Side member structure for vehicle

Abstract

A side member structure for a vehicle includes: a side member connected to an edge of a center floor and having a first cavity and a second cavity separated by a partition; a reinforcing member received in the first cavity of the side member and capable of being deformed by an impact load; and a component accommodated in the second cavity of the side member. Specifically, the second cavity is positioned above the first cavity.

Description

[0001] Citations of Related Applications

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0167610, filed on Dec. 16, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a side sill structure for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a side sill structure for a vehicle capable of firmly supporting a battery assembly and uniformly distributing an impact load. Background Art

[0004] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0005] Recently, with the recognition of the increasing consumption of petroleum resources and environmental crises, research and development of environmentally friendly electric vehicles have been actively carried out. Electric vehicles include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), etc.

[0006] An electric vehicle is equipped with a high-voltage battery assembly mounted to the vehicle body. The high-voltage battery assembly includes: one or more battery cells (or battery modules); electrical / electronic components associated with the battery cells; a battery housing in which the battery cells and electrical / electronic components are mounted; and a cover covering the top of the battery housing. A plurality of cross members may be fixed to the interior of the battery housing, and the rigidity and strength of the battery housing may be improved by the plurality of cross members. The high-voltage battery assembly may be mounted to a floor panel of the vehicle body.

[0007] A pair of side beams may be mounted on both sides of the floor panel. Each side beam may include an inner beam and an outer beam, and a side reinforcement made of an aluminum extrusion may be mounted in the inner beam. A pair of side flanges may be provided on both sides of the battery housing. With each side flange being fastened to each side beam by bolts, cylindrical nuts (tube nuts), etc., a high-voltage battery assembly may be mounted to each side beam.

[0008] For electric vehicles, it is desirable to increase the size of the battery in order to increase the driving distance and to safely protect the battery assembly from collision or impact.

[0009] We have found that in electric vehicles equipped with sliding doors, roller guide rails for guiding the sliding doors are positioned in the side beams, which reduces the width of the battery. Therefore, it is difficult to increase the capacity of the battery, thereby limiting the driving distance of the electric vehicle.

[0010] Furthermore, we have found that the side sills positioned on both sides of the center floor and the center side member are not physically connected, which results in reduced impact stiffness and support stiffness of the side sills and fails to effectively distribute impact loads transmitted through the side sills.

[0011] The above information described in the Background section is provided to help understanding the background of the present inventive concept, and this information may include any technical concept that is not considered as the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0012] The present disclosure provides a side member structure for a vehicle, which is capable of firmly supporting a battery assembly and uniformly distributing an impact load.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a side beam structure for a vehicle may include: a side beam connected to an edge of a center floor and having a first cavity and a second cavity separated by a partition; a reinforcement member received in the first cavity of the side beam and deformable by an impact load; and a component accommodated in the second cavity of the side beam, wherein the second cavity may be positioned above the first cavity.

[0014] The side member structure may further include a battery housing mounted below the center floor, the battery housing having a side mount connected to the reinforcement member by a fastener.

[0015] The first cavity and the reinforcement member may be horizontally aligned with the battery housing in a width direction of the vehicle.

[0016] The second cavity and the component may be positioned higher than the battery housing.

[0017] The side beam may have an opening communicating with the second cavity.

[0018] The side beam structure may further include a central side member coupled to a bottom surface of the central floor, and the side beam may have a first flange coupled to an edge of the central floor and a second flange coupled to the central side member.

[0019] The side beam may include an outer side wall facing the outside of the vehicle, an inner side wall facing the inside of the vehicle, a bottom wall connecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall, a top wall horizontally aligned with the center floor, and an intermediate wall extending toward the center side member. The first flange may extend from the top wall, and the second flange may extend from the intermediate wall.

[0020] The bottom wall may be positioned above the side mounting portions, and the intermediate wall may be positioned higher than a top surface of the battery housing.

[0021] The side beam may include: an outer side wall facing the outside of the vehicle; an inner side wall facing the inside of the vehicle; a bottom wall connecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall; a top wall horizontally aligned with the center floor; an extension wall extending toward the center of the center floor; and a reinforcement wall extending from the extension wall toward the center floor. The reinforcement wall may be coupled to the center floor.

[0022] The bottom wall may be positioned above the side mounting portion, and the extension wall may be positioned higher than a top surface of the battery housing.

[0023] The component may be a roller guide track mounted on the surface forming the second cavity.

[0024] The member may be a step received in or deployed from the second cavity.

[0025] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein.It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to better understand the present disclosure, several forms of the present disclosure given by way of example will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 shows a bottom view of a bottom surface of a vehicle body according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 2 Shown along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA;

[0029] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 an enlarged view of a portion B (ie, a side member structure for a vehicle according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure);

[0030] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 a state of the structure in which the roller guide rail is moved toward the central side member by the impact load during a side impact;

[0031] Figure 5 A side beam structure for a vehicle according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure is shown;

[0032] Figure 6 A side beam structure for a vehicle according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure is shown, the side beam structure being in a state where the step is received in the second cavity of the side beam;

[0033] Figure 7 Shows Figure 6A state in which the step in the side beam structure is partially unfolded; and

[0034] Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 The step in the side beam structure is in a fully extended state.

[0035] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.It should be understood that throughout the drawings, like reference numerals indicate similar or identical parts and features.

[0037] Hereinafter, exemplary forms of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to represent the same or equivalent elements. In addition, in order not to make the subject matter of the present disclosure unnecessarily obscure, the detailed description of the known technologies associated with the present disclosure will be omitted.

[0038] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) can be used to describe the elements of the exemplary form of the present disclosure. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element, and the inherent characteristics, order or sequence of the corresponding elements, etc. are not limited by these terms. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in this article (including technical terms or scientific terms) have the same meaning as the terms commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. As defined in a commonly used dictionary, these terms should be interpreted as having a meaning equivalent to the textual meaning in the relevant technical field, and should not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning, unless clearly defined as having such a meaning in this application.

[0039] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the floor structure of the vehicle body 1 according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure may include: a central floor 2; a pair of side beams 11 connected to both side edges of the central floor 2; and a battery assembly 5 installed below the central floor 2.

[0040] The central floor 2 may be provided on the bottom of the vehicle body to form a floor of the vehicle body. A pair of central side members 9 may be mounted on the bottom surface of the central floor 2, and the pair of central side members 9 may be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle body. The central side members 9 may be adjacent to the corresponding side beams 11, respectively. Each central side member 9 may be positioned closer to the center of the central floor 2 than the corresponding side beam 11. Each central side member 9 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the central side member 9 may be integrally connected to the front side member 9a and the rear side member 9b.

[0041] Each side member 11 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body 1. A pair of side members 11 may be respectively coupled to both side edges of the center floor 2 by welding, using fasteners, or the like.

[0042] refer to Figure 3 A side beam structure 10 for a vehicle according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure may include: a side beam 11 having a first cavity 21 and a second cavity 22 separated by a partition 14; a reinforcement member 12 installed in the first cavity 21 of the side beam 11; and components 51 and 60 installed in the second cavity 22 of the side beam 11.

[0043] Each side member 11 may have a first flange 11a and a second flange 11b, wherein the first flange is coupled to the edge of the center floor 2 and the second flange is coupled to the center side member 9. The first flange 11a and the edge of the center floor 2 may be coupled by welding, using fasteners, etc., and the second flange 11b and the center side member 9 may be coupled by welding, using fasteners, etc. Since each side member 11 is directly and physically connected to the center side member 9 through the second flange 11b, the collision resistance and supporting rigidity of the side member 11 may be improved. In a side impact of the vehicle, the impact load may be transmitted to the center side member 9 through the side member 11, and the impact load transmitted to the center side member 9 may be distributed in the longitudinal direction of the center side member 9, and thus the impact load may be dissipated or absorbed.

[0044] Each side beam 11 may have a cavity, and the cavity of the side beam 11 may be divided into a first cavity 21 and a second cavity 22 by a partition 14. The first cavity 21 may receive the reinforcing member 12, and the reinforcing member 12 may be mounted on a surface forming the first cavity 21 by a plurality of brackets, etc. The second cavity 22 may accommodate a plurality of components, such as a roller guide rail 51 for guiding a roller of a sliding door (see Figures 3 to 5 ) and a step 60 that can be deployed toward the outside of the vehicle. The first cavity 21 can be horizontally aligned with the battery housing 6 of the battery assembly 5 in the width direction of the vehicle, and the second cavity 22 can be positioned above the first cavity 21, so that the second cavity 22 can be positioned higher than the battery assembly 5 in the height direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the components 51 and 60 accommodated in the second cavity 22 may not directly hit the battery assembly 5 during a vehicle collision. Specifically, the second cavity 22 and the components 51 and 60 may be horizontally aligned with the central side member 9 in the width direction of the vehicle, and the components 51 and 60 moved by the impact load during the impact (collision) of the vehicle may hit the central side member 9, and thus the battery housing 6 of the battery assembly 5 may be safely protected.

[0045] Each side beam 11 may have an opening 13 through which a roller or a step 60 of the sliding door passes, and the opening 13 may communicate with the second cavity 22 .

[0046] The reinforcing member 12 may have a plurality of ribs so that the reinforcing member can be deformed by an impact load. The reinforcing member 12 may be an extruded product made by an extrusion method. The reinforcing member 12 may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy material, and the reinforcing member 12 may extend in the longitudinal length direction of the side beam 11.

[0047] The battery assembly 5 may include a battery housing 6 in which one or more battery cells (or battery modules) and electrical / electronic components associated with the battery cells are mounted. The battery housing 6 may have a pair of side mounting portions 7 connected to a pair of side beams 11. Each side mounting portion 7 may be connected to a reinforcing member 12 by a fastener 8 (such as a bolt, a tube, etc.). The battery assembly 5 may be connected to a pair of side beams 11 by a pair of side mounting portions 7 and supported by the pair of side beams.

[0048] The first cavity 21 of each side beam 11 and the reinforcing member 12 may be horizontally aligned with the battery housing 6 of the battery assembly 5 in the width direction of the vehicle, and thus, the side surface of the battery assembly 5 may be safely protected by the side beam 11 and the reinforcing member 12 .

[0049] The reinforcing member 12 may include a first portion 12a and a second portion 12b integrally connected to the first portion 12a. The side mounting portion 7 of the battery housing 6 may be connected to the first portion 12a by a fastener 8, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the first portion 12a may be greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second portion 12b. Therefore, the connection rigidity of the side mounting portion 7 of the battery housing 6 can be increased.

[0050] The shape of the partition 14 may correspond to the cross-sectional profile of the reinforcement member 12 received in the first cavity 21 and the shape and structure of the components 51 and 60 accommodated in the second cavity 22. The partition 14 may determine the cross-sectional shapes of the first cavity 21 and the second cavity 22.

[0051] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the side member 11 may include: an outer side wall 31 facing the outside of the vehicle; an inner side wall 32 facing the inside of the vehicle; a bottom wall 33 connecting the outer side wall 31 and the inner side wall 32; a top wall 34 horizontally aligned with the center floor 2; and an intermediate wall 35 extending toward the center side member 9. The first flange 11a may extend upward from the top wall 34, and the second flange 11b may extend upward from the intermediate wall 35. The intermediate wall 35 may be flush with at least a portion of the partition 14, and the intermediate wall 35 may be flush with the bottom of the center side member 9. The inner side wall 32 and the intermediate wall 35 may be perpendicular to each other.

[0052] The bottom wall 33 may be positioned above the side mounting portion 7 of the battery case 6, the inner side wall 32 may face the side wall of the battery case 6, the middle wall 35 may extend horizontally between the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 33, the middle wall 35 and the central side member 9 may be positioned higher than the top surface of the battery case 6, and the edge of the battery case 6 may be positioned between the inner side wall 32 and the middle wall 35. The inner side wall 32 of the side beam 11 may cover the side surface of the battery case 6, and the middle wall 35 and the central side member 9 of the side beam 11 may cover the top edge of the battery case 6, and thus the edge of the battery case 6 may be safely protected by the side beam 11 and the central side member 9. Since the edge of the battery case 6 of the battery assembly 5 is protected by the inner side wall 32 and the middle wall 35 of the side beam 11 and the central side member 9, the width of the battery case 6 may be increased compared to the related art, and thus the capacity of the battery assembly 5 may be increased. Furthermore, since the width of the battery case 6 increases, the ground clearance H1 of the battery case 6 and the ground clearance H2 of the center floor 2 can be reduced compared to the related art, and the center floor 2 can be flattened, so the passenger room of the vehicle can be sufficiently ensured.

[0053] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , a roller guide rail 51 for guiding a roller of the sliding door may be mounted on a surface of the second cavity 22 forming the side member 11, and the second cavity 22 and the roller guide rail 51 may be positioned higher than the battery assembly 5. That is, because the second cavity 22 and the roller guide rail 51 are not horizontally aligned with the battery assembly 5, the roller guide rail 51 may be prevented from hitting the battery assembly 5 during an impact on the vehicle.

[0054] refer to Figure 4 , an impact load during a vehicle collision may be distributed to reinforcement member 12 received in first cavity 21 of side sill 11 and roller guide rail 51 mounted on a surface forming second cavity 22 of side sill 11. Reinforcement member 12 may be deformed by the impact load to absorb the impact load, and roller guide rail 51 may be moved toward center side member 9 by the impact load, and therefore, the impact load may be dissipated or absorbed by center side member 9.

[0055] Figure 5 A side member structure for a vehicle according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 5 , the side member 11 may include: an extension wall 36 extending from the inner side wall 32 toward the center of the center floor 2; and a reinforcement wall 37 extending from the extension wall 36 toward the center floor 2. The extension wall 36 and the reinforcement wall 37 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the extension wall 36 and the inner side wall 32 may be perpendicular to each other. Figure 5 In the form of, the second flange is removed, and the reinforcing wall 37 and the extension wall 36 can be replaced Figure 3 and Figure 4 The intermediate wall 35 and the central side member 9 shown in FIG. Figure 3 . The extension wall 36 may be flush with at least a portion of the partition 14, and the extension wall 36 may have a sufficient length to cover a portion of the top surface of the battery case 6. The top end of the reinforcement wall 37 may have a flange 37a, and the flange 37a may be bonded to the bottom surface of the center floor 2 by welding or the like. Therefore, the support rigidity and collision resistance of the side member 11 can be improved by the extension wall 36 and the reinforcement wall 37.

[0056] The extension wall 36 may extend horizontally between the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 33 and be positioned higher than the top surface of the battery case 6, and the edge of the battery case 6 may be positioned between the inner side wall 32 and the extension wall 36. The inner side wall 32 of the side beam 11 may cover the side surface of the battery case 6, and the extension wall 36 of the side beam 11 may cover the top end of the battery case 6, so the edge of the battery case 6 can be safely protected by the side beam 11 and the extension wall 36. Since the edge of the battery case 6 of the battery assembly 5 is protected by the inner side wall 32 and the extension wall 36 of the side beam 11, the width of the battery case 6 is increased compared to the related art, and thus the capacity of the battery assembly 5 is increased. In addition, since the width of the battery case 6 is increased, the ground clearance of the battery case 6 and the ground clearance of the center floor 2 can be reduced compared to the related art, and the center floor 2 can be flattened, and therefore, the passenger room of the vehicle can be fully ensured.

[0057] Figures 6 to 8 A side member structure for a vehicle according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 6 , a step 60 for helping passengers enter and exit the vehicle can be accommodated in the second cavity 22 of the side beam 11, and the step 60 can be in the receiving position (see Figure 6 ) and the expanded position (see Figure 8 ), in the receiving position, the step 60 is accommodated in the second cavity 22, and in the deployed position, the step 60 is fully deployed from the second cavity 22 toward the outside of the vehicle to help passengers enter or leave the vehicle. The step 60 may include: a first step member 61, which is installed on the surface forming the second cavity 22; a second step member 62, which is slidably and pivotally installed relative to the first step member 61; and a third step member 63, which is pivotally installed relative to the second step member 62.

[0058] like Figure 6 As shown, when the step 60 is in the receiving position, the first step member 61, the second step member 62 and the third step member 63 can overlap each other and be received in the second cavity 22. Figure 7As shown, when the step 60 is partially deployed from the second cavity 22, the second step member 62 can slide along the first step member 61 toward the outside of the vehicle. Figure 8 As shown, when the step 60 is in the deployed position, the third step member 63 can pivot relative to the second step member 62 , and the third step member 63 can be deployed horizontally.

[0059] As described above, according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, the side beam structure may have a first cavity and a second cavity, wherein the first cavity receives a reinforcing member connected to a battery housing of a battery assembly, the second cavity receives a plurality of components such as a roller guide rail, and the second cavity may be positioned higher than the first cavity. By preventing the components received in the second cavity from directly hitting the battery assembly during an impact (collision) of the vehicle, the battery assembly may be safely protected.

[0060] According to the exemplary form of the present disclosure, since the edge of the battery housing of the battery assembly is protected by the central side member (or extension wall) and the inner side wall of the side beam, the width of the battery housing is increased compared to the related art, and thus the capacity of the battery assembly is increased. In addition, since the width of the battery housing is increased, the ground clearance of the battery housing and the ground clearance of the central floor are reduced compared to the related art, and the central floor can be flattened, and therefore, the passenger room of the vehicle is fully ensured.

[0061] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to exemplary forms and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0062] List of reference numerals:

[0063] 1. Car body

[0064] 2. Central floor

[0065] 5. Battery components

[0066] 6. Battery housing

[0067] 7. Side mounting part

[0068] 9. Central side member

[0069] 10. Side beam structure

[0070] 11. Side beam

[0071] 11a. First flange

[0072] 11b. Second flange

[0073] 12. Strengthening components

[0074] 13. Open your mouth

[0075] 14. Separator

[0076] 21. First cavity

[0077] 22. Second cavity

[0078] 31. Outer side wall

[0079] 32. Medial sidewall

[0080] 33. Bottom wall

[0081] 34. Top wall

[0082] 35. Middle wall

[0083] 36. Extended wall

[0084] 37. Strengthen the wall

[0085] 51. Roller guide track

[0086] 60. Stairs

Claims

1. A side beam structure for a vehicle, the side beam structure comprising: a side beam connected to an edge of the center floor and having a first cavity and a second cavity separated by a divider; a reinforcement member received in the first cavity of the side sill and capable of being deformed by an impact load; as well as a component received in the second cavity of the side member, wherein the second cavity is positioned above the first cavity; The side beam structure further includes a battery housing, which is installed below the central floor. wherein the battery housing has a side mounting portion, which is connected to the reinforcing member via a fastener; in: The side beam comprises: an outer sidewall facing the exterior of the vehicle; an inner sidewall facing the interior of the vehicle; a bottom wall connecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall; a top wall horizontally aligned with the central floor; an extension wall extending toward the center of the central floor; and a reinforcing wall extending from the extension wall toward the central floor, and The reinforcement wall is coupled to the central floor.

2. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The first cavity and the reinforcement member are horizontally aligned with the battery housing in a width direction of the vehicle.

3. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The second cavity and the component are positioned higher than the battery housing.

4. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom wall is positioned above the side mounting portion, and The extension wall is positioned higher than a top surface of the battery case.

5. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The side beam has an opening communicating with the second cavity.

6. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The component is a roller guide track mounted on a surface forming the second cavity.

7. The side beam structure according to claim 1, wherein: The component is a step received within the second cavity or configured to deploy from the second cavity.

8. A side beam structure for a vehicle, the side beam structure comprising: a side beam connected to an edge of the center floor and having a first cavity and a second cavity separated by a divider; a reinforcement member received in the first cavity of the side sill and capable of being deformed by an impact load; a component received in the second cavity of the side sill, and a central side member coupled to the bottom surface of the central floor panel, wherein the second cavity is positioned above the first cavity; The side beam structure further includes a battery housing, which is installed below the central floor. wherein the battery housing has a side mounting portion, which is connected to the reinforcing member via a fastener; wherein the side beam has a first flange and a second flange, the first flange being coupled to an edge of the central floor, and the second flange being coupled to the central side member; Wherein: the side beam comprises: an outer sidewall facing the exterior of the vehicle; an inner sidewall facing the interior of the vehicle; a bottom wall connecting the outer side wall and the inner side wall; a top wall horizontally aligned with the central floor; and an intermediate wall extending toward said central side member, The first flange extends from the top wall, and The second flange extends from the intermediate wall, in: The bottom wall is positioned above the side mounting portion, and The intermediate wall is positioned higher than a top surface of the battery case.

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