Vehicle floor structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle floor structure. The floor structure for a vehicle includes: a central floor; a plurality of longitudinal members attached to the upper surface of the central floor; a plurality of seat rails respectively disposed in the plurality of longitudinal members; and a battery assembly disposed below the central floor.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2020 - 0072556, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on June 15, 2020, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a vehicle floor structure, and more particularly, to a vehicle floor structure capable of ensuring a relatively large space in a passenger compartment by minimizing the height of a carpet covering a center floor. Background art

[0004] In recent years, with the increasing awareness of environmental crises and the depletion of oil resources, 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), and so on.

[0005] An electric vehicle is equipped with a battery assembly mounted on a vehicle body. The battery assembly includes: one or more battery cells (or battery modules), electric / electronic components associated with the battery cells, and a battery housing in which the battery cells and the electric / electronic components are installed. The battery housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The battery assembly may be mounted under a center floor of the vehicle body.

[0006] In order to ensure a larger passenger compartment and improve the interior design, research and development are underway to apply a flat floor, hidden seat rails, etc. to electric vehicles.

[0007] However, compared with internal combustion engine vehicles, common electric vehicles have a relatively high floor height for the installation of the battery assembly. Therefore, the height of the carpet covering the center floor, seat lateral members, and seat rails, and the total height of the vehicle may increase.

[0008] The above information described in the background art is provided to assist in understanding the background of the inventive concept and may include any technical concepts known to those skilled in the art that are not considered prior art. Summary of the invention

[0009] The present invention is directed to solving the above problems arising in the prior art while fully maintaining the advantages achieved by the prior art.

[0010] One aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle floor structure capable of ensuring a relatively large space in a passenger compartment by minimizing the height of a carpet covering a center floor.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a floor structure for a vehicle may include: a central floor; a plurality of longitudinal members attached to an upper surface of the central floor; a plurality of seat rails respectively disposed in the plurality of longitudinal members, and a battery assembly disposed below the central floor.

[0012] Each longitudinal member may extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to connect a vehicle front structure and a vehicle rear structure.

[0013] Each longitudinal member may have a front end and a rear end, the front end extending towards contact with a front bulkhead, the rear end extending towards contact with a rear floor; the front bulkhead may be disposed at a front end of the central floor; the rear floor may be disposed at a rear end of the central floor.

[0014] The vehicle floor structure may further include a plurality of seat transverse members attached to an upper surface of the central floor; each longitudinal member may extend through each seat transverse member such that the plurality of longitudinal members and the plurality of seat transverse members may cross each other.

[0015] An upper surface of the seat transverse member and an upper surface of the longitudinal member may be flush. That is, the upper surface of the seat transverse member may be at the same level as the upper surface of the longitudinal member in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0016] The battery assembly may include: a battery housing; a plurality of battery transverse members fixed to an inner space of the battery housing; and a battery longitudinal member crossing the plurality of battery transverse members; an upper surface of each battery transverse member and an upper surface of the battery housing may be flush; each of the plurality of battery transverse members may be fixed to a seat rail by a rail fastener.

[0017] The vehicle floor structure may further include: a reinforcing member received in a cavity of the seat transverse member; and a support bracket attached to an upper surface of the central floor. The reinforcing member may be disposed above the support bracket.

[0018] The battery housing may be configured to be mounted to the central floor by a through-bolt and a nut; the through-bolt may extend through the battery housing; the nut may be inserted between the reinforcing member and the support bracket; the through-bolt may be configured to be screwed into the nut.

[0019] A top end of the through-bolt may extend through the reinforcing member and be inserted into a cavity of the reinforcing member such that the through-bolt may be supported by the reinforcing member.

[0020] The reinforcing member and the seat rail may be alternately disposed in a width direction of the vehicle.

[0021] Each longitudinal member may include: a top wall; a pair of side walls respectively extending from both side edges of the top wall towards the central floor; and a pair of flanges respectively extending from the pair of side walls. The top wall may have an opening; the pair of flanges may be configured to extend towards and contact the upper surface of the central floor.

[0022] The reinforcing member may include: a bottom wall; a pair of side walls respectively extending from both side edges of the bottom wall towards the seat transverse member; and a pair of flanges respectively extending from the pair of side walls. The pair of flanges may be configured to extend towards and contact the seat transverse member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a vehicle floor structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 Shown from Figure 1 the direction indicated by arrow A in

[0026] Figure 3 A top view of a vehicle floor structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 4 Shown along Figure 3 sectional view taken along line B - B in

[0028] Figure 5 A perspective view of a battery assembly of a vehicle floor structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0030] 4: Front bulkhead

[0031] 6: Rear floor

[0032] 10: Vehicle floor structure

[0033] 11: Central floor

[0034] 12: Longitudinal member

[0035] 13: Seat rail

[0036] 14: Lower side beam

[0037] 15: Seat transverse member

[0038] 16: Reinforcing member

[0039] 20: Battery assembly

[0040] 21: Battery housing

[0041] 23: Through pipe

[0042] 24a: Through bolt

[0043] 24b: Nut

[0044] 25: Battery transverse member

[0045] 26: Battery longitudinal member

[0046] 51: Guide rail fastener. Detailed implementation manners

[0047] The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will always be used to represent the same or equivalent elements. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known technologies related to the present invention will be excluded so as not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0048] Terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used to describe elements in the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another, and the inherent characteristics, order, or sequence, etc. of the corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical terms or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the same meaning as the context in the relevant field, and should not be interpreted as having an imaginative or excessive meaning unless clearly defined in this application as having an imaginative or excessive meaning.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , according to the vehicle floor structure 10 of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, may include: a center floor 11 provided at the bottom of the vehicle body, a plurality of longitudinal members 12 attached to the upper surface of the center floor 11, a plurality of seat guide rails 13 respectively inserted into the plurality of longitudinal members 12, and a battery assembly 20 provided below the center floor 11.

[0050] The front bulkhead 4 may be provided at the front end of the center floor 11, and the rear floor 6 may be provided at the rear end of the center floor 11.

[0051] A pair of lower side beams 14 can be respectively attached to both side edges of the central floor 11, so that the pair of lower side beams 14 can be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the central floor 11. Each lower side beam 14 can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0052] A plurality of longitudinal members 12 can be attached to the upper surface of the central floor 11 by using fasteners, welding, etc. Each longitudinal member 12 can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the plurality of longitudinal members 12 can be spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0053] Each longitudinal member 12 can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to connect the vehicle front structure and the vehicle rear structure, so that each longitudinal member 12 can define a load path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The vehicle front structure can be a structure provided in front of the central floor 11, and the vehicle front structure can include a front bulkhead 4, front side members (not shown), etc. The vehicle rear structure can be a structure provided behind the central floor 11, and the vehicle rear structure can include a rear floor 6, rear side members (not shown), etc.

[0054] Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the front end of the longitudinal member 12 can be joined to the front bulkhead 4 of the vehicle front structure by welding, using fasteners, etc. A transverse member or an arched portion extending in the width direction of the vehicle can be provided at the front part of the rear floor 6, and the rear end of the longitudinal member 12 can be joined to the transverse member or the arched portion of the rear floor 6 of the vehicle rear structure by welding, using fasteners, etc. That is, the plurality of longitudinal members 12 can connect the central floor 11, the front bulkhead 4 and the rear floor 6, thereby significantly improving the stiffness of the vehicle body.

[0055] A plurality of seat transverse members 15 can be attached to the upper surface of the central floor 11 by using fasteners, welding, etc., and each seat transverse member 15 can extend in the width direction of the vehicle. The seat transverse members 15 can be perpendicular to the longitudinal members 12, and the longitudinal members 12 can pass through the seat transverse members 15, so that the plurality of longitudinal members 12 and the plurality of seat transverse members 15 can be connected to cross each other.

[0056] Refer to Figure 4, each seat lateral member 15 may have a horizontally extending flange 15c. The flange 15c may rise from the upper surface of the seat lateral member 15 and may be joined to the upper surface of the longitudinal member 12 by welding, using fasteners, etc. The upper surface of the seat lateral member 15 may be flush with the upper surface of the longitudinal member 12. That is, the upper surface of the seat lateral member 15 is at the same level as the upper surface of the longitudinal member 12 in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The longitudinal member 12 and the seat lateral member 15 may have the same height h1, so that the carpet 18 can flatly cover a plurality of seat lateral members 15 and a plurality of longitudinal members 12. The carpet 18 may cover the central floor 11 to form a flat floor.

[0057] Referring to Figure 4 , each longitudinal member 12 may include: a top wall 31, a pair of side walls 32 respectively extending from both side edges of the top wall 31, and a pair of flanges 33 respectively extending from the pair of side walls 32. The top wall 31 may face the passenger compartment, and each side wall 32 may vertically extend from the corresponding edge of the top wall 31 toward the central floor 11. Each flange 33 may horizontally extend from the bottom end of the corresponding side wall 32, and each flange 33 may extend toward being in contact with the upper surface of the central floor 11. Each flange 33 may be joined to the upper surface of the central floor 11 by using fasteners, welding, etc. Each longitudinal member 12 may have a cavity 34 defined by the top wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32, and the top wall 31 may have an opening 35.

[0058] Each seat rail 13 may be received in the cavity 34 of the corresponding longitudinal member 12 through the opening 35. For example, the upper edge of the seat rail 13 may be joined to the top wall 31 of the longitudinal member 12 by welding, etc., and the bottom surface of the seat rail 13 may be joined to the upper surface of the central floor 11 by using fasteners, welding, etc. In particular, the seat rail 13 may be firmly fixed to the central floor 11 and the battery assembly 20 by rail fasteners 51. The seat rail 13 may be attached to the upper surface of the central floor 11, and the battery assembly 20 may be disposed below the central floor 11.

[0059] Compared with the related art, as the seat rail 13 is received in the cavity 34 of the longitudinal member 12, the height h from the bottom of the battery assembly 20 to the upper surface of the carpet 18 can be minimized, thereby ensuring a relatively large space in the passenger compartment. In addition, the stiffness of the longitudinal member 12 and the seat rail 13 can be improved, and the capacity of the battery assembly 20 can be relatively increased. In particular, as the seat rail 13 is received in the longitudinal member 12, the exposure of the seat rail 13 can be minimized, thereby improving the appearance.

[0060] The battery assembly 20 may include: one or more battery cells (or battery modules), electric / electronic components associated with the battery cells, a battery housing 21 on which the battery cells and the electric / electronic components are mounted, and a cover 22 covering the top of the battery housing 21.

[0061] Referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the battery assembly 20 may include a battery longitudinal member 26 fixed to the inner space of the battery housing 21 and a plurality of battery transverse members 25. Each battery transverse member 25 may extend in the width direction of the battery housing 21, and the battery longitudinal member 26 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing 21. The plurality of battery transverse members 25 may be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the battery housing 21 in the inner space of the battery housing 21. The battery longitudinal member 26 may intersect with the plurality of battery transverse members 25 in the inner space of the battery housing 21. The stiffness and strength of the battery housing 21 may be increased by the plurality of battery transverse members 25 and the battery longitudinal member 26.

[0062] The upper surface of the battery transverse member 25 may be aligned with the upper surface of the battery housing 21 or the cover 22. As the height h2 of the battery transverse member 25 increases compared to the related art, the cross-sectional area of the battery transverse member 25 may also increase compared to the related art. Accordingly, the stiffness and strength of the battery housing 21 and the vehicle body may be increased, and the crashworthiness of the vehicle against side impacts / collisions may be improved. In particular, since the upper surface of the battery transverse member 25 is close to the seat rail 13, the installation of the rail fastener 51 may be simplified, and the battery transverse member 25 and the seat rail 13 may be more firmly fixed to the center floor 11 by the rail fastener 51.

[0063] According to an exemplary embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, the upper surface of the battery transverse member 25 may be flush with the upper surface of the battery housing 21.

[0064] The battery assembly 20 may include side brackets 27 respectively extending from the side walls 21a of the battery housing 21 toward the side sills 14, and each side bracket 27 may be fastened to the side sill 14 by mounting bolts 28a and nuts 28b.

[0065] Referring to Figure 4, the battery case 21 can be installed on the center floor 11 through the through tube 23, the through bolt 24a and the nut 24b. The cap 29 can be installed on the upper surface of the battery lateral member 25, and the through tube 23 and the through bolt 24a can extend vertically in the height direction of the battery case 21. The through tube 23 can pass through the battery lateral member 25 and the cap 29, and the through bolt 24a can pass through the interior of the through tube 23, so that the through bolt 24a can pass through the battery case 21 and the center floor 11. The nut 24b can be installed on the upper surface of the center floor 11 via the support bracket 52 by welding, using fasteners, etc. The support bracket 52 can be coupled to the upper surface of the center floor 11 by using fasteners, welding, etc., and the nut 24b can be fixed to the upper surface of the support bracket 52 by welding, etc. The through bolt 24a passing through the battery case 21 can be screwed into the nut 24b, so that the battery case 21 can be coupled to the center floor 11.

[0066] Refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4, the reinforcing member 16 can be received in the cavity 15a of the seat cross member 15. The reinforcing member 16 can be attached to the top wall of the seat cross member 15 by welding, using fasteners, etc. The reinforcing member 16 can include: a bottom wall 41, a pair of side walls 42 respectively extending from both side edges of the bottom wall 41, and a pair of flanges 43 respectively extending from the pair of side walls 42. The bottom wall 41 can face the battery assembly 20, and each side wall 42 can vertically extend from the corresponding edge of the bottom wall 41 toward the top wall of the seat cross member 15. The reinforcing member 16 can have a cavity 44 defined by the bottom wall 41 and the pair of side walls 42. Each flange 43 can horizontally extend from the top end of the corresponding side wall 42, and each flange 43 can extend toward contact with the top wall of the seat cross member 15. As the flanges 43 of the reinforcing member 16 are joined to the top wall of the seat cross member 15 by using fasteners, welding, etc., the reinforcing member 16 can be located in the upper space within the cavity 15a of the seat cross member 15. The support bracket 52 can be attached to the upper surface of the center floor 11 by welding, using fasteners, etc., and the support bracket 52 can be located in the lower space within the cavity 15a of the seat cross member 15. Thus, the reinforcing member 16 can be located above the support bracket 52. As the top end of the through bolt 24a passes through the reinforcing member 16 and is inserted into the cavity 44 of the reinforcing member 16, the through bolt 24a can be supported to the reinforcing member 16. In particular, the nut 24b can be interposed between the reinforcing member 16 and the support bracket 52. Specifically, the upper surface of the nut 24b can be joined to the bottom wall 41 of the reinforcing member 16 by welding, etc., and the lower surface of the nut 24b can be joined to the upper surface of the support bracket 52 by welding, etc. The through bolt 24a can increase its fastening force through the reinforcing member 16, thereby improving the mounting stiffness of the battery housing 21. The reinforcing member 16 can be located between two adjacent seat rails 13 in the vehicle width direction. Thus, the reinforcing member 16 and the seat rails 13 can be alternately arranged in the vehicle width direction.

[0067] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the seat rail 13 is received in the cavity 34 of the longitudinal member 12, compared with the related art, the height h of the carpet 18 can be minimized, thereby obtaining a relatively large space in the passenger compartment, and the capacity of the battery assembly 20 can be relatively increased. In particular, as the seat rail 13 is received in the longitudinal member 12, the exposure of the seat rail 13 can be minimized, thereby improving the appearance.

[0068] In addition, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the battery lateral member 25 may be aligned with the upper surface of the battery housing 21 or the cover 22. Since the height h2 of the battery lateral member 25 is relatively increased compared with the related art, the cross-sectional area of the battery lateral member 25 may also be increased compared with the related art. Thus, the stiffness and strength of the battery housing 21 and the vehicle body can be increased, and the crashworthiness of the vehicle against side impacts / collisions can be improved.

[0069] Since the upper surface of the battery lateral member 25 is aligned with the upper surface of the battery housing 21 or the cover 22, a plurality of seat rails 13 located above the center floor 11 and the battery lateral member 25 located below the center floor 11 can be closer to each other, so that the installation of the rail fasteners 51 can be simplified, and the battery lateral member 25 and the seat rails 13 can be more firmly fixed to the center floor 11 through the rail fasteners 51.

[0070] As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the vehicle floor structure has longitudinal members installed on the upper surface of the center floor and the seat rails are accommodated in the cavities of the longitudinal members, the height of the carpet is significantly reduced compared with the related art, so that a relatively large space can be obtained in the passenger compartment, the stiffness of the longitudinal members and the stiffness of the seat rails are improved, and the capacity of the battery assembly is relatively increased. In particular, as the seat rails are accommodated in the longitudinal members, the exposure of the seat rails can be minimized, thereby improving the appearance.

[0071] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the battery lateral member may be aligned with the upper surface of the battery housing or the cover. Therefore, the height and cross-sectional area of the battery lateral member can be relatively increased compared with the related art. Thus, the stiffness and strength of the battery housing and the vehicle body can be increased, and the crashworthiness of the vehicle against side impacts / collisions can be improved.

[0072] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the upper surface of the battery lateral member is flush with the upper surface of the battery housing or the cover, a plurality of seat rails located above the center floor and the battery lateral member located below the center floor can be closer to each other, making it easy to install the rail fasteners. The battery lateral member and the seat rails can be more firmly fixed to the center floor through the rail fasteners.

[0073] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can obviously make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention claimed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A floor structure for a vehicle, comprising: A central floor; A plurality of longitudinal members, which are attached to the upper surface of the central floor, and each longitudinal member has a cavity; A plurality of seat rails, which are respectively disposed in the plurality of longitudinal members, and A battery assembly, which is disposed below the central floor; Wherein, each seat rail is received in the cavity of the corresponding longitudinal member through an opening at the top, and the seat rail is attached to the upper surface of the central floor; A rail fastener sequentially passes through the seat rail, the central floor, and the cover and the battery transverse member of the battery assembly, thereby fixing the battery transverse member and the seat rail to the central floor; Each longitudinal member includes: A top wall; A pair of side walls, which respectively extend from the two side edges of the top wall towards the central floor; and A pair of flanges, which respectively extend from the pair of side walls; Wherein, the top wall has an opening; The pair of flanges are configured to extend towards and contact the upper surface of the central floor; the upper edge of the seat rail is joined to the top wall of the longitudinal member.

2. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, Each longitudinal member extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to connect the front vehicle structure and the rear vehicle structure.

3. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, Each longitudinal member has a front end and a rear end, the front end extends towards and contacts the front bulkhead, and the rear end extends towards and contacts the rear floor; The front bulkhead is disposed at the front end of the central floor; The rear floor is disposed at the rear end of the central floor.

4. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of seat transverse members, the seat transverse members being attached to the upper surface of the central floor; Among them, Each longitudinal member extends through each seat transverse member, so that the plurality of longitudinal members and the plurality of seat transverse members cross each other.

5. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein, The upper surface of the seat transverse member is at the same level as the upper surface of the longitudinal member in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

6. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein, The battery assembly includes: A battery housing; A plurality of battery transverse members, which are fixed to the internal space of the battery housing; and A battery longitudinal member, which crosses the plurality of battery transverse members; Wherein, the upper surface of each battery transverse member is flush with the upper surface of the battery housing; Each of the plurality of battery transverse members is fixed to the seat rail by a rail fastener.

7. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising: A reinforcing member, which is received in the cavity of the seat transverse member; And A support bracket, which is attached to the upper surface of the central floor; Wherein, the reinforcing member is disposed above the support bracket.

8. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein, The battery housing is configured to be mounted to the central floor by a through-bolt and a nut; The through-bolt extends through the battery housing; The nut is inserted between the reinforcing member and the support bracket; The through-bolt is configured to be screwed into the nut.

9. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein, The top end of the through-bolt extends through the reinforcing member and is inserted into the cavity of the reinforcing member, so that the through-bolt is supported by the reinforcing member.

10. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein, The reinforcing member and the seat rail are alternately disposed in the width direction of the vehicle.

11. The floor structure for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein, The reinforcing member includes: A bottom wall; A pair of side walls, which respectively extend from the two side edges of the bottom wall towards the seat transverse member; and A pair of flanges respectively extending from the pair of side walls; wherein the pair of flanges are configured to extend towards contact with the seat transverse member.

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