Energy storage arrangement in the floor area of a vehicle

• US 8,469,129 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mildner, Udo, Gloger, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US13/214,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.5, 429/99, 429/100, 429/82, 429/153, 429/159
• 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 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/025 Side sills thereof
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An energy storage arrangement is provided in a floor area of a vehicle that includes, but is not limited to an energy storage device carrier having a floor and side walls with a fixing mechanism for fixing at least one energy storage device. An underfloor mounting plate fixes the energy storage device carrier and the energy storage device provided in said energy storage device carrier on an underfloor structure of the vehicle. A cover plate in the floor area of the vehicle covers at least the energy storage device carrier toward the vehicle interior in a media-tight manner.

Claims

1. An energy storage arrangement in a floor area of a vehicle, comprising:

an energy storage device carrier having a floor and side walls with a fixing mechanism configured to fix at least one energy storage device;

a cover plate in the floor area configured to cover at least the energy storage device carrier toward a vehicle interior; and

an underfloor mounting plate configured to receive and fix the energy storage device carrier and the energy storage device provided in said energy storage device carrier,

wherein the energy storage device carrier comprises an energy storage device carrier base having a molded, media-tight, and trough-shaped recess,

wherein the fixing mechanism comprises a clamping holder having a ribbed structure and a depression in the trough-shaped recess of the energy storage device carrier base, and

wherein an energy storage device foot is configured to pivot into the fixing mechanism between the clamping holder and an edge of the depression as a pivot axis for the energy storage device foot.

2. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising

a seat fixing for a vehicle seat disposed on both sides of the cover plate.

3. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device carrier further comprises a second fixing mechanism for a controller.

4. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device carrier further comprises a second fixing mechanism for a cable distributor.

5. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 4, wherein at least one duct of a footwell ventilation system is disposed integrally on a side wall of the energy storage device carrier.

6. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the cover plate covers both the energy storage device carrier and also the at least one duct of the footwell ventilation system in a media-tight manner.

7. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device carrier has a ventilation opening above the trough-shaped recess of the energy storage device carrier base.

8. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage arrangement is disposed between a rear transverse member, an outer longitudinal member and a tunnel edge profile of a central tunnel of a vehicle body.

9. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage arrangement is disposed under a front seat of the vehicle.

10. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the underfloor mounting plate is fixed on the outer longitudinal member and the tunnel edge profile of the central tunnel of the vehicle body.

11. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the cover plate is configured for fixing with release fasteners on the energy storage device carrier in a media-tight manner.

12. The energy storage arrangement according to claim 1, wherein charging cable connections are disposed in the engine compartment, which are connected via connecting cable and a cable opening in the energy storage device carrier to the connecting electrodes of the energy storage device.