VEHICLE BODY FLOOR STRUCTURE

Abstract

The creation of a body-floor structure that is advantageous for utilizing a remaining floor tunnel section as a reinforcement structure in conjunction with a floor transverse element, ensuring a battery storage space. A body floor structure comprises a front floor tunnel terminating at a rear end in the center of the vehicle interior, a rear floor tunnel extending rearward from a front wall section behind the front floor tunnel, and a front and a rear floor cross member, each having an end in the vehicle width direction connected to a body frame member, the rear floor cross member crossing above a front end of the rear floor tunnel and extending in the vehicle width direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle body floor structure of a vehicle. [Technical background]

[0002] Typically, a floor tunnel is formed in the center of a vehicle's floor, extending longitudinally. This floor tunnel is a fundamental structure required to accommodate the driveshaft of a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle, as is commonly built. Even in front-engine, front-wheel-drive vehicles, the floor tunnel still serves as a reinforcing structure for a body panel and also provides a space for an exhaust pipe.

[0003] In recent years, however, the importance of the reinforcement structure has decreased due to improvements in body design, while providing space for a battery with increased capacity due to electrification of the power transmission, for example in electric and hybrid vehicles, has become a critical challenge. For example, patent specification 1 shows a structure in which the floor tunnel terminates in front of a seat, while a floor below the seat is flat and can thus serve as a storage space for a battery pack. [List of printed materials][Patent literature]

[0004] Patent specification 1: JP 7197254 B2 [Disclosure of the invention][Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0005] By partially eliminating a floor tunnel and flattening the floor in the vehicle interior, a floor cross member, which is usually divided into a left and a right part by the floor tunnel, can be replaced by a floor cross member that extends across the interior floor across the entire width of the vehicle, and by connecting the opposite ends of the floor cross member with side sills that form a body structure on the underside of the body, a space for a battery can be created while guaranteeing the rigidity of the vehicle body floor section.

[0006] However, according to patent specification 1, challenges remain insofar as a floor tunnel section and the floor cross element are separate and the floor tunnel section cannot be used as a reinforcement structure in conjunction with the floor cross element.

[0007] The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle body floor structure which is advantageous because it allows the use of a remaining floor tunnel section as a reinforcement structure in conjunction with a floor transverse element, while providing a battery receiving space. [Means of solving the problems]

[0008] To solve the above problems, a vehicle body floor structure according to the present invention includes: a floor panel that defines a floor area of ​​a vehicle interior; a front floor tunnel that extends upwards from a center of the floor panel in the direction of the vehicle's width, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a front part of the vehicle interior to the rear and terminating at a rear end in the middle in the direction of the vehicle's width; a rear floor tunnel extending longitudinally from a front edge section behind the rear end of the front floor tunnel; and a front floor cross member and a rear floor cross member extending in the vehicle width direction on the floor panel and each comprising a front wall, a rear wall and an upper wall extending between an upper end of the front wall and an upper end of the rear wall, furthermore flange sections formed at a lower end of the front wall and a lower end of the rear wall respectively and each having a hat-shaped cross-section, and furthermore each connected at one end in the vehicle width direction to a body frame part, wherein the rear floor cross member is arranged at a distance behind the front floor cross member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the rear floor cross element crosses above a front end of the rear floor tunnel and extends in the direction of the vehicle width. [Advantageous mode of operation of the invention]

[0009] As described above, a vehicle body floor structure according to the invention comprises a structure in which a front floor cross member extends transversely across the floor of a vehicle interior over the entire width of the vehicle and intersects a rear end of the front floor tunnel, wherein behind the front floor cross member is a rear floor cross member which extends across the floor over the entire width of the vehicle and intersects a front end of a rear floor tunnel, i.e., it is a structure in which the respective components are arranged in an overlapping manner. With this structure, the advantage is achieved that the front and rear floor cross members, the rear end of the front floor tunnel, and the front end of the rear floor tunnel interact to form a highly rigid floor structure.Furthermore, a receiving space is created in the floor between the front floor cross member and the rear floor cross member, which is surrounded by high-strength elements across the width of the vehicle, and this space is suitable for housing a battery. [Brief description of the drawings] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle body floor structure according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a top view of the vehicle body floor structure of the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Fig. 2. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the close-up of a rear end of a front floor tunnel with one seat support removed. Fig. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the close-up area of ​​the rear end of the front floor tunnel, from which an upper support has been removed. Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the close area of ​​the rear end of the front floor tunnel, with a front floor cross-section removed. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the close-up area of ​​a front end of a rear floor tunnel when viewed from behind. Fig. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the close-up area of ​​the front end of the rear floor tunnel with the rear support removed, viewed from behind. Fig. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the close-up area of ​​the front end of the rear floor tunnel, from which a rear floor cross element has been removed, viewed from behind. Fig. Figure 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the Fig. 3. [Method of carrying out the invention]

[0010] In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] It should be noted that in the following description - unless otherwise stated - the terms Front and Rear refer to the front and rear areas of a vehicle longitudinal direction (FR), while Left and Right refer to the left and right sides respectively in the vehicle width direction (W) and a vertical height axis means a vertical height in the vehicle height direction (H).

[0012] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the following description assumes that each panel and component of the vehicle body floor section is formed from a metal plate, in particular a steel plate, by pressing. It is also assumed that each panel and component that is "connected" is joined by welding, in particular by spot welding (resistance spot welding or laser spot welding). However, this does not exclude other configurations using different materials, manufacturing processes, or joining methods. (Basic structure of the vehicle body floor section)

[0013] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are a left and a right floor plate 10, 10, which are an underside of a vehicle body, connected on opposite sides to side sills 12, 12. The side sills 12, 12 are body frame elements that extend longitudinally FR to a lower part of the vehicle body and typically have a closed cross-sectional structure, wherein an outer side sill element has a hat-shaped cross-section that projects outwards in the vehicle width direction and forms an outer surface of the lower part of the vehicle body, and an inner side sill element with a hat-shaped cross-section projects towards the center in the vehicle width direction and is connected directly or via a reinforcing means and extends in a longitudinal direction.

[0014] Floor-side elements 11, 11, extending in the longitudinal direction FR of the vehicle, are connected to the undersides of the floor plates 10, 10 adjacent to the center of the side sills 12, 12 in the width direction of the vehicle. The floor-side elements 11, 11 have an inverted hat-shaped cross-section, are connected to the undersides of the floor plates 10 and 10 in flange sections on opposite sides, and have a closed cross-section extending longitudinally on the inside. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the floor side elements 11, 11 are directed towards the rear of the vehicle and run diagonally, with their distance between them increasing in the top view.

[0015] A front and a rear floor cross element 21 and 22 extend in the vehicle width direction W between the left and right side sills 12 and 12 and are arranged offset from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction FR and are connected to the upper surfaces of the floor plates 10, 10. The front and the rear floor cross elements 21 and 22 have a hat-shaped cross-section and a closed cross-section that extends inwards in the vehicle width direction W defined on the inside.

[0016] The left and right floor plates 10 and 10 each contain a front floor section 101 in front of the front floor cross element 21, an intermediate floor section 102 between the front floor cross element 21 and the rear floor cross element 22, and opposite side sections 103 of a rear floor section behind the rear floor cross element 22, these sections forming a generally flat floor surface at a low height, as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown.

[0017] In contrast, a raised surface 104 is formed in the middle of the rear floor section in the vehicle width direction W. A front part of the raised surface 104 runs continuously with the intermediate floor section 102 over an inclined surface 105, and opposite sides of the raised surface 104 in the vehicle width direction W run continuously with the opposite side sections 103 over the inclined surface 106. Therefore, the rear floor section has a three-dimensional shape with the opposite side sections 103 forming surfaces of low height on opposite sides, as well as the central raised surface 104. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, the left and right base plates 10, 10 are each continuously extending from the front front part 101 to the rear base part in a substantially constant manner, with each plate being formed from a blank by means of pressing forms.

[0018] In the middle between the left and right floor panels 10, 10 in the vehicle width direction W, there is a front floor tunnel 13, which projects upwards, extends from the front part of the vehicle interior in the longitudinal direction to the rear, and terminates near the front floor cross element 21 in the middle of the vehicle interior. The front floor tunnel 13 has a hat-shaped cross-section that bulges upwards in the vehicle height direction H relative to the floor panels 10, 10 and has a front end 135 that slopes upwards along the (not shown) dashboard towards the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0019] A substantially flat floor center panel 15 is located behind the front floor tunnel 13 in the center, in the vehicle width direction W, between the left floor panel 10 and the right floor panel 10, and between the front floor cross member 21 and the rear floor cross member 22. This configuration forms a flat section in the floor center section 102 between the front floor cross member 21 and the rear floor cross member 22, extending across the entire width in the vehicle width direction W. This flat section defines a storage space 150 for a battery 7 (a HEV battery for powering a motor-generator for a hybrid vehicle) below the left and right seats 6 (front seats).

[0020] Furthermore, a rear floor tunnel 16, extending longitudinally from the rear floor cross member 22, is located behind the floor center plate 15 in the middle in the vehicle width direction W between the left floor plate 10 and the right floor plate 10, and a rear support 24 is connected between the upper and rear walls of the rear floor cross member 22 and a top surface of the rear floor tunnel 16 behind the rear cross member. As explained above, since the raised surface 104 is formed in the middle of the rear floor section in the vehicle width direction, the rear floor tunnel 16 has a lower relative height to the floor plate 10 (104) than the front floor tunnel 13.

[0021] The above construction forms a rear underfloor space 160 below the rear floor section through the central rear floor tunnel 16 and the raised area 104 on opposite sides of the rear floor tunnel 16. As can be seen from the Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 3, the rear underbody space 160 serves as a receiving space for a silencer (its main chamber), which is located in the middle of an exhaust pipe 8.

[0022] In the vehicle body floor structure of this example, opposite ends of the rear floor cross element 22 are connected with sliding rail front end receiving sections 128 for a left and a right sliding door, which are formed in a curved shape starting from the left and the right side sill 12, 12 in the middle in the vehicle width direction, whereby the rear floor cross element 22 has a shorter length in the vehicle width direction W than the front floor cross element 21.

[0023] On the front floor cross member 21, a pair of seat supports 25 and 26 are provided for attaching the front parts 65 of the sliding rails 66 of the left and right seats 6 (front seats). On the rear floor cross member 22, seat supports 23 are provided in the center, in the direction of the vehicle width, for attaching the rear parts 67 of the sliding rails 66. As shown schematically in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, outer seat supports 28 are arranged in the vehicle width direction on a (not shown) plate which accommodates upper areas of the seat rail front end receiving sections 128 (of the left and right sliding door). (Tunnel back end as back end of the front floor tunnel)

[0024] As in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7, in particular Fig. Figure 6 (in which the front floor cross element 21 is omitted) shows a rear end of the front floor tunnel 13, which crosses the front floor cross element 21, consisting of a tunnel back end part 14 separated from a main part of the front floor tunnel 13.

[0025] The tunnel rear end section 14 is connected to the rear end of the front bottom tunnel 13 at a front edge section (141, 142, 143) which has the same cross-sectional shape as the rear end of the front bottom tunnel 13. That is, an upper section of the front edge section is connected to a rear end of an upper wall 133 of the front bottom tunnel 13, and side sections 141 and 142 of the front edge section are connected to side walls 131 and 132 of the front bottom tunnel 13.

[0026] In the side walls 131 and 132 of the front floor tunnel 13, the upper section is gently inclined relative to the lower section 131, and similarly, in the side sections 141 and 142 of the front edge section of the tunnel rear end section 14, the upper section 142 is gently inclined relative to the lower section 141. Furthermore, a flange section 113 located at an edge of the floor plate 10 is connected to the lower ends of the side wall subsection 131 of the front floor tunnel 13 and the lower section 141 of the tunnel rear end section 14.

[0027] The tunnel rear section 14 includes a tunnel back wall 146, which defines an inclined surface extending to the floor surface (low-height surface) behind the front edge sections (141, 142, 143). A central section of the tunnel back wall 146 has a sloping surface that descends rearward from the upper section 143, and opposite side sections 147 of the tunnel back wall 146 have surfaces inclined diagonally to the left and right, corresponding to the inclinations of the side walls 131 and 132 of the front floor tunnel 13 and the front edge sections 141 and 142.

[0028] Furthermore, the tunnel back section 14 includes a flat section (144, 145) including a rear edge section 145 extending along the floor surface from the lower area of ​​the tunnel back wall 146, and side edge sections 144 extending laterally. The rear edge section 145 overlaps with and is connected to a front edge section 155 of the floor center plate 15 adjacent behind the tunnel back section 14. The tunnel back section 14 is also connected to the floor plates 10, 10 at the side edge sections 144, overlapping with and extending from the undersides of the left and right floor plates 10, 10.

[0029] The flange section 113 of the base plate 10 terminates in the opposite side sections 147 of the tunnel rear wall 146, and the edges 114 in the middle in the vehicle width direction between the base plates 10, which extend rearward from the side sections 147, include the flat part (144, 145) of the tunnel rear wall part 146 and a flat edge along a top surface of the base center plate 15.

[0030] As in the Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the side edge sections 144 of the tunnel rear end section 14 coincide with side edge sections 134 of the front floor tunnel 13 and side edge sections 154 of the floor center plate 15, and they extend to the underside of the floor plate 10. The side edge sections 134, 144 and 154 have a series of inverted hat-shaped cross-sections 138-158, which are designed to project downwards and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the side edge sections 134, 144 and 154 are connected to the underside of the floor plate 10 to form a series of closed cross-sections (138-158) that extend in one direction of travel from the left and right side edge sections 134 of the front floor tunnel 13 to the left and right side edge sections 154 of the floor center plate 15.

[0031] Although not shown in the drawings, in a preferred form a reinforcing bead projecting upwards is formed at the edge of the base plate 10 above the inverted hat-shaped cross-sections 138-158 of the side edge sections 134, 144 and 154, and this reinforcing bead enlarges the closed cross-section upwards. (Overlapping structure of the front floor tunnel and the front floor cross element)

[0032] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 5, the front floor cross element 21 contains a cutout formed in a front wall 210 of the front floor cross element 21, which is larger than a cross-section that crosses the tunnel rear wall 146 of the tunnel rear end part 14, so that the front floor cross element 21 crosses above the tunnel rear end part 14 and extends in the vehicle width direction W.

[0033] The cutout 210 is partially designed relative to the height of the front wall 211 such that the remaining portion of the front wall 211a extends above the cutout in the direction of the vehicle's width. Since the remaining portion of the front wall 211a is present, a higher rigidity of the floor cross element can be ensured than with a mold lacking this remaining portion of the front wall 211a.

[0034] Furthermore, in the vehicle width direction, partitions 216, 216, which are connected to inner surfaces of the front wall 211, a rear wall 212 and an upper wall 213, are provided in a portion of the front floor cross-section 21 in which the cutout 210 is formed, in order to subdivide the cross-section of the front floor cross-section 21. The partitions 216, 216 are accordingly connected to fastening sections of the seat supports 25, 25 according to Fig. 1 equipped and have the function of a reinforcement structure for the fastening sections of the seat supports 25, 25.

[0035] The front floor cross element 21 is connected to the floor plate 10 in a front flange section 214, extending forward from a lower end of the front wall 211, and a rear flange section 215, extending forward from a lower end of the rear wall 212, except for an overlapping portion. In the front edge section 155 of the floor center plate 15, to which the rear edge section 155 of the tunnel rear end section 14 is connected, three parts are joined together, comprising the edges and the rear flange section 215.

[0036] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the rear edge section 145 of the tunnel back end part 14 preferably extends rearward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle beyond the rear flange section 215 of the front floor transverse element 51 and is connected to the floor center plate 15 in this extension section (145). (Connecting structure between the upper wall of the front floor tunnel and the front floor cross element)

[0037] In the cutout 210, a gap is formed between the front floor cross element 21 and the tunnel back section 14 (the tunnel rear wall 146), and the front floor cross element 21 and the tunnel back section 14 are not directly connected to each other. Therefore, an upper support 23 is located at the upper areas of the front floor cross element 21 and the front floor tunnel 13 (the tunnel back section 14), connecting the upper areas.

[0038] As in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the upper support 23 includes an upper wall section 231, which is connected to the upper wall 213 of the front floor cross element 21, and a front wall section 232, which extends downwards from a front edge of the upper wall section 231 and is connected to the front wall 211 of the front floor cross element 21 on opposite sides of the cutout 210, has an L-shaped cross-section and has a front edge section 233, which extends forwards from a center of the front wall section 232 and is connected to the upper wall 133 of the front floor tunnel 13, to which the tunnel back end part 14 is connected.

[0039] Furthermore, by the presence of a side edge section 234 connected to the side wall 132 of the front floor tunnel 13 on each side of the front edge section 233 of the upper support 23 in the vehicle width direction, the front floor transverse element 21 is connected to the upper wall 133 and the side wall 132 on each side of the upper wall 133 of the front floor tunnel 13, with which the tunnel rear end part 14 is connected via the upper support 23.

[0040] This means that the front floor cross element 21 is rigidly connected to three surfaces on the front floor tunnel 13 and the tunnel rear end part 14 via the upper support 23, which is advantageous for ensuring the stiffness of a vehicle body floor part.

[0041] The upper support 23, together with the seat supports 25 and 26, has been pre-connected to the upper wall 213 and the front wall 211 of the front floor cross element 21, prepared as a front floor cross element assembly, and has preferably been connected to the front floor tunnel 13 (the tunnel rear part 14) when the front floor cross element assembly was connected to the side sills 12, 12 and the floor plates 10, 10. (Structure of the intersection between rear floor tunnel and rear floor cross element)

[0042] The structure of the intersection between the rear floor tunnel 16 and the rear floor cross element 22 is described below based on the Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 to Fig. 10 described.

[0043] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the rear floor section of the floor plate 10 includes a raised surface 104, formed in the center in the vehicle width direction on the opposite side sections 103 of the rear floor section, which forms the floor plane continuously with the intermediate section 102. As already mentioned, the front part of the raised surface 104 extends continuously with the intermediate floor section 102 over the sloping surface 105. In particular, the sloping surface 105 includes a lower sloping surface section 102, which is concealed beneath the rear floor cross member 22, a flat surface 107, which connects continuously to the rear section, and an upper sloping surface section 105, formed in a stepped shape, which includes the flat surface 107 between the lower sloping surface section 108 and the upper sloping surface section. The flat surface 107 is a surface to which a rear flange section 227 of the rear floor cross member 22 is connected.

[0044] The rear floor tunnel 16, corresponding to the shape of the rear floor section as described above, includes a front edge section 165 connected to a rear edge section 156 of the floor center plate 15, a front slope 161 corresponding to the lower part of the sloped surface continuously behind the front edge section 165, a flat section 162 corresponding to a flat surface continuously behind the front slope 161, a slope 163 corresponding to an upper region of the slope continuously behind the flat section 162, a flat upper wall 164 continuously behind the slope 163, and continuous side walls on opposite sides of a section from the front slope 161 to the upper wall 164, formed in a stepped shape, which includes the flat section 162 at the intermediate height position between the front edge section 165 and the upper wall 164, connected at side edge sections 166.the side walls facing away from each other from lower areas extend laterally in a state in which the side edge 114 overlaps with a side edge 116 of the base plate 10.

[0045] As in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, a rear floor cross-section lower section 29 is located transversely to the rear floor tunnel 16 in a lower region of the rear floor cross-section 22. The rear floor cross-section lower section 29 comprises a lower wall 291 and a rear wall 292, which extends upwards from a rear end of the lower wall 291, has a substantially L-shaped cross-section extending in the vehicle width direction, and is connected to the underside of the rear floor tunnel 16 by a front flange 295 extending forwards from a front end of the lower wall 291, with a rear flange 296 extending rearwards from an upper end of the rear wall 292 forming a closed cross-section with the parts.

[0046] The rear edge section 156 of the floor center plate 15 and the front edge section 165 of the rear floor tunnel 16 are connected to each other as two pieces. In a front edge base 165e of the rear floor tunnel 16 adjacent to the rear floor center plate 15, a front flange section 225 of the rear floor transverse element 22 overlaps with the front edge base 165e, and the front flange 295 of the rear floor transverse element 29 is connected to each other below the front edge base 165e, so that a total of three parts are connected to each other.

[0047] Furthermore, the rear flange 296 of the rear floor cross element lower part 29 is connected to a rear flange section 226 of the rear floor cross element 22 in the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16, so that three pieces are connected together.

[0048] The front edge base 165e of the rear floor tunnel 16 projects upwards from the front edge section 165 over a stepped area with a dimension corresponding to the thickness of the floor center plate 15, and in the rear edge section 156 of the floor center plate 15 a curved edge 156c is formed centrally in the vehicle width direction to distinguish itself from the front edge base 165e, while edges (156) remain on opposite sides of the front edge base 165e of the rear floor tunnel 16 in the vehicle width direction. Corresponding to the design of the front flange section 225 of the rear floor transverse element 22, this runs largely flat along the underside of the floor.

[0049] In contrast, for the rear flange sections 226 and 227 of the rear floor transverse element 22, a floor surface of this area is formed by a stepped shape, which includes a low-height surface (103) on opposite sides in the vehicle width direction, furthermore a flat surface 107, which is raised in the middle by the slope of the lower part of the sloped surface 108, and the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16, which projects in the middle of the flat surface 107. Therefore, as Fig. Figure 8 shows, relative to the rear flange sections 227, which extend on opposite sides in the direction of the vehicle width and are connected to the floor plates 10 (103, 107), the rear flange section 226, which is connected in the middle to the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16, is formed at a higher location than the area (103) of low height.

[0050] Therefore, in the rear floor cross element 22, the front slope 161 of the rear floor tunnel 16 is accommodated below the rear floor cross element 22 with a gap formed under the rear flange section 226; in other words, the rear floor cross element 22 is arranged such that it crosses and is connected to the front slope 161 of the rear floor tunnel 16.

[0051] The rear floor element lower section 29 is located in a part that excludes the opposite end sections 103 of the rear floor section, and in an intermediate section W in the vehicle width direction within the rear floor tunnel 16, a flat surface 107 on opposite sides of the rear floor tunnel 16 and the sloping surface lower section 108, as well as opposite ends in the rear floor transverse element lower section 29 in the vehicle width direction, are closed with a support that forms a separate structural element. Therefore, the rear floor transverse element lower section 29 extends in the vehicle width direction in at least one wide area of ​​the floor center plate 15.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in the rear floor transverse element 22 a top wall 223 at approximately the same height from one end to the other in the vehicle width direction and can change the cross-sectional shape near the seat support 27, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, an upper wall 224 in the middle, in the direction of the vehicle's width, can be located at a higher point than the upper wall 223 at either of the far ends, also in the direction of the vehicle's width. With this design, the change in the cross-section of a rear wall 222 due to the rise of the rear flange section 226 is minimized. (Connecting structure between rear floor tunnel and rear floor cross element)

[0053] In the intersection between the rear floor tunnel 16 and the rear floor cross element 22, including the basic structure described above, the rear support 24 is provided to improve the bond strength and stiffness of this part and to connect the upper wall 224 of the rear floor cross element 22 with the upper wall 164 of the rear floor tunnel 16.

[0054] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the rear support 24 includes an upper wall section 243 including an upper wall front section 244, which is connected to the upper wall 224 of the rear floor transverse element 22, as well as side wall sections 242 which extend downwards from opposite side edges of the upper wall section 243, it forms a basic shape with a hat-shaped cross-section which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and it is connected to the upper wall 164 and the slope 163 of the rear floor tunnel 16 in a flange section 247 which extends laterally from a lower edge of the side wall section 242.Furthermore, the rear support 24 is connected to the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16 via the rear flange section 226 of the rear floor transverse element 22 in the lowest area 247b of the flange section 247, formed in a step shape along the formation of the rear floor tunnel 16, so that a total of three pieces are connected together.

[0055] Furthermore, behind the center a concave section 246 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the width direction of the upper wall section 243 of the rear support 24, and the latter is also connected to the upper wall 164 of the rear floor tunnel 16 in a floor area of ​​the concave section 246.

[0056] In the upper wall section 243 along the upper wall front section 244 of the rear support 24 an opening 240 is formed, which allows access for connecting means to connect the rear flange section 226 of the rear floor transverse element 22 with the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16.

[0057] In the preferred embodiment, the rear support 24, together with the seat support 27, is pre-connected to the rear floor cross member 22 to form a rear floor cross member assembly (22, 24, 27), and the connecting means are accessible to the rear flange section 226, which is covered by the rear support 24, through the opening 240 when the rear floor cross member assembly is connected to the rear floor section, including the floor plates 10, 10 and the rear floor tunnel 16. Examples of the connecting means include a spot welding gun for performing resistance welding and a laser beam for performing laser spot welding.

[0058] The seat support 27 is designed as a box shape, comprising a front wall 271, a rear wall 272, side walls 273 and 274 and an upper wall 277, connected to a front wall 221 and the rear wall 222 of the rear floor cross element 22 via lower parts of the front wall 271 and the rear wall 272, and connected to the upper wall 224 of the rear floor cross element 22 at flange areas of the lower parts of the side walls 273 and 274.

[0059] Among the components that form the vehicle body floor section, the plate thicknesses of vehicle frame parts such as the floor side panel 11, the side sill 12, the front floor cross member 21 and the rear floor cross member 22 and the plate thicknesses of supports (fastening element, reinforcing element) such as the upper support 23, the rear support 24 and the seat supports 25, 26, 27 and 28 are greater than the plate thicknesses of the respective plates that form the floor surface, for example the floor panel 10, the front floor tunnel 13, the tunnel rear end part 14, the floor center panel 15 and the rear floor tunnel 16.

[0060] As stated above, the plate thickness of the tunnel back section 14 and / or the floor center plate 15 is greater than the plate thickness of the other plates and can be equal to the plate thickness of a support group or a center plate thickness. Therefore, the tunnel back section 14 can be designed as a back section reinforcement element or as a tunnel back section support, and / or the floor center plate 15 can be designed as a floor center reinforcement.

[0061] Several reinforcing ridges are formed on the floor center plate 15, extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The example shown depicts a concave ridge, but a convex ridge can also be provided. Forming such a reinforcing ridge ensures the surface stiffness of the floor center plate 15. In particular, it offers the advantage that a reinforcing structure extending longitudinally in the center of the body floor can be designed as an alternative structural element of the floor tunnel between the front floor tunnel 13 and the rear floor tunnel 16. (Basic structure and mode of operation)

[0062] As explained above, the vehicle body floor structure according to this invention can form a high-strength floor structure and has the advantage that body deformation in a vehicle collision or the like can be avoided according to a configuration in which the front floor cross element 21 extends seamlessly over a vehicle interior floor across the entire width of the vehicle and crosses the rear end (14) of the front floor tunnel 13 and the parts in question are rigidly connected to each other at the intersection point, and furthermore, behind the intersection point, the rear floor cross element 22 extends seamlessly over the vehicle interior floor across the entire width of the vehicle and crosses the front end (the front slope 161, the flat section 162) of the rear floor tunnel 16, these parts being rigidly connected to each other at the intersection point.

[0063] Furthermore, a storage space secured by a high-strength component is formed on the floor between the front floor cross element 21 and the rear floor cross element 22, which are connected to the body frame parts (12) on opposite sides in the direction of vehicle width, and which is preferably used as a battery compartment.

[0064] Furthermore, the front floor cross-section element 21 is located at a point where it intersects (overlaps) the rear end (14) of the front floor tunnel 13, and the rear floor cross-section element 22 is arranged such that it intersects (overlaps) the front slope 161 of the rear floor tunnel 16. This configuration widens the cross-section of the rear end (14) of the front floor tunnel 13 at the front floor cross-section element 21, and widens the cross-section of the front slope 161 of the rear floor tunnel 16 at the rear floor cross-section element 22. Compared to a non-overlapping configuration, the front tunnel underbody space 130 is extended rearward, the rear underbody space 160 is extended forward, and the efficiency of the vehicle interior space is increased.

[0065] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, for example, if an exhaust gas purification device 81 (a catalyst) of an exhaust system 8 or a secondary silencer is located within the front tunnel underspace 130, the routing of an exhaust pipe 63 extending rearward from the catalyst 81 is advantageously facilitated, and if the silencer 82 (the main chamber) of the exhaust system 8 is located in the rear underfloor space 160, the routing of the exhaust pipe 83 extending from the silencer 82 is advantageously facilitated.

[0066] Alternatively, compared to the design without overlap, the front floor cross element 21 can be positioned further forward, while the rear floor cross element 22 can be positioned further back, so that the flat floor space 15 between the front floor cross element 21 and the rear floor cross element 22 can be extended forward and backward.

[0067] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, for example, when the battery 7 (the HEV battery) is arranged between the front floor cross member 21 and the rear floor cross member 22, the space for the battery 7 is extended forwards and backwards, and a larger battery can advantageously be accommodated. In this case, the longitudinal stroke of the front floor cross member 21 and the rear floor cross member 22 is less than the longitudinal width of each component, and the floor space 150 is extended forwards and backwards across the entire width of the vehicle, thereby effectively increasing the available space.

[0068] Furthermore, in a structure with the essentially flat floor center plate 15 including the front edge section 155, which is connected to the rear edge section 145 of the front floor tunnel 13, and the rear edge section 156, which is connected to the front edge section 165 of the rear floor tunnel 16, and between the front edge section 155 and the rear edge section 156 for the left and right floor plates 10, 10, the advantage is achieved that a given vehicle body design in which the front and rear floor tunnels are connected can be used, and that a subdivided structure of front and rear floor tunnels can be introduced with only a minimal necessary design change.

[0069] By designing the central floor plate 15, which has a lower structural strength than the front and rear floor tunnels 13 (14) and 16, as a component separate from the left and right floor plates 10, 10, the thickness of the central floor plate 15 can be greater than the thickness of the left and right floor plates 10, 10, which has the advantage of compensating for a decrease in structural strength.

[0070] In a preferred aspect of the invention, the bond strength and stiffness of the interface between the rear floor tunnel 16 and the rear floor cross element 22 are advantageously improved by a structure in which the rear support 24, which connects the upper wall 164 adjacent to the front slope 61 of the rear floor tunnel 16 with the upper wall 224 of the rear floor cross element 22.

[0071] With respect to the rear support 24, the rear floor cross element 22 and the rear floor tunnel 16 are rigidly connected to each other in a three-dimensional manner by the opposing side wall sections 242, which fill the space between the rear floor cross element 22 and the rear floor tunnel 16 by means of the inclined surface 163 in front of the upper wall 164, and a strong body floor structure can be achieved in the rear body floor section, in which the rear floor cross element 22 and the rear floor tunnel 16 interact.

[0072] In a preferred aspect of the invention, the front end of the rear floor tunnel 16, the flat section 162 to which the rear flange section 226 of the rear floor cross element 22 is connected, is formed in a stepped shape at the intermediate height position between the upper wall 164 and the front edge section 165 of the rear floor tunnel 16, and the rear flange section 226 of the rear floor cross element 22 is formed at a higher position than the rear flange section 227, which is connected to the floor surface located on opposite sides of the flat section 162 of the rear floor tunnel 16 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, a connection structure is advantageously possible in which the rear floor cross element 22 and the rear floor tunnel 16 intersect, while the cross-section of the rear wall 222 of the rear floor cross element 22 remains unchanged.

[0073] According to the above description, the shape described as flat can also be an "essentially" flat design and contain some irregularities.

[0074] Although embodiments of the invention have been explained above, the invention is not limited to these embodiments; rather, modifications and changes can be made on the basis of the technical concept of the invention within the scope of protection of the invention. [List of reference symbols] 10 Base plate 12 side sills (body frame part) 13 front floor tunnel 14 Tunnel back section 15 Base plate 16 rear floor tunnel 21 front floor cross element 22 rear floor cross member 23 upper beam 24 rear carrier 29 rear floor cross element lower part 130 front tunnel underpass 131, 132 side wall 133 Upper wall 134 Page margin section 135 Front end (of the front floor tunnel) 141, 142 Page section (front margin section) 143 upper section (front edge section) 144 Page margin section 145 rear edge section 146 Tunnel back wall 150 storage space 154 Side wall section 155 front edge section (of the floor center plate) 156 rear edge section 160 rear underbody space 161 front slope 162 Flat section 164 Upper wall 165 front edge section 165e front edge base 166 Page margin section 211 Front wall 211a Front wall remnant 213 Upper wall (of the front floor cross element) 231 upper wall section (of the upper beam) 232 front wall section (of the upper beam) 233 front edge section (of the upper support) 234 Side margin section (of the upper support) 243 upper wall section (of the upper beam) 244 Upper wall front section QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 7197254 B2

[0004]

Claims

[1] Vehicle body floor structure, comprising: a floor plate (10) that defines a floor area of ​​a vehicle interior; a front floor tunnel (13) which extends upwards from a center of the floor plate (10) in the direction of the vehicle width, in order to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle from a front part of the vehicle interior to the rear and to terminate at a rear end in the middle in the direction of the vehicle width; a rear floor tunnel (16) extending longitudinally from a front edge section behind the rear end of the front floor tunnel to the rear of the vehicle; and a front floor cross element (21) and a rear floor cross element (22) extending in the vehicle width direction on the floor plate (10) and each comprising a front wall (211), a rear wall (212) and an upper wall (213) extending between an upper end of the front wall (211) and an upper end of the rear wall (212), furthermore flange sections formed at a lower end of the front wall (211) and a lower end of the rear wall (212) respectively, each having a hat-shaped cross-section, and each connected at one end in the vehicle width direction to a body frame part (12), wherein the rear floor cross element (22) is arranged at a distance behind the front floor cross element (21) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the rear floor cross element (22) crosses above a front end of the rear floor tunnel (16) and extends in the direction of the vehicle width. [2] Soil structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a rear support (24), connected to couple an upper wall (133) of the rear floor tunnel (16) and the upper wall of the rear floor cross element (22). [3] Floor structure according to claim 2, wherein an upper wall of the rear support (24) has an opening which is designed to allow access for connecting means to connect the rear floor tunnel (16) to a rear flange section of the rear floor transverse element (22). [4] Floor structure according to claim 3, wherein a flat section (162) of the rear floor transverse element (22) is formed in a step-like shape at an intermediate height point between the front edge section of the rear floor tunnel (16) and the upper wall of the rear floor tunnel (16).

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