Battery support structure for electrified vehicle

• US 9,963,028 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pachore, Vijay
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meyer, Jacob B
• Application Number:
  US15/437,539
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• 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: B60Y 2306/01 Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electrified vehicle includes a body structure defining a support surface and a crush space adjacent the support surface. The electrified vehicle further includes a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain. The electrified vehicle further includes a battery support structure having at least one hinge mechanism secured to the traction battery and to the support surface to permit rotational movement of the traction battery relative to the support surface. The battery support structure further includes a guide rail secured to the support surface. The battery support structure further includes a slide rail disposed in engagement with the guide rail and slidable relative to the guide rail. The battery support structure further includes at least one linkage rotatably secured at a first end to the slide rail and rotatably secured at a second end to the traction battery.

Claims

1. An electrified vehicle comprising:

a body structure defining a support surface and a crush space adjacent the support surface;

a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain; and

a battery support structure having

at least one hinge mechanism secured to the traction battery and to the support surface to permit rotational movement of the traction battery relative to the support surface,

a guide rail secured to the support surface,

a slide rail disposed in engagement with the guide rail and slidable relative to the guide rail, and

at least one linkage rotatably secured at a first end to the slide rail and rotatably secured at a second end to the traction battery;

wherein in a first configuration, the slide rail extends along a side wall of the traction battery, beyond a terminal face of the traction battery, and into the crush space, and wherein in the first configuration, movement of the slide rail relative to the guide rail is inhibited by a shear pin.

2. The electrified vehicle of claim 1, wherein in response to the slide rail receiving a load, the slide rail is adapted to shear the shear pin and to slide relative to the guide rail to a second configuration.

3. The electrified vehicle of claim 2, wherein in response to the slide rail receiving a load, the slide rail and the at least one linkage are adapted to rotate the traction battery about the hinge mechanism relative to the support surface.

4. The electrified vehicle of claim 1, wherein the guide rail, the slide rail, and the at least one linkage form a first support assembly disposed at a first side wall of the traction battery, and wherein the battery support structure further includes a second support assembly disposed at a second side wall of the traction battery opposite the first side wall, the second support assembly including a second guide rail secured to the support surface, a second slide rail disposed in engagement with the second guide rail and slidable relative to the second guide rail, and at least one second linkage rotatably secured at a first end to the second slide rail and rotatably secured at a second end to the traction battery.

5. A vehicle battery system, comprising:

a battery;

a hinge connecting the battery to a support surface; and

a battery support structure having

a guide rail secured to the support surface adjacent the battery,

a slide engaged with and slidable relative to the guide rail, a shear pin inhibiting sliding of the slide rail in a first configuration, and

a lift arm rotatably secured at opposing ends to the slide rail and to the battery.

6. The vehicle battery system of claim 5, wherein in a first configuration, an end portion of the slide rail is spaced a first distance from an end portion of the guide rail, and the battery defines a first angular orientation with respect to the support surface.

7. The vehicle battery system of claim 6, wherein the slide rail is adapted to slide axially relative to the guide rail to a second configuration, and wherein in the second configuration,

the end portion of the slide rail is spaced a second distance from the end portion of the guide rail, the second distance less than the first distance, and

the battery defines a second angular orientation with respect to the support surface, the second angular orientation different than the first angular orientation.

8. The vehicle battery system of claim 7, wherein in the second configuration, the lift arm and the hinge support the battery in the second angular orientation.

9. The vehicle battery system of claim 5, wherein in the battery support structure is a first battery support structure, the battery support structure further comprising a second battery support structure disposed at an opposite side of the battery from the first battery support structure, the second battery support structure including

a second guide rail secured to the support surface adjacent the battery,

a second slide rail in engagement with the second guide rail and slidable relative to the second guide rail, and

a second lift arm rotatably secured at a first end to the slide rail and rotatably secured at a second end to the battery.

10. A traction battery support structure for an electrified vehicle, comprising:

a hinge adapted to connect a traction battery to a support surface;

a guide rail adapted to be secured to the support surface adjacent the traction battery;

a slide rail adapted for slideable engagement with the guide rail;

a fastener adapted to rigidly secure the slide rail to the guide rail in a first configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the slide rail extends along a side wall of the traction battery, beyond a terminal face of the traction battery, and into the crush space, and

a linkage rotatably secured at a first end to the slide rail and adapted to be rotatably secured at a second end to the traction battery.

11. The traction battery support structure of claim 10, wherein the guide rail defines a channel, and wherein at least a portion of the slide rail is slidable within the channel.

12. The traction battery support structure of claim 10, wherein the linkage is a first linkage, and wherein the traction battery support structure further comprises a second linkage spaced from the first linkage and rotatably secured at a first end to the slide rail and adapted to be rotatably secured at a second end to the traction battery.

13. The traction battery support structure of claim 12, wherein the first linkage defines a first length, wherein the second linkage defines a second length less than the first length.

14. The traction battery support structure of claim 13, wherein the first linkage is a telescoping linkage having an extendable length extendable from the first length to an extended length.

15. The traction battery support structure of claim 10, wherein the slide rail includes an end wall adapted to restrict axial movement of the slide rail relative to the guide rail.

16. The traction battery support structure of claim 10, wherein axial movement of the slide rail relative to the guide rail moves the linkage from a first angular orientation relative to the guide rail to a second angular orientation relative to the guide rail.

17. The traction battery support structure of claim 10, wherein the slide rail is secured to the guide rail to inhibit movement of the slide rail relative to the guide rail in a first configuration, and wherein an end portion of the slide rail is spaced a first distance from an end portion of the guide rail in the first configuration.

18. The traction battery support structure of claim 17, wherein the slide rail is adapted to slide axially relative to the guide rail to a second configuration, and wherein the end portion of the slide rail is spaced a second distance from the end portion of the guide rail in the second configuration, the second distance less than the first distance.