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An automotive vehicle has a battery mounting system including battery tray fastened to a floor within a compartment of the vehicle, and a motion convertor for repositioning battery tray as a result of a collision impact upon the compartment by causing the battery tray to rotate from a first position

An automotive vehicle has a battery mounting system including battery tray fastened to a floor within a compartment of the vehicle, and a motion convertor for repositioning battery tray as a result of a collision impact upon the compartment by causing the battery tray to rotate from a first position in which the battery tray is generally parallel to the floor to which it is mounted, to a second position which the battery tray is not parallel to the plane of the floor.

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What is claimed is: 1. An automotive vehicle having a battery mounting system, comprising: a battery tray fastened to a floor within a compartment of the vehicle, with the compartment having a longitudinal axis; and a motion convertor for repositioning said battery tray as a result of a collision

What is claimed is: 1. An automotive vehicle having a battery mounting system, comprising: a battery tray fastened to a floor within a compartment of the vehicle, with the compartment having a longitudinal axis; and a motion convertor for repositioning said battery tray as a result of a collision impact upon the compartment and subsequent axial deformation of the compartment floor, with said motion convertor causing said battery tray to rotate from a first position in which the battery tray is generally parallel to the floor, to a second position in which the battery tray is not parallel to the floor, wherein said motion convertor comprises a first inclined plane fastened rigidly to said floor, with said first inclined plane engaging a second inclined plane comprising a portion of said battery tray such that axial deformation of said floor beyond a predetermined extent causes the first inclined plane to slidingly engage said second inclined plane, so as to thereby lift and initiate rotation of said battery tray in a direction away from said floor. 2. An automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said battery tray encloses a plurality of battery cells. 3. An automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said battery tray has a leading end and a trailing end, with said tray rotating about a rotational axis which is defined by said leading end, with said rotational axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle compartment. 4. An automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle has a leading end in the normal direction of travel and a trailing end opposite said leading end, with said motion convertor being fastened to said floor at a position between said battery tray and the trailing end of the vehicle such that the motion convertor lifts the end of the battery tray which is adjacent to the trailing end of the vehicle. 5. An automotive vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said battery mounting system further comprises a flexible restraint member extending between said floor and said battery tray such that said restraint member resists rotation of said battery tray beyond a predetermined position. 6. An automotive vehicle having a battery mounting system, comprising: a battery tray fastened to a floor within a compartment of the vehicle, with the compartment having a longitudinal axis, and with the battery tray having a leading end in the normal direction of travel of the automobile, and a trailing end opposite said leading end; a motion convertor for repositioning said battery tray as a result of a collision driven axial deformation of the floor, with said deformation causing said motion convertor to slidingly wedge said battery tray, thereby lifting the trailing end of the battery tray from said floor and causing the battery tray to rotate about its leading end from a first position in which the battery tray is generally parallel to the floor to a second position in which the battery tray is not parallel to the floor; and a flexible restraint member extending between said floor and said battery tray such that said restraint member resists rotation of said battery tray beyond a predetermined position. 7. An automotive vehicle having a battery mounting system according to claim 6, wherein said motion convertor comprises a first inclined plane fastened rigidly to said floor, with said motion convertor engaging a second inclined plane comprising a portion of said battery tray. 8. An automotive vehicle having a battery mounting system according to claim 6, wherein said flexible restraint member absorbs the kinetic energy of rotation of said battery tray when said flexible restraint arrests the forward rotational motion of the battery tray. 9. A method for repositioning a battery tray within an automotive vehicle in response to axial deformation of the vehicle, comprising the steps of: mounting the battery tray upon a floor of the vehicle, with the floor having an axis extending in the normal direction of travel of the vehicle; mounting a motion convertor to said floor at a position between said battery tray and an end of the floor subject to axial deformation as a result of a collision; slidably engaging the battery tray with the motion convertor in response to axial deformation of the floor; and converting the sliding motion of the motion convertor into rotational motion of the battery tray away from said floor, wherein the sliding motion of the motion convertor is converted to rotational motion of the battery tray by a wedge set comprising a first inclined plane incorporated in the motion convertor and fastened rigidly to said floor, and a second inclined plane comprising a portion of said battery tray such that deformation of said floor having a component along said axis causes the first inclined plane to slidingly engage said second inclined plane, so as to thereby lift and initiate rotation of said battery tray in a direction away from said floor. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said battery tray rotates about an axis defined by a leading end which is opposite the end of the battery tray engaged by the motion convertor. 11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a rotation restraint to resist rotation of the battery tray beyond a predetermined position. 12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a flexible rotation restraint member extending between said floor from a position adjacent the motion convertor to a location on the battery tray adjacent the end of the battery tray engaged by the motion convertor, such that the rotational kinetic energy of the battery tray is absorbed the flexible rotation restraint member.