VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE

• US 20060289224A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Koichi, Sugawara, Takahiro, Ono, Tohru, Ogawa, Takayuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/311
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0433 Arrangement under the rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/71 Arrangement of fuel cells within vehicles specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A vehicle body structure includes a body frame with a subframe mounted to a lower part of the body frame. The subframe is formed into a rectangular shape and has front, intermediate and rear cross members. A storage battery is designed to be mounted astride the front cross member and the intermediate cross member. A fuel tank is designed to be mounted astride the intermediate cross member and the rear cross member.

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure comprising:

a vehicle body frame extending longitudinally of a vehicle body; and

a subframe mounted on a lower portion of the body frame of the vehicle body,

wherein the subframe is formed in a rectangular shape having;

side frames extending longitudinally of the vehicle body and disposed on left and right sides of the vehicle body;

a front cross member mounted on front ends of the left and right side frames;

an intermediate cross member mounted parallel to the front cross member and attached to the left and right side frames; and

a rear cross member mounted parallel to the front cross member on rear ends of the left and right side frames,

and wherein the front cross member and the intermediate cross member allow a storage battery to be mounted, and the intermediate cross member and the rear cross member allow a fuel tank to be mounted.

2. The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the storage battery is disposed below a rear seat that is mounted on the vehicle body frame, and the fuel tank is disposed behind the rear seat.

3. The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the subframe has a support member that allows the storage battery to be detachable in a state in which the subframe is mounted on the vehicle body frame.

4. The vehicle body structure of claim 1, wherein the subframe has a suspension member for supporting a wheel.

5. A vehicle body structure used in a fuel cell automobile driven by power generated by a fuel cell, the structure comprising:

a vehicle body frame extending longitudinally of a vehicle body; and

a subframe mounted on a lower portion of the vehicle body frame,

wherein the subframe is formed in a rectangular shape having;

side frames extending longitudinally of the vehicle body and disposed on left and right sides of the vehicle body;

a front cross member mounted on front ends of the left and right side frames;

an intermediate cross member mounted parallel to the front cross member and attached to the left and right side frames; and

a rear cross member mounted parallel to the front cross member on rear ends of the left and right side frames,

and wherein the front cross member and the intermediate cross member allow a storage battery to be mounted, and the intermediate cross member and the rear cross member allow a substantially cylindrically-shaped compressed gas fuel tank to be mounted.

6. The vehicle body structure of claim 5, wherein the storage battery is disposed below a rear seat that is mounted on the vehicle body frame, and the compressed gas fuel tank is disposed behind the rear seat.

7. The vehicle body structure of claim 5, wherein the subframe has a support member that allows the storage battery to be detachable in a state in which the subframe is mounted on the vehicle body frame.

8. The vehicle body structure of claim 5, wherein the subframe has a suspension member for supporting a wheel.

9. The vehicle body structure of claim 8, wherein the compressed gas fuel tank comprises a gas input/output valve disposed at a widthwise end of the vehicle body and is disposed such that the valve of the tank is offset from the suspension member in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

10. The vehicle body structure of claim 5, further comprising a front subframe and an intermediate subframe, each mounted on the lower portion of the body frame and disposed in front of the subframe.

11. The vehicle body structure of claim 10, wherein the intermediate subframe allows the fuel cell to be mounted such that the fuel cell is positioned below a cabin of the vehicle interior.

12. The vehicle body structure of claim 10, wherein the front subframe allows a drive motor for driving the vehicle to be mounted, and is disposed within a motor compartment formed in the front portion of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle body structure of claim 5, wherein the storage battery is divided into left and right storage batteries, and a conductor for electrically connecting the left and right storage batteries is disposed between the left and right storage batteries.

14. The vehicle body structure of claim 13, wherein an exhaust pipe connected to the fuel cell is disposed below the conductor and higher than a lower surface of the storage battery.