Bottom cover

Abstract

The present invention provides a bottom cover which does not hinder the movement of vehicle-mounted parts that retreat downward to prevent damage to a fuel tank during a side collision. The bottom cover (1) of the present invention is installed at the bottom of a vehicle, and among the mounting points of the cover body (10) for the vehicle body, the portion of the cover body (10) separated toward the inner side of the front end side that becomes the input direction is set at a low position with respect to the input side mounting point (P1) of the vehicle body frame (side rail 8) that intersects the input direction (D1) of the collision load. Furthermore, a weld bead portion (11) extending along the vehicle body frame and having a convex section at the bottom is formed on the cover body (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an under cover installed on the bottom of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The bottom cover installed at the bottom of the vehicle is fixed to a plurality of vehicle body frames such as a side member, a center member or a cross member (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The bottom cover of Patent Document 1 includes a bead portion to suppress the occurrence of cracks in the bottom cover during a collision. In addition, the bottom cover includes an embossing portion to increase the strength and rigidity of the bottom cover. The outer peripheral edge of the bottom cover is fixed to the bottom surface of each vehicle body frame.

[0003] [Prior art literature]

[0004] [Patent Document]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-148584 Summary of the invention

[0006] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In addition, in a vehicle in which the fuel tank is arranged under the floor of the driver's seat and is offset to the center in the vehicle width direction, vehicle-mounted parts such as canisters are provided on the side of the fuel tank. When a side collision occurs, it is required to suppress damage to the fuel tank by allowing the vehicle-mounted parts to escape downward. However, since the bottom cover of Patent Document 1 is installed at the same height as the vehicle body frame, when a side collision occurs, the bottom cover may bend upward when it is squeezed and deformed. As a result, there is a case where the vehicle-mounted parts cannot escape downward and collide with the fuel tank, causing the fuel tank to deform.

[0008] From this viewpoint, an object of the present invention is to provide an undercover that does not hinder the movement of vehicle-mounted parts that retreat downward to prevent damage to a fuel tank during a side collision.

[0009] [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0010] The present invention for achieving the above object is an undercover mounted on the bottom of a vehicle. Among the mounting points of the undercover body with respect to the vehicle body, the portion of the undercover body separated toward the inner side of the front end side which becomes the input direction of the collision load is set at a low position with respect to the mounting point on the input side of the vehicle frame which intersects the input direction of the collision load. Furthermore, the undercover body is provided with a weld bead portion which extends along the vehicle frame and has a convex cross section at the bottom.

[0011] According to the bottom cover of the present invention, if the vehicle frame is deformed in the input direction (inward) due to the input of the collision load, the vehicle-mounted parts on the inner side of the vehicle frame are pressed downward by the floor panel that is squeezed and deformed by the vehicle frame. At this time, the input side mounting point of the cover body is squeezed inward by the vehicle frame, but the part of the cover body separated inward is located at a lower position than the input side mounting point, so it is deformed in a bulging manner downward. Furthermore, the weld bead portion with a convex cross-section at the bottom extends along the vehicle frame, thereby promoting the deformation of the cover body downward. Therefore, the bottom cover does not hinder the movement of the vehicle-mounted parts that retreat downward to prevent damage to the fuel tank during a side collision.

[0012] [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the bottom cover does not hinder the movement of the vehicle-mounted parts that retreat downward during a side collision, thereby preventing the fuel tank from being damaged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a bottom view showing the installation state of the bottom cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a bottom view showing the bottom of the vehicle with the under cover installed.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a setting state of a bottom cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view showing a setting state of the bottom cover according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5 It is a sectional perspective view showing the bottom cover, cross beam and floor.

[0019] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram showing the bottom cover, vehicle-mounted parts, side sills, and floor.

[0020] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional perspective view of a bottom cover showing a modified example.

[0021] [Explanation of Symbols]

[0022] 1: Bottom cover

[0023] 3: Fuel tank

[0024] 4: Tank (vehicle parts)

[0025] 5: Exhaust pipe

[0026] 6: Carrying framework

[0027] 7: Beam

[0028] 7a: Fragile part

[0029] 8: Sidebar

[0030] 10: Cover body

[0031] 11: Welding section

[0032] 12: convex strips

[0033] D1: Input direction

[0034] P1: Input side installation point

[0035] P2: Mounting point on the opposite input side

[0036] Z1: Protected Area

[0037] Z2: Buffer DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate. The same reference numerals are given to the same components, and repeated descriptions are omitted. When directions are described, they are described based on the front, back, left, right, up, and down directions as seen by the driver.

[0039] like Figure 2 As shown, in the vehicle of this embodiment, a fuel tank 3 is provided at the center of the width direction of the lower front part of the floor 2. A can body 4 is provided on the left side of the fuel tank 3. On the right side of the fuel tank 3, an exhaust pipe 5 extending from the engine extends toward the rear. In addition, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the exhaust pipe 5 extending from the left side ( Figures 1 to 6 In the case of a side collision (in the middle, right side), the left direction in the figure is set as the input direction D1 of the collision load.

[0040] The fuel tank 3 is supported by the mounting frame 6. The mounting frame 6 has a rectangular frame-like plane shape and supports the fuel tank 3 from the bottom. The front end of the mounting frame 6 is supported by the vehicle body frame (not shown) of the engine room, and the rear end is supported by the cross beam 7. The cross beam 7 is installed between the side rails 8, 8 provided on the left and right, and extends toward the rear of the vehicle width. The side rails 8 extend in the vehicle length direction along the side edge of the vehicle body.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the bottom cover 1 of the embodiment of the present invention is provided below the floor 2, and is provided in a manner of covering the fuel tank 3 and the tank body (vehicle-mounted parts) 4 provided on the lower side of the floor 2 from below. The bottom cover 1 includes a nonwoven fabric. The front end portion of the bottom cover 1 extends to a position covering the piping (not shown) of the tank body 4, and the front end portion is triangular. The rear end portion of the bottom cover 1 extends to a position of the rear cross beam 9 below the rear seat. One end portion (left end portion) of the bottom cover 1 in the vehicle width direction extends to a position covering the lower side of the tank body 4 and the inner side rail 8a of the side rail (vehicle body frame) 8 on the left side. The other end portion (right end portion) of the bottom cover 1 in the vehicle width direction extends to a position covering the fuel tank 3, and extends to a position in front of the lower side of the exhaust pipe 5.

[0042] The bottom cover 1 includes a cover body 10 including a nonwoven fabric. The cover body 10 includes a plurality of mounting points for the vehicle body. The mounting points are distinguished according to the mounting positions, for example, there is an input side mounting point P1 for a vehicle frame (in this embodiment, the side rail 8 on the left side) that intersects (in this embodiment, is orthogonal) the input direction of the collision load. A plurality of input side mounting points P1 are provided at intervals in the front-to-rear direction along the left side edge of the cover body 10. The input side mounting point P1 is fixed to the bottom surface of the inside 8a of the side rail by a clamp.

[0043] In addition, as another mounting point, there is an anti-input-side mounting point P2 located on the inner side of the vehicle body at the front end side of the input direction compared to the input-side mounting point P1. A plurality of anti-input-side mounting points P2 are provided at a position corresponding to the lower side of the mounting frame 6. The anti-input-side mounting point P2 is fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting frame 6 by a clamp. In addition, two locations at the front end of the anti-input-side mounting point P2 are fixed by bolts.

[0044] Furthermore, as a mounting point different from the input side mounting point P1 and the anti-input side mounting point P2, there is a third mounting point P3. A plurality of third mounting points P3 are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction along the rear end edge of the cover body 10. The third mounting point P3 is fixed to the bottom surface of the vehicle body frame (not shown) located at the rear end of the floor panel 2 by a clamp.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the bottom cover 1 sets the portion of the cover body 10 separated toward the vehicle width direction inner side of the front end side which becomes the input direction of the collision load of the side collision at a low position relative to the input side mounting point P1. That is, the input side mounting point P1 of the cover body 10 is configured so as to become the highest position in the entire cover body 10. In addition, the anti-input side mounting point P2 and the third mounting point P3 (see FIG. 1 ) are arranged at a low position. Figure 1 ) is arranged below the input side mounting point P1. The bottom surface of the inner side rail 8a is located at a position higher than the bottom surface of the cross beam 7 or the mounting frame 6, or the bottom surface of the rear vehicle body frame.

[0046] like Figure 3 As shown, in the vehicle width direction, the inner part where the fuel tank 3 is arranged becomes a protection zone Z1 that is not easy to collapse in a side collision, and the outer part of the tank body 4 and the side rail 8 where the fuel tank 3 is arranged becomes a buffer zone Z2 with lower rigidity than the protection zone Z1. The buffer zone Z2 collapses in a side collision to absorb the collision load, thereby reducing the collision load transmitted to the protection zone Z1. The input side mounting point P1 is located in the buffer zone Z2, and the anti-input side mounting point P2 is located in the protection zone Z1.

[0047] like Figure 5 As shown, a fragile portion 7a is provided at a portion corresponding to the buffer zone Z2 at one end (left end) of the cross beam 7. The fragile portion 7a is in an arc shape with a cross section that is bent upward, and is easily compressed in the vehicle width direction when a side collision load is input. In addition, a fragile portion (not shown) is also provided at a portion of the other end (right end) of the cross beam 7 where the exhaust pipe 5 is arranged, to protect the protection zone Z1.

[0048] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the cover body 10 is formed with a plurality of rows of weld beads 11 extending in the vehicle length direction along the side rails 8. The weld beads 11 are convex cross-sections protruding downward. The convex cross-section depth d1 of the weld bead 11 located below the tank body 4 is deeper than the convex cross-section depth d2 of the weld bead 11 at a position separated from the tank body 4 (below the fuel tank 3). In the present embodiment, the convex cross-section depths d1 of the plurality of weld bead portions 11 located below the tank body 4 are substantially the same size as each other. The convex cross-section depths d2 of the plurality of weld bead portions 11 below the fuel tank 3 are substantially the same as each other and are shallower than d1.

[0049] The weld bead 11 is formed by shaping a plurality of rows of upward convex stripes 12 on a general surface (surface of the cover body 10 before processing) that is protruding and curved downward. The space between adjacent convex stripes 12 and the remaining portion where the convex stripes 12 are not formed becomes the weld bead 11 that protrudes downward. The upward convex stripes 12 in the protection zone Z1 are formed across the entire length of the cover body 10 in the vehicle length direction. The convex stripes 12 in the buffer zone Z2 are not formed in the portion of the front end of the cover body 10 that covers the piping of the tank body 4.

[0050] like Figure 1As shown, the ridges 12 formed on the cover body 10 located below the tank body 4 are formed more per unit area than the ridges 12 formed on other parts (such as below the fuel tank 3 or the rear part of the cover body 10). As a result, many weld beads 11 are formed below the tank body 4 in the buffer zone Z2, and the cover body 10 becomes easy to deform downward. The length of the ridges 12 located below the tank body 4 in the vehicle length direction is shorter than the length of the ridges 12 located in the protection zone Z1 in the vehicle length direction. Among the lengths of the ridges 12 located below the tank body 4 in the vehicle length direction, the shorter length is about half of the length of the ridges 12 located in the protection zone Z1 in the vehicle length direction.

[0051] The two ends of the convex strip 12 in the vehicle length direction are shallower than the middle part and are continuous in the general surface. That is, at the two ends of the convex strip 12, an inclined surface 13 is formed to connect the upper end surface of the convex strip 12 with the general surface. The inclined surface 13 gradually changes in depth along the vehicle length direction, and plays the role of a guide for guiding the flow of air during driving.

[0052] Next, the effects of the bottom cover 1 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , if the side rail 8 is deformed in the input direction (inward) due to the input of the collision load of the side collision, the tank body 4 is pressed downward by the floor 2 that is squeezed and deformed by the side rail 8 ( Figure 6 At this time, the input side mounting point P1 of the cover body 10 of the bottom cover 1 is pressed inwardly and moved together with the side rail 8, but the inner part of the cover body 10 is located at a lower position than the input side mounting point P1, and thus deforms in a downward bulging manner.

[0053] In addition, the weld bead 11 having a convex cross section at the bottom promotes the downward deformation of the bottom cover 1. Therefore, the bottom cover 1 does not hinder the movement of the can body 4 retreating downward. Therefore, the can body 4 does not collide with the fuel tank 3, and damage to the fuel tank 3 can be prevented. Furthermore, when viewed in the vehicle width direction, the cover body 10 is made into an accordion shape by the weld bead 11 and the convex strip 12, so the bottom cover 1 is easy to deform.

[0054] In addition, in the present embodiment, a buffer zone Z2 is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction including the vehicle body frame (side rail 8), and a protection zone Z1 is provided on the inner side of the buffer zone Z2. In the bottom cover 1, the anti-input side mounting point P2 located on the inner side of the front end side of the input direction D1 compared to the input side mounting point P1 is arranged in the protection zone Z1. According to such a configuration, the separation distance between the input side mounting point P1 and the anti-input side mounting point P2 can be increased. Therefore, the amount of downward displacement of the bottom cover 1 can be increased, and the downward movement of the tank body 4 can be further promoted.

[0055] Furthermore, in the bottom cover 1 , the anti-input-side mounting point P2 is arranged below the input-side mounting point P1 , so the input-side mounting point P1 is pressed by the upper portion of the bottom cover 1 , thereby promoting the downward displacement of the cover body 10 .

[0056] In addition, the convex section depth d1 of the weld bead 11 located below the vehicle-mounted component (tank body 4) becomes deeper than the convex section depth d2 of the weld bead 11 located below the fuel tank 3 separated from the tank body 4, so the collision load is concentrated on the weld bead 11 located below the tank body 4 with a deeper convex section depth. Therefore, the displacement amount of the cover body 10 located below the tank body 4 can be increased, so the tank body 4 moving downward does not interfere with the bottom cover 1.

[0057] In the bottom cover, the bead 11 is formed by shaping the upward convex strip 12 on the general surface that protrudes and bends downward, so that the general surface of the cover body 10 protrudes and bends downward, and becomes a shape that is easy to deform downward. Furthermore, by shaping the upward convex strip 12, the bead 11 with a convex cross-section at the bottom can be easily formed. In addition, the convex strip 12 and the bead 11 are formed in the vehicle length direction, so the rigidity strength in the vehicle length direction becomes greater.

[0058] Furthermore, the ridges 12 located below the can body 4 as a vehicle-mounted component disposed in the buffer zone Z2 are formed more than the ridges 12 in other parts. Therefore, the collision load is concentrated on the cover body 10 in the buffer zone Z2, and it becomes easy to displace downward. In addition, the length of the ridges 12 located below the can body 4 in the vehicle length direction is shorter than the length of the ridges 12 in other parts in the vehicle length direction, so the ridges 12 below the can body 4 can be concentrated and increased.

[0059] If the number of ridges 12 increases, the air resistance of the vehicle bottom surface during driving increases. However, since the ridges are shallower at both ends in the vehicle length direction than at the middle portion and are continuous in the general surface via the inclined surface 13, turbulence of the airflow under the floor can be prevented.

[0060] In addition, the vehicle-mounted component is the tank body 4, and a weak portion 7a is formed in the portion of the cross beam 7 located in the buffer zone Z2 (toward the tank body 4). Therefore, the weak portion 7a collapses due to a side collision, and the side rail 8 moves inward, thereby the tank body 4 moves downward, and the bottom cover 1 moves downward. Furthermore, the cross beam 7 in the protection zone Z1 is not easily collapsed, so the impact on the fuel tank 3 can be reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, the input side mounting point P1 is fixed to the bottom surface of the side rail 8, and the reverse input side mounting point P2 is fixed to the bottom surface of the mounting frame 6 of the fuel tank 3, so the input side mounting point P1 is higher than the reverse input side mounting point P2. In addition, the fuel tank 3 or the tank body 4 is arranged under the floor, and the space can be effectively utilized. Furthermore, the bottom cover 1 does not hinder the downward movement of the tank body 4.

[0062] In addition, since the cover body 10 is made of nonwoven fabric, the bottom cover 1 can achieve both aerodynamic performance and sound absorption performance. Furthermore, the bottom cover 1 can also be made lighter.

[0063] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, one end (left end) of the cover body 10 in the vehicle width direction is located below the can body 4, and the other end (right end) in the vehicle width direction is located below the fuel tank 3, and extends to a position just in front of and below the exhaust pipe 5. Therefore, the bottom cover 1 does not cover the exhaust pipe 5, and thus exhaust heat can be efficiently released to the outside air.

[0064] The bottom cover 1 of the present embodiment has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the convex cross-sectional depth of the weld bead portion 11 is not limited to the above embodiment. Figure 7 As shown, the convex section depth d3 of the weld bead portion 11 located at the center below the tank body 4 may be the deepest, and the convex section depth gradually becomes shallower as it moves away from the tank body 4. Even in this configuration, the collision load is concentrated on the weld bead portion 11 below the tank body 4, and downward displacement can be promoted.

Claims

1. A bottom cover, mounted on the bottom of a vehicle, characterized in that: Among the mounting points of the cover body with respect to the vehicle body, with respect to the mounting point on the input side of the vehicle body frame intersecting with the input direction of the collision load, the portion of the cover body separated toward the inner side of the front end side which becomes the input direction is set at a low position, The cover body is provided with a weld bead portion extending along the vehicle body frame and having a convex cross section at the bottom. A buffer zone is provided on the outer side of the vehicle width direction including the vehicle body frame, and a protection zone is provided on the inner side of the buffer zone. The anti-input side mounting point located on the inner side of the front end side of the input direction compared with the input side mounting point is arranged in the protection area. The convex cross-sectional depth of the weld bead portion located below the vehicle-mounted component arranged in the buffer zone is deeper than the convex cross-sectional depth of the weld bead portion at a position separated from the vehicle-mounted component.

2. The bottom cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anti-input-side mounting point is arranged below the input-side mounting point.

3. The bottom cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle-mounted component is a tank body arranged on the side of the fuel tank. A crossbeam is provided in front of or behind the fuel tank. The beam includes a weakened portion at an end.

4. The bottom cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The input side mounting point is fixed to the side rail as the vehicle body frame, The anti-input side mounting point is fixed to the mounting frame of the fuel tank.

5. The bottom cover according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The cover body includes non-woven fabric.

6. The bottom cover according to claim 3, characterized in that: One end of the cover body in the vehicle width direction is located below the tank body. The other end portion of the cover body in the vehicle width direction is located below the fuel tank and extends to a position in front of a lower portion of an exhaust pipe disposed on the side opposite to the can body in the side portion of the fuel tank.

7. A bottom cover installed at the bottom of a vehicle, characterized in that: Among the mounting points of the cover body with respect to the vehicle body, with respect to the mounting point on the input side of the vehicle body frame intersecting with the input direction of the collision load, the portion of the cover body separated toward the inner side of the front end side which becomes the input direction is set at a low position, The cover body is provided with a weld bead portion extending along the vehicle body frame and having a convex cross section at the bottom. A buffer zone is provided on the outer side of the vehicle width direction including the vehicle body frame, and a protection zone is provided on the inner side of the buffer zone. The anti-input side mounting point located on the inner side of the front end side of the input direction compared with the input side mounting point is arranged in the protection area. The weld bead is formed by shaping an upward convex strip on a general surface that is protruding and curved downward. The upward ridge formed on the cover body below the vehicle-mounted component arranged in the buffer zone is formed more per unit area and is shorter in the vehicle length direction than the ridge formed on other portions of the cover body.

8. The bottom cover according to claim 7, characterized in that: The vehicle-mounted component is a tank body arranged on the side of the fuel tank. A crossbeam is provided in front of or behind the fuel tank. The beam includes a weakened portion at an end.

9. The bottom cover according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The input side mounting point is fixed to the side rail as the vehicle body frame, The anti-input side mounting point is fixed to the mounting frame of the fuel tank.

10. The bottom cover according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that: The cover body includes non-woven fabric.

11. The bottom cover according to claim 8, characterized in that: One end of the cover body in the vehicle width direction is located below the tank body. The other end portion of the cover body in the vehicle width direction is located below the fuel tank and extends to a position in front of a lower portion of an exhaust pipe disposed on the side opposite to the can body in the side portion of the fuel tank.

Images