Passenger car with protection

• US 9,929,390 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Original Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH (Benteler International AG)
• Inventors: Arns, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/298,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,322 Days
• Field of Search: 180 685, 180 651, 180 6522, 180 692, 180 691, 180 891, 180 8911, 180311, 29620304, 29619308, 296204, 296 544, 296 3716, 903951, 903952
• 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 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A passenger car includes a body having two opposite wheel wells and a electric energy source which is arranged between two the wheel wheels for supply of electric energy. A protection made of steel sheet is arranged above the electric energy source and has depressions which extend in a direction from one of the wheel wells to another one of the wheel wells.

Claims

1. A passenger car, comprising:

a body having two opposite wheel wells;

an electric energy source arranged between the two wheel wells for supply of electric energy; and

a protection made of steel sheet and arranged above the electric energy source, said protection having a flat top and bottom side and depressions having side walls and a bottom, said depressions forming a portion of the flat top side of the protection and extending in a direction from one of the wheel wells to another one of the wheel wells, said protection being connected to the wheel wells, wherein the protection is made from a hot-formed and press-hardened material.

2. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the electric energy source is positioned in a trunk of the car and wherein the protection is arranged at a distance to the energy source and covers the energy source.

3. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the depressions have a maximum depth in a range from 10 to 20 times a sheet thickness of the protection.

4. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection has rounded borders.

5. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection has border-side flanges in surrounding relationship to the electric energy source.

6. The passenger car of claim 1, further comprising brackets arranged on the wheel wells for connection of the protection with the wheel wells.

7. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection is mounted to a floor assembly of the body, said electric energy source being arranged on the floor assembly.

8. The passenger car of claim 7, further comprising a support configured in one piece with the protection, said protection being mounted to the floor assembly via the support.

9. The passenger car of claim 8, wherein the support has angled flanges for securement of the protection.

10. The passenger car of claim 9, wherein the flanges extend in parallel relation to the floor assembly.

11. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection includes at least one reinforcement plate which covers part of the depressions for stiffening the protection.

12. The passenger car of claim 11, wherein the reinforcement plate is secured to a bottom side of the protection so as to be invisible when viewed from above.

13. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection has a plate-shaped configuration.

14. The passenger car of claim 1, wherein the protection is made from a boron-alloyed steel.