Patent Publication Number: US-2021184246-A1

Title: Vehicle Body Member Having Charging and Discharging Function

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0167253, filed on Dec. 13, 2019, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, body structures and a variety of components of a vehicle have been made of steel. Recently, composite materials, such as a fiber reinforced resin composite, are used in place of steel materials in order to improve fuel efficiency due to weight reduction. 
     In general, a fiber reinforced resin composite has a basic structure comprised of a reinforcing material handling or supporting a load applied to the composite and a base material serving to transfer the load applied to the composite to the reinforcing material while being combined with the reinforcing material to define an overall shape of the composite. In this case, the reinforcing material is generally a fibrous reinforcing material, such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or aramid fiber, while the base material is generally a resin-type base material, such as a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin. The thermosetting resin may be a phenol resin, an epoxy resin, or the like. The thermoplastic resin may be polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or the like. 
     In addition, among components of a vehicle, a significant number of components are electromagnetic components (or electromagnetic devices) operated by power supplied by a battery. Recently, due to the increasing number of electromagnetic components, research into solutions for increasing the capacity of a battery of a vehicle has continuously been undertaken. 
     Embodiments of the present invention have been made considering that carbon fiber used as a reinforcing material of a fiber reinforced resin composite can be used as a negative pole of a secondary cell. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention propose a vehicle body member able to realize a charging and discharging function using a reinforcing material used to reduce the weight of a vehicle and to increase the strength of the vehicle. 
     The foregoing is intended merely to aid in the understanding of the background of the present invention, and is not intended to mean that the present invention falls within the purview of the related art that is already known to those skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates generally to a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function. Particular embodiments relate to a vehicle body member able to realize a charging and discharging function using carbon fiber that has been used for weight reduction and reinforcement. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention have been made keeping in mind the problems occurring in the related art. Embodiments of the present invention provide a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function, in which carbon fiber that has been used as a reinforcing member in each of a roof panel and roof rails of a vehicle roof is used as a negative pole. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function. The vehicle body member may include a first cell portion including a first negative pole portion made of carbon fiber and a first positive pole portion disposed to be in contact with one surface of the first negative pole portion, the first positive pole portion including a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte, a second cell portion including a second negative pole portion made of carbon fiber and a second positive pole portion disposed to be in contact with the other surface of the second negative pole portion, the second positive pole portion including a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte, an insulating layer disposed between one surface of the first cell portion and the other surface of the second cell portion to insulate the first cell portion and the second cell portion, a series connector connecting the first negative pole portion of the first cell portion and the second positive pole portion of the second cell portion in series, a positive pole current collector connected to the first positive pole portion of the first cell portion, and a negative pole current collector connected to the second negative pole portion of the second cell portion. 
     Each of the first negative pole portion and the second negative pole portion may be a stack of a plurality of reinforced fiber sheets, with carbon fibers thereof being arranged in different directions. 
     The first positive pole portion may include a first positive pole layer disposed opposite to one surface of the first negative pole portion, with the cathode active material being distributed in the first positive pole layer, and first solid electrolyte layers disposed between the first negative pole portion and the first positive pole layer to be in contact with the first negative pole portion and the first positive pole layer, respectively. The second positive pole portion may include a second positive pole layer disposed opposite to one surface of the second negative pole portion, with the cathode active material being distributed in the second positive pole layer, and second solid electrolyte layers disposed between the second negative pole portion and the second positive pole layer to be in contact with the first negative pole portion and the second positive pole layer, respectively. The first positive pole layer and the second positive pole layer may be insulated from each other by the insulating layer. The second positive pole layer and the first negative pole portion may be connected in series via the series connector. 
     The vehicle body member may be a plurality of vehicle body members. The positive pole current collectors respectively connected to a corresponding one of first positive pole layers of the vehicle body members may be connected in series to the negative pole current collectors respectively connected to a corresponding one of the second negative pole portions of the other vehicle body member, such that the positive pole current collectors are connected to each other in series. The positive pole current collector of a vehicle body member, disposed on one end of the vehicle body members connected in series, and the negative pole current collector of a vehicle body member, disposed on the other end of the vehicle body members connected in series, may be selectively connected to an alternator or an electromagnetic device of a vehicle via a switch. A charging operation may be performed via the vehicle body members while the positive pole current collectors and the negative pole current collectors are electrically connected to the alternator of the vehicle. Power generated by a discharging operation performed via the vehicle body members may be connected to the electromagnetic device of the vehicle while the positive pole current collectors and the negative pole current collectors are electrically connected to the electromagnetic device of the vehicle. 
     At least one vehicle body member of the plurality of vehicle body members may provide a roof panel of the vehicle, and the remaining vehicle body members may provide roof rails of the vehicle. 
     The vehicle body member providing the roof panel and the vehicle body members providing the roof rails may be insulated by an insulating member. 
     The first cell portion, the second cell portion, the insulating layer, and the series connector may be molded from a resin. 
     The first negative pole portion of the first cell portion includes one or more coupling bolts, the first positive pole portion of the first cell portion, the second negative pole portion and the second positive pole portion of the second cell portion, the insulating layer, and the series connector have one or more through-holes, through which the coupling bolts extend, and coupling nuts may be fastened to end portions of the coupling bolts fitted into the through-holes. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, carbon fiber that has been used as a reinforcing member in each of a roof panel and roof rails of a vehicle roof may be used as a negative pole of a secondary cell, and a means serving as a solid electrolyte and a positive pole may be disposed inside of the roof panel and the roof rails. Accordingly, the vehicle roof may advantageously serve as a secondary cell having a charging and discharging function. 
     In addition, each of the roof panel and the roof rails may be fabricated as a secondary cell having a charging and discharging function. The roof panel and the roof rails may be connected in series to increase the output of the secondary cell. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objectives, features, and other advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle in which vehicle body members having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention are used; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are enlarged views illustrating key portions of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram illustrating the vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle in which vehicle body members having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention are used,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are enlarged views illustrating key portions of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram illustrating the vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  illustrates a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     Here,  FIG. 2A  is the enlargement of portion V 1  in  FIG. 1 , while  FIG. 2B  is the enlargement of portion V 2  in  FIG. 1 . In addition,  FIG. 3  is the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 1 . 
     First, the vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention may be applied to a variety of components of which a vehicle body is composed. Hereinafter, roof members of a vehicle body, i.e. a roof panel and a roof rail, will be described as examples of the vehicle body member. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, a plurality of vehicle body members having a charging and discharging function according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided, such that at least one vehicle body member constitutes a roof panel  20  of a vehicle body  10 , and the other vehicle body members constitute roof rails  30 . Here, each of the vehicle body members constituting the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30  serves as a secondary cell having a charging and discharging function. 
     In this regard, each of the vehicle body members  20  and  30  includes a first cell portion  100 , a second cell portion  200 , an insulating layer  300 , a series connector  400 , a positive pole current collector  500 , and a negative pole current collector  600 . The first cell portion  100  includes a first negative pole portion  110  made of carbon fiber and a first positive pole portion  120  disposed to be in contact with one surface, e.g., the bottom surface, of the first negative pole portion  110 . The composition of the first positive pole portion  120  includes a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte. The second cell portion  200  includes a second negative pole portion  210  made of carbon fiber and a second positive pole portion  220  disposed to be in contact with one surface, e.g., the top surface, of the second negative pole portion  210 . The composition of the second positive pole portion  220  includes a cathode active material and a solid electrolyte. The insulating layer  300  is disposed between the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200  to insulate the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200 . The series connector  400  connects the first negative pole portion no of the first cell portion  100  and the second positive pole portion  220  of the second cell portion  200  in series. The positive pole current collector  500  is connected to the first positive pole portion  120  of the first cell portion  100 . The negative pole current collector  600  is connected to the second negative pole portion  210  of the second cell portion  200 . Accordingly, the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200  are electrically connected to each other in series to increase charge and discharge outputs. 
     The first cell portion  100  is a means for constituting a single unit cell, and is comprised of the first negative pole portion no and the first positive pole portion  120 . 
     Here, the first negative pole portion  110  is a strengthening means for reinforcing the strengths of the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30  while realizing the shapes of the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30 . According to the present embodiment, the first negative pole portion no also serves as a negative pole to perform a charging and discharging function. In this regard, the first negative pole portion  110  is made of carbon-based fiber to facilitate the oxidation and reduction of lithium ions. 
     Here, the first cell portion  100  may be provided by stacking a plurality of reinforced fiber sheets (including carbon fibers) arranged in different directions in order to enable strength reinforcement. 
     The first positive pole portion  120  may be a means for serving as a solid state separator as well as a positive pole for performing a charging and discharging function. The first positive pole portion  120  may be implemented by including a cathode active material used as a positive pole in a typical secondary cell. For example, the first positive pole portion  120  may include a lithium (Li) oxide. In addition, the first positive pole portion  120  may be implemented using a material used as a solid-phase electrolyte, i.e. a solid electrolyte, in a typical secondary cell. 
     For example, the first positive pole portion  120  may include a first positive pole layer  121  disposed opposite to one surface of the first negative pole portion  110 , with the cathode active material being distributed in the first positive pole layer  121 , and first solid electrolyte layers  122  disposed between the first negative pole portion  110  and the first positive pole layer  121  to be in contact with the first negative pole portion  110  and the first positive pole layer  121 , respectively. Each of the first solid electrolyte layers  122  may be made of a solid electrolyte. Here, a first separator  123  separating the first negative pole portion no and the first positive pole layer  121  may further be disposed within the first solid electrolyte layers  122 . 
     In addition, like the first cell portion  100 , the second cell portion  200  is a means for constituting a single unit cell, and is comprised of the second negative pole portion  210  and the second positive pole portion  220 . 
     Here, the second negative pole portion  210  is a reinforcing means for reinforcing the strengths of the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30 , and also serves as a negative pole for performing a charging and discharging function according to the present embodiment. In this regard, the second negative pole portion  210  is made of carbon-based fiber to facilitate the oxidation and reduction of lithium ions. 
     Here, the second cell portion  200  may also be provided by stacking a plurality of reinforced fiber sheets (including carbon fibers) arranged in different directions in order to enable strength reinforcement. 
     The second positive pole portion  220  may be a means for serving as a solid state separator as well as a positive pole for performing a charging and discharging function. The second positive pole portion  220  may be implemented by including a cathode active material used as a positive pole in a typical secondary cell. For example, the second positive pole portion  220  may include a lithium (Li) oxide. In addition, the second positive pole portion  220  may be implemented using a material used as a solid-phase electrolyte, i.e. a solid electrolyte, in a typical secondary cell. 
     For example, the second positive pole portion  220  may include a second positive pole layer  221  disposed opposite to one surface of the second negative pole portion  210 , with the cathode active material being distributed in the second positive pole layer  221 , and second solid electrolyte layers  222  disposed between the second negative pole portion  210  and the second positive pole layer  221  to be in contact with the first negative pole portion no and the second positive pole layer  221 , respectively. Each of the second solid electrolyte layers  222  may be made of a solid electrolyte. Here, a second separator  223  separating the second negative pole portion  210  and the second positive pole layer  221  may further be disposed within the second solid electrolyte layers  222 . 
     In addition, the first positive pole layer  121  and the second positive pole layer  221  are insulated from each other by an insulating layer. Accordingly, the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200  are disposed on both sides of the insulating layer, respectively, such that an arrangement symmetrical with respect to the insulating layer is provided. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200 , each of which constitutes a single unit cell, are electrically connected in series to increase a charging and discharging output. 
     In this regard, the series connector  400  serves to connect the first negative pole portion  110  of the first cell portion  100  and the second positive pole portion  220  of the second cell portion  200  in series. More specifically, the series connector  400  connects the second positive pole layer  221  of the second cell portion  200  and the first negative pole portion  110  of the first cell portion  100  in series. 
     Here, the series connector  400  is made of a conductive material. One end of the series connector  400  is sandwiched between the insulating layer  300  and the second positive pole layer  221  of the second cell portion  200  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2B and 3 , and the series connector  400  extends to surround, while being spaced apart from, the outer surface of the first cell portion  100 , such that the other end of the series connector  400  is connected to the first negative pole portion  110  of the first cell portion  100 . 
     In addition, the positive pole current collector  500  is connected to the first positive pole layer  121  of which the first positive pole portion  120  of the first cell portion  100  is constituted, and the negative pole current collector  600  is connected to the second negative pole portion  210  of the second cell portion  200 . 
     Here, the first cell portion  100 , the second cell portion  200 , the insulating layer  300 , and the series connector  400  may be molded from a resin (not shown) having an insulating property to be insulated externally while defining the shapes of the vehicle body members  20  and  30 . 
     The vehicle body members  20  and  30  of which the vehicle body  10  is constituted may typically include a single roof panel  20  and a plurality of roof rails  30 . 
     Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , in a case in which the vehicle body members  20  and  30  are comprised of the single roof panel  20  and the plurality of roof rails  30 , the positive pole current collector  500  connected to the first positive pole layer  121  of each of the roof rails  30  are connected in series to the negative pole current collector  600  connected to the second negative pole portion  210  of the other vehicle body member  30 , thereby connecting the roof rails  30  in series. 
     In addition, the positive pole current collector  500  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on one end of the roof rails  30  connected in series, and the negative pole current collector  600  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on the other end of the roof rails  30  connected in series, are selectively connected to the alternator  1  or the electromagnetic device  2  of the vehicle via the switch  3 . 
     In addition, the positive pole current collector  500  connected to the first positive pole layer  121  of the roof panel  20  may be connected in parallel to the positive pole current collector  500  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on one end of the roof rails  30  connected in series, while the negative pole current collector  600  connected to the first negative pole portion no of the roof panel  20  may be connected in parallel to the negative pole current collector  600  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on the other end of the roof rails  30  connected in series. Although the plurality of roof rails  30  connected in series and the roof panel  20  may be electrically connected in parallel, the plurality of roof rails  30  and the roof panel  20  may be electrically connected in series to further increase the output of charging and discharging. 
     In addition, while the positive pole current collector  500  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on one end of the plurality of roof rails  30  connected in series, and the negative pole current collector  600  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on the other end of the plurality of roof rails  30  connected in series, are electrically connected to the alternator  1  of the vehicle, a charging operation is performed via the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30 . While the positive pole current collector  500  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on one end of the plurality of roof rails  30  connected in series, and the negative pole current collector  600  of the roof rail  30 , disposed on the other end of the plurality of roof rails  30  connected in series, are connected to the electromagnetic device  2  of the vehicle, power generated by a discharging operation performed via the roof panel  20  and the roof rails  30  is supplied to the electromagnetic device  2  of the vehicle. 
     Here, the electromagnetic means  2  is a component provided in the vehicle to be operable in response to the supply of power. For example, the electromagnetic means  2  may correspond to a variety of indoor lamps, such as a room lamp. 
     In addition, in the vehicle body members comprised of the roof panel  20  and the plurality of roof rails  30 , the plurality of roof rails  30  are spaced apart from each other at equal distances and the roof panel  20  is disposed on top of the plurality of roof rails  30 , in consideration of the structure of the vehicle body  10 . Thus, an insulating member  301  may be disposed between the plurality of roof rails  30  and the roof panel  20  to provide mutual insulation. 
     Each of the vehicle body members  20  and  30  according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the first negative pole portion  110 , the first positive pole portion  120 , the insulating layer  300 , the second positive pole portion  220 , and the second negative pole portion  210  are sequentially stacked. Since the layers are made of different materials, the strengths and bonding forces of the layers are different from each other. Accordingly, the layers may be structurally bonded in order to increase the strengths of the vehicle body members  20  and  30  by increasing the bonding force between the layers. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a vehicle body member having a charging and discharging function according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the first negative pole portion  110  of the first cell portion  100  includes one or more coupling bolts  111 . 
     The coupling bolts  111  may be provided integrally with the first negative pole portion  110  by performing overmolding when fabricating the first negative pole portion  110  or may be fitted to the first negative pole portion  110  after having been fabricated as separate pieces by injection molding.  FIG. 5  illustrates the coupling bolts  111  provided integrally with the first negative pole portion no by performing overmolding during the fabrication of the first negative pole portion  110 . 
     In addition, one or more through-holes (not shown), through which the coupling bolts  111  extend, are provided in the first positive pole portion  120  of the first cell portion  100 , i.e. the remaining component except for the first negative pole portion  110 , the second negative pole portion  210  and the second positive pole portion  220  of the second cell portion  200 , the insulating layer  300 , and the series connector  400 . 
     Accordingly, when the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200  are provided, the coupling bolts  111  provided in the first negative pole portion  110  may extend through the remaining components before being fastened with separate coupling nuts  211 , thereby increasing the interlayer bonding force between the first cell portion  100  and the second cell portion  200 . 
     Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.