Drive unit mounting structure for vehicle

Abstract

A drive unit mounting structure for a vehicle includes a front cross member disposed on a front side of a drive unit and extended in a lateral direction of the vehicle, a mounting hole, and a mounting bush; a mounting hole formed in the front cross member such that a front end of a drive unit can be inserted into the mounting hole; a mounting bush is mounted in the mounting hole and is mounted to support a front end of the drive unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology regarding a structure for mounting a vehicle drive unit. Background Art

[0002] A built-on-demand purpose-built vehicle (PBV) refers to a vehicle that includes a drive module related to vehicle driving and a life module configured to form various types of passenger and loading spaces according to market demand. The drive module and the life module are provided separately and then combined to form a PBV that meets the market trend of multi-type small-batch production.

[0003] Therefore, there is an advantage in that vehicles that meet market demand can be simply and quickly produced by changing the life module.

[0004] Furthermore, according to a recent trend in environmentally friendly vehicle technology, a drive module has been developed to have a propulsion electric (PE) system as a drive unit and to be equipped with a high voltage battery.

[0005] Typical features of PBV vehicles are: relatively short overall vehicle length, increased wheelbase and a driver's seat as far forward as possible to improve the practicality of the passenger space and expand the cargo loading space while reducing manufacturing costs.

[0006] The above development trend makes it difficult to ensure space in the front of the vehicle to withstand a front-end collision. As a result, the propulsion electric (PE) system, which is a drive unit set at the front of the vehicle, may move backward due to a front-end collision of the vehicle. This increases the risk of injury to passengers and may cause a collision with the high-voltage battery installed behind the PE system.

[0007] The above description of the background technology of the present invention is only to help understand the background of the present invention, and those skilled in the art should not consider that it corresponds to the known prior art. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention provides a drive unit mounting structure for a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle drive unit mounting structure"). When a front-end collision accident of the vehicle occurs, the vehicle drive unit mounting structure effectively suppresses and prevents the rearward movement of the drive unit mounted at the front of the vehicle, thereby improving vehicle safety, reducing passenger injuries and minimizing damage to the high-voltage battery of the vehicle.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle drive unit mounting structure may include: a front cross member, a mounting hole, and a mounting bushing, wherein the front cross member is arranged on the front side of the drive unit and extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle; a mounting hole is formed in the front cross member so that the front end of the drive unit can be inserted into the mounting hole; and a mounting bushing is installed in the mounting hole and is installed to support the front end of the drive unit.

[0010] Both ends of the front cross member may be fixed to side members that are provided at both sides of the vehicle and extend in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0011] The driving unit may have a mounting block configured to form the front end, and the mounting block may be shaped to have a cross section that expands from the front end toward the rear side.

[0012] The mounting block may be formed to have a cross section that expands from a front end toward a rear side, exceeding a size of the mounting hole.

[0013] A plurality of local strength reduced portions may be provided around the mounting hole of the front cross member to induce deformation.

[0014] The reduced-strength portion of the front cross member may be configured as an opening, at least a portion of the opening being open toward the drive unit.

[0015] A plurality of mounting pipes may be provided around the mounting hole of the front cross member and extended in a front-rear direction of the vehicle to mount the mounting bushing.

[0016] The mounting bushing may be inserted to penetrate the front cross member in the front-rear direction, and the mounting bushing may be fixed to the front cross member by a plurality of mounting bolts fastened to a plurality of mounting tubes.

[0017] An aligning protrusion may be integrally formed at a front end of the mounting block to protrude forward such that when the driving unit moves downward to be aligned with the mounting bushing, the aligning protrusion is engaged with an upper surface of the mounting bushing.

[0018] The front end of the mounting block of the drive unit may be coupled to the mounting bushing by a fastening bolt fastened through the mounting bushing mounted on the front cross member.

[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle drive unit mounting structure of a vehicle may include: a mounting block, a front cross member, a mounting bushing and a shock absorbing unit, wherein the mounting block is mounted on the front side of the drive unit; the front cross member is arranged on the front side of the drive unit along the lateral direction of the vehicle; the mounting bushing is engaged to the front side of the mounting block so that the drive unit is fixed to the front cross member in a vibration-isolating state; and the shock absorbing unit is configured to absorb the shock caused by the collision between the front cross member and the mounting block.

[0020] The impact absorbing unit may include a mounting hole formed in the front cross member to provide a space for mounting the mounting bushing, and the mounting block is inserted into the mounting hole and gradually deformed to absorb impact during a collision accident.

[0021] The impact absorbing unit may include a plurality of strength reducing portions partially formed around the mounting hole to induce deformation.

[0022] The strength-reduced portion may be configured as an opening, at least a portion of which is open toward the drive unit.

[0023] The impact absorbing unit may include a variable cross-section portion of the mounting block, the variable cross-section portion being configured to have a cross-section smaller than a diameter of the mounting hole at a front end so as to be inserted into the mounting hole, and the cross-section gradually expands rearward to exceed the diameter of the mounting hole.

[0024] An aligning protrusion may be provided on a front end of the mounting block to protrude toward the mounting bushing to guide an aligned state with the mounting bushing.

[0025] The aligning protrusion may be formed to protrude in an arc shape to surround a rear upper side of the mounting bushing.

[0026] The mounting block may be engaged to the mounting bushing by a fastening bolt fastened through the mounting bushing from the front side of the vehicle.

[0027] A mounting flange may be provided on a front side of the mounting bushing, the front cross member having a plurality of mounting tubes extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle so that mounting bolts are fastened to the mounting tubes through the mounting flange.

[0028] The advantage of the present invention is that it can effectively suppress or prevent the drive unit installed at the front of the vehicle from moving backward due to a front-end collision of the vehicle, which would otherwise increase the possibility of passenger injury and damage the high-voltage battery, thereby further improving vehicle safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through the following detailed description presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 A vehicle drive unit mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0031] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A detailed schematic diagram of the area where the drive unit and the front cross member meet;

[0032] Figure 3 For along Figure 1 Schematic diagram as seen from direction III;

[0033] Figure 4 For along Figure 2 Schematic diagram as seen from direction IV;

[0034] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A perspective view of a drive unit in FIG.

[0035] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A side view of a drive unit in FIG.

[0036] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A bottom view of the drive unit in FIG. 1 ; and

[0037] Figure 8 For along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in the present specification are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar elements are given the same and similar reference numerals, and thus repeated description thereof is omitted.

[0039] The terms “module” and “unit” used for elements in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of convenience in writing the specification only, and do not have different meanings or roles by themselves.

[0040] When describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related known technology will unnecessarily obscure the main points of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted. In addition, the drawings are provided only to facilitate the understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical spirit disclosed herein is not limited to the drawings, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents or replacements thereof are included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0041] Terms including ordinal numbers such as "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by these terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another. When a component, device, element, etc. of the present invention is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, etc., the component, device or element should be considered as "configured to" satisfy the purpose or perform the operation or function.

[0042] In the case where an element is referred to as being "connected" or "joined" to any other element, it should be understood that another element may be disposed between them, and that an element may be directly connected or joined to other elements. Conversely, in the case where an element is "directly connected" or "directly joined" to any other element, it should be understood that no other element exists between them.

[0043] An expression in the singular may include an expression in the plural unless they are obviously different in context.

[0044] As used herein, the expressions “including” or “having” are intended to specify the existence of the mentioned features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts or a combination thereof, and should be interpreted as not excluding the possibility of the existence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, parts or a combination thereof.

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 8 , a vehicle drive unit mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a front cross member 3, a mounting hole 5, and a mounting bushing 7, wherein the front cross member 3 is arranged in front of the drive unit 1 and extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle; the mounting hole 5 is formed in the front cross member 3 so that the front end of the drive unit 1 can be inserted therein; and the mounting bushing 7 is installed in the mounting hole 5 and is installed to support the front end of the drive unit 1.

[0046] In other words, the front portion of the vehicle drive unit 1 is mounted on the front cross member 3 located at the front of the vehicle via the mounting bushing 7 .

[0047] For reference, the drive unit 1 may be a power electronics (PE) system including a drive motor, etc., or may include a conventional internal combustion engine, a transmission, etc.

[0048] Both ends of the front cross member 3 are fixed to side members 9 which are provided on both sides of the vehicle and are elongated in the front-rear direction.

[0049] For reference, in Figure 1 In the embodiment of , the side member 9 includes an upper side member 9 -U and a lower side member 9 -L, and both ends of the front cross member 3 are joined to the lower side member 9 -L.

[0050] Furthermore, as described above, the front side of the drive unit 1 is joined to the front cross member 3 through the mounting bushing 7, and the rear side or another portion of the drive unit 1 may be fixed to a frame, chassis, or the like through a mounting mechanism.

[0051] The drive unit 1 has a mounting block 11 configured to form a front end, and the mounting block 11 is shaped to have a cross section that expands rearward from the front end.

[0052] Specifically, the mounting block 11 is formed to have a cross section that expands from the front end toward the rear, exceeding the size of the mounting hole 5 .

[0053] Therefore, if the front cross member 3 moves rearward by an impact applied toward the rear side of the vehicle during a front end collision of the vehicle, for example, the drive unit 1, which is regarded as a rigid body having a very large inertia, collides with the front cross member 3. The front end of the mounting block 11 of the drive unit 1 is first inserted into the mounting hole 5 of the front cross member 3. Then, the mounting block 11 deforms the mounting hole 5, thereby absorbing the impact energy caused by the collision.

[0054] Thus, during a front-end collision of the vehicle, the front cross member 3 can be prevented from pressing the drive unit 1 backward without buffering (or such pressing can be reduced). Otherwise, the drive unit 1 can deform the dash panel behind it, for example, penetrate into the passenger compartment, thereby injuring passengers or damaging the high-voltage battery.

[0055] A plurality of local strength reduced portions 13 may be provided around the mounting hole 5 of the front cross member 3 to induce deformation.

[0056] In one embodiment, each reduced strength portion 13 of the front cross member 3 may be a cutout hole 15 , at least a portion of which is open toward the drive unit 1 , for example.

[0057] Obviously, the reduced strength portion 13 does not necessarily have to be configured as the opening 15 as described above, but may also be configured as a locally reduced thickness groove.

[0058] Therefore, if the front cross member 3 moves rearward due to a front-end collision of the vehicle as described above, the mounting block 11 further facilitates the deformation of the mounting hole 5 and its surrounding portion, thereby more easily reducing the energy of the front cross member 3 that presses the drive unit 1 rearward, thereby greatly reducing the possibility that the rearward movement of the drive unit 1 will injure passengers or damage the high-voltage battery.

[0059] A plurality of mounting pipes 17 are provided around the mounting hole 5 of the front cross member 3 and extend in the front-rear direction of the front cross member 3 to mount the mounting bushing 7 .

[0060] The mounting bushing 7 is inserted to penetrate the front cross member 3 in the front-rear direction, and is fixed to the front cross member 3 by a plurality of mounting bolts 19 fastened to a plurality of mounting pipes 17 .

[0061] Furthermore, the front end of the mounting block 11 of the drive unit 1 is coupled to the mounting bushing 7 by means of a fastening bolt 21 fastened through the mounting bushing 7 mounted on the front cross member 3 .

[0062] Therefore, the drive unit 1 remains supported on the front cross member 3, thereby isolating the vibration thereof by the mounting bushing 7, thereby making the vehicle passengers feel comfortable and relaxed, and even if the front cross member 3 moves rearward due to a collision accident as described above, it does not move rearward excessively, thereby preventing passenger injury or damage to the high-voltage battery.

[0063] An alignment protrusion 23 is integrally formed at a front end of the mounting block 11 to protrude forward so that when the drive unit 1 is moved downward to be aligned with the mounting bush 7 , the alignment protrusion 23 is engaged with an upper surface of the mounting bush 7 .

[0064] Therefore, when the drive unit 1 is assembled to the mounting bush 7 , the fastening bolts 21 are engaged while the mounting bush 7 and the mounting block 11 are more easily aligned by the alignment protrusions 23 , thereby ensuring easy mounting of the drive unit 1 .

[0065] In another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle drive unit mounting structure for a vehicle may include: a mounting block 11, a front cross member 3, and a mounting bushing 7, wherein the mounting block 11 is mounted on the front side of the drive unit 1; the front cross member 3 is disposed on the front side of the drive unit 1 in the lateral direction of the vehicle; and the mounting bushing 7 is coupled to the front side of the mounting block 11 so that the drive unit 1 is fixed to the front cross member 3 in a vibration-insulated state. The vehicle drive unit mounting structure further includes an impact absorbing unit 25 configured to absorb impact when a collision occurs between the front cross member 3 and the mounting block 11.

[0066] In one embodiment, the impact absorbing unit 25 includes a mounting hole 5 formed in the front cross member 3 to provide a space for mounting the mounting bushing 7 and ensure that in the event of a collision accident, the mounting block 11 is inserted therein and gradually deformed to absorb the impact.

[0067] Furthermore, the impact absorbing unit 25 may include a plurality of strength reducing portions 13 partially formed around the mounting hole 5 to induce deformation.

[0068] In the present embodiment, each strength reduction portion 13 is a cutout hole 15 , at least a portion of which is open toward the drive unit 1 .

[0069] Furthermore, the impact absorbing unit 25 includes a variable cross-section portion 27 of the mounting block 11 configured to have a cross section smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole 5 at the front end to be inserted into the mounting hole 5 and to gradually expand beyond the diameter of the mounting hole 5 toward the rear.

[0070] An alignment protrusion 23 may be provided on a front end of the mounting block 11 to protrude toward the mounting bushing 7 to guide alignment with the mounting bushing 7 .

[0071] In the present embodiment, the aligning protrusion 23 is formed to protrude in an arc shape so as to surround the upper rear side of the mounting bush 7 .

[0072] The mounting block 11 is joined to the mounting bushing 7 by fastening bolts 21 fastened through the mounting bushing 7 from the front of the vehicle.

[0073] The mounting flange 29 is provided on the front side of the mounting bush 7. The front cross member 3 has a plurality of mounting tubes 17 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle so that the mounting bolts 19 are fastened to the mounting tubes 17 through the mounting flange 29.

[0074] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various improvements and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drive unit mounting structure for a vehicle, comprising: a front cross member which is disposed on the front side of the drive unit and is elongated in the lateral direction of the vehicle; a mounting hole formed in the front cross member such that a front end of the drive unit is configured to be inserted into the mounting hole; as well as A mounting bushing is mounted in the mounting hole and is configured to support a front end of the drive unit.

2. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein: Both ends of the front cross member are fixed to side members that are provided at both sides of the vehicle and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

3. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein: The drive unit has a mounting block configured to form the front end, and the mounting block is shaped to have a cross section that expands from the front end toward the rear side.

4. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein: The mounting block is formed to have a cross section that expands from the front end toward the rear side and has a size larger than a size of the mounting hole.

5. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein: A plurality of local strength-reducing portions are provided around the mounting hole of the front cross member to induce deformation.

6. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein: The plurality of local reduced-strength portions of the front cross member are configured as openings, and at least a portion of the openings are open toward the drive unit.

7. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein: A plurality of mounting pipes are provided around the mounting hole of the front cross member and extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle to mount the mounting bushing.

8. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 7, wherein: The mounting bushing is inserted to penetrate the front cross member in the front-rear direction, and the mounting bushing is fixed to the front cross member by a plurality of mounting bolts fastened to a plurality of mounting tubes.

9. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein: An aligning protrusion is integrally formed at a front end of the mounting block to protrude forward such that when the driving unit moves downward to be aligned with the mounting bushing, the aligning protrusion is engaged with an upper surface of the mounting bushing.

10. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein: The front end of the mounting block of the drive unit is coupled to the mounting bushing by a fastening bolt fastened through the mounting bushing mounted on the front cross member.

11. A drive unit mounting structure for a vehicle, comprising: a mounting block mounted on the front side of the drive unit; a front cross member disposed at a front side of the drive unit in a transverse direction of the vehicle; a mounting bushing engaged to a front side of the mounting block so that the drive unit is fixed to the front cross member in a vibration-insulated state; as well as The impact absorbing unit is configured to absorb an impact caused by a collision between the front cross member and the mounting block.

12. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 11, wherein: The impact absorbing unit includes a mounting hole formed in the front cross member to provide a space for mounting the mounting bushing, and during a collision accident, the mounting block is inserted into the mounting hole and gradually deformed to absorb impact.

13. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 12, wherein: The impact absorbing unit includes a plurality of strength reducing portions partially formed around the mounting hole to induce deformation.

14. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 13, wherein: The strength-reduced portion is configured as an opening, at least a portion of which is open toward the drive unit.

15. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 12, wherein: The impact absorbing unit includes a variable cross-section portion of the mounting block, the variable cross-section portion is configured to have a cross-section smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole at the front end to be inserted into the mounting hole, and the variable cross-section portion is configured to gradually expand rearward and have a size larger than the diameter of the mounting hole.

16. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein: An alignment protrusion is provided on a front end of the mounting block to protrude toward the mounting bushing, thereby guiding an alignment state with the mounting bushing.

17. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 16, wherein: The aligning protrusion is formed to protrude in an arc shape to surround a rear upper side of the mounting bushing.

18. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 15, wherein: The mounting block is engaged to the mounting bushing by a fastening bolt fastened through the mounting bushing from the front side of the vehicle.

19. The drive unit mounting structure according to claim 12, wherein: A mounting flange is provided on a front side of the mounting bushing, and the front cross member has a plurality of mounting tubes extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle so that mounting bolts are fastened to the mounting tubes through the mounting flange.

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