Patent ID: 6085854
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: B60K,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A battery support structure for electric vehicles comprising:a pair of spaced longitudinal outer frame elements;a pair of spaced transverse outer frame elements joined to said longitudinal outer frame elements to form an outer frame;a bottom plate joined to the outer frame and closing at least a portion of the bottom thereof;an air inlet formed adjacent a bottom edge of one of said transverse outer frame elements and above the bottom plate;an air outlet formed adjacent a top edge of the other of said transverse outer frame elements;a plurality of longitudinal inner frame elements disposed within and extending longitudinally of said outer frame, said longitudinal inner frame elements being spaced apart to accommodate batteries therebetween and prevent lateral shifting of the batteries; anda plurality of transverse inner frame elements disposed within and extending transversely of said outer frame and supported on said longitudinal inner frame elements, said transverse inner frame elements each having a pair of opposed sides with a single laterally extending battery support flange along the entire length of each side and below the top edge thereof, and being spaced apart to permit batteries to rest on said flanges of adjacent transverse inner frame elements, above said bottom plate, and prevent longitudinal shifting of the batteries, whereby air entering said air inlet can circulate beneath and upwardly over the batteries before exiting through said air outlet.