects the battery pack even when the gap is minimal, thus maintaining both interior space and battery protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable portion serves as an intermediary element between the longitudinal frame and the battery pack. During side collisions, this intermediary component deforms to absorb impact energy, preventing direct transmission of force to the battery pack while allowing the frame-battery spacing to remain small for maximizing interior space.
3Reliability
If a deformable portion is created in the longitudinal frame to absorb impact energy, then the protection of the battery pack is improved, but the strength of the longitudinal frame may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal frame is designed with local quality by having a deformable portion with reduced thickness only at specific locations where impact absorption is needed, while other portions of the frame maintain their original thickness and strength. This selective modification allows the frame to be both protective and structurally sound.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the thickness parameter of the longitudinal frame locally to create the deformable portion. By changing the thickness parameter from the standard value to a reduced value only in the deformable section, the frame gains impact absorption capability while maintaining overall structural strength through the unchanged portions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle equipped with a battery pack. A vehicle equipped with a battery pack includes a battery pack under a floor of the vehicle. The battery pack is provided with a battery module. In the battery module, a plurality of batteries are arranged vertically with the longitudinal direction directed toward a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The battery is formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. A center of gravity of pack of the battery pack is arranged at the rear of a center of gravity of vehicle of the entire vehicle in the vehicle body.