Vehicle side part structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle side part structure capable of improving rigidity and alleviating an impact at the time of side collision of a vehicle.SOLUTION: Since an impact absorption member 16 is provided in a step 12, rigidity of the step 12 itself is improved and the step 12 itself can absorb an impact energy. Therefore, at the time of side collision of a vehicle, more energy can be absorbed. That is, it is possible to improve rigidity in the entire step 12, improve an energy absorption amount, and alleviate an impact at the time of side collision of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle side structure. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to an automobile side step that can be used as a stepping board by occupants when getting on and off the vehicle. In this prior art, an aluminum alloy material is used for the side step. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 2002-240747 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the step is formed to be hollow, and there is a possibility that the rigidity is insufficient during a side collision of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle side collision").

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVETION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle side structure that has improved rigidity and is capable of mitigating impact during a side collision of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle side structure of the present invention as described in claim 1 comprises a step extending along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle on the lower side of the vehicle side and having a space therein, and an impact absorbing member provided within the space.

[0007] The vehicle side structure according to the present invention described in claim 1 includes a step and an impact absorbing part. The step extends along the vehicle front-rear direction on the lower side of the vehicle side, and a space is provided inside the step. The impact absorbing member is provided in the space.

[0008] In this way, in the present invention, by providing an impact absorbing member in the step, the rigidity of the step itself can be improved and the step itself can absorb impact energy. Therefore, more energy can be absorbed in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In other words, in the present invention, the rigidity of the entire step can be improved and the amount of energy absorbed can be increased.

[0009] The vehicle side structure of the present invention as described in claim 2 is the vehicle side structure as described in claim 1, wherein the step includes a first vertical wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle outside the vehicle width direction of the impact absorbing member, a first upper wall portion extending from an upper end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and a first lower wall portion extending from a lower end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0010] In the vehicle side structure according to the present invention described in claim 2, the step includes a first vertical wall portion, a first upper wall portion, and a first lower wall portion. The first vertical wall portion extends in the vehicle up-down direction outside the impact absorbing member in the vehicle width direction, the first upper wall portion extends from an upper end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the first lower wall portion extends from a lower end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] That is, the step has a cross-sectional shape along the vehicle width direction that is generally U-shaped with the inside in the vehicle width direction open. The step may have a separate vertical wall portion that faces the first vertical wall portion and extends in the vehicle up-down direction on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the impact absorbing member. In this case, the step has a cross-sectional shape along the vehicle width direction that is generally rectangular.

[0012] The vehicle side structure of the present invention as described in claim 3 is the vehicle side structure as described in claim 1, wherein the impact absorbing member includes a second vertical wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, a second upper wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction from an upper end of the second vertical wall portion, a second lower wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction from a lower end of the second vertical wall portion, and an opening provided between the second upper wall portion and the second lower wall portion and formed along the vehicle width direction.

[0013] In the vehicle side structure according to the present invention, the impact absorbing member includes a second vertical wall, a second upper wall, a second lower wall, and an opening. The second vertical wall extends in the vehicle up-down direction, the second upper wall extends in the vehicle width direction from an upper end of the second vertical wall, and the second lower wall extends in the vehicle width direction from a lower end of the second vertical wall. The opening is provided between the second upper wall and the second lower wall, and is formed along the vehicle width direction. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the impact absorbing part along the vehicle width direction is substantially U-shaped with the outer side in the vehicle width direction being open.

[0014] The vehicle side structure according to the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is the vehicle side structure as set forth in claim 3, in which the opening is defined by a plurality of cells along the vehicle up-down direction and the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0015] In the vehicle side structure of the present invention described in claim 4, the opening is partitioned by a plurality of cells along the vertical and longitudinal directions of the vehicle, so that when an impact load is input to the impact absorbing portion, the plurality of cells are crushed to absorb the impact energy.

[0016] The vehicle side structure of the present invention as described in claim 5 is the vehicle side structure as described in claim 1, in which a battery case is arranged inside the step in the vehicle width direction, and the step is arranged to overlap the skeletal member that constitutes the battery case when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0017] In the vehicle side structure of the present invention described in claim 5, the battery case is disposed inside the step in the vehicle width direction. The step is disposed so as to overlap with the skeletal member that constitutes the battery case in a side collision, so that the impact load input from the step can be transmitted via the skeletal member to the opposite side in the vehicle width direction, thereby making it possible to protect the battery case. Effect of the Invention

[0018] As described above, the vehicle side structure according to the present invention has the excellent effect of improving rigidity and mitigating impact during a side collision of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view of a step constituting a vehicle side structure according to this embodiment, viewed from the outside of the vehicle and diagonally from above, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2(B) showing a state of the step immediately before a side collision; FIG. [Figure 4] 1A is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a step and a battery case in a vehicle to which the vehicle side structure of this embodiment is applied, and FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of a step and a battery case as a comparative example. [Diagram 5] 2B, showing a first modified example of the step, and FIG. 2B, showing a second modified example of the step. FIG. [Figure 6] 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing steps as comparative examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the arrow L shown as appropriate in each drawing indicates the vehicle front-rear direction, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle up-down direction. The arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle width direction, and in this embodiment indicates the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when the directions of front-rear, up-down, and left-right are simply used for the description, they refer to front-rear in the vehicle front-rear direction, up-down in the vehicle up-down direction, and left-right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction), unless otherwise specified.

[0021] (Vehicle side structure configuration) First, the configuration of a vehicle side structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0022] 1(A) shows a perspective view of a step 12 to which a vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment is applied. Although not shown, the step 12 is used as a member on the lower side of the vehicle side, that is, on the outer side of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, which is used as a footboard by occupants when getting on and off the vehicle.

[0023] 1A is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, and has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along the vehicle front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the step 12 includes an outer wall portion (first vertical wall portion) 12A, an upper wall portion (first upper wall portion) 12B, a lower wall portion (first lower wall portion) 12C, and an inner wall portion 12D, and a generally rectangular parallelepiped space portion 14 is provided inside the step 12.

[0024] The outer wall portion 12A extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, the upper wall portion 12B extends in the vehicle width direction from the upper end of the outer wall portion 12A toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the lower wall portion 12C extends in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the outer wall portion 12A toward the inside in the vehicle width direction. As described above, the step 12 is used as a footboard by the occupant when getting on and off the vehicle, so the upper wall portion 12B is disposed approximately horizontally. In addition, although not shown, a non-slip rib may be formed on the upper surface of the upper wall portion 12B.

[0025] The inner wall portion 12D extends in the vehicle vertical direction on the inside in the vehicle width direction and connects the inner end of the upper wall portion 12B to the inner end of the lower wall portion 12C. An upper end portion 12D1 and a lower end portion 12D2 of the inner wall portion 12D protrude from the upper wall portion 12B and the lower wall portion 12C, respectively, and the upper end portion 12D1 and the lower end portion 12D2 of the inner wall portion 12D are fixed to a rocker (not shown) that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction on the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] An impact absorbing member 16 made of resin or metal is inserted into the space 14 of the step 12. The impact absorbing member 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape to match the size of the space 14. The impact absorbing member 16 may be fixed to the step 12 by fastening with bolts, rivets, snap-fits, or the like, or may be fixed by bonding with an adhesive.

[0027] The impact absorbing member 16 includes an inner wall portion (second vertical wall portion) 16A, an upper wall portion (second upper wall portion) 16B, a lower wall portion (second lower wall portion) 16C, and an opening portion 18. The inner wall portion 16A extends in the vehicle up-down direction on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the upper wall portion 16B extends in the vehicle width direction from the upper end of the inner wall portion 16A toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the lower wall portion 16C extends in the vehicle width direction from the lower end of the inner wall portion 16A toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The inner wall portion 16A, the upper wall portion 16B, and the lower wall portion 16C form an opening portion 18 along the vehicle width direction, which is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and has a substantially U-shaped cross section.

[0028] Between the upper wall portion 16B and the lower wall portion 16C, for example, two walls 20, 22 extending in the vehicle width direction are provided at equal intervals, and between the upper wall portion 16B and the wall portion 20, an opening portion 24 that is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is formed along the vehicle width direction. Between the wall portion 20 and the wall portion 22, an opening portion 26 that is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is formed along the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, between the wall portion 20 and the wall portion 22, an opening portion 28 that is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is formed along the vehicle width direction.

[0029] 2, the openings 24, 26, 28 are partitioned at predetermined intervals along the vehicle front-rear direction (cells 30). In other words, the impact absorbing member 16 is composed of a plurality of cells 30 formed to be approximately the same size along the vehicle up-down direction and vehicle width direction.

[0030] (Action and effect of vehicle side structure) Next, the operation and effect of the step 12 to which the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment is applied will be described.

[0031] 1(A), (B) and 2, the vehicle side structure 10 includes a step 12 and an impact absorbing member 16. Although not shown, the step 12 extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle on the lower side of the vehicle side, and the impact absorbing member 16 is provided in a space 14 provided within the step 12.

[0032] In this manner, in this embodiment, by providing the shock absorbing member 16 in the step 12, the rigidity of the step 12 itself can be improved and the step 12 itself can absorb the impact energy. Therefore, more energy can be absorbed in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In other words, in this embodiment, the rigidity of the entire step 12 can be improved and the amount of energy absorbed can be increased, making it possible to reduce the impact in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

[0033] More specifically, in this embodiment, the shock absorbing member 16 has an opening 18 that is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and formed along the vehicle width direction, and is partitioned along the vehicle up-down direction and the vehicle front-rear direction by a plurality of cells 30. Therefore, when an impact load is input to the shock absorbing member 16, the plurality of cells 30 are crushed, thereby absorbing the impact energy.

[0034] For example, as a comparative example, in the case of a step 104 in which no impact absorbing member 102 is provided in the interior 100 as shown in Fig. 6(A), when a vehicle 11 (see Fig. 3) collide with a pole-shaped impact object B (see Fig. 3), the step 104 deforms, thereby absorbing the impact energy (energy absorption amount: W1). Also, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the impact absorbing member 102 absorbs the impact energy by being crushed by a plurality of cells 106 provided along the vehicle vertical direction and vehicle width direction (energy absorption amount: W2).

[0035] 3, in this embodiment, an impact absorbing member 16 is provided in the step 12. Therefore, when the vehicle 11 collide sideways with a pole-shaped collision object B, energy is absorbed in a state where at least the amount of energy absorbed by the step 12 (W1) and the amount of energy absorbed by the impact absorbing member 16 (W2) are combined.

[0036] In this embodiment, the shock absorbing member 16 is provided inside the step 12. This allows the shock absorbing member 16 to obtain a sufficient reaction force from the step 12, and therefore the shock absorbing member 16 can absorb energy more effectively. Therefore, the energy absorption amount (W3) in this embodiment is higher than the sum of the energy absorption amount (W1) obtained by the step 12 and the energy absorption amount (W2) obtained by the shock absorbing member 16 (W3>W1+W2).

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4(A), in a vehicle 11 to which the vehicle side structure 10 is applied, the battery case 32 is disposed inside the step 12 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, in a side view of the vehicle, the step 12 is disposed so as to overlap with a skeletal member 34 that constitutes the battery case 32. For this reason, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 11, the impact load input from the step 12 can be transmitted to the opposite side in the width direction of the vehicle 11 via the skeletal member 34. As a result, it is possible to protect the battery case 32.

[0038] As a comparative example, in the case of a step 104 that does not have an impact absorbing member 102 provided in the interior 100 as shown in FIG. 4(B), since it is difficult to ensure sufficient rigidity in the event of a side collision of a vehicle 105, an impact absorbing member 110 is arranged between the step 104 and the battery case 108.

[0039] In contrast, in this embodiment, since it is possible to improve the overall rigidity of the step 12 shown in Fig. 4(A) and to improve the amount of energy absorption, there is no need to provide a separate shock absorbing member 110 (see Fig. 4(B)) between the step 12 and the battery case 32. Therefore, the dimension of the battery case 32 can be increased accordingly (dimension X in Fig. 4), and the battery capacity can be increased.

[0040] In the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1(B), the step 12 is configured to include the outer wall portion 12A, the upper wall portion 12B, the lower wall portion 12C, and the inner wall portion 12D, but is not limited thereto as long as it includes at least the outer wall portion 12A, the upper wall portion 12B, and the lower wall portion 12C. In other words, the inner wall portion 12D is not necessarily required.

[0041] For example, as a first modified example, the inside in the vehicle width direction may be formed to be open as shown in Fig. 5(A) In this case, the upper wall portion 12B and the lower wall portion 12C may be formed with flange portions 12B1 and 12C1 for coupling with other members, respectively.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(B), the impact absorbing member 16 includes an inner wall portion 16A, an upper wall portion 16B, a lower wall portion 16C, and an opening 18, and the opening 18 is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but is not limited to this.

[0043] For example, as a second variant, as shown in FIG. 5(B), instead of the inner wall portion 16A (see FIG. 1(B)), an outer wall portion 16D (second vertical wall portion) may be provided on the outside in the vehicle width direction, and the upper wall portion 16B and the lower wall portion 16C may each extend from the inner wall portion 16D toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, so that the inside in the vehicle width direction is opened to form an opening 18.

[0044] In this embodiment, the cell 30 is open along the vehicle width direction as shown in Fig. 2, but is not limited thereto. For example, although not shown, a part of the cell 30 may be open along the vehicle up-down direction or along the vehicle front-rear direction due to the influence of the fastening method or the like.

[0045] In addition, in this embodiment, the multiple cells 30 provided along the vehicle vertical direction and vehicle width direction are formed to be approximately the same size, but they do not necessarily have to be formed to be the same size. For example, the size of the cells 30 may be different between the upper and lower parts of the vehicle. In addition, in this embodiment, the cells 30 are arranged in three rows along the vehicle vertical direction, but this is not limited to this.

[0046] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and one embodiment may be appropriately combined with various modified examples, and the present invention may of course be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047] <Additional Notes> The vehicle underbody structure according to the present invention may be formed by appropriately combining the following configurations.

[0048] (Configuration 1) The vehicle side structure includes a step extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle on the lower side of the vehicle side and having a space therein, and an impact absorbing member provided in the space.

[0049] (Configuration 2) The step includes a first vertical wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle outside the impact absorbing member in the vehicle width direction, a first upper wall portion extending from an upper end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction, and a first lower wall portion extending from a lower end of the first vertical wall portion toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0050] (Configuration 3) The impact absorbing member includes a second vertical wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle, a second upper wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction from an upper end of the second vertical wall portion, a second lower wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction from a lower end of the second vertical wall portion, and an opening provided between the second upper wall portion and the second lower wall portion and formed along the vehicle width direction.

[0051] (Configuration 4) The opening is defined by a plurality of cells along the vehicle up-down direction and the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0052] (Configuration 5) A battery case is disposed inside the step in the vehicle width direction, and the step is disposed so as to overlap a framework member that constitutes the battery case in a side view of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10 Vehicle side structure 11 Vehicles 12 Steps 12A Outer wall section (first vertical wall section, step) 12B Upper wall portion (first upper wall portion, step) 12C Lower wall portion (first lower wall portion, step) 14 Space section 16 Shock absorbing materials 16A Inner wall portion (second vertical wall portion, shock absorbing member) 16B Upper wall portion (second upper wall portion, shock absorbing member) 16C Lower wall portion (second lower wall portion, shock absorbing member) 16D Outer wall section (second vertical wall section, impact absorbing member) 18 Openings 24 Opening 26 Opening 28 Opening 30 cells 32 Battery case 34 Skeletal components

Claims

1. A step extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle on a lower side of the vehicle side portion and having a space therein; An impact absorbing member provided in the space; A vehicle side structure comprising:

2. The steps include: a first vertical wall portion extending in a vehicle up-down direction on an outer side of the impact absorbing member in a vehicle width direction; a first upper wall portion extending from an upper end of the first vertical wall portion toward an inner side in a vehicle width direction; a first lower wall portion extending from a lower end of the first vertical wall portion toward an inner side in a vehicle width direction; The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

3. The impact absorbing member is A second vertical wall portion extending in the vehicle up-down direction; a second upper wall portion extending in a vehicle width direction from an upper end of the second vertical wall portion; a second lower wall portion extending in a vehicle width direction from a lower end of the second vertical wall portion; an opening provided between the second upper wall portion and the second lower wall portion and formed along a vehicle width direction; The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 3 , wherein the opening is defined by a plurality of cells along the vehicle up-down direction and the vehicle front-rear direction.

5. A battery case is disposed on the inner side of the step in the vehicle width direction, The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein the step is disposed so as to overlap a framework member constituting the battery case in a side view of the vehicle.

Images