Battery unit mounting structure for electric vehicle

• US 7,610,978 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Shimura, Nobuyuki, Takasaki, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEYER, JACOB B
• Application Number:
  US12/332,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.29, 180/68.5, 429 96-100
• 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: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 27/065 using screwthread connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048
• 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

Abstract

A beam member is fixed to a side member of a vehicle body. The side member is provided with a nut member and a reinforcing member. A bolt is inserted into the nut member from under the side member. The reinforcing member includes first and second plate portions. The first plate portion includes a pair of flanges that are bent individually at bent portions. The respective positions of the bent portions are adjusted depending on a distance between sidewalls of the side member. The flanges are welded to the sidewalls. The second plate portion includes a base portion welded to the lower end of the nut member and an upright portion extending along the nut member.

Claims

1. A battery unit mounting structure for fixing a battery unit of an electric vehicle to a vehicle body, characterized by comprising:

a beam member which is located in a transverse direction of the vehicle body between a pair of side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and supports the battery unit;

a cylindrical nut member located in each of the side members and extending vertically;

a bolt which is inserted into the nut member from under the side member and fixes a fastening portion of the beam member to a lower surface of the side member; and

a reinforcing member provided at a position corresponding to the nut member within the side member,

the reinforcing member including a first plate portion located between a pair of sidewalls of the side member and a second plate portion located on a bottom wall of the side member,

the first plate portion including a connecting wall to which an upper part of the nut member is fixed and which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle body and a pair of flanges which are bent in positions corresponding to a distance between the sidewalls of the side member on the opposite sides of the connecting wall and welded individually to the sidewalls of the side member,

the second plate portion including a base portion to which a lower end of the nut member is fixed and which is fixed to the bottom wall of the side member, an upper end portion fixed to the first plate portion, and an upright portion which is provided between the base portion and the upper end portion and extends vertically.

2. A battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the base portion of the second plate portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and an end of the base portion projects in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body from an end of the first plate portion as viewed from above.

3. A battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting wall of the reinforcing member is formed with a plastic-worked portion which is formed so that a cross section thereof along the width of the vehicle body is nonlinear and extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.