A secondary battery module including a plurality of unit batteries that each include a cap plate and a case connected to either one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of an electrode assembly and an electrode terminal connected to the other of the positive electrode and negative electrode, wherein the electrode terminal protrudes outside of a unit battery by passing through the cap plate covering the case, and a connector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end fits on the electrode terminal of one of the unit batteries and is screw-engaged to the electrode terminal by a nut and the second end is connected to the case of another adjacent unit battery.

Secondary battery module

A floor structure of an electric vehicle powered by batteries mounted thereon comprises an upper unit and a lower unit which are detachably coupled. The upper unit includes a first panel and a first base structure. The first panel is securely mounted on the first base structure in a manner to define a first given space which faces downward. The lower unit includes a second panel and a second base structure. The second base structure is securely mounted on the second panel in a manner to define a second given space which faces upward. Bolts and nuts are used for detachably coupling the upper and lower units in such a manner that the first and second given spaces are merged to constitute a united space. A grid structure is further employed which divides the united space into a plurality of container spaces. Each container space is sized to contain therein at least one of the batteries.

Floor structure of electric vehicle

A vehicle may include a CVT unit or a power source which requires ambient air. An air inlet for an air intake system coupled to the CVT unit or the power source which requires ambient air may be provided in a side of a cargo carrying portion of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a rear radius arm suspension.

Side-by-side vehicle

A rear seat is foldable by moving downward a seat cushion and folding forward a seat back. A power source unit is disposed below a rear floor to the rear of the rear seat. When the rear seat is in an unfolded state, cooling air can be introduced from inside a vehicle compartment, through a space between a lower surface of the seat cushion and an upper surface of an underseat floor, into a cooling-air introduction port in the power source unit. When the rear seat is in a folded state, the cooling air is introduced from inside the vehicle compartment, through cooling-air introduction passages, into the cooling-air introduction port. Thus, the power source unit can be cooled irrespective of whether the rear seat is in the folded state, without reducing the foldability of the rear seat.

Electrical device cooling structure in vehicle

Mechanically and thermally improved rechargeable batteries, modules and fluid-cooled battery pack systems. The battery is prismatic in shape with an optimized thickness to width to height aspect ratio which provides the battery with balanced optimal properties when compared with prismatic batteries lacking this optimized aspect ratio. The optimized thickness, width and height allow for maximum capacity and power output, while eliminating deleterious side affects. The battery case design allows for unidirectional expansion which is readily compensated for by applying external mechanical compression counter to that direction. In the module, the batteries are bound within a module bundling/compression means under external mechanical compression which is optimized to balance outward pressure due to expansion and provide additional inward compression to reduce the distance between the positive and negative electrodes, thereby increasing overall battery power. The fluid-cooled battery pack includes; 1) a battery-pack case having coolant inlet and outlet; 2) battery modules within the case such that the battery module is spaced from the case walls and from other battery modules to form coolant flow channels along at least one surface of the bundled batteries; and 3) at least one coolant transport means. The width of the coolant flow channels allows for maximum heat transfer. Finally the batteries, modules and packs can also include means for providing variable thermal insulation to at least that portion of the rechargeable battery system which is most directly exposed to said ambient thermal condition, so as to maintain the temperature of the rechargeable battery system within the desired operating range thereof under variable ambient conditions.

Mechanical and thermal improvements in metal hydride batteries, battery modules and battery packs

A structure for securing a plurality of batteries used for an electric vehicle. The battery securing structure includes an inner spacer member having a lower inner spacer member and an upper inner spacer member, each of which is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP). The lower inner spacer member has partition portions divided into separate compartments to fixedly dispose each battery in a compartment whereby all the batteries are in a state in which they have been separated from each other on all sides. The upper inner spacer member includes pressing portions for pressing and holding desired portions of the batteries, concave portions for defining spaces used for conductive wires and cooling, and partition portions divided into compartments to unmovably dispose the batteries in a state in which they have been spaced away from each other. Thus, the plurality of batteries can be reliably and firmly secured and fixed within a battery box.

Structure for securing batteries used in an electric vehicle

A battery box, which is suitable for use in an electric vehicle, comprises a box body and a reinforcement member. The box body accommodates therein a plurality of batteries for powering the electric vehicle and is mounted to the electric vehicle. The reinforcement member is provided with the box body and supports at least respective portions of all the batteries in the box body. The reinforcement member is mounted to the frame of the electric vehicle whereby the weight of each of the batteries is reliably supported by the reinforcement member on the vehicle frame. The weight is reduced and yet the rigidity of the battery box is improved.

Battery box for an electric vehicle

PURPOSE: To secure sufficient strength against a collision and reduce the weight. CONSTITUTION: A left front side frame 2 is divided into a front frame section 2a and a rear frame section 2b press-machined with a thin plate respectively. A front member 6 having a nearly C-shaped cross section and a side wall member 7 blocking its opening face are spot-welded at the mating connection flange sections to form the front frame section 2a, a rear member 8 having a nearly U-shaped cross section and an upper wall member 9 blocking its opening face are likewise connected to form the rear frame section 2b, and they are formed into a rectangular cross sectional shape respectively. The press direction of the rear frame section 2b is made vertical, the connection flange section protruded from the lower face is eliminated, and bead sections can be formed on both the right and left side faces of the front frame section 2a. The buckling strength of the front end section of the front side frame can be increased without changing the thickness, the longitudinal strength can be controlled, and the weight can be reduced.

Front side frame structure for automobile

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a front structure for a vehicle capable of sufficiently absorbing an impact load applied from a front side of a vehicle body and preventing a bumper face from hitting a radiator unit SOLUTION: In the front structure 15 for the vehicle, an opening peripheral edge 51a of an upper side for forming a lower grille opening 25 is provided at a front side and at a lower side of a bumper beam 21, and a retreating prevention bracket 28 for suppressing the movement of the opening peripheral edge 51a (upper end part 26b of the lower grille) of the upper side to a rear side of the vehicle body to a predetermined amount is provided on a lower part 21b of the bumper beam 21 By suppressing the movement of the upper end 26b of the lower grille to a predetermined amount by the retreating prevention bracket 28, the impact load is absorbed by an impact absorption member 22 and the upper end 26b of the lower grille can be prevented from hitting the radiator unit 17 COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Front structure for vehicle

PURPOSE: To prohibit invasion of water or mud into a box main body by providing a second passage provided on the upper side of a chamber for guiding cooling air sucked into the chamber into the box main body. CONSTITUTION: External cooling air is introduced to a box main body 34 from a suction passage member 41, and plural batteries contained in the box main body 34 are cooled. At this time, the cooling air is once sucked to the lower end side in a chamber C from up through a first passage 43 to be introduced to the box main body 34 through a second passage 46 provided at an upper part of the chamber C. If water or mud invades from the external into the chamber C through the first passage 43, therefore, invasion of water or mud into the box main body 34 through the second passage 46 positioned at the upper part of the chamber C can be prohibited. COPYRIGHT: (C)1993,JPO&Japio

Hiroyuki Fujimoto

Papers

Structure for securing batteries used in an electric vehicle

Battery box for an electric vehicle

Front side frame structure for automobile

Front structure for vehicle

Cooling structure for battery for electric automobile