# US 11,993,313 B2 · Lower structure of vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,313 B2 - Document ID: US11993313B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/711,276 - Filed: 2022-04-01 - Published: 2022-12-01 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-25 - Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation - Applicants: Mazda Motor Corporation - Inventors: Hirotaka Natsume; Kazuhiro Kageyama; Daisuke Tsuji; Shuang Gao; Yoshie Nishimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993313B2 ## CPC - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B62D 25/2036: {the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence)} - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 3/0007: {Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions} - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B62D 21/157: {for side impacts} - B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof} - H01M 50/244: Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method - 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) - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract There are provided a pair of side sills provided at both outward sides, in a vehicle width direction, of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, first and second battery units provided below a floor panel on respective inward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of and adjacently to the side sills, the first and second battery units being spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a connecting member interconnecting the first and second battery units. The connecting member comprises a vehicle-width-direction connection portion to interconnect the first and second battery units so as to transmit a load, in the vehicle width direction, therebetween and plural deformation promotion portions provided adjacently to the vehicle-width-direction connection portion so as to cause deformation at the vehicle-width-direction connection portion when receiving the load caused by a vehicle side collision. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lower structure of a vehicle, comprising: a pair of side sills provided at both outward sides, in a vehicle width direction, of a vehicle body and extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; first and second battery units provided below a floor panel on respective inward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of and adjacently to the side sills, the first and second battery units being spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction; and a connecting member interconnecting the first and second battery units, wherein said connecting member comprises a vehicle-width-direction connection portion to interconnect said first and second battery units so as to transmit a load, in the vehicle width direction, therebetween and plural deformation promotion portions provided adjacently to said vehicle-width-direction connection portion so as to cause deformation at the vehicle-width-direction connection portion when receiving the load caused by a vehicle side collision, and wherein each of said plural deformation promotion portions comprises a front part and a rear part which are respectively located on a forward side and a rearward side, in the vehicle longitudinal direction, of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion at the same position, in the vehicle width direction, of the connecting member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-width-direction connection portion comprises plural ridge-line portions extending in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 2, wherein said deformation promotion portion is constituted by a longitudinal bead protruding downwardly and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 3, wherein said deformation promotion portion comprises a rigidity-changing portion where rigidity against an input applied in the vehicle width direction which is caused by the vehicle side collision changes at a rear side thereof, and the deformation promotion portion is integrally connected to said rigidity-changing portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 4, wherein a rearward extension portion which is provided at a rear side of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion comprises a notch portion extending in the vehicle width direction, and said deformation promotion portion is integrally connected to said notch portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 5, wherein said deformation promotion portion which is connected to a front side of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion is formed in a slope shape such that a rear side thereof protrudes downwardly more. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said vehicle-width-direction connection portion comprises plural ridge-line portions extending in the vehicle width direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said deformation promotion portion is constituted by a longitudinal bead protruding downwardly and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said deformation promotion portion comprises a rigidity-changing portion where rigidity against an input applied in the vehicle width direction which is caused by the vehicle side collision changes at a rear side thereof, and the deformation promotion portion is integrally connected to said rigidity-changing portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein a rearward extension portion which is provided at a rear side of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion comprises a notch portion extending in the vehicle width direction, and said deformation promotion portion is integrally connected to said notch portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 1, wherein said deformation promotion portion which is connected to a front side of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion is formed in a slope shape such that a rear side thereof protrudes downwardly more. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 4, wherein said rigidity-changing portion is constituted by a bead which extends, in the vehicle width direction, from an end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion to said deformation promotion portion and has an upward-convex structure which projects upwardly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The lower structure of the vehicle of claim 9, wherein said rigidity-changing portion is constituted by a bead which extends, in the vehicle width direction, from an end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of said vehicle-width-direction connection portion to said deformation promotion portion and has an upward-convex structure which projects upwardly.