# US 12,759,387 B2 · Structural assembly for an electric vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,387 B2 - Document ID: US12759387B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/650,756 - Filed: 2024-04-30 - Published: 2025-10-30 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-04-30 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Henry W. Hausler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759387B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B62D 21/02: comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members - 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 - 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) ## Abstract A structural assembly for an electric vehicle includes first and second longitudinal rails, a battery structure and a retaining element. The first longitudinal rail is opposite the second longitudinal rail and defines a slot. The battery structure is disposed between the first and second longitudinal rails and is configured to house power storage units. The battery structure includes a tab extending laterally outwardly from a first side of the battery structure. The tab received in the slot of the first longitudinal rail. The retaining element engages the second longitudinal rail and the second side of the battery structure and is configured to secure the second side of the battery structure to the second longitudinal rail. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structural assembly for an electric vehicle; the structural assembly comprising: a first longitudinal rail and a second longitudinal rail opposite the first longitudinal rail, the first longitudinal rail defining a slot; a battery structure disposed between the first and second longitudinal rails and configured to house power storage units, the battery structure including a first tab extending laterally outwardly from a first side of the battery structure, the first tab received in the slot of the first longitudinal rail; and a retaining element engaging the second longitudinal rail and a second side of the battery structure and configured to secure the second side of the battery structure to the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery structure includes a battery tray and a lid secured to the battery tray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending through the second longitudinal rail and the retaining element to secure the battery structure to the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The structural assembly of claim 3, wherein the first longitudinal rail and the first tab do not include mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein a shape of the first tab corresponds to a shape of the slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining element extends an entire length of the battery structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery structure includes a second tab extending laterally outwardly from the second side of the battery structure, and wherein the retaining element engages the second longitudinal rail and the second tab such that the second tab is disposed between the retaining element and the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The structural assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining element includes an upper portion that tapers inwardly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The structural assembly of claim 8, wherein the battery structure includes a second tab extending laterally outwardly from a second side of the battery structure, and wherein the second tab includes an edge that corresponds to the tapered upper portion of the retaining element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The structural assembly of claim 9, wherein the retaining element includes another upper end portion that tapers inwardly, and wherein the second longitudinal rail includes another edge that corresponds to the another tapered upper end portion of the retaining element. ### Claim 11 A structural assembly for an electric vehicle; the structural assembly comprising: a first longitudinal rail and a second longitudinal rail opposite the first longitudinal rail, the first longitudinal rail defining a slot; a battery structure disposed between the first and second longitudinal rails and configured to house power storage units, the battery structure including a first tab extending laterally outwardly from a first side of the battery structure and a second tab extending laterally outwardly from a second side of the battery structure, the first tab received in the slot of the first longitudinal rail; and a retaining element engaging the second longitudinal rail and the second tab of the battery structure and configured to secure the second tab of the battery structure to the second longitudinal rail and the first tab of the battery structure to the first longitudinal rail, wherein the slot of the first longitudinal rail defines a lower inclined surface and the first tab includes an edge that corresponds to the lower inclined surface of the slot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The structural assembly of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners extending through the second longitudinal rail and the retaining element to secure the battery structure to the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The structural assembly of claim 11, wherein the first longitudinal rail and the first tab do not include mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The structural assembly of claim 11, wherein the retaining element engages the second longitudinal rail and the second tab such that the second tab is disposed between the retaining element and the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The structural assembly of claim 11, wherein the retaining element includes an upper portion that tapers inwardly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The structural assembly of claim 15, wherein the second tab includes an edge that corresponds to the tapered upper portion of the retaining element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The structural assembly of claim 16, wherein the retaining element includes another upper end portion that tapers inwardly, and wherein the second longitudinal rail includes another edge that corresponds to the another tapered upper end portion of the retaining element. ### Claim 18 A method for assembling a battery structure to a vehicle frame, the method comprising: moving the battery structure into a space defined between a first longitudinal rail and a second opposing longitudinal rail of the vehicle frame; inserting a first tab extending laterally outwardly from a first side of the battery structure into a slot defined in the first longitudinal rail; moving a retaining element into engagement with the second longitudinal rail and a second side of the battery structure; and securing the retaining element to the second longitudinal rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein securing the retaining element to the second longitudinal rail moves the first tab further into the slot of the first longitudinal rail. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein securing the retaining element to the second longitudinal rail includes extending a plurality of mechanical fasteners through the second longitudinal rail and the retaining element.