Electric component arrangement structure of vehicle

• US 8,919,466 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Seigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, III, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASSIDY, BRIAN L
• Application Number:
  US13/659,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20130126252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 180/53.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.22
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• 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 2001/0411 Arrangement in the front part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames

Abstract

A generator is provided at a front portion of an engine provided between a pair of front side frames at an offset position on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a vehicle, and an electricity-storage device, a convertor, and a battery are provided on the other side, in the vehicle width side, of the vehicle. Accordingly, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be restrained from receiving any improper heat influence from the engine, and the length of harnesses coupling the generator, the electricity-storage device, the convertor, and the battery can be shortened as much as possible.

Claims

1. An electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle, comprising:

a right-and-left pair of front side frames extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction;

a dash panel extending in a vehicle width direction from one of the side frames to another one of the side frames, the dash panel partitions a vehicle compartment from an engine room;

an engine provided in the engine room, between the pair of front side frames at an offset position on one side, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle;

a connection cross member extending in the width direction of the vehicle and having an attaching bracket, the connection cross member is disposed at a front side of the engine room;

a generator driven by the engine to generate electricity;

an electricity-storage device to store the electricity generated by the generator;

a convertor to convert the electricity from the electricity-storage device;

a battery, to which the electricity converted by the convertor is supplied; and

harnesses coupling the generator, the electricity-storage device, the convertor and the battery,

wherein said generator is provided at a front portion of said engine and on one side of the vehicle in the width direction, and said electricity-storage device, said convertor and said battery are provided on an opposite side of the vehicle in the width direction,

wherein the harnesses include a first harness to couple the generator and the electricity-storage device, the first harness is fixed to the attaching bracket on the connection cross member, and

wherein the generator and the electricity-storage device are located substantially at the same position in the vehicle longitudinal direction such the first harness coupling the generator and the electricity-storage device extends in the vehicle width direction from the generator toward the electricity-storage device, without bending in the vehicle longitudinal direction so that the length of the harness coupling the generator and the electricity-storage device is minimized.

2. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electricity-storage device is provided on an outside, in the vehicle width direction, of one of said front side frames.

3. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said electricity-storage device is provided in front of one of front wheels, said convertor is provided in back of said one of the front wheels which is positioned on said other side, in the vehicle width side, of the vehicle, and wherein the harnesses include a second harness coupling said electricity-storage device and said convertor, the second harness is arranged along a wheel arch which is formed above said one of the front wheels.

4. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein said electricity-storage device is provided in front of one of front wheels, said convertor is provided in back of said one of the front wheels, and wherein the harnesses include a second harness coupling said electricity-storage device and said convertor, the second harness is arranged along a wheel arch which is formed above said one of the front wheels.

5. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said convertor is provided between one of front seats and a floor panel.

6. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein said convertor is provided between one of front seats and a floor panel.

7. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 3, wherein said convertor is provided between one of front seats and a floor panel.

8. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein crash cans are provided at respective front ends of said pair of front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is provided in back of one of said crash cans.

9. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 2, wherein crash cans are provided at respective front ends of said pair of front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is provided in back of one of said crash cans.

10. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 3, wherein crash cans are provided at respective front ends of said pair of front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is provided in back of one of said crash cans.

11. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a suspension cross member supporting both front wheels at both end portions thereof, wherein said suspension cross member includes a forward extension portion which extends forward below and substantially along one of said front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is located at the same position as a portion of said forward extension portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a lower end of which is located above a level of a lower end of the forward extension portion.

12. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a suspension cross member supporting both front wheels at both end portions thereof, wherein said suspension cross member includes a forward extension portion which extends forward below and substantially along one of said front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is located at the same position as a portion of said forward extension portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a lower end of which is located above a level of a lower end of the forward extension portion.

13. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 3, further comprising a suspension cross member supporting both front wheels at both end portions thereof, wherein said suspension cross member includes a forward extension portion which extends forward below and substantially along one of said front side frames, and said electricity-storage device is located at the same position as a portion of said forward extension portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, a lower end of which is located above a level of a lower end of the forward extension portion.

14. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein said engine is provided laterally with an output shaft extending in the vehicle width direction, an air-intake duct is provided at a front portion of the engine, and said generator is provided beside said air-intake duct at the front portion of the engine.

15. The electric component arrangement structure of a vehicle of claim 1, wherein a transmission is provided on the opposite side of the vehicle where the generator is disposed relative to said engine, and said battery is provided above said transmission.