Battery Mountings And Holders Patents (Class 180/68.5)
  • Patent number: 9284703
    Abstract: A spreader unit for a de-icing substance to clear a road or pedestrian surface, comprises a hopper containing the de-icing substance, a spreader device that receives the de-icing substance from the hopper spreading the latter on the road or pedestrian surface, a carrying device to convey the de-icing substance of the hopper to the spreader device, a rechargeable battery to power the carrying device and an electric mechanical converter for charging the rechargeable battery transforming mechanical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Giletta S.P.A.
    Inventor: Enzo Giletta
  • Patent number: 9277814
    Abstract: In some embodiments an adjustable continuous shelf mounting system may comprise a wall standard comprising a plurality of upper slots and a plurality of lower slots. A support bracket comprising: a first support wing coupled to a first upper tongue configured to engage an upper slot of a wall standard and a first lower tongue configured to engage a lower slot of a wall standard; a second support wing coupled to a second upper tongue configured to engage an upper slot of a wall standard and a second lower tongue configured to engage a lower slot of a wall standard; and a shelf lip receiving valley formed between the first support wing and the second support wing. A shelf comprising a load bearing surface and a perimeter lip. The perimeter lip of the shelf is configured to be received in the shelf lip receiving valley of the support bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Aaron James Winker
  • Patent number: 9281505
    Abstract: A battery mounting structure for a vehicle includes a battery frame upper fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, a battery frame lower fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin, and an intermediate member fabricated of fiber-reinforced resin. A battery that is disposed at a vehicle body lower side of a floor panel is attached at the battery frame upper. With the battery frame upper the battery frame lower structures a closed cross section structure. The intermediate member is interposed between the battery frame upper and the battery frame lower. The intermediate member is provided with a plural number of upper end portions that abut against or are disposed close to a lower face of the battery frame upper and a plural number of lower end portions that abut against or are disposed close to an upper face of the battery frame lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Hihara, Hiroaki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9266565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicular instrument mounting structure in which an auxiliary battery is mounted so as to be as high as a power control device , for protecting the power control device by a protector even when the auxiliary battery interferes with the power control device. The power control device is fastened to the upper surface of a transaxle by a screw via a mounting foot provided in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The protector for protecting a corner of the power control device is fastened to the power control device and the transaxle by screws for a power control device fastening part and a transaxle fastening part. The power control device has a power cable for supplying power and a discharger for rapid discharge at a time of emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenshi Yamanaka, Kouji Hotta
  • Patent number: 9259998
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes first and second side rails, a first cross member and a second cross member. A multi-piece well configured to house hybrid electronic hardware includes a well floor having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second. The first end is secured to the first cross member to define a well first end wall. The second end is secured to the second cross member to define a well second end wall. A first frame side support is secured to the first side to define a well first side wall. A second frame side support is secured to the second side to define a well second side wall. The first frame side support is laterally spaced inwardly from and connected to the first side rail and the second frame side support is laterally spaced inwardly from and connected to the second side rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony John Leanza, Manabu Ishizono
  • Patent number: 9252409
    Abstract: A middle- or large-sized battery pack having two or more hexahedral battery modules, each including a plurality of chargeable and dischargeable plate-shaped unit cells, mounted in a pack case, wherein the battery pack removes heat generated during the charge and discharge of the unit cells using an air cooling method, the unit cells of each of the battery modules are vertically stacked such that the number of the unit cells corresponds to a height of a battery pack installation space defined in a vehicle while neighboring unit cells are spaced apart from each other such that a coolant channel is defined between the respective unit cells, the pack case is formed in a shape corresponding to the battery pack installation space in the vehicle, and a coolant for removing heat from the unit cells is introduced through at least one side of the pack case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Kyu Lee, Dal Mo Kang, Yongshik Shin, Bumhyun Lee, Chae Ho Chung, Jongmoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 9252417
    Abstract: The invention provides for a high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle with a battery propulsion power source, which may include lithium titanate batteries. The vehicle may be all-battery or may be a hybrid, and may have a composite body. The vehicle battery system may be housed within the floor of the vehicle and may have different groupings and arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Hill, Michael Walker, Michael Fields, Shaun Onorato, Donald Morris, Stephen Misencik, John Winkel
  • Patent number: 9227601
    Abstract: The vehicle includes a horizontally placed compartment for one or several batteries lying parallel to each other, a robot includes a transport plane that can be extended and withdrawn in one direction, and displaced along two mutually perpendicular directions relative to the one direction. The vehicle takes up a predetermined location relative to the robot close to the cover, the robot determines via an optical element the position of the battery in the compartment, and displaces the transport plane to a predetermined position relative to the battery. A withdrawal member attaches to the battery and withdraws it from the compartment to the transport plane. The robot transports the battery to a charging station, and transports a charged battery from a store of charged batteries to the transport plane. A displacement element inserts the battery at a predetermined position into the compartment, and the cover is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Sten Corfitsen
  • Patent number: 9227582
    Abstract: When a battery case (24) housing a plurality of batteries (42) is mounted on the vehicle body frame (11) that includes a cross member (20) extending in a vehicle width direction, the cross member (20) of the vehicle body frame (11) is disposed within the recess portion (39b), extending in the vehicle width direction, that is formed in the battery case (24), and therefore, it is possible to mount the battery case (24) while avoiding interference with the cross member (20). Although the intermediate part in the fore-and-aft direction of the battery case (24) housing heavy batteries (42) is susceptible to downward deformation, it is possible to prevent deformation of the battery case (24) by fixing the recess portion (39b) of the battery case (24) to the cross member (20) by fixing means (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Goichi Katayama, Koichi Yamamoto, Yasuaki Hotozuka, Ryo Fujii
  • Patent number: 9216638
    Abstract: In a structure for mounting a battery pack on a vehicle, even if a battery case housing a plurality of batteries is disposed beneath a floor panel, due to an internal cable within the battery case being disposed above the batteries, it is possible to prevent the internal cable from becoming wet. Furthermore, if the internal cable disposed above the batteries were connected to an external cable via a high voltage connector without changing the height, the height of the floor panel would increase to thus constrain the vehicle compartment space, but since the high voltage connector is disposed at a position that is lower than the upper end of the battery, it is possible to decrease the height of the floor panel by disposing the external cable at a low position, thereby ensuring the vehicle compartment space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Goichi Katayama, Koichi Yamamoto, Yasuaki Hotozuka, Ryo Fujii
  • Patent number: 9205872
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure is provided to avoid the damage to a battery pack due to invasion of an electric device in a side impact crash. The vehicle body structure includes a battery pack on its inner side in a vehicle width direction, and an electric device on its outer side. A No1 seat cross member 5 is provided along in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 3. The No1 seat cross member 5 is provided with a weak portion 54 in a position in the vehicle width direction corresponding to between the battery pack 2 and an electric hot-water heater 9 as the electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Okada, Hideki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9186941
    Abstract: A Storage Bracket System for storing Weight Distribution System Round Bar is provided. The Storage Bracket System comprises two Round Bar Storage Brackets installed in conveniently reachable locations on either side of a trailer frame and angled such that when Weight Distribution System Round Bars are slid into the Round Bar Storage Brackets, they are held in place for storage when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Cramer, Kevin Peebles
  • Patent number: 9187052
    Abstract: A vehicle 100 according to the present invention includes a battery pack 2, wherein the battery pack is disposed, in the vehicle, forward Fr of a space S2 formed between a driver's seat 11 and a passenger's seat 12 provided side by side in a vehicle width direction, and rearward Rr of an instrument panel 31 provided forward of the driver's seat 11 and the passenger's seat 12 in the interior of the vehicle. According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to remove the driver's seat and the passenger's seat in removing the battery pack from the vehicle body, and the number of man-hours involved in the removal work of the battery pack can be reduced as compared with the conventional vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kimura, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9190645
    Abstract: An on-board battery assembly includes a cell stack, a blowing member, and a control component. The cell stack includes a plurality of cell modules. The cell stack has one side face that extends generally along a width axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the plurality of cell modules. The blowing member having a blow-out port that has a dimension generally equivalent to a dimension of the one side face. The blowing member includes a casing having a suction port and a flow channel. The flow channel has a width that becomes greater toward the blow-out port. The control component is provided in a space defined between the casing and a plane, which is perpendicular to the width axis, and which includes an end portion of the one side face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tamura
  • Patent number: 9186957
    Abstract: An electric component (electric-power convertor) and a pair of air-conditioning ducts are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction. In case in which a rear end portion of the electric component is located in back of an outlet of the air-conditioning duct, the electric component is formed in a notch shape such that a duct-side edge portion thereof extends obliquely rearward and in a specified direction, in the vehicle width direction, away from the air-conditioning duct. Accordingly, it can be properly prevented that a conditioning air toward a passenger seated in a rear seat is blocked with the electric component arranged between a seat cushion of a front seat and a floor panel and receives any improper influence of heat emitted by the electric component, or the electric component receives any damage from the conditioning air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9180773
    Abstract: A vehicular exhaust structure is provided for exhausting gas used for cooling down a battery arranged under a seat in a vehicle into a luggage compartment of the vehicle behind the seat and including an underfloor storage box arranged under a deck board. The structure includes an exhaust duct and an exhaust conduit. The exhaust duct is arranged behind the battery with an inlet thereof located at a first end facing the battery and an outlet thereof located at a second end facing upward. The exhaust conduit includes a box section communicated with the outlet of the exhaust duct and defined by surfaces of a front portion of the underfloor storage box arranged over the outlet of the exhaust duct. One of the surfaces faces a back surface of a backrest of the seat and has a through hole that opens toward a front side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Honda, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9174520
    Abstract: An electric vehicle wherein at least part of a cell unit is provided along an inclined part of a rear dividing wall. A bottom end of the cell unit is positioned lower than the hip point of a passenger. As seen from the vehicle-width direction, motor mounts are positioned so that the top part of the cell unit and part of the motor mounts overlap in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Goichi Katayama, Daijiro Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9168819
    Abstract: An arrangement structure of an electricity-storage device of a vehicle, which comprises a pair of right-and-left front side frames, a dash panel partitioning a vehicle-compartment front portion at rear end portions of the front side frames, and a pair of front tires arranged on an outside, in a vehicle width direction, of the front side frames. The electricity-storage device is arranged on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the front side frame at a position between the dash panel and the front tire in a vehicle longitudinal direction such that the electricity-storage device overlaps a rear end portion of the front side frame (the kick-up portion, the protrusion portion) in a vehicle side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Seigo Suzuki, Sho Kawanari
  • Patent number: 9162558
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed having an electric drive. The drivetrain is comprised of batteries, a motor, a transaxle driven by the motor, a rear differential driven by the transaxle, and a prop shaft which is driven by the transaxle and drives a front differential. The batteries are provided in two groups and are supported on the frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt E. Stenberg, Joel M. Notaro, Josh J. Leonard, Stephen G. Crain, Dennis P. Sabourin, Russ G. Olsen, Cory A. Wimpfheimer
  • Patent number: 9162728
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle includes a frame, an engine supported by the frame, a swing-arm swingably supported on the frame, a rear wheel supported on the swing-arm, a rear suspension arranged between the engine and the rear wheel, an air cleaner arranged in an intake passage, and an exhaust chamber arranged in an exhaust passage. At least a portion of the air cleaner is arranged above the rear suspension. At least a portion of the exhaust chamber is arranged below the rear suspension. The rear suspension extends in a direction intersecting with a vertical direction when viewed from a side of the saddle type vehicle. The rear suspension is coupled to the engine and the swing-arm. A height of the rear suspension in the vertical direction is smaller than a length of the rear suspension in a front-back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takushiro Shiraishi, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9162858
    Abstract: To facilitate loading-unloading operation of a battery even when a large-sized battery is mounted, in a battery-powered forklift which is driven with power of a battery mounted on a vehicle body including a fork which is arranged at a front part of the vehicle body, a counter weight which is arranged at a rear part of the vehicle body, and a top plate which is supported at a position to cover an area above a driver seat via a pair of rear stays 44 extended upward from both sides of the rear part of the vehicle body, post members arranged in a raised manner at both sides of the counter weight guide movement of the battery along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body between the post members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 9156341
    Abstract: A battery holding structure for an electric work vehicle equipped with a battery-driven electric motor includes a plurality of battery cases, a base frame and a plurality of pillars. The battery cases respectively have a bottom wall and front, rear, right and left sidewalls. The battery cases respectively accommodate a plurality of batteries aligned in a lateral direction. The battery cases are stacked in a vertical direction. The battery cases are installed in a rear part of the base frame. The rear sidewalls of respective ones of the battery cases are fixed to the pillars. The pillars are respectively fixed at bottom end portions thereof to a rear end portion of the base frame and extending upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yukinori Matsumura, Yoshiyuki Takano, Hikaru Tajima
  • Patent number: 9160042
    Abstract: In a battery pack for an electric vehicle, since a cooling air suction port (48a) is provided in the vicinity of an end part, on the downstream side in a direction of flow of cooling air, of a battery case (24) so as to oppose the direction of flow, cooling air is in full contact with the battery case (24) before flowing into the cooling air suction port (48a), and dust or water contained in cooling air can be made to adhere to the battery case (24) and removed, thus preventing dust or water from entering the interior of the battery case (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Fujii, Koichi Yamamoto, Goichi Katayama, Kosuke Ito
  • Patent number: 9153808
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for securely clamping and unclamping a battery in a battery receiving tray, the device comprising an escalatable hold down clamp for clamping the battery, an escalator means for lifting or lowering the clamp in screwed engagement with the escalatable hold down clamp, a hold down rod for fixedly engaging the hold down device onto the battery tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventors: Darnell M. Bolden, Richard C. Lee
  • Patent number: 9139074
    Abstract: Vehicles incorporating various methods and devices for mounting a fraction battery include securing the traction battery to a structural member of the vehicle in a manner that releases the traction battery from the structural member of the vehicle in response to an external load applied to the fraction battery that exceeds a threshold. A mounting member includes a slot for guiding movement of the battery away from the external load to reduce or eliminate compressive loading of the battery. Fasteners include a guide portion that cooperates with the slot and a shear portion that secures the battery in a first position but separates from the guide portion in response to the external load to allow the battery to move to a second position away from the external load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Corey John Jarocki
  • Patent number: 9120506
    Abstract: A subframe of a front or rear part of a motor vehicle includes two longitudinal members arranged in spaced-apart relationship in a vehicle transverse direction and connected to one another by a cross member. A reinforcement is connected to the longitudinal members and the cross member for increasing a torsion resistance of the subframe and has integrated therein a charge module which is configured to transmit energy in a contactless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Isakiewitsch, Siegfried Achhammer, Stefan Rugies, Björn Elias
  • Patent number: 9120371
    Abstract: A mounting structure for an in-vehicle power battery may be provided. The mounting structure may comprise an upper cover (3), a suspension tray (1) and a bracket (2) for supporting at least a peripheral bottom portion of the suspension tray (1). The suspension tray (1) may be hermetically connected with the upper cover, forming a sealed space for receiving the power battery. The bracket (2) may be detachably fixed to a bottom surface of a body floor in a vehicle. Further, a vehicle (100) comprising the mounting structure described above is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Fei Han, Bengang Yi, Hengshan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9120441
    Abstract: A battery support assembly adapted to be attached to a front rail of a pickup truck is provided which may include a first support, a second support, and a battery tray. The first support may define an outwardly facing first vertical attachment flange. The second support may define an outwardly facing second vertical attachment flange. The battery tray may secured to the supports and disposed rearward and inboard of the rail. The first and second vertical attachment flanges may be offset vertically, laterally, and longitudinally relative to one another. The first vertical attachment flange may define a first plane and the second vertical attachment flange may define a second plane. The first and second planes may be substantially parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Dragan B. Stojkovic
  • Patent number: 9105950
    Abstract: A battery system and a method for cooling the battery system are provided. The system includes an evaporative cooling member, and a battery module having a housing, a battery cell, and a solid cooling fin. The housing holds the battery cell therein. The solid cooling fin has first and second panel portions. The first panel portion is disposed against the battery cell. The second panel portion extends through the housing and is disposed on the evaporative cooling member. The solid cooling fin conducts heat energy from the battery cell to the evaporative cooling member. The evaporative cooling member receives a gaseous-liquid refrigerant and transitions the gaseous-liquid refrigerant into a gaseous refrigerant utilizing the heat energy received from the solid cooling fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Gadawski, Satish Ketkar, Michael Nielson
  • Patent number: 9096117
    Abstract: A body structure of a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle is driven using power of an engine and electric power supplied from a battery module. The body structure includes a propeller shaft disposed in a lower side of a floor panel in a vertical direction of the vehicle so as to extend in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle and configured to transmit the power of the engine and the electric power to at least a rear wheel; and an integrated battery pack below the floor panel so as to cover the propeller shaft. The integrated battery pack has at least the battery module. The battery pack includes a recess to house the propeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuda, Toshiaki Naruke, Minoru Iida
  • Patent number: 9096133
    Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed having an electric drive. The drivetrain is comprised of batteries, a motor, a transaxle driven by the motor, a rear differential driven by the transaxle, and a prop shaft which is driven by the transaxle and drives a front differential. The batteries are provided in two groups and are supported on the frame of the vehicle. An on-board range extender is provided to charge the batteries and/or to provide power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Beat Kohler, Marcel Frei, Peter Johannes Erasmus, Stephen G. Crain, Travis N. Theiss, Stacey E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 9097223
    Abstract: A part of an air cleaner main body overlapped with vehicle body frames in a side view has a shape in which an upper surface portion of the part is narrower than a bottom surface portion of the part. The air cleaner main body is formed to have approximately uniform gaps along inner surfaces of the vehicle body frames, and the air cleaner main body is inserted from a position below the vehicle body frames and is fixed to the vehicle body frames before mounting an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichiro Kawata
  • Patent number: 9090217
    Abstract: In a storage part structure for a saddle type vehicle including a storage box and a battery box it is possible to easily detach a battery box to enhance maintenance. The storage part structure for the saddle type vehicle includes the storage box and the battery box formed as a body separate from the storage box and fixed to the storage box. In the storage part structure, the battery box is disposed under the storage box with a horizontal part cross member constituting a body frame being disposed under the battery box. In addition, the battery box is mounted on the horizontal part cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio Atsuchi, Yoji Komatsu, Takashi Doi, Takasumi Yamanaka, Nobuaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9083009
    Abstract: A method comprising a step of providing a cooling plate having at least one exposed cooling channel designed for guiding a cooling fluid. The method further comprises a step of providing a mounting unit designed for receiving and fixing at least one energy storage unit. The method finally comprises a step of connecting the cooling plate to the mounting unit, whereby the at least one cooling channel is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: MAHLE Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Heckenberger, Tobias Isermeyer, Markus Kohlberger, Thomas Schiehlen, Hans-Georg Herrmann, Christoph Fehrenbacher
  • Patent number: 9084347
    Abstract: In a power supply mounting structure, a rib of a height that covers a gap of a case is provided protruding in a position adjacent to the gap, on a mounting surface of an interior part that is mounted to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoji Hishinuma
  • Patent number: 9083031
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for securely clamping and unclamping a battery in a battery receiving tray, wherein at least one hold down rod is securely connected to the battery receiving tray on one end and at the other end, is held against one or more horizontally disposed hold down clamps by tension provided by a tensioner operating against a tensioner retaining means at the other end of the hold down rod and the one or more hold down clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventors: Darnell M. Bolden, Richard C. Lee
  • Patent number: 9073498
    Abstract: Disclosed is a battery tray for holding and supporting a battery in a vehicle. The battery tray includes a reinforcement clamp and a fixing part. The reinforcement clamp is disposed on an outer surface and vertically extends from an undersurface of the tray to an upper surface of the tray along a side wall of the tray. Fixing parts are disposed on the upper surface and the undersurface of the tray to fix both upper and lower end portions of the reinforcement clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Hoo Gwang Lee
  • Patent number: 9054402
    Abstract: A battery pack protection system is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is mounted under the car. The system utilizes a plurality of deformable cooling conduits located between the lower surface of each of the batteries and the lower battery pack enclosure panel, with a thermal insulator interposed between the conduits and the lower enclosure panel. A layer of thermally conductive material may be included which is interposed between the cooling conduits and the thermal insulator and in contact with a lower surface of each of the cooling conduits. The cooling conduits are configured to deform and absorb impact energy when an object, such as road debris, strikes the lower surface of the lower battery pack enclosure panel. Further protection may be achieved by positioning a ballistic shield, alone or with a layer of compressible material, under the bottom surface of the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Dore Rawlinson
  • Patent number: 9054360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated high-voltage battery housing. More particularly, it relates to an integrated high-voltage battery housing adapted to secure safety against side impact collisions while reducing the weight of a vehicle by integrating a connecting structure between a battery housing and a side member of a chassis of the vehicle. In particular, the integrated high-voltage battery housing includes: a bottom housing configured to receive a battery; a battery fixing bracket configured to fix the battery to a top surface of the bottom housing; and a plurality of flanges extending from an upper end edge of a side wall of the bottom housing and each having a coupling aperture for coupling the flange to a chassis side member. A protruding reinforcing portion extends transversely between opposite sides of the bottom housing on a bottom surface of the bottom housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gyu Ho Yi, Sun Hyung Cho
  • Patent number: 9045030
    Abstract: An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure and absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. The battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and mechanically coupled to, vehicle structural members (e.g., rocker panels) located on either side of the vehicle. In addition to providing rigidity, strength and impact resistance, the battery pack cross-members segregate the batteries contained within the battery pack enclosure into battery groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Alan Paul Clarke, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Robert David Sumpf, Jr., Bruce Philip Edwards
  • Patent number: 9038757
    Abstract: A vehicle battery mounting structure having a service hole cover that closes a service hole the service hole cover includes a rear cover that covers a rear end side of the service hole in a vehicle longitudinal direction and a front cover that covers a front end side of the service hole in the vehicle longitudinal direction. That is, the service hole cover is split into the rear cover and the front cover in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The front cover is detachably attached to a floor upper reinforcement provided on a floor panel by bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisaya Ogushi, Yoshihito Terao
  • Publication number: 20150136504
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to secure both of vehicle body floor upper space and battery mounting space, in setting of a mounting position of a high-power cut-off switch to a battery pack case. Battery pack case 1 having battery modules 2 and SD switch 4 that cuts off battery high-power circuit by manual operation is arranged in a lower position of vehicle body floor 100. In this battery pack structure for electric vehicle, an inside space of the battery pack case 1 is divided into two areas in a vehicle front-and-rear direction, and one of the two areas is defined as a battery module mounting area 7. SD switch 4 is provided in an upper surface position of the case that covers an electrical component mounting area 8, which is the other area, located on a vehicle front side with respect to battery module mounting area 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Norihisa Tsujimura, Toshifumi Takamatsu, Makoto Iwasa, Takeshi Onodera, Tatsunori Tanigaki
  • Patent number: 9033085
    Abstract: An undercarriage-mounted battery pack is provided that includes a foot well cavity that is aligned with the foot well corresponding to one or more of the vehicle's seats, e.g., the rear vehicle seats. A portion of the battery pack is located in front of the foot well cavity while a second portion is located behind the foot well cavity, where the two portions are coupled together using conduits. The bottom surface of the battery pack may be shaped in order to minimize drag and enhance the flow of air under the vehicle. The battery pack may include cross-members, either interposed between battery subassemblies or incorporated into the subassembly enclosures, to increase side impact resistance and provide further protection to the batteries within the pack as well as the vehicle's occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Dore Rawlinson
  • Patent number: 9033083
    Abstract: Provided is a protective structure for vehicle electrical components that can prevent the infiltration of water from above and more reliably protect electrical components (high-voltage electrical components). As a representative configuration of the present invention, a protective structure for vehicle electrical components for protecting an electrical component mounted on the vehicle floor panel includes a lid that covers the electrical component from above, and a front panel, rear panel, and pair of side panels that are arranged around the lid and parallel to an upper face of the lid, and the panels have gutter-shaped edges that support the periphery of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsufumi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 9033084
    Abstract: Vehicle battery box (1) comprising at least one outer casing (2) delimiting a chamber (3) receiving the battery (9) and comprising a support (4) and a removable cover (5) connected to each other, the box (1) comprising positioning lugs (15, 16) and lugs (17, 18) for fixing said battery box (1) to the vehicle, said positioning lugs (15, 16) and said fixing lugs (17, 18) being mounted on the outer casing (2). Each positioning lug (15, 16) comprises a passage (19c, 20c) receiving a positioning stud (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Olivier Joye
  • Patent number: 9033078
    Abstract: A system for connecting a power-supply battery to a motor vehicle, including a device for ventilating the battery, and a multi-connection plate which includes openings for connecting to at least two ducts for circulating a heat-transport fluid, and for connecting to the battery so as to connect the at least two ducts to an inner circulation circuit of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: Thierry Fillion, Jean-Yves Faure, Stephane Trentin
  • Publication number: 20150129337
    Abstract: Method for battery replacement in a vehicle (110), which vehicle is equipped with a storage space (150;200;300;400) for a battery (120,122;220;320;420;620), where an opening (151;204;304;404) into the storage space exists under the vehicle, wherein the vehicle assumes a first and a second predetermined position in relation to first and second battery transport devices (130;140) that bring a battery out from the vehicle and a battery into the vehicle. The transport devices are installed at least partly above ground (100) and beside the positions, and in that the batteries are brought along a respective path (121,123) running from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a respective position above ground and beside the vehicle. A device for automatic battery replacement and a storage device for use in a vehicle are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Sten Corfitsen
  • Patent number: 9027684
    Abstract: A vehicular battery mounting structure (10) includes a floor panel (14), a battery frame (30) arranged below the floor panel (14), and a bracket (40) provided on both left and right sides of a vehicle, interposed between the floor panel (14) and the battery frame (30). The bracket (40) includes a bottom wall portion (42), an inside flange portion (48) that is on an inside in a vehicle width direction, and an outside flange portion (50) that is on an outside in the vehicle width direction. A shape of the bracket is a generally hat-shape opening upward in the sectional view taken along the vehicle width direction. The battery frame (30) is indirectly or directly fixed to the bottom wall portion (42). The inside and outside flange portions (48, 50) are joined to the floor panel (14) such that a joint strength between the outside flange portion (50) and the floor panel (14) is greater than a joint strength between the inside flange portion (48) and the floor panel (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Araki
  • Publication number: 20150122563
    Abstract: A battery includes a controller configured or programmed to manage battery cells disposed inside a housing. The controller is arranged one of forward or rearward of the battery cells. The housing includes right and left housing half bodies which define right and left portions of the housing, respectively, and are assembled together in a lateral direction. The battery prevents an increase in the width of a saddle-type electric vehicle while securing a sufficient capacity of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsuo KONDO, Hideo KOHDA
  • Publication number: 20150122562
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery supported by an elastic member. The vehicle is provided with a connector that is electrically connected to a connector on the battery. The connector on the vehicle is switched between an unlock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is allowed to follow the oscillation of the battery, and a lock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a stress from being applied to the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a vehicle is travelling, and it is possible to smoothly connect the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Shidehiko MIYASHIRO