# US 9,517,686 B1 · Traction battery dual-stage mounting bracket > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,686 B1 - Document ID: US9517686B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/844,449 - Filed: 2015-09-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-03 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Saravanan Paramasivam; David Moschet; Amar Marpu; Kimberley King; Patrick Daniel Maguire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517686B1 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - 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 2001/0416: {Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle} - B60R 16/04: Arrangement of batteries - B60Y 2306/01: Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A vehicle includes a body structure and a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain. The vehicle also includes a bracket connecting the traction battery to the body structure. The bracket defines a frangible element configured to substantially restrict movement of the traction battery and sever in response to force upon the battery greater than a first threshold. The bracket also defines an extensible portion adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed allowing tethered displacement of the traction battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a body structure; a traction battery for providing power to a powertrain; and a bracket connecting the traction battery to the body structure, the bracket defining a frangible element configured to substantially restrict movement of the traction battery and sever in response to force upon the battery greater than a first threshold, the bracket further defining an extensible portion adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed allowing tethered displacement of the traction battery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element of the bracket is fastened to a fixed portion of the bracket with at least one rivet configured to sever in response to the force upon the battery being greater than the first threshold allowing the frangible element to detach. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element of the bracket is formed from a different material from the extensible portion of the bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the extensible portion of the bracket defines a serpentine shape adapted to unfurl after the frangible element is severed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the extensible portion of the bracket allows tethered displacement of the traction battery of at least about 36 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the frangible element is integrally formed with the bracket at a first end and secured to the bracket by a fastener at a second end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the first and second extensible portions are disposed adjacent the frangible element on opposite sides of the bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the frangible element is disposed between the first and second extensible portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a second extensible portion, wherein the frangible element is integrally formed at a first end with a portion connecting the first and second extensible portions. ### Claim 10 A traction battery mounting apparatus comprising: a frangible element configured to retain a traction battery to a vehicle structure; and a deformable portion adapted to allow tethered translation of the traction battery relative to the vehicle structure, wherein the frangible element severs in response to a force upon the traction battery greater than a threshold and the deformable portion extends in length once the frangible element is severed to tether the traction battery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein an amount of extension of the deformable portion is proportional to an amount of intrusion into the vehicle structure resulting from a vehicle impact. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frangible element is connected to the deformable portion by at least one rivet arranged to sever in response to the force imparted upon the traction battery greater than a threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deformable portion is formed from a material having a higher ductility relative to a material of the frangible element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deformable portion includes a serpentine shape configured to unfurl when the deformable portion expands in length. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frangible element is integrally formed with the mounting apparatus at a first end and secured to the mounting apparatus by a fastener at a second end. ### Claim 16 A traction battery mounting apparatus comprising: a first portion attached to a vehicle structure; a second portion attached to a traction battery; and an interconnecting portion connecting the first portion to the second portion, wherein the interconnecting portion includes: a frangible strap that severs in response to loads greater than a threshold, and at least one extensible strap that is expandable in response to the frangible strap severing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the extensible strap comprises a shifting element in sliding connection to a fixed element wherein the shifting element is attached to the traction battery and allows tethered displacement of the traction battery in response to loads greater than the threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the extensible strap defines a serpentine shape adapted to unfurl when the extensible strap expands. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 wherein the frangible strap is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than a material forming the extensible strap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The traction battery mounting apparatus of claim 16 the frangible strap is integrally formed with the first portion at a first end and secured to the second portion by a fastener at a second end, wherein the frangible strap severs at the fastener.