Coverless battery assembly for electrified vehicle

• US 10,358,169 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Daniel, Moschet, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US14/640,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 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 2001/0438 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: B62D 25/20 Floors or bottom sub-units sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/24 Superstructure sub-units with access or drainage openings having movable or removable closures; Sealing means thereforinlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• 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: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a floor pan and a battery assembly mounted to an underside of the floor pan. The battery assembly includes an open top such that the floor pan acts as a cover of the battery assembly.

Claims

1. An electrified vehicle, comprising:

a floor pan;

a battery assembly mounted directly to an underside of said floor pan, said battery assembly including an open top such that said floor pan acts as a cover of said battery assembly; and

wherein said battery assembly is a high voltage battery assembly;

wherein said floor pan includes at least one locating stud for locating said battery assembly relative to said floor pan, and said locating stud protrudes from said underside and extends through a first opening of a tray of said battery assembly and a fastener extends through a second opening of said tray.

2. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly is mounted at a location that is remote from a passenger cabin that is located on an opposite side of said floor pan from said battery assembly.

3. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly is mounted to a mounting area of said floor pan, said mounting area having a shape that matches a shape of a top flange of a tray of said battery assembly.

4. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, comprising a seal disposed between said battery assembly and said floor pan.

5. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, comprising an access door movable to expose internal components of said battery assembly.

6. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly includes at least one battery array positioned within a tray.

7. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly includes a tray having a top flange with a plurality of mounting openings.

8. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 7, comprising a battery array recessed from said top flange within said tray.

16. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly includes a single-piece tray having a top flange, and said top flange is received directly against said underside.

17. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 16, comprising a seal sandwiched directly between said top flange and said underside.

18. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery assembly is non-movably mounted to said underside.

9. A method, comprising:

mounting a high voltage battery assembly that includes an open top directly to an underside of a floor pan of an electrified vehicle such that the floor pan covers internal components of the battery assembly;

wherein the mounting step further includes;

aligning the high voltage battery assembly to the floor pan using at least one locating stud of the floor pan, wherein said floor pan includes the least one locating stud for locating said battery assembly relative to said floor pan, and the at least one locating stud protrudes from said underside and extends through a first opening of a tray of said battery assembly and a fastener extends through a second opening of said tray.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the internal components include at least one of a battery array and battery electronics.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising accessing the internal components through an access door of the floor pan.

12. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising, prior to the mounting step, removing a temporary cover of the high voltage battery assembly.

19. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein, once the battery assembly is mounted, the internal components are completely concealed inside the battery assembly.

13. An electrified vehicle, comprising:

a floor pan;

a battery assembly mounted directly to an underside of said floor pan, said battery assembly is a high voltage battery assembly, and includes an open top such that said floor pan is adapted to cover said battery assembly;

a seal sandwiched between a top flange of said battery assembly and said underside of said floor pan; and

wherein said floor pan includes at least one locating stud for locating said battery assembly relative to said floor pan, wherein said at least one locating stud is received through an opening of the top flange, and a fastener is received through a second opening of said top flange for mounting said battery assembly to said floor pan.

14. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 13, comprising a battery array received within a tray of said battery assembly at a position that is recessed from said top flange.

15. The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 14, wherein said battery array includes a height that is less than an overall height of said tray.