Vehicle body structure

Abstract

This reduces deformation of the rear floor. [Solution] The vehicle body structure has a rear floor panel comprising a right rear frame and a left rear frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a recess located between the right rear frame and the left rear frame. The vehicle body structure has a die-cast structure that is joined to the rear floor panel, comprising a first frame connected to the right rear frame and a second frame connected to the left rear frame. The die-cast structure comprises a curved wall connected to the recess of the rear floor panel, a first rib connecting the curved wall and the first frame, and a second rib connecting the curved wall and the second frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure.

Background Art

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles have an underbody composed of a center floor, a rear floor, etc. (see Patent Documents 1 to 3). Side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are provided on the center floor and the rear floor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a rear - end collision such as a rear - end collision by a following vehicle, it is common to absorb energy while deforming the side member of the rear floor and protect the cabin, which is the passenger compartment, from being deformed. Also, since a fuel tank, a high - voltage cable, etc. are provided on the rear floor, it is important not only to protect the cabin but also to suppress the deformation of the rear floor during a rear - end collision.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to this disclosure, the vehicle body structure has a rear floor panel comprising a right rear frame and a left rear frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a recess located between the right rear frame and the left rear frame. The vehicle body structure has a die-cast structure joined to the rear floor panel, comprising a first frame connected to the right rear frame and a second frame connected to the left rear frame. The die-cast structure comprises a curved wall connected to the recess of the rear floor panel, a first rib connecting the curved wall and the first frame, and a second rib connecting the curved wall and the second frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to this disclosure, deformation of the die-cast structure can be suppressed, and deformation of the rear floor, which is made up of the die-cast structure, can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a vehicle equipped with a vehicle body structure that is one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a portion of the underbody viewed from the direction of arrow II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the underbody from the direction of arrow III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the die-cast structure of the rear floor. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the die-cast structure along the VV line in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an end view showing the underbody along the line VI-VI in Figure 2. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an example of how collision loads are transmitted during a rear-end collision. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows an example of how collision loads are transmitted during a rear-end collision. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a die-cast structure. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows other vehicles to which the technology of this disclosure is applied. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical or substantially identical components and elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.

[0009] <Underbody> Figure 1 shows a vehicle 11 equipped with a body structure 10, which is one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 shows a portion of the underbody 12 from the direction of arrow II in Figure 1, i.e., from the bottom side, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of the underbody 12 from the direction of arrow III in Figure 1, i.e., from the top side. Figure 3 shows the right rear portion of the underbody 12 cut approximately in the center in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 11 has a body 16 consisting of an underbody 12, a front body 13, a rear body 14, and side bodies 15, etc. As shown in Figure 2, the underbody 12 has a center floor 17 that forms the central part of the body and a rear floor 18 that forms the rear part of the body. The center floor 17 and the rear floor 18 are joined to each other using adhesives, fasteners, spot welding, etc.

[0011] The center floor 17 is composed of a center floor panel 20, which is a sheet metal component. The center floor panel 20 has a right center side member (right center frame) 21 and a left center side member (left center frame) 22 that extend in the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16. The right center side member 21 is located to the right RH of the center C1 in the vehicle width direction, and the left center side member 22 is located to the left LH of the center C1 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, a right side sill 23 extending in the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16 is provided on the right side of the center floor panel 20, and a left side sill 24 extending in the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16 is provided on the left side of the center floor panel 20.

[0012] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rear floor 18 is composed of sheet metal parts, namely the rear floor panel 40, the lower back panel 30, and the tank floor panel 31, and a die-cast structure 50, which is a cast part. As shown in Figure 2, the rear floor panel 40 has a right rear side member (right rear frame) 41 and a left rear side member (left rear frame) 42 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 16. The right rear side member 41 is located to the right (RH) of the center C1 in the vehicle width direction, and the left rear side member 42 is located to the left (LH) of the center C1 in the vehicle width direction. The rear floor panel 40 also has a substantially circular recess 43 located between the right rear side member 41 and the left rear side member 42. Furthermore, a rear bumper beam 44 is joined to the rear ends of the right rear side member 41 and the left rear side member 42. The lower back panel 30 is joined to the rear end of the rear floor panel 40.

[0013] <Die-cast structure> FIG. 4 is a view showing the die-cast structure 50 of the rear floor 18. In FIG. 4, the die-cast structure 50 is shown with hatching, and the same parts as in FIG. 2 are shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rear floor panel 40 and the center floor panel 20 are connected to each other via the die-cast structure 50. That is, the die-cast structure 50 is joined to the rear floor panel 40, and the center floor panel 20 is joined to the die-cast structure 50. Note that the die-cast structure 50 and the various floor panels 20, 31, 40 are joined to each other using an adhesive, fasteners, welding, etc. When joining the die-cast structure 50 and the various floor panels 20, 31, 40, any one of an adhesive, fasteners, and welding may be used, or at least any two of an adhesive, fasteners, and welding may be used in combination. Also, an aluminum alloy is used as the material of the die-cast structure 50 which is a die-cast part.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the die-cast structure 50 has a first frame 51 and a second frame 52 extending in the front-rear direction D1 of the vehicle body 16. The first frame 51 is disposed on the right side RH with respect to the center C1 in the vehicle width direction, and the second frame 52 is disposed on the left side LH with respect to the center C1 in the vehicle width direction. Also, the die-cast structure 50 has a floor body portion 53 provided at the center C1 in the vehicle width direction and connecting the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 to each other. Further, the die-cast structure 50 has a suspension tower 54 continuous with the right side portion of the first frame 51 and a suspension tower 55 continuous with the left side portion of the second frame 52.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the right rear side member 41 and the right center side member 21 are connected to each other via the first frame 51 of the die-cast structure 50. That is, the rear end portion 51a of the first frame 51 is connected to the right rear side member 41 of the rear floor panel 40, and the front end portion 51b of the first frame 51 is connected to the right center side member 21 of the center floor panel 20. Similarly, the left rear side member 42 and the left center side member 22 are connected to each other via the second frame 52 of the die-cast structure 50. That is, the rear end portion 52a of the second frame 52 is connected to the left rear side member 42 of the rear floor panel 40, and the front end portion 52b of the second frame 52 is connected to the left center side member 22 of the center floor panel 20.

[0016] The front end portions 51b and 52b of the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 are connected to each other via the cross member 56. Also, a tank floor panel 31 is disposed between the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 that protrude from the floor main body portion 53. The tank floor panel 31 is joined to the first frame 51, the second frame 52, the floor main body portion 53, and the cross member 56. Further, the right side sill 23 of the center floor panel 20 is connected to the first frame 51 and the suspension tower 54 via the connecting frame 57. Similarly, the left side sill 24 of the center floor panel 20 is connected to the second frame 52 and the suspension tower 55 via the connecting frame 58.

[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the die-cast structure 50 along the line V-V in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is an end view showing the underbody 12 along the line VI-VI in FIG. 2. First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the die-cast structure 50 joined to the rear floor panel 40 has a curved wall 60 continuous with the recess 43 of the rear floor panel 40. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, a plurality of ribs 61 to 67 that radially extend from the curved wall 60 are provided on the lower surface 53a of the floor main body portion 53 of the die-cast structure 50.

[0018] In other words, the die-cast structure 50 has ribs 61, 62, and 63 extending from the curved wall 60 toward the tank floor panel 31, ribs (first ribs) 64 and 65 extending from the curved wall 60 toward the first frame 51, and ribs (second ribs) 66 and 67 extending from the curved wall 60 toward the second frame 52. Specifically, the die-cast structure 50 has ribs 64 and 65 connecting the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51, and ribs 66 and 67 connecting the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52. Furthermore, ribs 64 and 65 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16, and ribs 66 and 67 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16. In other words, ribs 64 to 67 are inclined to the left and right in the vehicle width direction with respect to the longitudinal direction D1 of the vehicle body 16.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the recess 43 of the rear floor panel 40, the curved wall 60 of the die-cast structure 50, and the lower back panel 30 form a storage compartment 70 in the rear floor 18. In other words, the recess 43 of the rear floor panel 40 and the curved wall 60 of the die-cast structure 50 form a storage compartment 70 in the rear floor 18. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, a spare tire 71, which is a replacement tire for the vehicle, is housed in the storage compartment 70 of the rear floor 18.

[0020] <Load transfer during rear-end collision> As mentioned above, the die-cast structure 50 has curved walls 60 and ribs 64-67. This allows the collision load to be distributed to the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 even in the event of a rear-end collision such as a rear-end collision by a following vehicle, thereby suppressing deformation of the die-cast structure 50, and thus deformation of the rear floor 18. Figures 7 and 8 show an example of the transmission of the collision load during a rear-end collision.

[0021] As shown in Figure 7, when a following vehicle 100 collides with vehicle 11 in an offset rear collision, the collision load is mainly transmitted from the rear bumper beam 44 to the left rear side member 42 (arrow X1). This collision load is transmitted from the left rear side member 42 to the second frame 52 (arrow X2), and from the second frame 52 to the left center side member 22 and the left side sill 24 (arrow X3). Furthermore, since the second frame 52 and the first frame 51 are connected via the floor body 53, the collision load transmitted to the second frame 52 is transmitted to the first frame 51 via the floor body 53 (arrow X4). In addition, the collision load transmitted to the first frame 51 is transmitted from the first frame 51 to the right center side member 21 and the right side sill 23 (arrow X5). Furthermore, since the floor body 53 is provided with ribs 64 and 65 that are connected to the first frame 51, the collision load can be efficiently transmitted from the second frame 52 to the first frame 51, as indicated by arrow X4.

[0022] Thus, even if a large collision load is applied to one of the rear side members 41, 42 due to an offset rear collision, the collision load can be distributed to the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 of the die-cast structure 50, thereby suppressing deformation of the die-cast structure 50. In other words, even in the event of an offset rear collision, deformation of the rear floor 18, which is composed of the die-cast structure 50, can be suppressed, thereby protecting the fuel tank 72 located in front of the die-cast structure 50. Furthermore, this is not limited to offset rear collisions; even in the case of a full-wrap rear collision, the collision load can be distributed to the first frame 51 and the second frame 52, suppressing deformation of the rear floor 18.

[0023] Furthermore, a spare tire 71 is housed in the storage area 70, which consists of the curved wall 60 and recess 43 of the rear floor 18. In other words, the spare tire 71 is positioned behind the curved wall 60 of the die-cast structure 50. This allows the collision load to be applied to the curved wall 60 via the spare tire 71, and the collision load can be distributed from the curved wall 60 to both frames 51 and 52, thereby suppressing deformation of the die-cast structure 50 and reducing deformation of the rear floor 18.

[0024] As shown in Figure 8, as the rear floor panel 40 deforms while the left and right rear side members 41 and 42 are crushed, the spare tire 71 is pushed towards the curved wall 60 in front (arrow X10). In other words, when the rear side members 41 and 42 begin to crush due to a rear collision, the collision load is input from the rear bumper beam 44 to the curved wall 60 via the spare tire 71 (arrow X11). Subsequently, the collision load is transmitted from the curved wall 60 of the floor body 53 to both the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 (arrows X12, X13). Since the floor body 53 is provided with ribs 64 and 65 that are connected to the first frame 51, the collision load can be efficiently transmitted from the curved wall 60 to the first frame 51, as shown by arrow X12. Furthermore, since the floor body 53 is provided with ribs 66 and 67 that are connected to the second frame 52, the collision load can be efficiently transmitted from the curved wall 60 to the second frame 52, as shown by arrow X13.

[0025] Thus, when the rear side members 41 and 42 begin to collapse due to a rear-end collision, the collision load is applied from the spare tire 71 to the curved wall 60, and the collision load can be distributed from the curved wall 60 to the frames 51 and 52. This suppresses the deformation of the die-cast structure 50, thereby protecting the fuel tank 72 located in front of the die-cast structure 50. This is not limited to offset rear-end collisions; even in full-wrap rear-end collisions, the collision load can be distributed from the curved wall 60 to the frames 51 and 52 via the spare tire 71.

[0026] <Example 1> In the example shown in Figure 5, the die-cast structure 50 has ribs 64 and 65 on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51, and ribs 66 and 67 on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52, but is not limited to this. For example, ribs connecting the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51 may be provided not only on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53, but also on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53, and ribs connecting the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52 may also be provided on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53.

[0027] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a die-cast structure. Figure 9 shows a die-cast structure 80 in the same location as the die-cast structure 50 shown in Figure 5. The die-cast structure 80 shown in Figure 9, like the die-cast structure 50, is a cast component that makes up the rear floor 18 and is located between the rear floor panel 40 and the center floor panel 20.

[0028] As shown in Figure 9, the die-cast structure 80 has a first frame 81 and a second frame 82 that extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 16. The first frame 81 includes a frame portion 81a provided on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 and a frame portion 81b provided on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53. Similar to the first frame 51 described above, the first frame 81 is connected to the right rear side member 41 and the right center side member 21. The second frame 82 also includes a frame portion 81a provided on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 and a frame portion 81b provided on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53. Similar to the second frame 52 described above, the second frame 82 is connected to the left rear side member 42 and the left center side member 22.

[0029] The die-cast structure 80 has ribs (first ribs) 64, 65 on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the first frame 81, and ribs (first ribs) 84, 85 on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the first frame 81. Furthermore, the die-cast structure 80 has ribs (second ribs) 66, 67 on the lower surface 53a of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the second frame 82, and ribs (second ribs) 86, 87 on the upper surface 53b of the floor body 53 that connect the curved wall 60 and the second frame 82. In addition, ribs 84 to 87 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 16, similar to ribs 64 to 67. The ribs 84 to 87 are connected to the edge of the curved wall 60.

[0030] Thus, the die-cast structure 80 has ribs 64-67 and 84-87 on both its lower surface 53a and upper surface 53b. This allows the collision load to be distributed to the first frame 81 and second frame 82 of the die-cast structure 80 even when a large collision load is applied to one of the rear side members 41 and 42 due to an offset rear collision, thereby suppressing deformation of the die-cast structure 80. In other words, even in the event of an offset rear collision, the deformation of the rear floor 18 made up of the die-cast structure 80 can be suppressed, thereby protecting the fuel tank 72 located in front of the die-cast structure 80. Furthermore, this is not limited to offset rear collisions; even in the case of a full-wrap rear collision, the collision load can be distributed to the first frame 81 and second frame 82, suppressing deformation of the rear floor 18.

[0031] <Modification 2> In the illustrated example, the technology of this disclosure is applied to a vehicle 11 equipped with a fuel tank 72, but it is not limited to this, and the technology of this disclosure may also be applied to a vehicle 90 equipped with a high-voltage battery 96. Here, Figure 10 shows another vehicle 90 to which the technology of this disclosure is applied. The vehicle 90 shown in Figure 10 has a vehicle body structure similar to the vehicle body structure 10 consisting of the underbody 12 described above.

[0032] As shown in Figure 10, an electric axle 92 equipped with an electric motor 91 is positioned below the die-cast structure 50. An inverter 94 is connected to the electric axle 92 via a high-voltage cable 93, and a high-voltage battery 96 is connected to the inverter 94 via a power cable 95. The high-voltage battery 96 is mounted on the underside of the center floor panel 20.

[0033] Thus, even in a vehicle 90 equipped with a high-voltage battery 96 and an electric axle 92, the collision load can be distributed to the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 during a rear-end collision, thereby suppressing deformation of the die-cast structure 50. This suppresses deformation of the rear floor 18, protecting the electric axle 92 and high-voltage cables 93 located near the die-cast structure 50, and protecting the high-voltage battery 96 located in front of the die-cast structure 50.

[0034] <Other variations> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from its essence. In the above description, an aluminum alloy is used as the material for the die-cast structure 50, but it is not limited to this, and a magnesium alloy may also be used as the material for the die-cast structure 50. In the illustrated example, a spare tire 71 is housed in the housing section 70 of the rear floor 18, but it is not limited to this, and equipment such as a jack may be housed in the housing section 70 of the rear floor 18. In this way, even if the spare tire 71 is not housed in the housing section 70, as shown in Figure 7, the collision load can be distributed to both frames 51 and 52 during a rear collision, and deformation of the rear floor 18 made of the die-cast structure 50 can be suppressed.

[0035] In the above description, the right center side member 21 of the center floor panel 20 is used as the right center frame, and the left center side member 22 of the center floor panel 20 is used as the left center frame, but this is not the only option. The right side sill 23 of the center floor panel 20 may be used as the right center frame, and the left side sill 24 of the center floor panel 20 may be used as the left center frame. In the illustrated example, a roughly circular recess 43 is formed in the rear floor panel 40, but the shape of the recess 43 is not limited to a roughly circular shape.

[0036] In the example shown in Figure 2, seven ribs 61-67 are formed on the die-cast structure 50, but it is not limited to this, and the number of ribs formed on the die-cast structure 50 may be changed. Also, the die-cast structure 50 has two ribs 64 and 65 that connect the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51, but it is not limited to this, and it may have one rib that connects the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51, or it may have three or more ribs that connect the curved wall 60 and the first frame 51. Similarly, the die-cast structure 50 has two ribs 66 and 67 that connect the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52, but it is not limited to this, and it may have one rib that connects the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52, or it may have three or more ribs that connect the curved wall 60 and the second frame 52. In addition, ribs connecting the first frame 51 and the second frame 52 in the vehicle width direction may be formed on the die-cast structure 50.

[0037] In the above description, the tank floor panel 31 is constructed as a sheet metal part, but it is not limited to this, and the part corresponding to the tank floor panel 31 may be included in the die-cast structure 50. Also, in the above description, the center floor panel 20 is constructed as a sheet metal part, but it is not limited to this, and the part corresponding to the center floor panel 20 may be constructed by die-casting. Furthermore, the part corresponding to the center floor panel 20 may be included in the die-cast structure 50. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10...Body structure, 16...Body, 17...Center floor, 18...Rear floor, 20...Center floor panel, 21...Right center side member (right center frame), 22...Left center side member (left center frame), 40...Rear floor panel, 41...Right rear side member (right rear frame), 42...Left rear side member (left rear frame), 43...Recess, 50...Die-cast structure, 51...First frame, 52...Second frame, 53a...Underside, 60...Curved wall, 64,65...Rib (first rib), 66,67...Rib (second rib), 70...Storage area, 71...Spare tire, 80...Die-cast structure, 81...First frame, 82...Second frame, 84,85...Rib (first rib), 86,87...Rib (second rib), D1...Front-rear direction

Claims

1. A rear floor panel comprising a right rear frame and a left rear frame extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a recess located between the right rear frame and the left rear frame, A die-cast structure comprising a first frame connected to the right rear frame and a second frame connected to the left rear frame, which is joined to the rear floor panel, It has, The die-cast structure comprises a curved wall connected to the recess of the rear floor panel, a first rib connecting the curved wall to the first frame, and a second rib connecting the curved wall to the second frame. Vehicle body structure.

2. In the vehicle body structure described in claim 1, It comprises a right center frame connected to the first frame and a left center frame connected to the second frame, and has a center floor panel joined to the die-cast structure. Vehicle body structure.

3. In the vehicle body structure described in claim 1, The first rib is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, The second rib is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Vehicle body structure.

4. In the vehicle body structure described in claim 1, The first rib and the second rib are provided on the lower surface of the die-cast structure. Vehicle body structure.

5. In the vehicle body structure described in claim 1, The recess and the curved wall constitute a housing section. A spare tire is housed in the aforementioned compartment. Vehicle body structure.

Images