Vehicle floor structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle floor structure. The vehicle floor structure (20) includes: a left sill (21L) disposed at a side end portion of the vehicle (100); a front floor cross member (30F) having a hat-shaped cross section, which is composed of an upper open groove portion (31), a rear upper flange (32), and a front upper flange (33); and a front connecting member (40F) that connects the left sill (21L) and the front floor cross member (30F). Among them, the left sill is disposed such that the height of the upper end surface (22) is lower than that of the rear upper flange (32) and the front upper flange (33) of the front floor cross member. The front connecting member (40F) has a hat-shaped cross section composed of a lower open groove portion (41), a rear lower flange (42), and a front lower flange (43), and connects the upper end surface (22) of the left sill (21L) to the rear upper flange (32) and the front upper flange (33) of the front floor cross member (30F).

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022 - 021761 filed on February 16, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety including the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract. Technical field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a floor structure of a vehicle composed of a sill, a floor cross - member, and a connecting member. Background art

[0004] In recent years, vehicles equipped with a ramp device have been in use. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which a part of the upper surface of a longitudinal beam arranged at the side end of a vehicle is cut out at a low level, and a ramp plate is taken in and out through the upper space of the cut - out part. In the structure of Patent Document 1, a cross - beam connecting the left and right longitudinal beams in the vehicle width direction is connected to the lower side of the longitudinal beam, and the ramp device is arranged on the upper side of the cross - beam.

[0005] Prior art documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 8165 Summary of the invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] In recent years, a lower - floor design for ramp - equipped vehicles has been pursued. In the structure described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021 - 8165, since the cross - beam is arranged on the lower side of the longitudinal beam, it is difficult to reduce the height of the longitudinal beam, and there is a limit to lower - floor design.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to achieve a lower - floor design for vehicles equipped with a ramp device.

[0011] Means for solving the problems

[0012] The vehicle floor structure of the present disclosure includes: a sill having a closed - cross - section shape with four sides, arranged at the side end of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle front - rear direction; a floor cross - member having a hat - shaped cross - section shape composed of an upward - open groove portion and an upper flange, extending in the vehicle width direction; and a connecting member connecting the sill and the floor cross - member. The vehicle floor structure is characterized in that the sill is arranged such that the height of the upper end surface is lower than that of the upper flange of the floor cross - member, and the connecting member has a hat - shaped cross - section shape composed of a downward - open groove portion and a lower flange, and connects the upper end surface of the sill and the upper flange of the floor cross - member.

[0013] With this structure, even when the upper end surface of the sill is lower than the upper flange of the floor cross member, the upper flange of the floor cross member and the upper end surface of the sill can be connected by the connecting member so that the force flows from the upper flange to the sill. Thus, the fastening force between the floor cross member and the sill can be increased, and the position of the sill can be lowered to achieve a lower floor of the vehicle.

[0014] In the vehicle floor structure of the present disclosure, it may be that a support member is included that connects the side surface of the sill, the lower surface of the floor cross member, and the lower surface of the connecting member.

[0015] In this way, since the support member connects the side surface of the sill, the lower surface of the floor cross member, and the lower surface of the connecting member, the fastening force between the floor cross member and the sill can be further increased, and the position of the sill can be lowered to achieve a lower floor of the vehicle.

[0016] In the vehicle floor structure of the present disclosure, it may be that the lower flange of the connecting member is fastened to the upper end surface of the sill, and the connecting member includes: a connecting flange that extends from the lower flange toward the upper surface of the upper flange at the end of the floor cross member and is fastened to the upper surface of the upper flange; and a connecting plate that connects the connecting flange and the top plate of the lower open trough-shaped portion.

[0017] Thus, the force of the floor cross member can be transmitted to the sill through the lower open trough-shaped portion, the lower flange, and the connecting flange.

[0018] In the vehicle floor structure of the present disclosure, it may be that one sill is provided at each of the two side ends of the vehicle, two floor cross members are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction, the two sills and the two floor cross members define a quadrilateral opening, the vehicle floor structure includes a floor panel covering the upper side of the opening and a ramp device disposed in the opening below the floor panel, the lower surface of the floor panel is supported by the upper flanges of the respective floor cross members, and the ramp device is disposed in the opening in such a way that the ramp plate enters and exits the space between the lower surface of the floor panel and the upper end surface of the sill.

[0019] In this way, since the position of the sill is lowered and the ramp device is disposed in such a way that the ramp plate enters and exits the space between the lower surface of the floor panel and the upper end surface of the sill, a lower floor of the vehicle with a ramp device can be achieved.

[0020] In the vehicle floor structure of the present disclosure, it is possible that one sill is provided at each of the two side ends of the vehicle, and one of the sills is disposed at a position lower than the other sill. One end portion of the floor cross member is connected to the upper end surface of one of the sills through the connecting member, and the other end portion of the floor cross member is connected to the side surface of the other sill. The support member connects one of the sills, the one end portion of the floor cross member, and the connecting member.

[0021] Thereby, it is possible to simplify the connection between the other sill disposed at a position higher than one sill and the floor cross member.

[0022] Advantages of the Invention

[0023] The present disclosure can achieve a lower floor for a vehicle with a ramp device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view showing the floor structure of the embodiment.

[0025] Figure 2 FIG. is a cross-sectional view showing the floor structure of the embodiment, and is the Figure 1 A-A cross-section shown.

[0026] Figure 3 FIG. is a cross-sectional view showing the floor structure of the embodiment, and is the Figure 1 B-B cross-section shown.

[0027] Figure 4 FIG. is a perspective view showing the state in which the floor cross member and the sill of the floor structure of the embodiment are connected by the joining member and the support member, and is the Figure 1 detailed perspective view of the C portion shown.

[0028] Figure 5 FIG. is a perspective view of the connecting member of the floor structure of the embodiment.

[0029] Figure 6 FIG. is a perspective view showing the floor structure of the embodiment, and is a detailed perspective view when observing the Figure 1 C portion shown from the lower side of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0030] Hereinafter, the vehicle floor structure 20 of the embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the arrows FR, UP, and LH shown in each figure respectively represent the front direction (travel direction), upward direction, and left direction of the vehicle 100 equipped with the vehicle floor structure 20. In addition, the opposite directions of the arrows FR, UP, and LH represent the rear direction, downward direction, and right direction of the vehicle. Hereinafter, when only the directions of front and rear, left and right, and up and down are used for description, unless otherwise specified, it means front and rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, left and right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and up and down in the vehicle up-down direction.

[0031] As Figure 1 shown, the vehicle floor structure 20 includes a left sill 21L, a right sill 21R, a front floor cross member 30F, a rear floor cross member 30R, a front connecting member 40F, a rear connecting member 40R, a front support member 60F, a rear support member 60R, a left floor panel 16, a right floor panel 17, and a ramp device 70.

[0032] As Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown, the left sill 21L and the right sill 21R are structural members with a four-sided closed cross-sectional shape that are respectively arranged at both end portions (left end portion, right end portion) of the vehicle 100 and extend in the vehicle front-rear direction. The left sill 21L includes an upper end face 22, a side face 23 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and an outer side face 24 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the right sill 21R is the same as the left sill 21L and includes an upper end face 25, a side face 27 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and an outer side face 26 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The upper end face 22 of the left sill 21L is arranged at a position lower by a height h than the upper end face 25 of the right sill 21R.

[0033] The front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R are structural members that extend in the vehicle width direction. One end portion, i.e., the left end portion 36, of the front floor cross member 30F is connected to the left sill 21L through the front connecting member 40F and the front support member 60F. In addition, the other end portion, i.e., the right end portion 37, is connected to the side face 27 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the right sill 21R. Similarly, the left end portion 38 of the rear floor cross member 30R is connected to the left sill 21L through the rear connecting member 40R and the rear support member 60R, and the right end portion 39 is connected to the side face 27 of the right sill 21R.

[0034] The two sill members, namely the left sill 21L and the right sill 21R, and the two floor cross members, namely the front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R, define a quadrilateral opening 29. A floor beam 28 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided between the front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R, and the opening 29 is divided into a left opening 29L and a right opening 29R. The left opening 29L is covered by a left floor panel 16 composed of a plurality of floor panel members 16a to 16e. The right opening 29R is covered by a right floor panel 17. In addition, a ramp device 70 is disposed in the left opening 29L.

[0035] As Figure 2 shown, a sliding door 12 that slides in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided at the left end portion of the vehicle 100. As will be described in detail later with reference to Figure 4 , a bolt 53 is installed in a hole 34 of a rear upper flange 32 provided on the front floor cross member 30F. The head of the bolt 53 has a cylindrical shape, and as Figure 2 shown, the lower surfaces of the respective floor panel members 16a to 16e are supported by the upper surface of the head. In this way, the respective floor panel members 16a to 16e are supported by the rear upper flange 32 via the bolt 53.

[0036] In addition, the right floor panel 17 is supported by the rear upper flange 32 of the front floor cross member 30F and the upper flange of the floor beam 28.

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, a ramp device 70 is disposed between the lower surface of the left floor panel 16 and the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L. And, as shown by the arrow 92 in Figure 3 , the ramp plate 71 of the ramp device 70 is taken in and out in the vehicle width direction through the space between the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L and the lower side of the left floor panel 16.

[0038] Next, the detailed structures of the front floor cross member 30F, the front connecting member 40F, and the front support member 60F will be described.

[0039] As Figure 4As shown, the front floor cross member 30F has a top hat cross-sectional shape including an upper open trough-shaped portion 31 with an open top, a front upper flange 33 protruding forward of the vehicle from the upper end of the side plate 31f at the front of the vehicle of the upper open trough-shaped portion 31, and a rear upper flange 32 protruding rearward of the vehicle from the upper end of the side plate 31r at the rear of the vehicle of the upper open trough-shaped portion 31. The height of the side plate 31f at the front of the vehicle of the upper open trough-shaped portion 31 from the bottom plate 31b is higher than that of the side plate 31r at the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, the height of the upper surface of the front upper flange 33 is higher than the height of the upper surface of the rear upper flange 32. Holes 34, 35 are provided in the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 for inserting bolts 53 or bolts 55 of other shapes for connecting the rear upper connecting flange 46, the front upper connecting flange 47 of the front connecting member 40F to be described later, the supporting rear upper flange 62, and the supporting front upper flange (not shown) of the front support member 60F. The head of the bolt 53 has a cylindrical shape, and the lower surfaces of the respective floor panel members 16a to 16e are supported by the upper surface of the head.

[0040] As Figure 4 , Figure 5 shown, the front connecting member 40F includes a sill fastening portion 48, a rear inclined connecting flange 44, a front inclined connecting flange 45, a rear upper connecting flange 46, and a front upper connecting flange 47. The rear inclined connecting flange 44 and the rear upper connecting flange 46 form the rear connecting flange of the front connecting member 40F, and the front inclined connecting flange 45 and the front upper connecting flange 47 form the front connecting flange of the front connecting member 40F.

[0041] The sill fastening portion 48 has a top hat cross-sectional shape including a lower open trough-shaped portion 41 with an open bottom, a front lower flange 43 protruding forward of the vehicle from the lower end of the side plate 41f at the front of the vehicle of the lower open trough-shaped portion 41, and a rear lower flange 42 protruding rearward of the vehicle from the lower end of the side plate 41r at the rear of the vehicle of the lower open trough-shaped portion 41. An end plate 51 is provided on the end surface on the left side in the vehicle width direction of the lower open trough-shaped portion 41. The front lower flange 43 and the rear lower flange 42 are fastened to the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L by spot welding 52, and the lower end of the end plate 51 is fastened to the outer side surface 24 of the left sill 21L by spot welding 52. It should be noted that Figure 4 the × marks in

[0042] The rear upper connecting flange 46 is a plate-like member fastened to the upper surface of the rear upper flange 32 of the front floor cross member 30F. The rear inclined connecting flange 44 is a plate-like member that protrudes rearward from the side plate 41r at the rear of the downwardly open trough-shaped portion 41 toward the rear of the vehicle and obliquely connects the right end of the rear lower flange 42 and the left end of the rear upper connecting flange 46. Similarly, the front upper connecting flange 47 is a plate-like member fastened to the upper surface of the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F. The front inclined connecting flange 45 is a plate-like member that protrudes forward from the side plate 41f at the front of the downwardly open trough-shaped portion 41 toward the front of the vehicle and obliquely connects the right end of the front lower flange 43 and the left end of the front upper connecting flange 47. Bolt holes 50 are provided in the rear upper connecting flange 46 and the front upper connecting flange 47 for inserting bolts 53 or bolts 55 of other shapes for fastening the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F. The rear upper connecting flange 46 and the front upper connecting flange 47 are connected in the vehicle front-rear direction by a connecting plate 49. The connecting plate 49 is connected to the top plate 41u of the downwardly open trough-shaped portion 41 of the sill fastening portion 48. It should be noted that, as described above, the height of the upper surface of the front upper flange 33 of the upwardly open trough-shaped portion 31 of the front floor cross member 30F is higher than the height of the upper surface of the rear upper flange 32. Therefore, the upper surface of the front upper connecting flange 47 connected to the upper surface of the front upper flange 33 is higher than the upper surface of the rear upper connecting flange 46 connected to the upper surface of the rear upper flange 32. Therefore, a height difference is provided between the front side and the rear side of the top plate 41u of the downwardly open trough-shaped portion 41 and the connecting plate 49.

[0043] As Figure 6 shown, the front support member 60F includes a support portion 63 and a sill connection portion 64, and connects the left sill 21L, the left end portion 36 of the front floor cross member 30F, and the front connection member 40F.

[0044] The support portion 63 has an upwardly open hat-shaped cross-sectional structure including a support upwardly open trough-shaped portion 61, a support rear upper flange 62, a support front upper flange (not shown), a support rear inclined flange 67, and a support front inclined flange (not shown).

[0045] The support upper open groove portion 61 is a groove shape that is embedded in the outer surface of the upper open groove portion 31 of the front floor cross member 30F, and supports the lower surface of the bottom plate 31b of the support upper open groove portion 31. The support rear upper flange 62 and the support front upper flange (not shown) are connected to the lower surfaces of the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F, and support the lower surfaces of the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33. The support rear inclined flange 67 and the support front inclined flange (not shown) extend obliquely leftward along the lower surfaces of the rear inclined connection flange 44 and the front inclined connection flange 45 of the front connection member 40F from the support rear upper flange 62 and the support front upper flange (not shown), and support the lower surfaces of the rear inclined connection flange 44 and the front inclined connection flange 45. In this way, the support portion 63 supports the lower surface of the left end portion 36 of the front floor cross member 30F and the lower surfaces of the rear inclined connection flange 44 and the front inclined connection flange 45.

[0046] The sill connection portion 64 is a groove-shaped cross-section member continuous on the lower side of the support portion 63, and is provided with flanges 65 and 66 that are connected to the inner side surface 23 in the vehicle width direction of the left sill 21L by spot welding 52.

[0047] As Figure 2 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 6 shown, the three plate members of the rear upper connection flange 46 of the front connection member 40F, the rear upper flange 32 of the front floor cross member 30F, and the support rear upper flange 62 of the front support member 60F overlap and are fastened together by the leftmost bolt 53 and nut 54. In addition, the two plate members of the rear upper flange 32 and the support rear upper flange 62 are fastened together by the second bolt 53 and nut 54 from the left. Similarly, the three plate members of the front upper connection flange 47, the front upper flange 33, and the support front upper flange (not shown) are fastened together by the leftmost bolt 55 of other shape and nut (not shown), and the two plate members of the front upper flange 33 and the support front upper flange (not shown) are fastened together by the second bolt 55 of other shape and nut (not shown) from the left.

[0048] The rear lower flange 42 and the front lower flange 43 of the front connection member 40F are connected to the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L by spot welding 52, and the flanges 65 and 66 of the front frame member are connected to the side surface 23 of the left sill 21L by spot welding 52. Therefore, the front connection member 40F connects the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L, the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F. In addition, the front support member 60F connects the lower surface of the front floor cross member 30F, the lower surface of the front connection member 40F, and the side surface 23 of the left sill 21L.

[0049] With such a structure, the forces applied to the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F flow from the rear upper connection flange 46 and the front upper connection flange 47 of the front connection member 40F through the rear inclined connection flange 44 and the front inclined connection flange 45 to the rear lower flange 42 and the front lower flange 43. And the forces flowing to the rear lower flange 42 and the front lower flange 43 are transmitted to the upper end face 22 of the left side sill 21L by spot welding 52. In addition, the forces applied to the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F flow from the rear upper connection flange 46 and the front upper connection flange 47 of the front connection member 40F through the connection plate 49, the top plate 41u, the side plates 41r and 41f of the lower open channel portion 41 to the rear lower flange 42 and the front lower flange 43, and are transmitted from the rear lower flange 42 and the front lower flange 43 to the left side sill 21L. In addition, the forces flowing to the top plate 41u, the side plates 41r and 41f of the lower open channel portion 41 flow to the outer side face 24 of the left side sill 21L through the end plate 51 spot welded to the outer side face 24 of the left side sill 21L.

[0050] Moreover, a part of the forces applied to the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F and the forces applied from the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 to the rear upper connection flange 46 and the front upper connection flange 47 of the front connection member 40F flow from the support rear upper flange 62 and the support front upper flange (not shown) of the support portion 63 of the front support member 60F through the flanges 65 and 66 of the side sill connection portion 64 to the side face 23 of the left side sill 21L.

[0051] Thus, even when the position of the upper end face 22 of the left side sill 21L is lower than the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F and it is impossible to directly connect the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 to the upper end face 22 of the left side sill 21L, the front connection member 40F can be used to connect the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 of the front floor cross member 30F to the upper end face 22 of the left side sill 21L so that the forces flow from the rear upper flange 32 and the front upper flange 33 to the left side sill 21L. Thus, the fastening force between the front floor cross member 30F and the left side sill 21 can be increased.

[0052] In addition, since the front support member 60F connects the side face 23 of the left side sill 21L, the lower surface of the front floor cross member 30F and the lower surface of the front connection member 40F, the fastening force between the front floor cross member 30F and the left side sill 21L can be further increased.

[0053] Above, the structures of the front floor cross member 30F, the front connection member 40F and the front support member 60F have been described. However, the rear floor cross member 30R, the rear connection member 40R and the rear support member 60R are shapes obtained by respectively turning the front floor cross member 30F, the front connection member 40F and the front support member 60F in the front-rear direction, so the description is omitted.

[0054]

[0054] As described above, the vehicle floor structure 20 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the front floor cross member 30F, the rear floor cross member 30R and the left sill 21L are connected by using the front connecting member 40F, the rear connecting member 40R, the front support member 60F and the rear support member 60R, so that the fastening strength of the front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R to the left sill 21L can be maintained and the left sill 21L can be arranged at a low position. Therefore, the ramp device 70 can be arranged in such a manner that it can be taken out and put into the space between the upper end surface 22 of the left sill 21L and the lower side of the left floor panel 16. Thus, a low floor of the vehicle 100 equipped with the ramp device 70 can be achieved.

[0055]

[0055] In the above description, it is assumed that the vehicle 100 is provided with a door 12 on the left side and the position of the left sill 21L is arranged lower than that of the right sill 21R. However, this is not limited thereto. A door 12 may be provided on the right side, the right sill 21R may be lower than the left sill 21L, and the front floor cross member 30F, the rear floor cross member 30R and the right sill 21R may be joined by joining members and support members respectively. In addition, the position of the right sill 21R may be set to the same low position as that of the left sill 21L. The left end portions 36, 38 of the front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R may be connected to the left sill 21L by using the front connecting member 40F, the rear connecting member 40R, the front support member 60F and the rear support member 60R respectively, and the right end portions 37, 39 may be connected to the right sill 21R by using connecting members and support members.

[0056]

[0056] Further, in the vehicle floor structure 20 described above, it is described that the opening 29 defined by the left sill 21L, the right sill 21R, the front floor cross member 30F and the rear floor cross member 30R is divided into a left opening 29L and a right opening 29R by the floor beam 28. However, this is not limited thereto. The floor beam may not be provided, and the ramp device 70 may be arranged in the opening 29.

Claims

1. A vehicle floor structure, comprising: A sill with a closed cross-section shape on four sides, disposed at the side end of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction; A floor cross-member having a hat-shaped cross-section formed by an upwardly open groove portion and an upward flange, extending in the vehicle width direction; And A connecting member connecting the sill and the floor cross-member, The vehicle floor structure is characterized in that, The sill is arranged such that the height of the upper end surface is lower than that of the upward flange of the floor cross-member, The connecting member has a hat-shaped cross-section formed by a downwardly open groove portion and a downward flange, and connects the upper end surface of the sill and the upward flange of the floor cross-member.

2. The vehicle floor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes a support member connecting the side surface of the sill, the lower surface of the floor cross-member, and the lower surface of the connecting member.

3. The vehicle floor structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The downward flange of the connecting member is fastened to the upper end surface of the sill, The connecting member includes: A connecting flange extending from the downward flange to the upper surface of the upward flange at the end of the floor cross-member and fastened to the upper surface of the upward flange; And A connecting plate connecting the connecting flange and the top plate of the downwardly open groove portion.

4. The vehicle floor structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The downward flange of the connecting member is fastened to the upper end surface of the sill, The connecting member includes: A connecting flange extending from the downward flange to the upper surface of the upward flange at the end of the floor cross-member and fastened to the upper surface of the upward flange; And A connecting plate connecting the connecting flange and the top plate of the downwardly open groove portion.

5. The vehicle floor structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, One sill is provided at each of the two side ends of the vehicle, Two floor cross-members are arranged in a row in the vehicle longitudinal direction, The two sills and the two floor cross-members define a quadrilateral opening, The vehicle floor structure includes: A floor panel covering the upper side of the opening; and A ramp device disposed in the opening below the floor panel, The lower surface of the floor panel is supported by the upward flanges of the respective floor cross-members, The ramp device is disposed in the opening in such a manner that the ramp plate can enter and exit the space between the lower surface of the floor panel and the upper end surface of the sill.

6. The vehicle floor structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, One sill is provided at each of the two side ends of the vehicle, One of the sills is disposed at a lower position than the other sill, One end of the floor cross-member is connected to the upper end surface of one of the sills through the connecting member, and the other end of the floor cross-member is connected to the side surface of the other sill, The support member connects one of the sills, the one end of the floor cross-member, and the connecting member.

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