# US 9,517,687 B2 · Battery unit mounting structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,687 B2 - Document ID: US9517687B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/052,014 - Filed: 2016-02-24 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Jun Nakajima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517687B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - B62D 21/157: {for side impacts} - B60K 2001/0416: {Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle} - 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 - 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 battery unit mounting structure includes a pair of right and left vehicle body frame members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, a pair of right and left side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, a battery unit disposed between the right and left side members, and a reinforcement. The right and left vehicle body frame members are disposed respectively at right and left outer side portions of a vehicle body in a vehicle-width direction. The right and left side members are connected respectively to inner sides of the right and left vehicle body frame members in the vehicle-width direction. The reinforcement is disposed on a bottom or top surface of the battery unit, and disposed at a position at which the reinforcement overlaps with the battery unit in a plan view. The reinforcement extending in the vehicle-width direction is longer than the battery unit in the vehicle-width direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery unit mounting structure comprising: a pair of right and left vehicle rockers extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, the right and left vehicle rockers being disposed respectively at right and left outer side portions of a vehicle body in a vehicle-width direction; a pair of right and left side members extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, the right and left side members being connected respectively to inner sides of the right and left vehicle rockers in the vehicle-width direction; a battery unit disposed between the right and left side members; and a reinforcement disposed on a bottom surface or a top surface of the battery unit, the reinforcement being disposed at a position at which the reinforcement overlaps with the battery unit in a plan view, and the reinforcement having a width in the vehicle-width direction that is longer than a width of the battery unit in the vehicle-width direction, wherein each of the right and left vehicle rockers is hollow and forms a closed space when viewed in cross-section so as to absorb a lateral collision force, and the reinforcement is disposed at a position at which the reinforcement overlaps with the closed spaces of the right and left vehicle rockers in a vehicle-height direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is fixed to the battery unit at or near a center of the battery unit in the vehicle front-rear direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of right and left gussets, each of the gussets having an inner end portion in the vehicle-width direction connected to a corresponding one of outer end portions of the reinforcement in the vehicle-width direction, and each of the gussets having an outer end portion in the vehicle-width direction connected to a corresponding one of the right and left side members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is a rod. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein each of the right and left side members is hollow so as to absorb the lateral collision force. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising a floor panel attached between inner sides of the right and left side members in the vehicle-width direction, the floor panel including a recess into which the battery unit and the reinforcement are disposed, left and right side surfaces of the battery unit in the vehicle-width direction being spaced from left and right side surfaces of the recess in the vehicle-width direction. ### Claim 7 A battery unit mounting structure comprising: a pair of right and left vehicle rockers extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, the right and left vehicle rockers being disposed respectively at right and left outer side portions of a vehicle body in a vehicle-width direction; a battery unit disposed between the right and left vehicle rockers; and a reinforcement disposed on a bottom surface or a top surface of the battery unit, the reinforcement being disposed at a position at which the reinforcement overlaps with the battery unit in a plan view, and the reinforcement having a width in the vehicle-width direction that is longer than a width of the battery unit in the vehicle-width direction, wherein each of the right and left vehicle rockers is hollow and forms a closed space when viewed in cross-section so as to absorb a lateral collision force, and the reinforcement is disposed at a position at which the reinforcement overlaps with the closed spaces of the right and left vehicle rockers in a vehicle-height direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement is fixed to the battery unit at or near a center of the battery unit in the vehicle front-rear direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of right and left gussets, each of the gussets having an inner end portion in the vehicle-width direction connected to a corresponding one of outer end portions of the reinforcement in the vehicle-width direction, and each of the gussets having an outer end portion in the vehicle-width direction connected to a corresponding one of the right and left vehicle rockers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement is a rod. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The battery unit mounting structure according to claim 7, further comprising a floor panel attached between inner sides of the right and left vehicle rockers in the vehicle-width direction, the floor panel including a recess into which the battery unit and the reinforcement are disposed, left and right side surfaces of the battery unit in the vehicle-width direction being spaced from left and right side surfaces of the recess in the vehicle-width direction.