Traction battery dual-stage mounting bracket

• US 9,517,686 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Marpu, Amar, Paramasivam, Saravanan, Moschet, David, King, Kimberley, Maguire, Patrick Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Application Number:
  US14/844,449
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle includes a body structure and a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain. The vehicle also includes a bracket connecting the traction battery to the body structure. The bracket defines a frangible element configured to substantially restrict movement of the traction battery and sever in response to force upon the battery greater than a first threshold. The bracket also defines an extensible portion adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed allowing tethered displacement of the traction battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a body structure;

a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain; and

a bracket connecting the traction battery to the body structure, the bracket defining a frangible element configured to substantially restrict movement of the traction battery and sever in response to force upon the battery greater than a first threshold, the bracket further defining an extensible portion adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed allowing tethered displacement of the traction battery.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element of the bracket is fastened to a fixed portion of the bracket with at least one rivet configured to sever in response to the force upon the battery being greater than the first threshold allowing the frangible element to detach.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element of the bracket is formed from a different material from the extensible portion of the bracket.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the extensible portion of the bracket defines a serpentine shape adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the extensible portion of the bracket allows tethered displacement of the traction battery of at least about 36 mm.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element is integrally formed with the bracket at a first end and secured to the bracket by a fastener at a second end.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the first and second extensible portions are disposed adjacent the frangible element on opposite sides of the bracket.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the frangible element is disposed between the first and second extensible portions.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the frangible element is integrally formed at a first end with a portion connecting the first and second extensible portions.

10. A traction battery mounting apparatus comprising:

a frangible element configured to retain a traction battery to a vehicle structure; and

a deformable portion adapted to allow tethered translation of the traction battery relative to the vehicle structure, wherein the frangible element severs in response to a force upon the traction battery greater than a threshold and the deformable portion extends in length once the frangible element is severed to tether the traction battery.

11. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein an amount of extension of the deformable portion is proportional to an amount of intrusion into the vehicle structure resulting from a vehicle impact.

12. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frangible element is connected to the deformable portion by at least one rivet arranged to sever in response to the force imparted upon the traction battery greater than a threshold.

13. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deformable portion is formed from a material having a higher ductility relative to a material of the frangible element.

14. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deformable portion includes a serpentine shape configured to unfurl when the deformable portion expands in length.

15. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frangible element is integrally formed with the mounting apparatus at a first end and secured to the mounting apparatus by a fastener at a second end.

16. A traction battery mounting apparatus comprising:

a first portion attached to a vehicle structure;

a second portion attached to a traction battery; and

an interconnecting portion connecting the first portion to the second portion, wherein the interconnecting portion includes;

a frangible strap that severs in response to loads greater than a threshold, and

at least one extensible strap that is expandable in response to the frangible strap severing.

17. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the extensible strap comprises a shifting element in sliding connection to a fixed element wherein the shifting element is attached to the traction battery and allows tethered displacement of the traction battery in response to loads greater than the threshold.

18. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the extensible strap defines a serpentine shape adapted to unfurl when the extensible strap expands.

19. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the frangible strap is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than a material forming the extensible strap.

20. The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 the frangible strap is integrally formed with the first portion at a first end and secured to the second portion by a fastener at a second end, wherein the frangible strap severs at the fastener.