VEHICLE WITH STRUCTURAL BATTERY PACK

• US 20120090907A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna E-Car Systems Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Magna E-Car Systems Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Storc, Robert Gordon, Robertson, James Edward, Mandalia, Bhavin Narshi, Almasi, Zsolt, St.Gelais, Jean Yves, Kardasz, Grzegorz, Kardasz, Barbara, Elder, Floyd Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,907 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 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/00 Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted combined frame and vehicle body B62D23/00 ; characterised by the material thereof B62D29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/2009 in connection with other superstructure subunits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In an aspect, the invention is directed to a vehicle chassis for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, wherein the vehicle chassis incorporates a battery pack that acts as a structural member of the chassis.

Claims

1. A combination of a vehicle chassis and a battery pack for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, the combination comprising:

a vehicle chassis including a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first and second rails extend longitudinally and are spaced apart laterally from each other, wherein each of the rails has an inboard side and an outboard side; and

a battery pack, including a plurality of cells supported by a housing, wherein the battery pack is generally rectangular and is mounted to the rails, wherein the battery pack has a first lateral side and a second lateral side which support the inboard sides of the first and second rails against laterally inwardly directed forces.

2. A combination as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a forward cross-member and a rearward cross-member, and the first and second sides of the battery pack support the inboard sides of the first and second rails along substantially the entire length of the first and second rails between the forward and rearward cross-members against laterally inwardly directed forces.

3. A combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second rails has a bottom and the battery pack is mounted to the bottom of each of the first and second rails at a plurality of lower points that are longitudinally spaced apart.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a forward cross-member and a rearward cross-member, and wherein the plurality of lower points includes a first lower point proximate the forward cross-member and a second lower point proximate rearward cross-member.

5. A combination as claimed in claim 2, wherein the forward and rearward cross-members are in an area of a passenger cell for the vehicle.

6. A combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rearward cross-member is made up of one or more rear axles for the vehicle and support structure therefor.

7. A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vehicle chassis further includes a floorpan and the battery pack has a top that is mounted to the floorpan at a plurality of upper points that are longitudinally spaced apart.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the each of the first and second rails has a top and the battery pack is mounted to the top of each of the rails at a plurality of upper points that are longitudinally spaced apart.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein at each upper point the floor pan has an aperture therethrough and an alignment pin is fixedly mountable to the floorpan at a position that is adjustable longitudinally and laterally so as to permit alignment of the alignment pin with an associated alignment aperture on the battery pack prior to fixedly mounting the alignment pin.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein at each upper point the floor pan has an aperture therethrough that is at least generally aligned with an associated aperture in the battery pack, and further comprising a fastener having a body that is sized to be adjustably positionable in at least one of the apertures longitudinally and laterally, and is fixable in position to fixedly mount battery pack to the floorpan.

11. A combination of a vehicle chassis and a battery pack for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, the combination comprising:

a vehicle chassis including a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first and second rails extend longitudinally and are spaced apart laterally from each other, wherein each of the rails has an inboard side and an outboard side, and wherein the vehicle chassis further includes a forward cross-member and a rearward cross-member; and

a battery pack, including a plurality of cells supported by a housing, wherein each of the first and second rails has a bottom and the battery pack is mounted to the bottom of each of the first and second rails at a plurality of lower points that are longitudinally spaced apart including a first lower point proximate the forward cross-member and a second lower point proximate rearward cross-member.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein the each of the first and second rails has a top and the battery pack is mounted to the top of each of the rails at a plurality of upper points that are longitudinally spaced apart.

13. A combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein at each upper point the floor pan has an aperture therethrough and an alignment pin is fixedly mountable to the floorpan at a position that is adjustable longitudinally and laterally so as to permit alignment of the alignment pin with an associated alignment aperture on the battery pack prior to fixedly mounting the alignment pin.

14. A combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein at each upper point the floor pan has an aperture therethrough that is at least generally aligned with an associated aperture in the battery pack, and further comprising a fastener having a body that is sized to be adjustably positionable in at least one of the apertures longitudinally and laterally, and is fixable in position to fixedly mount battery pack to the floorpan.