초록 ▼

An improved protection system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing a ballistic shield mounted under the electric vehicle and interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the driving su

An improved protection system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing a ballistic shield mounted under the electric vehicle and interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the driving surface, where the ballistic shield is spaced apart from the enclosure bottom panel. A layer of a compressible material is interposed between the ballistic shield and the battery pack enclosure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle battery pack protection system, comprising: a battery pack enclosure mounted under an electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack enclosure comprises an enclosure top panel, an enclosure bottom panel, and a plurality of enclosure side members, wherein said battery pack enclosure is conf

1. A vehicle battery pack protection system, comprising: a battery pack enclosure mounted under an electric vehicle, wherein said battery pack enclosure comprises an enclosure top panel, an enclosure bottom panel, and a plurality of enclosure side members, wherein said battery pack enclosure is configured to hold a plurality of batteries, and wherein said battery pack enclosure is mounted between a passenger cabin floor panel and a driving surface;a ballistic shield mounted under said electric vehicle and below said battery pack enclosure, wherein said ballistic shield is interposed between said battery pack enclosure and said driving surface, and wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 5 millimeters; anda layer of compressible material interposed between said ballistic shield and said battery pack enclosure. 2. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said compressible material deforms upon compression in an inelastic manner. 3. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said compressible material deforms upon compression in an elastic manner. 4. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said compressible material is comprised of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of foam and plastic. 5. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said compressible material is shaped to include a plurality of projections and a plurality of dips, wherein said plurality of projections extend from said enclosure bottom panel to said ballistic shield and contact both said enclosure bottom panel and said ballistic shield, and wherein said plurality of dips do not extend completely from said enclosure bottom panel to said ballistic shield and contact only said enclosure bottom panel. 6. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said compressible material is shaped to include a plurality of projections and a plurality of dips, wherein said plurality of projections extend from said enclosure bottom panel to said ballistic shield and contact both said enclosure bottom panel and said ballistic shield, and wherein said plurality of dips do not extend completely from said enclosure bottom panel to said ballistic shield and contact only said ballistic shield. 7. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said battery pack enclosure is substantially airtight. 8. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said enclosure top panel, said enclosure bottom panel, and said plurality of enclosure side members are each fabricated from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys and steel. 9. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said enclosure bottom panel is welded, brazed, soldered or bonded to said plurality of enclosure side members, and wherein said enclosure top panel is bolted to said plurality of enclosure side members. 10. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said battery pack enclosure is mounted between a first vehicle structural side member located adjacent to a first side of said vehicle and a second vehicle structural side member located adjacent to a second side of said vehicle, wherein said battery pack enclosure is mounted between a front vehicle suspension assembly and a rear vehicle suspension assembly, wherein said battery pack enclosure transverses the distance between said first vehicle structural side member and said second vehicle structural side member, wherein a first side member of said plurality of enclosure side members is mechanically coupled to said first vehicle structural side member and a second side member of said plurality of enclosure side members is mechanically coupled to said second vehicle structural side member, wherein said battery pack enclosure further comprises a plurality of cross-members integrated into said battery pack enclosure, wherein each of said plurality of cross-members transverses the distance between said first and second side members of said battery pack enclosure, and wherein said plurality of cross-members segregate said plurality of batteries into groups of batteries. 11. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 10, wherein said first vehicle structural side member is a left side rocker panel, and wherein said second vehicle structural side member is a right side rocker panel. 12. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of stand-offs, wherein said plurality of stand-offs are interposed between said ballistic shield and said enclosure bottom panel, and wherein said plurality of stand-offs are coupled to an outer surface of said enclosure bottom panel adjacent to mounting locations of said plurality of cross-members mounted to an inner surface of said enclosure bottom panel. 13. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 10 millimeters. 14. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 15 millimeters. 15. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 25 millimeters. 16. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 35 millimeters. 17. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is spaced apart from said enclosure bottom panel by at least 50 millimeters. 18. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, wherein said ballistic shield is comprised of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, fiberglass, carbon fiber/epoxy composites, and plastic. 19. The vehicle battery pack protection system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stand-offs, wherein said plurality of stand-offs are interposed between said ballistic shield and said enclosure bottom panel.