Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12233703-B2
Application number	US-202318363482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2023
Priority date	Oct 22, 2020
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

Integrated frame and battery pack structure for electric vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a battery pack structure including a flange to be coupled to a surface of a longitudinal rail of a frame of a vehicle, a first wall, and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall defining an interior, a battery disposed within the interior, a cross member disposed within the interior.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an integral battery pack structure including:
a first wall having a first end and a second end;
a first flange extending from the first end, the first flange to be coupled to a first surface of a longitudinal rail of a frame of a vehicle;
a second wall including a third end and fourth end, the first wall and the second wall defining an interior;
a skid plate extending between the second end and the fourth end;
a second flange extending from the third end, the second flange to be coupled to a second surface of the longitudinal rail opposite the first surface;

a battery disposed within the interior; and
a cross member disposed within the interior.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a first battery and the apparatus further includes a second battery separated from the first battery by the cross member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the integral battery pack structure further includes a top plate, the top plate and the skid plate further defining the interior.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first flange is to be coupled to a top surface of the longitudinal rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including at least five cross members including the cross member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the integral battery pack structure is to abut the longitudinal rail.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a third flange coupled to the second end, the third flange to be coupled to a third surface of a second longitudinal rail of the frame.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first flange is parallel to the second flange.

9. An apparatus comprising:
a battery pack structure;
a first battery coupled to the battery pack structure;
a second battery coupled to the battery pack structure; and
a battery pack cross member disposed between the first battery and the second battery, the battery pack cross member to be coupled to and in contact with a frame of a vehicle; and
a first fastener disposed adjacent to a first end of the battery pack cross member, the first fastener to couple the battery pack structure to a first frame rail; and
a second fastener disposed adjacent to a second end of the battery pack cross member, the second fastener to couple the battery pack structure to a second frame rail of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the battery pack cross member includes a top surface to be coupled to a cross member of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the battery pack cross member includes a bottom surface to be coupled to the battery pack structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the battery pack cross member is a first battery pack cross member disposed on a first side of the first battery, the apparatus further including:
a second battery pack cross member disposed on a second side of the first battery, the second side opposite the first side; and
a longitudinal member extending between the first battery pack cross member and the second battery pack cross member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second battery pack cross member is to be coupled to the frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , further including a third fastener to couple the battery pack cross member to the frame, the third fastener disposed at a center of the battery pack cross member.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , further including at least four battery pack cross members including the battery pack cross member.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the battery pack structure includes a skid plate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Caliskan Ari Garo
• Mackenzie Kevin
• Mattinson Kyle Gary
• Berthault Jude

Classifications

• B62D21/03

  transverse members providing body support · CPC title

• B62D25/2036

  the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K2001/0438

  Arrangement under the floor · CPC title

• B62D27/065

  using screwthread (connection of crossbeam to A- pillars B62D25/147; mounting load bearing surfaces B62D21/09; securing mudguards B62D25/163; connections for synthetic parts B62D29/048) · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title