Carrying structure for a vehicle battery pack

• US 20080000703A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shindou, Tatsuya
• Granted Patent: US 7,743,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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 2001/0433 Arrangement under the rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/345 Gastight metal hydride accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A carrying structure for a vehicle battery includes a vehicle floor panel having a step portion that rises upward toward a rear of the vehicle. A battery is arranged at the step portion for feeding electric power to a driving motor that drives driving wheels of the vehicle. A seat is arranged above the battery, and a tip-up mechanism enables the seat to tip up toward a front of the vehicle with a front part of the seat serving as a rotational pivot.

Claims

1. A carrying structure for a vehicle battery, comprising:

a vehicle floor panel having a step portion that rises upward toward a rear of the vehicle;

a battery accommodating part for accommodating the battery in the step portion for feeding electric power to a driving motor that drives driving wheels of the vehicle;

a seat accommodating part for accommodating a seat arranged above the battery; and

a tip-up mechanism that enables the seat to tip up toward a front of the vehicle with a front part of the seat serving as a rotational pivot.

2. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, comprising:

a fuel tank accommodating part below the floor panel for accommodating a fuel tank having a fuel pump in an upper portion toward the rear of the vehicle with respect to the battery accommodating part; and

the floor panel includes an opening above the fuel pump area that can be readily opened and closed.

3. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the step portion is formed with a sloping shape that is inclined upward toward the rear of the vehicle.

4. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the rotational pivot for the tip-up mechanism is arranged toward the front of the vehicle with respect to the battery accommodating part.

5. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 4, wherein the battery accommodating part includes a battery removal part that can be opened/closed freely in an upper area toward the rear of the vehicle.

6. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 4, wherein the battery accommodating part includes a connector that connects to a wire that feeds electric power from the battery to the driving motor of the vehicle.

7. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 4, wherein the battery accommodating part includes guide members along two lateral sides for guiding the battery.

8. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 7, wherein the guide members include a securing means for securing the battery pack.

9. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the seat is a rear seat.

10. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a battery pack.

11. The carrying structure for a vehicle battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a secondary battery.

12. A method of carrying a vehicle battery for feeding electric power to a driving motor that drives driving wheels of the vehicle, comprising:

installing the battery on a step portion of a vehicle floor panel, the step portion rising upward toward a rear of the vehicle; and

disposing a seat above the battery, the seat including a tip-up mechanism that enables the seat to tip up toward a front of the vehicle with a front part of the seat serving as a rotational pivot.

13. A carrying structure for a vehicle battery, comprising:

a vehicle floor panel having a step portion that rises upward toward a rear of the vehicle;

a battery arranged at the step portion for feeding electric power to a driving motor that drives driving wheels of the vehicle;

a seat arranged above the battery; and

tip-up means for tipping up the seat toward a front of the vehicle.