Vehicle lower structure

Abstract

A vehicle lower structure (S) is provided with an under cover (UC) having a cover main body (10) located below an exhaust pipe (EXP) and provided to a vehicle body, a cover (20) provided in a manner capable of being attached to and detached from the cover main body (10), which closes a work hole (14) penetrating the cover main body (10) in the up-and-down direction when the cover main body is attached, and which opens the work hole (14) when detached, and a baffle (BF) formed of a metal material and provided in a region including a portion closest to the exhaust pipe (EXP) and a periphery thereof in an upper surface (20b) of the cover (20).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a vehicle lower structure provided with a bottom cover that constitutes a bottom surface of an engine room. BACKGROUND

[0002] In running of a vehicle, in order to protect the equipment in the engine room against stones and foreign matters that are bounced from a road surface, a bottom cover is currently provided at the bottom of the engine room.

[0003] For example, in the vehicle lower structure shown in Patent Document 1, the bottom cover constitutes the bottom surface of the engine room.

[0004] Further, the bottom cover has its main body portion formed in a plate shape by synthetic resin, and is provided with a hole that penetrates the plate surface.

[0005] In addition, a lid made of metal is provided at the opening portion of the main body portion in a detachable manner.

[0006] By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent damage of the bottom cover caused by the exhaust pipe, and maintenance in the engine room can be performed by merely detaching the lid.

[0007] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0008] PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-327429 SUMMARY

[0010] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0011] However, in recent years, reduction of environmental load is advocated, and as one of them, reduction of carbon dioxide emission amount is becoming a pressing matter.

[0012] Therefore, in the automobile field, further improvement of combustion efficiency is required as a countermeasure for reduction of carbon dioxide emission amount.

[0013] In this regard, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the lid is made of metal, the weight reduction of the vehicle is inhibited, which can hinder the improvement of combustion efficiency.

[0014] The present application is made in view of the foregoing problems, and aims to provide a vehicle lower structure that can maintain maintenance workability and achieve weight reduction.

[0015] MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0016] To achieve the foregoing object, the vehicle lower structure of the present application is characterized by comprising a bottom cover having: a cover main body located below an exhaust pipe and provided to a vehicle body; a cover provided to the cover main body in a detachable manner, which closes an operation hole passing through the cover main body in the up-and-down direction when the cover main body is attached, and which opens the operation hole when detached; and a baffle formed of a metal material, which is provided in a region including a portion closest to the exhaust pipe and a periphery thereof in an upper surface of the cover.

[0017] Effects of Invention

[0018] According to the present application, it is possible to provide a vehicle lower structure which can maintain maintenance workability and achieve weight reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle having the vehicle lower structure of the present embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle lower structure of the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the vehicle lower structure of the present embodiment with the exhaust pipe removed.

[0022] Figure 4 is a sectional view along the IV-IV line of Figure 2

[0023] Figure 5 is a close-up sectional view showing the V portion of Figure 4

[0024] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] S Vehicle lower structure

[0026] UC Bottom cover

[0027] 10 Cover main body

[0028] 14 Operation hole

[0029] 20 Cover

[0030] 22 Cover hole

[0031] 32 Baffle hole

[0032] 33 Rivet (baffle fixing mechanism)

[0033] BF Baffle

[0034] 40 Reinforcing portion

[0035] EXP Exhaust pipe DETAILED DESCRIPTION​​

[0036] Reference Figures 1-5 A vehicle lower structure S of one embodiment of the present application will be described in detail.

[0037] Note that, in the description, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements throughout the drawings and repetitive description is omitted.

[0038] In addition, in the following description, unless specifically stated otherwise, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "inner", and "outer" refer to "front", "rear" in the vehicle front-rear direction, "upper", "lower" in the vehicle up-down direction, and "inner", "outer" in the vehicle inner-outer direction.

[0039] The vehicle lower structure S of the present embodiment is provided in front of the passenger compartment and constitutes a floor surface of a so-called engine room that houses an engine (not shown) and the like.

[0040] In addition, the vehicle lower structure S includes an under cover UC and a fender BF.

[0041] The under cover UC is provided to protect the equipment in the engine room from protrusions on the road surface and dust and the like that are raised during vehicle travel.

[0042] The under cover UC includes a cover main body 10 and a cover 20.

[0043] < Cover Main Body >

[0044] The cover main body 10 is the main component of the under cover UC and is fixed to a vehicle body structure portion (not shown) that forms the engine room (see FIG. 1). Figures 1-3 ).

[0045] The cover main body 10 is formed of a plate-shaped resin material and is disposed on the vehicle body with the plate surface facing in the up-down direction.

[0046] The lower surface 10a of the cover main body 10 is formed as a flat surface.

[0047] A plurality of front-rear ribs 11 that extend in the front-rear direction and left-right ribs 12 that extend in the vehicle width direction are formed at prescribed intervals on the upper surface 10b of the cover main body 10.

[0048] By providing the lower surface 10a of the cover main body 10 as a flat surface, even if a protrusion on the road surface hits the cover main body 10 during vehicle travel, the protrusion can be avoided without getting hooked.

[0049] In addition, by providing the lower surface 10a of the cover main body 10 as a flat surface, the air flow over the lower surface of the vehicle body during vehicle travel is adjusted, and the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle is improved.

[0050] Further, by providing the front and rear ribs 11 and the left and right ribs 12 on the upper surface 10b of the cover main body 10, the cover main body 10 is made light in weight while maintaining sufficient rigidity.

[0051] Further, the cover main body 10 is provided with a main body fixing portion 13, a work hole 14 (see Figures 1-3 ).

[0052] The main body fixing portion 13 is provided as a portion for fixing the cover main body 10 to a vehicle body structure portion, and is constituted by a through-hole that penetrates the cover main body 10 in the up and down direction.

[0053] Further, the cover main body 10 is fixed to a prescribed vehicle body structure member by means of a threaded member such as a bolt (not shown) that is inserted into the main body fixing portion 13.

[0054] The work hole 14 is provided as a hole that penetrates the plate surface in the vicinity of the central portion of the cover main body 10.

[0055] The work hole 14 is provided for performing periodic maintenance work on equipment such as the engine oil that is disposed in the engine compartment.

[0056] This is because the workability of removing the cover main body 10 each time maintenance work is performed is poor.

[0057] Therefore, the work hole 14 is opened in a manner that leaves the lower portion of the corresponding portion open when work is performed.

[0058] Further, the work hole 14 is opened in a manner that is located below the exhaust pipe EXP and that includes the portion that opposes the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0059] Note that, due to differences in the displacement of the engine and the like, there are cases in which the position in the engine compartment at which periodic maintenance work is performed and the layout of the exhaust pipe EXP are changed.

[0060] Therefore, the work hole 14 is provided in a shape and size that corresponds to all of the layouts of the periodic maintenance work and the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0061] < Lid >

[0062] The lid 20 is a structure for opening and closing the work hole 14, and is provided in a manner that can be attached and detached with respect to the cover main body 10 (see Figures 1-3 ).

[0063] Further, the lid 20 closes the work hole 14 in a state in which it is provided to the cover main body 10, and opens the work hole 14 in a state in which it is detached from the cover main body 10.

[0064] The lid 20 is formed of the same resin material as the cover main body 10.

[0065] The cover 20 is formed of a plate-shaped member having a shape and size that is larger than the work hole 14 by one ring.

[0066] In addition, the lower surface 20a of the cover 20 is formed as a flat surface like the cover main body 10.

[0067] Thus, in a state where the cover 20 is provided to the cover main body 10, a flat surface that is continuous without steps is formed between the lower surface 10a of the cover main body 10 and the lower surface 20a of the cover 20.

[0068] In addition, the upper surface 20b of the cover 20 is formed with the front and rear ribs 11 and the left and right ribs 12 like the cover main body 10.

[0069] Further, a baffle plate BF is provided to the upper surface of the cover 20.

[0070] In addition, the cover 20 is provided with a cover fixing portion 21 and a cover hole 22.

[0071] The cover fixing portion 21 is formed of a through-hole that penetrates the peripheral portion of the cover 20 in the up-and-down direction.

[0072] The cover fixing portion 21 is fixed to the cover-side cover fixing portion 15 provided to the cover main body 10 by a cover fixing mechanism (not shown).

[0073] As the cover fixing mechanism, for example, a configuration can be adopted in which an externally threaded member such as a bolt is inserted through the cover fixing portion 21 and is screwed to an internally threaded member (not shown) such as a nut provided to the cover-side cover fixing portion 15.

[0074] Note that the cover fixing mechanism is not limited to the threaded member described above, but can be appropriately adopted as long as it is a configuration that enables the cover 20 to be attached to and detached from the cover main body 10.

[0075] In addition, the cover 20 overlaps the cover main body 10 from below when assembled to the cover main body 10 and is fixed by the cover fixing mechanism.

[0076] The cover hole 22 penetrates the portion of the cover 20 that is closest to the exhaust pipe EXP in the up-and-down direction.

[0077] In addition, the cover hole 22 is formed in a shape and size that enables the portion of the exhaust pipe EXP that is closest to the cover 20 to be inserted therethrough.

[0078] That is, the cover hole 22 is in an oblong shape, and in a state where the under cover UC is fixed to the vehicle body, the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP can pass through the cover hole 22 and protrude downward of the under cover UC.

[0079] Note that the cover hole 22 is formed in a corresponding portion of the cover 20 for each layout of the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0080] That is, for the layout difference of the exhaust pipe EXP, it is possible to respond by selecting the corresponding cover 20.

[0081] <Barrier>

[0082] The barrier BF is provided as a heat shielding mechanism that shields the radiant heat radiated from the exhaust pipe EXP toward the cover 20, and suppresses the heat deterioration of the cover 20 (see Figures 3-5 ).

[0083] The barrier BF is provided in a region including a portion closest to the exhaust pipe EXP and a periphery thereof in the upper surface of the cover 20.

[0084] The barrier BF includes a barrier body 30, a barrier fixing portion 31, a barrier hole 32, and a reinforcing rib portion 40.

[0085] The barrier body 30 is composed of a plate-shaped metal material facing the up-down direction.

[0086] The barrier fixing portion 31 is disposed at a peripheral portion of the barrier body 30, and is composed of a through-hole that penetrates the barrier body 30 in the up-down direction.

[0087] The barrier fixing portion 31 is fixed to the cover-side barrier fixing portion 23 provided to the cover 20 by means of a rivet 33 (barrier fixing mechanism).

[0088] The barrier hole 32 is composed of a through-hole that penetrates the barrier body 30 in the up-down direction and communicates with the cover hole 22.

[0089] In addition, the barrier hole 32 is composed of a long circular-shaped through-hole that is one circle smaller than the cover hole 22.

[0090] Further, the peripheral portion 34 of the barrier hole 32 is composed of a flat surface in a flange shape, and is located inside the cover hole 22.

[0091] That is, the peripheral portion 34 of the barrier hole 32 forms a flat surface that is continuous with the lower surface 20a of the cover 20.

[0092] The reinforcing rib portion 40 protrudes upward from the peripheral portion 34 of the barrier hole 32 in the barrier body 30 by press working performed on the barrier body 30.

[0093] In addition, the reinforcing rib portion 40 is formed in a manner of surrounding the periphery of the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0094] Further, the reinforcing rib portion 40 shields the rivet 33 that fixes the barrier BF to the under cover UC and the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0095] That is, the reinforcing rib portion 40 is provided with the barrier hole 32 in a central portion thereof, and is formed in a shape of surrounding the periphery of the barrier hole 32.

[0096] Further, the reinforcing portion 40 is formed so as to separate the peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate BF from the cover 20 except for the right side edge portion and the periphery of the baffle plate fixing portion 31.

[0097] Thus, heat transmitted from the baffle plate BF to the cover 20 is reduced.

[0098] Note that, on the right side of the baffle plate hole 32, the reinforcing portion 40 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape, and the right side edge portion is in contact with the upper surface 20b of the cover 20.

[0099] Thus, compared to the case where the peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate BF is separated from the cover 20 (the case on the left side of the baffle plate hole 32), the rigidity of the baffle plate fixing portion 31 is increased.

[0100] Further, the rigidity of the baffle plate fixing portion 31 is further increased, and thus the rigidity of the portion on the right side of the baffle plate hole 32 in the cover 20 is further increased.

[0101] On the other hand, on the left side of the baffle plate hole 32, the peripheral edge portion of the cover 20 is close to the baffle plate fixing portion 31.

[0102] Therefore, even in the state where the peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate BF is separated from the cover 20, the cover 20 can satisfy the requirement regarding the rigidity.

[0103] Thus, on the left side of the baffle plate hole 32, the cover 20 prioritizes the heat insulation property over the rigidity, and adopts the state where the peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate BF is separated from the cover 20.

[0104] Further, the state where the peripheral edge portion of the baffle plate BF is separated from the cover 20 is adopted on the left side of the baffle plate hole 32, and thus the press die becomes a simpler configuration, and the complication of the press forming process of the baffle plate BF is suppressed.

[0105] Next, the effects of the present embodiment will be described.

[0106] The vehicle lower structure S of the present embodiment is provided with the baffle plate BF on the upper surface 20b of the cover 20 configured to be able to open and close the work hole 14.

[0107] Further, the baffle plate BF is formed of a plate-shaped metal material, and is provided in a region including the portion closest to the exhaust pipe EXP and the periphery thereof in the upper surface 20b of the cover 20.

[0108] By adopting such a configuration, the amount of metal can be reduced compared to the case where the entire under cover UC and the entire cover 20 are made of metal.

[0109] Thus, the vehicle lower structure S can be made lighter and less expensive.

[0110] Further, in the vehicle lower structure S of the present embodiment, a cover hole 22 is provided in the cover 20 at a position closest to the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0111] Further, a baffle hole 32 is provided in the baffle BF so as to communicate with the cover hole 22.

[0112] In order to suppress deterioration of the under cover UC caused by heat from the exhaust pipe EXP, the exhaust pipe EXP must be separated from the cover 20 by a gap of a prescribed size or more.

[0113] Therefore, in the case where the cover hole 22 and the baffle hole 32 are not provided, the portion D2 between the upper surface 20b of the cover 20 and the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP is the narrowest.

[0114] Further, the gap of this portion D2 is set to be a prescribed size or more.

[0115] On the other hand, in the case where the cover hole 22 and the baffle hole 32 are provided, the cover 20 has no portion that opposes the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0116] Therefore, the portion of the exhaust pipe EXP that is closest to the cover 20 is the portion Dl between the portion of the rib portion 40 that stands up from the cover 20 and the portion of the exhaust pipe EXP that opposes it.

[0117] Thus, it is possible to make the gap of the portion D2 between the upper surface 20b of the cover 20 and the lowermost portion of the exhaust pipe EXP even narrower.

[0118] That is, by providing the cover hole 22 and the baffle hole 32, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in the position at which the under cover UC is provided.

[0119] Further, the vehicle lower structure S of the present embodiment is provided with the rib portion 40 that protrudes upward on the baffle BF provided in the cover 20.

[0120] By adopting such a configuration, the rigidity of the baffle BF is improved, so even in the case where the exhaust pipe EXP comes into contact with the baffle BF during vehicle travel, it is possible to suppress breakage of the baffle BF.

[0121] Further, in the vehicle lower structure S of the present embodiment, the rib portion 40 is formed so as to shield between the rivet 33 (baffle fixing mechanism) and the exhaust pipe EXP.

[0122] By adopting such a configuration, the radiant heat from the exhaust pipe EXP is blocked by the rib portion 40.

[0123] Thus, it is difficult for heat to be transmitted to the rivet 33, so it is possible to suppress thermal deterioration (e.g., melting of the cover 20) of the cover 20, which is made of a resin material, due to the heated rivet 33.

Claims

1. A vehicle underbody structure, characterized in that, It has a base cover, the base cover having: The main body of the cover, which is made of resin material, is located below the exhaust pipe and is installed on the vehicle body; A cover, formed of resin material, is detachably mounted on the cover body, closing the working hole penetrating the cover body vertically when the cover body is installed, and opening the working hole when detached; and A baffle, made of metal, is disposed on the upper surface of the cover, including the portion closest to the exhaust pipe and its surrounding area.

2. The vehicle substructure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover has a perforation consisting of a through hole at the part closest to the exhaust pipe. The baffle has a baffle hole that communicates with the cover hole.

3. The vehicle substructure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The baffle has reinforcing ribs protruding upwards.

4. The vehicle substructure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The reinforcing rib protrudes from the baffle in such a way that it obstructs the space between the baffle fixing mechanism that secures the baffle to the cover and the exhaust pipe.

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