Frame structure for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a frame structure for a vehicle that is able to receive a load with both of a pair of side frames.SOLUTION: A frame structure for a vehicle includes: a pair of side frames disposed at an interval in a vehicle width direction and extending in a fore-aft direction of the vehicle; and a hollow cross member extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the pair of side frames to each other. A reinforcement extending in the vehicle width direction between both end parts of the cross member in an extending direction is disposed inside the cross member. Both ends of the reinforcement in a longitudinal direction branch forward and rearward and are formed in an X shape in a top view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a frame structure of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, frame-mounted vehicles have been known in which the frame and the body are provided separately. Such frame-mounted vehicles have a frame structure in which the body is fixed to the frame via a body mount. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-153697 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the frame structure of the vehicle in Patent Document 1, when a collision occurs that is biased to one side of the vehicle, such as an offset collision, the load is concentrated on one side frame (the side of the collision), and the entire side frame cannot efficiently bear the collision load.

[0005] However, even in the case where a collision occurs that is biased towards one of the side frames, it is preferable that the load of the collision be distributed to both of the pair of side frames.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a frame structure for a vehicle that can support a load on both of a pair of side frames. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The frame structure of the vehicle disclosed herein comprises a pair of side frames arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction and extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and a hollow cross member extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the pair of side frames, with a reinforcement disposed inside the cross member extending in the vehicle width direction between both ends of the cross member in the extension direction, and the reinforcement having both longitudinal ends branched forward and backward and formed in an X shape when viewed from above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this vehicle frame structure, a pair of side frames are connected in an X-shape by reinforcements. As a result, when a collision load is input to one side frame, the load is transmitted through the reinforcements to the other side frame. As a result, the load can be borne by both side frames. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a frame structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of the vicinity of a first cross member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of a first cross member according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view II of Figure 4. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of II-II in Figure 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a right connection frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along line III-III. [Figure 9] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is designated F, the rear side B, the right side R, the left side L, the upper side U, and the lower side D. In the following description, the left-right direction will be referred to as the vehicle width direction.

[0011] 1, the vehicle C includes a frame 1. The vehicle C is a separate frame type vehicle in which a body C1 is fixed onto the frame 1 via a body mount 32.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, the frame 1 has a pair of side frames 2. The pair of side frames 2 includes a right side frame 2R and a left side frame 2L. In this embodiment, the pair of side frames 2 includes a pair of front side frames (an example of a first frame) 3, a pair of center side frames (an example of a second frame) 4, a pair of inclined portions 7, a first cross member (an example of a cross member) 8, a second cross member 10, a connecting member 30, and a body mount 32.

[0013] The pair of front side frames 3 are disposed in the front portion of the vehicle C and extend in the front-to-rear direction. The pair of front side frames 3 include a right front side frame 3R and a left front side frame 3L. The right front side frame 3R and the left front side frame 3L are disposed with a gap in the vehicle width direction.

[0014] The right front side frame 3R and the left front side frame 3L are symmetrical about the center line in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the following description, only the right front side frame 3R will be described, and a description of the left front side frame 3L will be omitted. The same applies to the pair of center side frames 4 and the pair of connecting frames 6.

[0015] The pair of center side frames 4 are disposed in the center portion of the vehicle C in the longitudinal direction and extend in the longitudinal direction. The pair of center side frames 4 are disposed rearward and lower than the pair of front side frames 3. The pair of center side frames 4 extend at positions offset outward in the vehicle width direction from the pair of front side frames 3. The pair of center side frames 4 include a right center side frame 4R and a left center side frame 4L. The right center side frame 4R and the left center side frame 4L are disposed with a gap between them in the vehicle width direction.

[0016] The pair of inclined portions 7 extend diagonally rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction between the front side frames 3 and the center side frames 4. In this embodiment, the pair of inclined portions 7 are a pair of connecting frames 6. The pair of connecting frames 6 are disposed between the pair of front side frames 3 and the pair of center side frames 4, and extend at an angle downward and outward in the vehicle width direction from the front side frames 3 to the center side frames 4. The pair of connecting frames 6 are positioned more outward in the vehicle width direction as they move toward the rear of the vehicle C. In this embodiment, the pair of connecting frames 6 function as members connecting the pair of front side frames 3 and the pair of center side frames 4. The pair of connecting frames 6 includes a right connecting frame 6R and a left connecting frame 6L. The left connecting frame 6L is disposed at a distance from the right connecting frame 6R in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] The first cross member 8 is disposed between the pair of inclined portions 7 and connects the pair of side frames 2 together. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the first cross member 8 is disposed in a position that overlaps with the inclined portions 7 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. More specifically, the first cross member 8 is disposed so as to connect the front ends of the inclined portions 7. In this embodiment, the first cross member 8 is disposed in this position to connect the right connecting frame 6R and the left connecting frame 6L. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first cross member 8 is fixed to the connecting frame 6 via a bracket 8a that is fixed to the connecting frame 6 by welding.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the first cross member 8 is hollow. A reinforcement 13 is disposed inside the first cross member 8, extending in the vehicle width direction between both ends of the first cross member 8 in the extension direction. The reinforcement 13 has both ends in the longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction in this embodiment) branching forward and backward, and is formed in an X shape when viewed from above. In this embodiment, the first cross member 8 has a hollow member 12, a first reinforcement 14, a second reinforcement 16, and a connecting member 18. In this embodiment, all of these members are formed from metal members. Note that FIG. 4 is a view in which an upper member 12a constituting the hollow member 12, which will be described later, has been removed so that the first reinforcement 14, the second reinforcement 16, and the connecting member 18 can be easily identified.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the hollow member 12 has an upper member 12a with a generally U-shaped cross section and a lower member 12b with a generally U-shaped cross section. The hollow member 12 is arranged with the upper member 12a open downward and the lower member 12b open upward. At the right and left ends of the first cross member 8, the side surface 20 of the upper member 12a and the side surface 22 of the lower member 12b are arranged to overlap in the front-to-rear direction. This increases the rigidity of the area near the fixing point between the first cross member 8 and the bracket 8a. In this embodiment, the side surface 20 of the upper member 12a is arranged to overlap the outer side (front or rear) of the side surface 22 of the lower member 12b. However, the overlapping of the side surfaces 20 and 22 may be reversed.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, the first reinforcement 14 is disposed inside the hollow member 12 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The first reinforcement 14 has a pair of front leg portions 14b that extend diagonally forward of the vehicle from a middle portion 14a in the vehicle width direction to both outer sides in the vehicle width direction. The first reinforcement 14 has an upper wall 14d, a lower wall 14e, and a vertical wall 14f, and is formed by a plate-like member with a generally C-shaped cross section with an opening facing forward (see FIG. 5). The first reinforcement 14 includes a first recess 14c that is recessed toward the rear of the vehicle C. The first recess 14c is formed in approximately the center of the first cross member 8 in the vehicle width direction.

[0021] The second reinforcement 16 is disposed inside the hollow member 12 and extends in the vehicle width direction. The second reinforcement 16 has a pair of rear leg portions 16b that extend diagonally rearward of the vehicle from a middle portion 16a in the vehicle width direction to both outer sides in the vehicle width direction. The second reinforcement 16 has an upper wall 16d, a lower wall 16e, and a vertical wall 16f, and is formed by a plate-like member with a generally C-shaped cross section with an opening facing rearward (see FIG. 5). The second reinforcement 16 includes a second recess 16c that is recessed toward the front of the vehicle C. The second recess 16c is formed in approximately the center of the first cross member 8 in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] The first reinforcement 14 and the second reinforcement 16 are joined at their intermediate portions 14a, 16a to form an X-shape. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the first reinforcement 14 and the second reinforcement 16 are joined at their intermediate portions 14a, 16a with their vertical walls 14f, 16f aligned. That is, the back surface of the first recess 14c and the back surface of the second recess 16c are joined together. By arranging the first reinforcement 14 and the second reinforcement 16 in this manner, the first cross member 8 forms a reinforcement 13 that is X-shaped in top view inside the hollow member 12. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top and bottom of the reinforcement 13 are joined to the upper surface 25 and the lower surface 27 of the first cross member 8, respectively.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 5 , a connecting member 18 is disposed inside the first cross member 8 at an end of the first cross member 8, extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle C and connecting the front wall 21 and rear wall 23 of the first cross member 8. Both longitudinal ends of the reinforcement 13 are coupled to the connecting member 18. The connecting member 18 is a cylindrical member through which fastening members 26 for fixing the first cross member 8 to the side frames 2 are inserted. In this embodiment, the fastening members 26 are bolts. The first cross member 8 is fixed to the bracket 8a by the fastening members 26 that penetrate the hollow member 12 in the front-rear direction. Two connecting members 18 are disposed at each of the right and left ends of the first cross member 8. Two fastening members 26 are also disposed, corresponding to the number of connecting members 18. When the fastening members 26 are tightened by the nuts 26a, the connecting members 18 sandwich the bracket 8a, the side surface 20 of the upper member 12a, and the side surface 22 of the lower member 12b. This increases the rigidity of the end portion of the first cross member 8.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the second cross member 10 is disposed rearward of the first cross member 8. In this embodiment, the second cross member 10 extends from the center of the right connecting frame 6R in the longitudinal direction toward the left connecting frame 6L, connecting the pair of connecting frames 6. In this embodiment, the second cross member 10 is formed from a sheet metal member with a rectangular cross section.

[0025] The second cross member 10 is disposed at a position that overlaps with the center of the cross section of the right connecting frame 6R at its widest position, as viewed in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, the intersection O between the widest position X1 of the right connecting frame 6R (see the imaginary line X1 shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 7) and the cross section center line X2 of the right connecting frame 6R (see the center line X2 shown by the one-dot chain line in Fig. 7) overlaps with the second cross member 10, as viewed in the vehicle width direction. By disposing the second cross member 10 in such a position, loads are easily transmitted from the second cross member 10 to the right connecting frame 6R.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting member 30 extends in the front-to-rear direction and connects the first cross member 8 and the second cross member 10. In this embodiment, two connecting members 30 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The connecting members 30 are arranged inward of the front side frames 3 when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and are arranged at positions where the distance from the front side frames 3 to the center side frames 4 is equal to the distance from the front side frames 3 to the connecting member 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the connecting members 30 are arranged at positions where the distance L1 from the center line X3 of the cross section of the front side frames 3 (see the center line X3 shown by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 7) to the center line X4 of the center side frames 4 (see the center line X4 shown by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 7) is equal to the distance L2 from the center line X3 of the cross section of the front side frames 3 to the center line X5 of the connecting member 30 (see the center line X5 shown by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 7).

[0027] When the vehicle C collides, the load input from the front side frame 3 to the right connecting frame 6R generates a first moment that tries to rotate the right connecting frame 6R counterclockwise. The connecting member 30 generates a second moment that tries to support the rotation of the right connecting frame 6R. As described above, by making the distance L1 and the distance L2 equal, the first moment and the second moment are balanced. This prevents the connecting frame 6 from collapsing.

[0028] 3, the connecting member 30 is formed as an L-shaped sheet metal member that fits along the hollow member 12 of the first cross member 8. A roll stopper 34 that stops the roll of the power source of the vehicle C, such as a motor, is disposed at the front end of the connecting member 30.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the body mount 32 is a device for elastically supporting the body C1 (see FIG. 1) relative to the frame 1. The body mounts 32 are disposed on the pair of connecting frames 6, respectively. The body mounts 32 include a right body mount 32R and a left body mount 32L. The right body mount 32R and the left body mount 32L are symmetrical with respect to the center line in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, in the following description, only the right body mount 32R will be described, and a description of the left body mount 32L will be omitted.

[0030] 8, the body mount 32 has a fixed bracket 32a, an elastic body 32b, a body mounting seat 32c, and an elastic body support portion 32d. The body mount 32 secures the body C1 to the frame 1 by sandwiching the body-side bracket C1a between the body mounting seat 32c and the elastic body support portion 32d and tightening it with a bolt 32e.

[0031] As shown in Figure 7, the body mount 32 is fixed at a position overlapping the side surface 6a, which is located at the outermost position in the vehicle width direction of the connecting frame 6. More specifically, the center of the body mount 32 (the center of the bolt 32e in Figure 8) is positioned offset toward the side surface 6a from the intersection point O. This allows the distance between the pair of left and right body mounts 32 to be longer. As a result, the body mounts 32 can stably support the body C1.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the second cross member 10 is disposed between a pair of left and right body mounts 32. The second cross member 10 connects a pair of connecting frames 6. By disposing the second cross member 10 between the body mounts 32 in this manner, the rigidity of the frame 1 is improved.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the vehicle C is an electric vehicle equipped with a battery pack BT. The battery pack BT is disposed between a pair of center side frames 4. The battery pack BT is fixed to the center side frames 4 and a second cross member 10. The battery pack BT houses a plurality of drive batteries (e.g., lithium ion batteries) that serve as a power source for driving the motor. The battery pack BT is formed from sheet metal or resin.

[0034] The battery pack BT has a support member 36 that extends forward from the battery pack BT and is connected to the second cross member 10. The battery pack BT is fixed to the second cross member 10 by the support member 36. The support member 36 is positioned so as to overlap the connecting member 30 in the vertical direction. The load transmitted from the connecting member 30 to the support member 36 is transmitted to the center side frame 4 via a rib BT1 or the like disposed inside the battery pack BT. This makes it possible to suppress the crushing of the battery pack BT and also suppress the crushing of the cabin portion of the body C1.

[0035] According to the structure of the frame 1 of the vehicle C configured in this manner, for example, when a load due to a collision is input to the right side frame 2R side, the load is transmitted from the right connecting frame 6R (inclined portion 7) to the first reinforcement 14. The load transmitted to the first reinforcement 14 is transmitted to the second reinforcement 16 at the first recess 14c, and then transmitted to the left side frame 2L.

[0036] At this time, the connecting member 30 temporarily supports the hollow member 12 from behind, thereby suppressing deformation of the first cross member when the load is transmitted from the right side frame 2R to the first reinforcement 14. This ensures that the load is transmitted more reliably from the right side frame 2R to the left side frame 2L.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 9 , when a load due to a collision is input to the right front side frame 3R, for example, the load is transmitted from the right connecting frame 6R (inclined portion 7) to the first cross member 8. The load transmitted to the first cross member 8 is then transmitted to the connecting member 30. The load transmitted to the connecting member 30 is then transmitted to the second cross member 10. The load transmitted to the second cross member 10 is then transmitted to the right center side frame 4R and the left center side frame 4L. As a result, the load received by the right front side frame 3R is distributed and transmitted to the right center side frame 4R and the left center side frame 4L. As a result, the load can be received by both of the pair of side frames 2. Because the frame 1 has an axisymmetrical shape with respect to the center line in the vehicle width direction, a description of the case where a load due to a collision is transmitted to the left side frame 2L will be omitted.

[0038] As described above, according to the structure of the frame 1 of the vehicle C of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a structure of the frame 1 of the vehicle C that can support a load on both of the pair of side frames 2.

[0039] <Other embodiments> Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. In particular, the multiple modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0040] (a) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the first cross member 8 was disposed on the connecting frame 6, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The first cross member 8 may be disposed in any position as long as at least a portion of the first cross member 8 overlaps with any position from the front end to the rear end of the connecting frame 6.

[0041] (b) In the above embodiment, the side frame 2 is a combination of the front side frame 3, the center side frame 4, and the connecting frame 6, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The side frame 2 may be a single frame formed by connecting these components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1: Frame, 2: Side frame 3: Front side frame, 4: Center side frame 7: Inclined portion, 8: First cross member 12a: Upper member, 12b: Lower member 14: First reinforcement, 14a: First recess 16: second reinforcement, 16a: second recess 18: Cylindrical member, 20: Side surface 22: Side, 26: Bolt, 30: Connection member, 32: Body mount C: Vehicle

Claims

1. a pair of side frames arranged at an interval in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle and extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a hollow cross member extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the pair of side frames; Equipped with A reinforcement is disposed inside the cross member, extending in the vehicle width direction between both end portions of the cross member in the extension direction, The reinforcement has both ends in the longitudinal direction branched into front and rear, and is formed in an X shape when viewed from above. Vehicle frame structure.

2. the side frame includes a first frame extending at a front portion of the vehicle, a second frame extending rearward of the first frame at a position offset outward in the vehicle width direction from the first frame, and an inclined portion extending diagonally rearward and outward in the vehicle width direction between the first frame and the second frame, The cross member is disposed between the pair of inclined portions. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 2, wherein the cross member is disposed so as to connect the front ends of the inclined portions together.

4. The reinforcement includes a first reinforcement extending in a vehicle width direction and a second reinforcement extending in the vehicle width direction behind the first reinforcement, The first reinforcement has a pair of front leg portions extending diagonally forward of the vehicle from a middle portion in the vehicle width direction toward both outer sides in the vehicle width direction, The second reinforcement has a pair of rear leg portions extending diagonally rearward of the vehicle from a middle portion in the vehicle width direction toward both outer sides in the vehicle width direction, The first reinforcement and the second reinforcement are joined to each other at the middle portion to form the X-shape. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 1 .

5. The first reinforcement is formed by a plate-like member having an upper wall, a lower wall, and a vertical wall, and having a substantially C-shaped cross section with an opening facing forward, and includes a first recess recessed toward the rear of the vehicle, The second reinforcement is formed by a plate-like member having an upper wall, a lower wall, and a vertical wall, and having a substantially C-shaped cross section with an opening facing rearward, and includes a second recess recessed toward the front of the vehicle, The first reinforcement and the second reinforcement are joined in the intermediate portion with the vertical walls of each other aligned.

5. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 4.

6. a connecting member is disposed inside the cross member at an end of the cross member, extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and connecting the front wall and rear wall of the cross member; The reinforcement has both ends in the longitudinal direction connected to the connecting member. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 1 .

7. The connecting member is a cylindrical member through which a fastening member for fixing the cross member to the side frame is inserted.

7. The vehicle frame structure according to claim 6.

8. The upper and lower ends of the reinforcement are joined to the upper and lower surfaces of the cross member. The vehicle frame structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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