Vehicle lower part structure

The vehicle underbody structure enhances rigidity at anchor points by using a battery case and support system, reducing weight and cost while effectively receiving load inputs.

JP2025100199AActive Publication Date: 2025-07-03TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023217397
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-22
Publication Date
2025-07-03
Estimated Expiration
2043-12-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Providing reinforcing members to increase rigidity at anchor points in vehicles leads to increased weight and manufacturing costs.

Method used

A vehicle underbody structure incorporating a battery case positioned below the floor panel, supported by a battery support portion, with an anchor member attached above, forming a closed cross-section structure and connected by support members, and fastened with fastening members.

Benefits of technology

Improves rigidity against load input to anchor members while maintaining vehicle weight and cost efficiency.

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Abstract

To obtain a vehicle lower part structure which enables improvement of rigidity against a load input to an anchor member while inhibiting increase of the weight in a vehicle and manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: A vehicle lower part structure 10 includes: a battery case 30 disposed at the vehicle lower side of a floor panel 14; a battery support part 20 configured to support the battery case 30; and an anchor member 26 attached to the vehicle upper side of the battery support part 20 in a side view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle underbody structure.

Background Art

[0002] In order to increase the rigidity against the tensile load input from the seat belt to the seat belt anchor, a configuration in which a reinforcing member is provided at the portion where the seat belt anchor is attached has been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, providing a reinforcing member for increasing rigidity at the portion where an anchor member such as a seat belt anchor is attached causes an increase in weight and manufacturing cost in the vehicle.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle underbody structure that can improve the rigidity against the load input to the anchor member while suppressing an increase in weight and manufacturing cost in the vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a vehicle underbody structure according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a battery case disposed on the vehicle lower side of a floor panel, a battery support portion that supports the battery case, and an anchor member attached to the vehicle upper side of the battery support portion in a side view.

[0007] According to the invention of the first aspect, a battery case is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the floor panel, and the battery case is supported by a battery support portion. And, in side view, an anchor member is attached above the vehicle of the battery support portion. Here, due to the battery case that houses the heavy battery, a load always acts on the battery support portion toward the vehicle lower side.

[0008] Therefore, even when a load, for example, toward the vehicle front side is input to the anchor member and the load toward the vehicle front side is transmitted to the battery support portion via the anchor member, the battery support portion is more resistant to the load. That is, according to the present invention, while suppressing an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost in the vehicle, the rigidity against the load input to the anchor member is improved.

[0009] Further, the vehicle lower structure according to the second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle lower structure of the first aspect, wherein the battery support portion includes the floor panel and a skeletal member attached to the floor panel, and a closed cross-section structure is formed by the floor panel and the skeletal member in side view.

[0010] According to the invention of the second aspect, the battery support portion includes the floor panel and a skeletal member attached to the floor panel, and a closed cross-section structure is formed by the floor panel and the skeletal member in side view. Therefore, the rigidity of the battery support portion is improved as compared with the case where the battery support portion is not a closed cross-section structure in side view.

[0011] Further, the vehicle lower structure according to the third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle lower structure of the first or second aspect, wherein the battery support portion and the battery case are connected by a pair of support members, and a ramen structure is formed by the battery support portion, the pair of support members, and the battery case.

[0012] According to the invention of the third aspect, the battery support portion and the battery case are connected by a pair of support members. As a result, a ramen structure is formed by the battery support portion, the pair of support members, and the battery case. Therefore, the vehicle body rigidity of the vehicle is effectively ensured.

[0013] Moreover, the vehicle lower structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle lower structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the anchor member is attached above the vehicle of the battery support portion by a fastening member.

[0014] According to the invention of the fourth aspect, the anchor member is attached above the vehicle of the battery support portion by a fastening member. Therefore, compared with the case where the anchor member is joined by, for example, an adhesive or the like instead of being attached by fastening, the load input to the anchor member is effectively received by the battery support portion.

[0015] Moreover, the vehicle lower structure according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle lower structure according to the fourth aspect, wherein the anchor member is a seat belt anchor.

[0016] According to the invention of the fifth aspect, the anchor member is a seat belt anchor. Therefore, even when a load directed toward the front side of the vehicle is input to the seat belt anchor, such as during a frontal collision of the vehicle, the load is effectively received by the battery support portion.

[0017] Moreover, the vehicle lower structure according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle lower structure according to the fifth aspect, wherein the seat belt anchor is for the rear seat belt.

[0018] According to the invention of the sixth aspect, the seat belt anchor is for the rear seat belt. Therefore, even when a load directed toward the front side of the vehicle is input to each seat belt anchor by, for example, three passengers sitting in the rear seat during a frontal collision of the vehicle, each load is effectively received by the battery support portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the rigidity against the load input to the anchor member while suppressing an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost in the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, in each figure, the arrow UP appropriately shown is the vehicle upward direction, the arrow FR is the vehicle front direction, and the arrow RH is the vehicle right direction. Therefore, in the following description, when the directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right are described without special mention, it means up and down in the vehicle vertical direction, front and back in the vehicle front-rear direction, and left and right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, in a vehicle 12 equipped with a vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment, a battery case 30 that houses a battery, which is a heavy object, is disposed below a floor panel 14. That is, the vehicle 12 in the present embodiment is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle (plug-in hybrid vehicle).

[0023] A cross member 16 having a closed cross-sectional shape is attached to the front side of the lower surface of the floor panel 14, and the front end portion of the battery case 30 is supported by the cross member 16. The battery case 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat shape, and a substantially rectangular flat under cover 15 is provided below the battery case 30.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the rear side of the floor panel 14, in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction, there are formed a vertical wall 14A that is bent upward substantially at a right angle along the wheel house of the rear wheel, and a rear upper wall 14B that is bent and extends rearward from the upper end of the vertical wall 14A. And a cross member 22 as a skeletal member having a substantially hat-shaped cross section in a side sectional view is attached to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B.

[0025] That is, in a side view, the front and rear flange portions 22A at the upper end of the cross member 22 are respectively joined to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B by welding or the like, and a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22. Note that a battery support portion 20 is configured including the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22.

[0026] Also, in a side view, a part of the floor panel 14 on the front side of the vertical wall 14A and on the rear side of the center pillar 18 is a support portion 14C that is bent and formed in a substantially inverted "U" shape in a side sectional view. The height position of the upper wall 14D of the support portion 14C is substantially the same as the height position of the rear upper wall 14B, and the seat cushion frame (seat cushion 42) of the vehicle seat 40 for the rear seat is supported by the upper wall 14D of the support portion 14C and the rear upper wall 14B.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, support brackets 24 as a pair of left and right support members are attached to the cross member 22 joined to the lower surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14. Each support bracket 24 is formed in a substantially "U" shape in a side view, and its front and rear upper end portions 24A are respectively joined to the front wall 22B and the rear wall 22C of the cross member 22 by welding or the like.

[0028] Further, each support bracket 24 is formed in a substantially isosceles trapezoid shape in which the length along the vehicle width direction at the upper end portion is longer than the length along the vehicle width direction at the lower end portion when viewed from the rear, and they are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction. And at the rear end portion (rear part) of the battery case 30, a pair of left and right fixing portions 32 having a substantially "convex" shape when viewed from the rear are integrally formed, and each fixing portion 32 is attached (fastened) to the lower wall 24B of each support bracket 24 by a fastening member 34 such as a bolt and a weld nut.

[0029] That is, the cross member 22 and the rear end portion (fixing portion 32) of the battery case 30 are connected by each support bracket 24, and in a rear view, a ramen structure is formed by the cross member 22, each support bracket 24, and the rear end portion of the battery case 30. In this way, the rear end portion of the battery case 30 is configured to be supported by the battery support portion 20 via a pair of left and right support brackets 24.

[0030] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, in a side view, on the upper surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22, a flat sheet belt anchor 26 as an anchor member is attached (fastened) by a fastening member 36 such as a bolt and a weld nut.

[0031] A slit-shaped through hole (not shown) extending in the left-right direction is formed at the front end portion of the seat belt anchor 26, and one end portion of the webbing 28 is inserted and attached to the through hole. And a buckle 38 is attached to the other end portion of the webbing 28.

[0032] Note that the seat belt anchor 26 is for the seat belt of the rear seat vehicle seat 40 that does not slide. Therefore, three of these seat belt anchors 26 (the webbing 28 to which the buckle 38 is attached) are provided for the seat belts of the passengers sitting on the left and right vehicle seats 40 of the rear seat and for the seat belts of the passengers sitting on the central vehicle seat 40.

[0033] Also, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the webbing 28 is shown as extending from the side of the seat cushion 42 of the rear seat vehicle seat 40 into the passenger compartment. However, the actual webbing 28 extends from between the rear end portion of the seat cushion 42 and the lower end portion of the seat back 44 into the passenger compartment.

[0034] Next, the operation of the vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0035] As described above, the battery case 30 is disposed below the floor panel 14, and the rear end portion (fixed portion 32) of the battery case 30 is supported by the battery support portion 20 via a pair of left and right support brackets 24. And, in a side view, the seat belt anchor 26 that supports the webbing 28 to which the buckle 38 is attached is attached by the fastening member 36 above the battery support portion 20 (on the upper surface of the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22 in a side view).

[0036] Here, due to the battery case 30 that houses the heavy battery, a load always acts downward on the battery support portion 20. In other words, due to the battery case 30 that houses the heavy battery, the battery support portion 20 is always in a state of being pulled downward.

[0037] Therefore, for example, when the vehicle 12 is in a frontal collision or the like, when the webbing 28 is pulled forward (specifically, forward and upward) by a passenger (not shown) sitting on the rear seat vehicle seat 40 and wearing a seat belt, a load acting forward (specifically, forward and upward) is input to the seat belt anchor 26, and even when a load acting forward (specifically, forward and upward) is transmitted to the battery support portion 20 via the seat belt anchor 26, the battery support portion 20 is more resistant to that load.

[0038] That is, in a side view, even if a reinforcing member for increasing rigidity is not provided on the rear upper wall 14B of the floor panel 14 between the front and rear flange portions 22A of the cross member 22, the load input to the seat belt anchor 26 can be effectively received by the battery support portion 20.

[0039] Thus, according to the vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment, while suppressing or preventing an increase in weight and an increase in manufacturing cost in the vehicle 12 (while simplifying the vehicle body configuration in the vehicle 12), the rigidity against the load input to the seat belt anchor 26 can be improved.

[0040] Moreover, this battery support portion 20 is configured to include the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22 attached to the floor panel 14, and a closed cross-section structure is formed by the floor panel 14 and the cross member 22 in a side view. Therefore, the rigidity of the battery support portion 20 can be improved compared to the case where the battery support portion 20 does not have a closed cross-section structure in a side view, and sufficient strength against the input load can be ensured.

[0041] In addition, the battery support portion 20 and the rear end portion of the battery case 30 are connected by a pair of left and right support brackets 24, and a ramen structure is formed by the battery support portion 20, the pair of left and right support brackets 24, and the rear end portion of the battery case 30 in a rear view. Therefore, the vehicle body rigidity at least in the rear portion of the vehicle 12 can also be effectively ensured.

[0042] Further, the seat belt anchor 26 is attached above the battery support portion 20 by a fastening member 36. Therefore, the load input to the seat belt anchor 26 can be effectively received by the battery support portion 20 compared to the case where the seat belt anchor 26 is not attached by fastening, for example, when joined by an adhesive or the like.

[0043] In addition, this seat belt anchor 26 is for the seat belt of the rear seat vehicle seat 40 that does not slide. Therefore, when a frontal collision of the vehicle 12 occurs or the like, even if a load directed forward (specifically, forward and upward) is input to each seat belt anchor 26 by, for example, three passengers (not shown) sitting on the rear seat vehicle seat 40 and wearing seat belts, each load can be effectively received by one battery support portion 20.

[0044] As described above, the vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the vehicle lower structure 10 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and can be appropriately designed and changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the anchor member is not limited to the seat belt anchor 26, and the same applies to the case of a child seat anchor (not shown).

[0045] In addition, the anchor member includes, for example, a seat belt anchor for fixing a wheelchair. Therefore, the battery support portion 20 may be provided at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the floor panel 14 or the like. In that case, the lower walls 24B of the pair of left and right support brackets 24 are respectively attached to, for example, the left and right side portions of the battery case 30.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 10 Vehicle lower structure 14 Floor panel 20 Battery support portion 22 Cross member (skeletal member) 24 Support bracket (support member) 26 Seat belt anchor (anchor member) 30 Battery case 36 Fastening member

Claims

1. A battery case disposed on the lower side of the vehicle of the floor panel, a battery support portion that supports the battery case, and an anchor member attached to the upper side of the vehicle of the battery support portion in a side view. A vehicle lower structure comprising the same.

2. The battery support portion includes the floor panel and a frame member attached to the floor panel, and the vehicle lower structure according to claim 1, wherein a closed cross-sectional structure is formed by the floor panel and the frame member in a side view.

3. The battery support portion and the battery case are connected by a pair of support members, and the vehicle lower structure according to claim 2, wherein a ramen structure is formed by the battery support portion, the pair of support members, and the battery case.

4. The vehicle lower structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anchor member is attached to the upper side of the vehicle of the battery support portion by a fastening member.

5. The vehicle lower structure according to claim 4, wherein the anchor member is a seat belt anchor.

6. The vehicle lower structure according to claim 5, wherein the seat belt anchor is for a rear seat belt.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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