Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure which has rigidity against an insertion load caused when a charging connector is inserted into a power feeding port and inhibits a pedestrian from plunging into the power feeding port.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure includes: a power feeding port provided at a front part of a vehicle body; and a bracket supporting the power feeding port. The bracket has: a first end connected to a vehicle front member; and a second end connected to a dash panel. The vehicle front member is a member located at the front relative to the bracket.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure including a power supply port for charging a battery mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which a charging inlet is provided at the front part of the vehicle body. This inlet is fixed to an inlet bracket. The front end of the inlet protrudes forward of the vehicle more than the inlet bracket. Fixing parts are respectively formed at the upper end and the lower end of the inlet bracket. The upper end of the inlet bracket is fixed to the radiator support upper by bolts or the like. The lower end of the inlet bracket is fixed to the radiator support lower by bolts or the like. The inlet and the inlet bracket are covered by a front bumper cover from the front of the vehicle. An opening is formed in the front bumper cover in front of the inlet. A charging cable is connected to the inlet from the opening formed in the front bumper cover.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A charging cable is connected to the power supply port to charge the battery mounted on the vehicle. The charging cable includes a charging connector that is inserted into the power supply port. The bracket that supports the power supply port is required to withstand the insertion load input when the charging connector is inserted into the power supply port.

[0005] In a vehicle having a power supply port provided at the front of the vehicle body, when the front of the vehicle body collides with a pedestrian head-on, the pedestrian may enter the power supply port as the components of the front of the vehicle body, such as the front grille and the bonnet, deform. The upper and lower ends of the bracket that supports the conventional power supply port are fixed to a highly rigid radiator support. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the injury value of the pedestrian caused by the pedestrian entering the power supply port.

[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that has rigidity against the insertion load when inserting a charging connector into a power supply port and can prevent a pedestrian from entering the power supply port.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a power supply port provided at the front of a vehicle body and a bracket that supports the power supply port. The bracket has a first end connected to a vehicle front member and a second end connected to a dash panel. The vehicle front member is a member located in front of the bracket.

[0008] (2) In the vehicle structure described in (1) above, the second end may be connected to the dash panel via a shock-absorbing member.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] In the vehicle structure of (1) above, when the front of the vehicle body collides with a pedestrian, before the pedestrian enters the power supply port, the vehicle front member is displaced rearward, causing the first end of the bracket to retreat. When the bracket retreats, the second end presses the dash panel. The dash panel pressed at the second end deforms to such an extent that it has no influence on the vehicle interior. The bracket can retreat as the dash panel deforms slightly. When the bracket retreats, the power supply port retreats. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a pedestrian from entering the power supply port, thus reducing the injury value of the pedestrian.

[0010] The bracket is attached so as to be bridged between the front member of the vehicle and the dashboard, so that the bracket can secure rigidity against the insertion load of the charging connector. Therefore, the power supply port is suppressed from retreating due to the insertion load when the charging connector is inserted. The dashboard has low rigidity among the components of the vehicle, but has appropriate rigidity against the insertion load of the charging connector.

[0011] The shock absorbing member is a member that deforms due to a load from the front of the vehicle and absorbs the load. In the vehicle structure of (2) above, when a load equal to or greater than a certain level is input to the shock absorbing member, the shock absorbing member deforms so as to buckle. By deforming the shock absorbing member, the bracket can be retracted. Further, the shock absorbing member can easily control the amount of retreat of the bracket while controlling the deformation of the dashboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] A specific example of the vehicle structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The sizes of the members shown in each figure are represented for the purpose of clarifying the description and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. In the drawings, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "LH" indicates the left side of the vehicle, "RH" indicates the right side of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and "LWR" indicates the lower side of the vehicle. The front-rear direction corresponds to the vehicle length direction. The left-right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, they will be simply referred to as the front, the rear, etc.

[0014] <Vehicle Structure> With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the vehicle structure 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The vehicle including the vehicle structure 1 is an electric vehicle equipped with a battery and a motor (not shown). The electric vehicle is an automobile that drives the motor with the power of the battery and runs. The electric vehicle is, for example, a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) or a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle).

[0015] The vehicle structure 1 of the embodiment constitutes the front part of the vehicle body. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle structure 1 includes a power supply port 2 and a bracket 3. Further, the vehicle structure 1 includes a vehicle front member 5 and a dash panel 7. In FIG. 1, the member indicated by the two-dot chain line is, for example, a heat exchanger. The vehicle structure 1 in this example is an example applied to a van-type vehicle in which the distance from the front panel to the dash panel 7 is short, that is, the front part of the vehicle body is short. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle structure 1 seen from the upper front obliquely to the left. Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicle structure 1 will be described in detail.

[0016] (Power Supply Port) The power supply port 2 is provided at the front part of the vehicle body. The power supply port 2 is a member to which the charging connector of a charging cable (not shown) is connected. The charging connector is connected by being inserted into the power supply port 2. The power supply port 2 is a known power supply port. The power supply port 2 is, for example, a power supply port for normal charging or rapid charging. In this example, there is one power supply port 2, but there may be two power supply ports 2. The two power supply ports are two power supply ports for normal charging and rapid charging. The two power supply ports may be arranged vertically or horizontally.

[0017] The power supply port 2 is located near the front end of the vehicle. The power supply port 2 is provided at a position where a pedestrian may intrude when the front part of the vehicle body collides with the pedestrian. In this example, the power supply port 2 is installed at the height of the lower limb of an adult, specifically, the thigh from the hip joint to the knee joint. The power supply port 2 in this example faces forward. The power supply port 2 may face obliquely upward in the front direction or upward.

[0018] (Bracket) The bracket 3 is a member that supports the power supply port 2. When inserting the charging connector into the power supply port 2, an insertion load is input. The bracket 3 has rigidity that can withstand the insertion load. Therefore, it is difficult for the bracket 3 to deform or the power supply port 2 to retreat due to the insertion load.

[0019] The bracket 3 has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the vehicle front member 5. The first end in this example is the lower end of the bracket 3. The second end in this example is connected to the dashboard 7. The second end is the upper end of the bracket 3.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 3 in this example includes a middle bracket 30, a lower bracket 31 forming the first end portion, and an upper bracket 32 forming the second end portion. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the bracket 3 as viewed from the upper front obliquely to the left. The power supply port 2 is fixed to the middle bracket 30. The lower bracket 31 is located at the lower end of the bracket 3. The upper bracket 32 is located at the upper end of the bracket 3. The middle bracket 30 is located between the lower bracket 31 and the upper bracket 32. That is, the lower bracket 31, the middle bracket 30, and the upper bracket 32 are arranged in order from the bottom. The bracket 3 is attached so as to span between the vehicle front member 5 and the dash panel 7, thereby ensuring the rigidity to withstand the insertion load of the charging connector. The detailed configuration of the bracket 3 will be described later.

[0021] In front of the power supply port 2 and the bracket 3, a front panel (not shown) is arranged. The front panel is a panel that constitutes the front surface of the vehicle body. The front panel is fixed to the front surface of the vehicle front member 5 described later. A bumper or the like is attached to the lower end of the front panel in this example. The front panel has a lid portion that can be opened and closed in front of the power supply port 2. The charging connector is inserted and removed from the power supply port 2 through the opening formed by opening the lid portion. The power supply port 2 is covered by the lid except when the charging connector is connected.

[0022] (Vehicle front member) The vehicle front member 5 shown in FIG. 1 is a member that constitutes the front portion of the vehicle body. The vehicle front member 5 is located in front of the power supply port 2 and the bracket 3. The vehicle front member 5 is arranged at the front end of the vehicle body or in its vicinity. The vehicle front member 5 is a member that a pedestrian first contacts through the front panel when the front portion of the vehicle body collides with the pedestrian. The vehicle front member 5 is a front cross member 50 or a core support (not shown). The core support is a skeletal component to which a radiator (not shown) or the like is attached.

[0023] The vehicle front member 5 may be a structural member. A structural member is the framework of the vehicle body and has functions such as supporting the weight of the vehicle body and ensuring the safety of the occupants during a collision. The structural member is composed of a high-strength material and has high rigidity. The structural member is, for example, composed of a steel material. Generally, the panels constituting the outer shell of the vehicle body are not included in the structural members. The above-mentioned front panel, the dash panel 7 described later, and the side panels constituting the sides of the vehicle body are non-structural members.

[0024] 〈Front Cross Member〉 The front cross member 50 is a structural member disposed at the front part of the vehicle body. The front cross member 50 is located at the lower part of the vehicle body. The front cross member 50 is connected to the front end portion of the front side member 60 shown in FIG. 5. The front side member 60 is a structural member disposed on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body and extending in the vehicle length direction. The front cross member 50 extends in the vehicle width direction so as to connect the left and right front side members 60. In FIG. 5, only the left front side member 60 is shown. The left and right front side members 60 are provided symmetrically.

[0025] The front cross member 50 of this example has a sub-cross member 51. The sub-cross member 51 is a part of the front cross member 50. That is, the sub-cross member 51 is one of the parts constituting the vehicle front member 5.

[0026] The sub-cross member 51 is a member that extends from the front cross member 50 to the front inside panel 65 shown in FIG. 1. The sub-cross members 51 are provided at both left and right end portions of the front cross member 50, respectively. The left and right sub-cross members 51 are provided symmetrically. The sub-cross member 51 is fixed to the front cross member 50 by bolts or welding or the like. The sub-cross member 51 in this example protrudes upward from both end portions of the front cross member 50 and extends in an arch shape in the vehicle width direction. The tip portion 511 of the left sub-cross member 51 is connected to the front end portion of the left front inside panel 65. The tip portion 511 of the right sub-cross member 51 is connected to the front end portion of the right front inside panel 65. In FIG. 2, the left sub-cross member 51 is shown.

[0027] The front inside panel 65 is a structural member disposed in front of the front pillar. A fender panel (not shown) is attached to the outside of the front inside panel 65.

[0028] (Dash panel) The dash panel 7 shown in FIG. 1 is a panel disposed at the front part of the passenger compartment (not shown). The dash panel 7 partitions between the front room located in front of the passenger compartment and the passenger compartment. The front room is a space surrounded by the dash panel 7, the front panel, and the left and right front inside panels 65. Inside this space, the power supply port 2 is supported by the bracket 3. The dash panel 7 has sufficient rigidity to secure the passenger compartment, but is a member with relatively low rigidity compared to, for example, structural members.

[0029] (Details of the bracket) With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the middle bracket 30, the lower bracket 31, and the upper bracket 32 that constitute the bracket 3 will be described. In this example, the middle bracket 30, the lower bracket 31, and the upper bracket 32 are independent members respectively.

[0030] 〈Middle bracket〉 The middle bracket 30 is the part where the power supply port 2 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 2, the middle bracket 30 in this example has an opening 301 into which the power supply port 2 is fitted. The power supply port 2 is fixed to the middle bracket 30 by bolts (not shown) in a state of being fitted into the opening 301. The middle bracket 30 is located above the vehicle front member 5.

[0031] The middle bracket 30 in this example is formed by processing a plate material. The middle bracket 30 is a flat plate-like member extending in the vertical direction. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the middle bracket 30 is bent to form an upper piece 302. The upper piece 302 extends rearward from the upper end of the middle bracket 30. The upper piece 302 is supported by the support member 8. The support member 8 is disposed in front of the dash panel 7 and extends in the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. 1. The support member 8 is supported by the dash panel 7. The upper piece 302 is connected to the left end portion of the support member 8. The upper piece 302 and the left end portion of the support member 8 are arranged to overlap, and the upper piece 302 is fixed to the support member 8 by bolts 32a. Since the middle bracket 30 is supported by the support member 8, the bracket 3 is less likely to move in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] The middle bracket 30 has high strength in order to ensure rigidity capable of withstanding the above-described insertion load. The middle bracket 30 is composed of, for example, a steel material. The side edge portion of the middle bracket 30 may also be bent from the viewpoint of improving rigidity.

[0033] As described above, when two power supply ports for normal charging and rapid charging are provided, the middle bracket 30 has two openings corresponding to each power supply port.

[0034] 〈Lower Bracket〉 The lower bracket 31 is a part connected to the front vehicle member 5. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower bracket 31 is connected to the sub-cross member 51. The lower bracket 31 may be connected to the front cross member 50. When the front vehicle member 5 to which the lower bracket 31 is connected is a structural member, it is easy to sufficiently ensure the rigidity against the insertion load of the charging connector.

[0035] The lower bracket 31 of this example is formed by processing a plate material. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower bracket 31 extends downward from the middle bracket 30 toward the sub-cross member 51. The lower bracket 31 has an upper end portion connected to the middle bracket 30 and a lower end portion connected to the sub-cross member 51. The upper end portion of the lower bracket 31 is fixed to the middle bracket 30 by bolts 31a. The lower end portion of the lower bracket 31 is arranged so as to overlap the rear side of the sub-cross member 51 and is joined to the sub-cross member 51 by welding. In FIG. 3, the × marks indicate the spot welding locations. By welding the lower bracket 31 to the sub-cross member 51 which is a structural member, the rigidity against the insertion load of the charging connector can be increased.

[0036] The lower bracket 31 of this example has a bent portion 311 at an intermediate portion between the upper end portion and the lower end portion, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The bent portion 311 is formed such that the lower end portion is located in front of the upper end portion. Therefore, the middle bracket 30 is located behind the front vehicle member 5, specifically, behind the connection portion between the lower bracket 31 and the sub-cross member 51.

[0037] The lower bracket 31 has high strength in order to ensure the rigidity to withstand the above-described insertion load. The lower bracket 31 is constituted by, for example, a steel material. From the viewpoint of improving the rigidity of the lower bracket 31, the peripheral portion of the lower bracket 31 may be bent.

[0038] 〈Upper Bracket〉 The upper bracket 32 is the part connected to the dash panel 7. The statement that "the upper bracket 32 is connected to the dash panel 7" includes not only the case where the upper bracket 32 and the dash panel 7 are directly connected, but also the case where they are indirectly connected with another member intervening. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the upper bracket 32 is indirectly connected to the dash panel 7 with the shock absorbing member 4, which will be described later, intervening. The upper bracket 32 may be directly connected to the dash panel 7 without the shock absorbing member 4 intervening.

[0039] The upper bracket 32 of this example is formed by processing a plate material. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper bracket 32 extends rearward from the middle bracket 30. The upper bracket 32 has a front end portion 321 connected to the middle bracket 30 and a rear end portion 322 connected to the shock absorbing member 4. The front end portion 321 is the part extending in the vehicle length direction. The rear end portion 322 is the part bent substantially at a right angle from the front end portion 321. The rear end portion 322 of this example extends upward from the front end portion 321. That is, the shape of the upper bracket 32 is L-shaped. The front end portion 321 is arranged to overlap the lower side of the upper piece 302 formed at the upper end of the middle bracket 30 and is fixed to the middle bracket 30 by bolts 32a. In this example, with the end portion of the support member 8 sandwiched between the upper piece 302 and the front end portion 321, the upper piece 302, the front end portion 321, and the support member 8 are fastened by bolts 32a. At this fastening location, the upper piece 302, the end portion of the support member 8, and the front end portion 321 are arranged in order from top. The rear end portion 322 is fixed to the flat portion 40 of the shock absorbing member 4 by bolts 32b.

[0040] The upper bracket 32 has high strength in order to ensure the rigidity to withstand the above-described insertion load. The upper bracket 32 is constituted by, for example, a steel material.

[0041] In this example, an example in which the middle bracket 30, the lower bracket 31, and the upper bracket 32 are independent members is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the middle bracket 30, the lower bracket 31, and the upper bracket 32 may be integrally formed. Further, the middle bracket 30 and the lower bracket 31 may be integrally formed, and the upper bracket 32 may be a separate member. The middle bracket 30 and the upper bracket 32 may be integrally formed, and the lower bracket 31 may be a separate member.

[0042] 〈Shock Absorbing Member〉 In this example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the upper bracket 32 is connected to the dash panel 7 via the shock absorbing member 4. The shock absorbing member 4 is a member disposed between the upper bracket 32 and the dash panel 7. The shock absorbing member 4 is connected to the dash panel 7. The shock absorbing member 4 is fixed to the front surface of the dash panel 7 by bolts or welding or the like.

[0043] The shock absorbing member 4 has rigidity capable of withstanding an insertion load. The shock absorbing member 4 in this example is formed by processing a plate material. The shock absorbing member 4 is composed of, for example, a steel material.

[0044] The shock absorbing member 4 of this example has a substantially hat shape in the cross section cut by a plane orthogonal to the vehicle width direction. The shock absorbing member 4 has a flat portion 40 and leg portions 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end portion 322 of the upper bracket 32 is connected to the flat portion 40. The leg portions 41 extend rearward from the flat portion 40 toward the dash panel 7. The leg portions 41 are connected to the dash panel 7. The shape of the flat portion 40 may be any shape. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, the shape of the flat portion 40 as viewed from the front is rectangular. The number of the leg portions 41 is two. The leg portions 41 are respectively provided at the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the flat portion 40. Different from the shock absorbing member 4 of this example, the leg portions 41 may be respectively provided at the right edge portion and the left edge portion of the flat portion 40. In this case, the shock absorbing member 4 has a substantially hat shape in the cross section cut by a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. The leg portions 41 may be provided at all the edge portions of the upper edge portion, the lower edge portion, the right edge portion and the left edge portion of the flat portion 40. When the leg portions 41 are provided at all the edge portions of the flat portion 40, the shock absorbing member 4 has a box shape surrounded by the flat portion 40 and the leg portions 41.

[0045] The shock absorbing member 4 has a structure for absorbing the load from the front of the vehicle. Here, the "structure for absorbing the load from the front" means a structure that can absorb the load by deforming when a load of a certain level or more acts from the front. Specifically, the shock absorbing member 4 has a structure that can absorb the load by buckling with respect to the load input from the upper bracket 32 when the front portion of the vehicle body collides with a pedestrian. That is, the shock absorbing member 4 has a structure that can absorb the load from the front while ensuring the rigidity to withstand the insertion load. Such a shock absorbing structure can be achieved, for example, by the hat shape or box shape structure described above. If necessary, in the shock absorbing member 4, a weak portion may be provided in the middle of the leg portion 41. The weak portion is, for example, a portion locally formed with a thin wall. Due to the load from the front of the vehicle, the leg portion 41 bends at the weak portion, thereby buckling the shock absorbing member 4 and absorbing the load.

[0046] <Operation at the time of collision> Referring to FIG. 6, the operation of the vehicle structure 1 during a collision described above will be explained. In FIG. 6, the state before the collision is shown by a two-dot chain line, and the state after the collision is shown by a solid line. When the front part of the vehicle body collides with a pedestrian, at the initial stage of the collision, the vehicle front member 5 located in front of the power supply port 2 and the bracket 3 is displaced rearward, causing the lower bracket 31 to retreat. When the bracket 3 is pushed by the vehicle front member 5, the upper bracket 32 pushes the dash panel 7 via the shock absorber member 4. As the dash panel 7 is slightly deformed due to this pressing, the bracket 3 retreats. The dash panel 7 can be deformed to such an extent that it does not affect the occupants in the vehicle interior and does not prevent the retreat of the bracket 3. The upper bracket 32 connected to the relatively low-rigidity dash panel 7 is more likely to retreat compared to the lower bracket 31. When the bracket 3 retreats, the power supply port 2 retreats. By causing the power supply port 2 to retreat before the pedestrian penetrates into the power supply port 2, it is possible to prevent the pedestrian from penetrating into the power supply port 2.

[0047] When a load equal to or greater than a certain level is input to the shock absorber member 4, the shock absorber member 4 buckles. When the shock absorber member 4 buckles, the bracket 3 retreats. Also, when the shock absorber member 4 buckles, the load input from the upper bracket 32 to the dash panel 7 is suppressed. Therefore, the shock absorber member 4 makes it easy to control the amount of retreat of the bracket 3 while controlling the deformation of the dash panel 7.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In the vehicle structure 1 described above, the upper bracket 32 is indirectly connected to the dash panel 7, but the upper bracket 32 can also be directly connected to the dash panel 7. For example, the front end portion 321 of the upper bracket 32 is extended in the vehicle length direction, and the rear end portion 322 is connected to the dash panel 7. Also, the vehicle structure 1 described above has been explained with a van-type vehicle, but it may also be applied to a sedan. A sedan is an automobile having a bonnet.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1 Vehicle structure 2 Power supply port 3 Bracket 30 Middle bracket 301 Opening, 302 Upper piece 31 Lower bracket (first end) 311 Bent portion 32 Upper bracket (second end) 321 Front end, 322 Rear end 31a, 32a, 32b Bolts 4 Shock absorbing member 40 Flat portion, 41 Leg portion 5 Vehicle front member 50 Front cross member 51 Sub cross member 511 Tip end 60 Front side member 65 Front inside panel 7 Dash panel 8 Support member

Claims

1. A power supply port provided at the front part of the vehicle body, and a bracket that supports the power supply port, and the bracket has a first end connected to a vehicle front member, and a second end connected to a dash panel, and the vehicle front member is a member located in front of the bracket, a vehicle structure.

2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the second end is connected to the dash panel via a shock absorbing member.

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