Vehicle body rear structure

Abstract

To secure design performance of a vehicle body rear part side surface part, while largely deflecting a side surface passing wake separated from a rear end of the vehicle body side surface part inward in the vehicle width direction.SOLUTION: A pillar duct part 70 for introducing traveling wind flowing along a car body side surface part 3 on the front side of a rear pillar 6 and discharging it to the rear side is provided with a front side opening part 71 opened toward the front side of a car at the front edge part of an outer panel 62, a rear side opening part 72 opened toward the rear side of the car at the rear part of the rear pillar 6, and a duct body 73 connecting these opening parts 7172, and extending in the longitudinal direction on the side 6a of the closed cross section part of the rear pillar 6. A side spoiler 45 fixed to a side end edge part 40 of a lid body 4 is provided with a wing-like part 47 having an outer surface side 10R smoothly continued to a rear end part side 62s of an outer surface side 62r of an outer panel 62 through a parting line side 80a on the vehicle-width outer side of a flow passage side 47s through which exhaust air side W10 of a pillar duct part 70 passes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear vehicle structure comprising a cover that opens and closes an opening at the rear of the vehicle body, and rear pillars that form part of the side surfaces of the rear of the vehicle body along the left and right side edge portions of the cover body. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, as shown in Figure 9, while a vehicle is moving, it is considered effective to have the traveling winds Wu, Wd, Wl, and Wr that flow rearward along the surfaces of the roof, under the floor, and left and right side surfaces of the vehicle and leave the rear ends of the vehicle converge at a single point Pr to form a spindle-shaped rear end at a predetermined distance behind the vehicle, in order to reduce air resistance while the vehicle is moving.

[0003] For example, in order to significantly deflect the traveling winds Wl and Wr inward in the vehicle width direction at the left and right side portions of the vehicle body, it is important to deflect the traveling winds Wl and Wr that are away from the rear end portions of the vehicle body side portions inward in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIG. 9, and documents such as those exemplified in Patent Document 1 have been proposed to achieve this.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the rear pillar provided on the side of the rear of the vehicle body is configured with a pillar duct at a height above the vehicle body beltline as an air passage that discharges a portion of the vehicle body side airflow taken in from in front of the rear pillar to the rear of the rear pillar.By using the discharge airflow from the pillar duct as an air curtain, the vehicle body side airflow that flows along the side of the vehicle body to its rear end is prevented from being drawn into the rear of the vehicle body when it separates from the rear end of the side of the vehicle body (i.e., the generation of turbulence), and as a result is deflected inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0005] In response to this, the applicant has discovered that, as proposed in a prior patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-070525), by extending the pillar duct disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 rearward of the rear pillar to the outer side of the side edge of the cover body in the vehicle width direction, and by providing a wing-like portion with an outer surface that continues rearward from the outer surface of the rear pillar, the side flow of the vehicle body can be significantly deflected inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0006] In both Patent Document 1 and the invention of the prior application, the air passage body and part of the duct forming portion for forming the pillar duct in the rear pillar are configured with a resin garnish. The resin garnish is disposed on the outer surface of the side portion of the rear of the vehicle body so as to form the decorative surface of the rear pillar.

[0007] However, on the outer surface of the side of the rear of the vehicle body where the plastic garnish is arranged, the boundary (parting line) between the plastic garnish and the vehicle body exterior panel members such as rear fender panels arranged adjacent to it above and below appears along the fore-and-aft direction, which could impair the design. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-126326 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a rear vehicle body structure that can significantly deflect the side wake that separates from the rear end of the vehicle body side portion inward in the vehicle width direction while maintaining the design of the rear side portion of the vehicle body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention relates to a vehicle having a cover that can be opened and closed to cover a rear opening of a vehicle body, a rear pillar whose rear end is adjacent to the left and right side edge edges of the cover via parting lines and forms part of a side of the vehicle body, a pillar duct that introduces traveling wind flowing along a quarter window provided on the side of the vehicle body located forward of the rear pillar and discharges it behind the rear pillar, and side spoilers fixed to outer surfaces of the left and right side edge edges of the cover, wherein the rear pillar comprises an inner panel, an outer panel whose main surface is located outward in the vehicle width direction than the rear end of the quarter window, and gutter panels that form rain gutters on the left and right side edges of the rear opening of the vehicle body. the pillar duct portion includes a front opening that is opened at the front edge of the outer panel and faces toward the front of the vehicle, a rear opening that is opened at the rear of the outer panel or the gutter panel and faces toward the rear of the vehicle, and a duct body that connects these front and rear openings and extends in the fore-and-aft direction through the closed cross-sectional portion of the rear pillar; and the side spoiler includes a wing-like portion that is located outside the vehicle width of the flow path through which the exhaust air of the pillar duct portion passes and has an outer surface that is smoothly continuous with the rear end of the outer surface of the outer panel via the parting line.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the exhaust air discharged from the pillar duct portion provided on the rear pillar deflects the side wake that passes through the wing-shaped portion behind the rear pillar and flows toward the rear of the vehicle by drawing it inward in a plan view, thereby reducing air resistance, and the pillar duct portion can be installed without compromising the exterior design of the side portion at the rear of the vehicle body.

[0012] As an aspect of the present invention, the outer surface of the wing-like portion may be configured to smoothly continue rearward from the rear end of the outer surface of the outer panel that forms part of the vehicle body side portion, and may be formed at a rear taper angle that is greater than the rear taper angle in a horizontal cross section of the outer surface of the outer panel.

[0013] According to the above configuration, while the vehicle is traveling, the side wake separated from the rear end of the outer surface of the wing-like portion is directed toward the exhaust airflow discharged rearward from the pillar duct (toward the vehicle width inward), thereby further deflecting the side wake inward in cooperation with the exhaust airflow that produces an ejector effect, thereby reducing air resistance while the vehicle is traveling.

[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, the rear narrowing angle of the wing-like portion may be set in the range of 25° to 29°. As described above, by setting the rearward tapering angle of the outer surface of the wing-like portion to 25° or more, the side-passing wake can be firmly directed toward the exhaust air discharged rearward from the flow path (toward the vehicle width inward), and the side-passing wake can be significantly deflected toward the vehicle width inward. Also, as described above, by setting the rearward tapering angle of the outer surface of the wing-like portion to 29° or less, the protrusion length of the wing-like portion, which is provided independently of the outer panel, protruding rearward and toward the vehicle width inward in a cantilever shape can be reduced, thereby ensuring the appearance design of the rear of the vehicle body and reducing the load applied to the wing-like portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to this invention, it is possible to provide a rear vehicle body structure that can significantly deflect the side-passing wake that separates from the rear end of the side portion of the vehicle body inward in the vehicle width direction while maintaining the design of the rear side portion of the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view of a rear body of a vehicle equipped with a rear body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left rear. [Figure 2] Left side view of the rear of the vehicle shown in Figure 1 [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view showing the main part along the line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of FIG. 3. [Figure 5]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pillar duct portion, showing a part of the outer panel in phantom lines and a main portion of a rear pillar as viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 6] 6(a) is a perspective cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line BB in FIG. 5, seen from the inside of the fitting protrusion, and FIG. 6(b) is a cross-sectional view of the main part taken along line CC in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] (a) is an enlarged left side view of a main part of a modified rear body structure, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the main part along line DD in (a). [Figure 8] Graph showing the results of a simulation verifying the effectiveness of the vehicle rear body structure of this embodiment and its accompanying configuration. [Figure 9] An external view of the rear of a vehicle, seen from the left rear diagonal, showing an ideal state in which wind that has left the roof, under the floor, and the rear ends of the left and right sides of the vehicle gathers at a predetermined point away from the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, arrow F indicates the front of the vehicle body, arrow U indicates the upper side of the vehicle body, arrow OUT indicates the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and arrow IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The left and right directions of the vehicle body are based on the occupant seated in the driver's seat. Furthermore, since the left and right side portions 3 of the rear part of the vehicle body of the vehicle V of this embodiment have a substantially symmetrical shape, the following description will be mainly based on the left side portion 3 of the vehicle body.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle V equipped with the rear vehicle body structure of this embodiment is a hatchback-type passenger car having a flip-up lift gate 4 at the rear vehicle body portion 2.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle V of this embodiment is provided with intermediate pillars 8 and rear pillars 6 on the left and right side surfaces 3 at the rear of the vehicle body. These pillars 8, 6 extend vertically to form part of the vehicle body side surfaces 3, and are disposed spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, supporting the rear of the roof 7 (see Figs. 1 and 2) that covers the upper part of the passenger compartment.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roof portion 7 includes a pair of left and right roof side rails 7a extending in the front-to-rear direction, a rear header (not shown) connecting the rear ends of the pair of roof side rails 7a, and a substantially rectangular roof panel 7c covering the entire area between the pair of roof side rails 7a from above.

[0021] The roof side rail 7a is configured by joining and fixing a roof side rail outer 7aa and a roof side rail inner (not shown), and defines a roof side closed cross section (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle between them.

[0022] The above-mentioned rear header (not shown) is provided on the rear body portion 2 and forms the upper edge of the rear body opening 2A of the passenger compartment (luggage compartment), and cooperates with the above-mentioned roof panel 7c to form a rear header closed cross-sectional portion (not shown) extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate pillar 8 is configured by joining and fixing an intermediate pillar outer part 81 and an intermediate pillar inner part 82, and has an intermediate pillar closed cross section 8a extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle between them.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a door opening 14A in which a rear door 14 is disposed is formed between the intermediate pillar 8 (quarter pillar, C pillar) and a center pillar (B pillar) (not shown) disposed in front of and spaced apart from the intermediate pillar 8. The front end of the rear door 14 is pivotally supported on the center pillar so that the door opening 14A can be opened and closed. The rear door 14 is provided with a rear door glass 14a at its upper portion, and a door sash portion 14b at its rear end.

[0025] 1 to 3, a quarter window 15 (also referred to as "quarter glass 15") is attached between the intermediate pillar 8 and the rear pillar 6 (D-pillar). The quarter window 15 extends in a substantially straight line in the front-to-rear direction and is provided in front of the rear pillar 6, i.e., on the vehicle body side surface 3 between the rear pillar 6 and the door sash portion 14b of the rear door 14.

[0026] 3, the front end portion 15a of the quarter window 15 is located near the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the intermediate pillar outer panel 81. As shown in FIG. 3, when the rear door 14 is closed, the front end portion 15a of the quarter window 15 is located near the rear side of the door sash portion 14b located at the rear end of the rear door glass 14a of the rear door 14, and the outer surfaces of the two are arranged to be smoothly continuous in the front-to-rear direction.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, particularly Figure 4, the rear pillar 6 forms the left and right side edges of the vehicle rear opening 2A (only the left side is shown), and is equipped with an inner panel 61, an outer panel 62, a gutter panel 63, and a rear pillar reinforcement 64.

[0028] The inner panel 61 has a middle portion 611 extending along the vehicle width direction, a front portion 612 extending forward from the outer end of the middle portion 611 in the vehicle width direction, and a rear portion 613 extending rearward from the inner end of the middle portion 611 in the vehicle width direction, and extends so that its horizontal cross section forms a crank shape.

[0029] The outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is located outward in the vehicle width direction of the inner panel 61. A front end flange portion 62a of the outer panel 62 and a front end flange portion 61a of the inner panel 61 are joined to each other. The rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is hemmed (i.e., folded back) into a V shape so that the rear end (rear tip portion) protrudes more inward in the vehicle width direction as it extends forward. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the main surface portion 62c of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 has an outer surface 62s that forms the decorative surface of the rear pillar 6 and is formed as part of the rear fender panel 13 that forms the outer surface of the side portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the front portion of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 has a front end step 62d that is bent inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the main surface portion 62c toward the rear end portion 15b of the quarter window 15, and a front end flange portion 62a that extends forward from the inner end of the front end step 62d in the vehicle width direction.

[0031] The front end step 62d of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is located rearward of the rear end 15b of the quarter window 15. The front end flange 62a of the rear pillar 6 is located closer to the vehicle width inner side than the rear end 15b of the quarter window 15, and is joined to the front end flange 61a of the inner panel 61, as described above.

[0032] 3, the outer surface of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is located slightly inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer surface of the door sash portion 14b when the rear door 14 is closed. Therefore, the quarter window 15 is provided so as to be gently inclined inward in the vehicle width direction from the front end 15a to the rear end 15b in the horizontal cross section.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the gutter panel 63 of the rear pillar 6 is formed so that its horizontal cross section has a generally U-shape that gradually widens toward the rear so as to form a rain gutter portion (wetted edge) on the side of the rear opening 2A of the vehicle body.

[0034] More specifically, the gutter panel 63 has an outer surface portion 631 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The outer surface portion 631 of the gutter panel 63, including the rear outer end flange portion 63a located at the rear outer end, extends at an inclination in a substantially linear manner with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction so that the outer surface is positioned further outward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear, and the inclination is formed to be substantially the same as the inclination of the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0035] The rear outer end flange portion 63a of the outer surface portion 631 of the gutter panel 63 and the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 are joined to each other, so that the outer surface portion 631 of the gutter panel 63 and the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 extend continuously on the same straight line.

[0036] A rear inner flange portion 63b that protrudes rearward is provided at the rear end of the gutter panel 63, which is located more inward in the vehicle width direction than the outer surface portion 631, and the three rear inner flange portions 63b and the rear flange portion 61b of the inner panel 61 are joined together so as to sandwich a rear flange portion 64b (described later) of the rear pillar reinforcement 64. Note that a weatherstrip 91 is attached to these three flange portions 61b, 64b, 63b, which is pressed against the inner panel 41 of the side edge portion 40 (described later) when the lift gate 4 is closed.

[0037] The rear pillar 6 is formed by joining the inner panel 61, outer panel 62, and gutter panel 63 described above to form a closed cross-sectional portion 6a as a hollow portion extending in the vertical direction along a side edge portion 40 of the lift gate 4 described later.

[0038] The rear pillar reinforcement 64 is located between the inner panel 61 and the outer panel 62 in the vehicle width direction, and as described above, the rear end flange portion 64b is joined so as to be sandwiched between the rear end flange portion 61b of the inner panel 61 and the rear inner end flange portion 63b of the gutter panel 63, and the front end flange portion 64a is joined to the middle portion 611 of the inner panel 61. As a result, a closed cross-sectional portion extending in the vertical direction is also formed between the rear pillar reinforcement 64 and the inner panel 61.

[0039] 3 and 4, a pillar duct portion 70 is provided inside the rear pillar 6 to introduce road airflow W10 flowing along the quarter window 15 located in front of the rear pillar 6 and discharge it behind the rear pillar 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pillar duct portion 70 has a front opening 71, a rear opening 72, and a duct body 73.

[0040] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the above-mentioned front opening 71 and rear opening 72 are provided to penetrate the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 in the front-to-rear direction so as to connect the inside and outside of the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6. More specifically, the front opening 71 is opened in the front end step 62d of the outer panel 62 and faces the front of the vehicle. The rear opening 72 is opened in the rear end flange 62b of the outer panel 62 and faces the rear of the vehicle.

[0041] The duct body 73 connects the front opening 71 and the rear opening 72 and extends in the front-rear direction within the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6. Specifically, the duct body 73 extends in the front-rear direction along the main surface portion 62c so as to be located outside the inner panel 61 and the gutter panel 63 in the vehicle width direction within the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the duct body 73 is attached to the outer panel 62 at a position rearward of the quarter window 15 of the vehicle body side portion 3, at approximately the same height as the quarter window 15.

[0042] 5, the assembly of the duct body 73 to the outer panel 62 will be described in detail. A side engaging portion 77 is protruded from the outer surface of the duct body 73 in the vehicle width direction and engages with the main surface portion 62c of the outer panel 62 from the inside in the vehicle width direction. The main surface portion 62c of the outer panel 62 is provided with a side engaged portion 78 that engages with the side engaging portion 77. Note that the side engaging portion 77 and the side engaged portion 78 are only shown in FIG. 5.

[0043] The side engaging portion 77 includes a base portion 771 that protrudes from the outer surface of the duct body 73 in the vehicle width direction toward the outer panel 62, and a tip protruding portion 772 that protrudes forward from the tip of the base portion 771 so as to be able to engage with the side engaged portion 78 from behind. On the other hand, the side engaged portion 78 is formed in a hat shape by a gate-shaped portion 781 that penetrates in the front-rear direction, and a pair of upper and lower flange portions 782 that protrude in opposite directions from both upper and lower ends of the gate-shaped portion 781. In the side engaged portion 78, the flange portions 782 are bonded with an adhesive to the inner surface of the main surface portion 62c of the outer panel 62 on both upper and lower sides, separated by a portion corresponding to the side engaging portion 77, in a side view of the vehicle.

[0044] As a result, the side engaging portion 77 is formed to be able to engage with the inner space that penetrates the front and rear of the side engaged portion 78 by being inserted from the rear. The duct body 73 is assembled to the outer panel 62 by engaging the side engaging portion 77 with the side engaged portion 78.

[0045] 5, in this embodiment, the duct body 73 includes a duct body front end member 74 located at the front end portion of the duct body 73, and a duct body main body member 75 that constitutes the rest of the duct body 73. Note that the duct body 73 is not limited to being formed from two members as in this embodiment, and may be formed entirely from a single member, or may be formed from three or more members that can be connected to each other.

[0046] The duct body main body member 75 is formed in the shape of a flattened square tube that is long in the vertical and longitudinal directions relative to the vehicle width direction and penetrates the interior in the longitudinal direction. A fitting recess 75f that opens forward and allows the duct body front end member 74 to be fitted therein is provided at the front end of the duct body main body member 75.

[0047] As described above, the mating recess 75f of the duct body main body member 75 is formed to be one size larger around the entire circumference than the rear portion of the mating recess 75f. As a result, as shown in Figures 5 and 6(a), a main body member side step 751 facing forward is formed around the entire circumference of the duct body main body member 75 at the boundary between the inner surface of the mating recess 75f and the inner surface of the rear portion of the mating recess 75f of the duct body main body member 75.

[0048] 4 and 5, the duct body front end member 74 includes a fitting protrusion 741 and an air guide portion 742 located in front of the fitting protrusion 741. The fitting protrusion 741 protrudes rearward relative to the air guide portion 742 so as to be able to fit into the fitting recess 75f. Furthermore, the fitting protrusion 741 is formed in the shape of a square tube that penetrates in the front-rear direction, and has a length in the front-rear direction that corresponds to the fitting recess 75f at the front end of the duct body main body member 75.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5 and 6(a), the main body member side step 751 is provided with a seal member 85 (water-stopping member) that can be pressed against the rear end of the fitting protrusion 741 fitted into the fitting recess 75f. More specifically, as shown in Figure 6(a), the main body member side step 751 is provided with a rearwardly recessed recess 751d around the entire periphery of the main body member side step 751, into which the seal member 85 is fitted and held. The seal member 85 is formed in an annular shape so that it can be fitted around the entire periphery of the recess 751d provided in the main body member side step 751. As a result, when the duct body front end member 74 is fitted into the fitting recess 75f of the duct body main member 75, the rear end of the duct body front end member 74 is pressed against the main body member side step 751 via the seal member 85.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 5, engaging protrusions 743 are provided on the inner and outer outer surfaces of the fitting protrusion 741 in the vehicle width direction, while engaging recesses 753 are provided on the inner surface of the fitting recess 75f at positions facing the engaging protrusion 743 of the fitted fitting protrusion 741. When the fitting protrusion 741 is fitted into the fitting recess 75f at the front end of the duct body main body member 75, the engaging protrusion 743 and the engaging recess 753 are engaged with each other. Note that the engaging protrusion 743 and the engaging recess 753 are only shown in Fig. 5.

[0051] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the air guidance section 742 comprises a base 742a, an inner protrusion 742b that protrudes forward from the inner end of the base 742a in the vehicle width direction, and an outer protrusion 742c that protrudes forward from the outer end of the base in the vehicle width direction. The base 742a of the air guide section 742 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the front-rear direction, and is formed integrally with the fitting protrusion 741 provided on the rear side. Furthermore, the base 742a penetrates in the front-rear direction together with the inside of the fitting protrusion 741, and is provided with a front duct inlet 11F that opens in the front-rear direction and can introduce the traveling wind W10 that flows along the quarter window 15 provided in the vehicle body side surface section 3 in front of the rear pillar 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the width w10F of the front duct 10F in horizontal cross section, particularly the width w10F at the front duct inlet 11F, is set to approximately 34 mm, within the range of 6 mm to 40 mm.

[0052] The outer protrusion 742c is formed as an air guide plate that guides the traveling wind W10 flowing along the quarter window 15 from the outside in the vehicle width direction near the front side of the front duct inlet 11F. The outer protrusion 742c as an air guide plate also serves as a decorative panel. In detail, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer protrusion 742c is formed in a blade shape imitating the rear edge frame body along the rear edge of the outer frame that follows the upper and rear edge of the quarter window 15, and as shown in Figure 4, it covers the front duct inlet portion 11F like a canopy from the outside in the vehicle width direction, ensuring the appearance of the surrounding area.

[0053] 5, the base 742a of the air guide section 742 is formed to be slightly larger than the fitting protrusion 741, and its outer periphery is formed in a stepped shape relative to the fitting protrusion 741. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear surface of the outer periphery of the base 742a of such an air guide section 742 is formed to be able to be pressed against the peripheral edge of the front opening 71 formed in the front end step 62d of the outer panel 62 via a seal member 86 (shown only in FIG. 4).

[0054] 4 and 5, the rear end of the duct body 73, i.e., the rear end of the duct body main body member 75, is inserted into a rear opening 72 formed in the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 and is held on the periphery of the rear opening 72. The rear end of the duct body 73 is opened with a front duct outlet portion 12F facing rearward of the vehicle, which discharges the traveling wind W10 flowing inside the duct body 73 rearward. Thus, the duct body 73 is provided with a front duct 10F (pillar duct) inside, which connects the front duct inlet portion 11F and the front duct outlet portion 12F in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0055] 5 and 6(b), a flange portion 752 is provided on the outer surface of the rear end portion of the duct body 73, protruding in a brim-like shape over the entire circumference of the duct body 73. The flange portion 752 is formed so as to be able to be pressed against the peripheral edge of the rear opening 72 of the rear end flange portion 62b from behind via a seal member 87.

[0056] 6(b), a recess 752a into which the seal member 87 is fitted is provided around the entire periphery of the outer periphery of the front surface of the flange portion 752. The seal member 87 is formed in an annular shape so that it can be fitted around the entire periphery into the recess 752a provided on the outer periphery of the front surface of the flange portion 752. As a result, when the rear end of the duct body 73 is fitted into the rear opening 72, the flange portion 752 is pressed from behind against the periphery of the rear opening 72 of the rear end flange portion 62b via the seal member 87.

[0057] Next, a description will be given of an example of a procedure for assembling the above-mentioned duct body 73 to the outer panel 62. First, the duct body main body member 75 before fitting the duct body front end member 74 is inserted from the rear into the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6 through the rear opening 72 while being kept in the same posture as after assembly to the outer panel 62 (see FIG. 5).

[0058] When the flange portion 752 is inserted until it abuts against the edge of the rear opening 72 of the rear end flange portion 62b via the seal member 87 (see FIG. 6(a)), the rear end of the duct body main body member 75 is held on the periphery of the rear opening 72, and the front end is fitted into the front opening 71 and held on the periphery of the front opening 71 (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, the side engaging portions 77 provided on the outer surface of the duct body main body member 75 are engaged from behind with the side engaged portions 78 on the outer panel 62 side.

[0059] 5, the fitting protrusion 741 of the duct body front end member 74 is fitted into the fitting recess 75f of the duct body main body member 75 through the front opening 71 on the outer front side of the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6. As a result, the rear end face of the fitting protrusion 741 is pressed against the main body member side step portion 751 via the seal member 85, and the engaging protrusion 743 and the engaging recess 753 are engaged with each other, so that the fitting protrusion 741 is locked in the fitting recess 75f. Furthermore, at this time, the rear surface of the base portion 742a of the air guide portion 742 is pressed against the periphery of the front opening 71 formed in the front end step portion 62d of the outer panel 62 via a seal member 86 (see FIG. 4). By the above-described procedure, the duct body 73 can be attached to the outer panel 62 and provided within the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6.

[0060] Next, the lift gate 4 will be described. Lift gate 4 is configured to open and close rear opening 2A of the vehicle body. As shown in Fig. 1, lift gate 4 includes a metal inner panel 41 (see Fig. 4), a metal outer panel 42, a rear window glass 43, a synthetic resin roof spoiler 44, and synthetic resin side spoilers 45, and is generally curved forward as it extends upward in a side view of the vehicle (see Fig. 2). Outer panel 42 forms the outer surface of lift gate 4 except for its upper end portion, and is equipped with the inner lamp portion of rear combination lamp 18, a rear wiper mechanism, and the like.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the left and right side edge portions 40 of the lift gate 4 are formed by joining and fixing an inner panel 41 and an outer panel 42, and have a closed cross section 4a extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle between these panels 41, 42.

[0062] The outer portion of the inner panel 41 of the lift gate 4 in the vehicle width direction is formed in a generally U-shape that gradually widens forward so that when the lift gate 4 is closed, the outer portion faces the rear side of the gutter panel 63 across the movable area ma of the gas spring. The gas spring is a spring that utilizes the reaction force of compressed gas to assist in lifting and lowering the lift gate 4 when it is opened or closed.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 3, trims 34a, 34b, and 34c serving as interior members are provided on the vehicle interior side of the intermediate pillar 8, rear pillar 6, and side edge portion 40 of the lift gate 4, respectively.

[0064] 1, the roof spoiler 44 cooperates with the outer panel 42 to form part of the outer surface of the lift gate 4, covering the upper end portions of the rear window glass 43 and the left and right side spoilers 45. The roof spoiler 44 is formed in a substantially horizontal shape and protrudes rearward from the rear end of the roof panel 7c when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 1, both left and right ends of the roof spoiler 44 are formed in a generally downward curve along extensions of both left and right ends of the roof side rails 7a when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the rear end of the roof spoiler 44 extending in the vehicle width direction has a central portion disposed furthest rearward compared to both left and right end portions.

[0066] As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the side spoiler 45 is formed integrally or in one piece by resin molding so that the entire side spoiler 45 has a vertically elongated shape that follows the side edge portion 40, and is provided on both sides of the rear window glass 43 over approximately the entire length in the vertical direction.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 4, the rear pillar 6 is aligned with the side edge portion 40 of the lift gate 4 and the side spoiler 45 in the vehicle width direction so that a lateral parting line 80a (a small gap) is formed between the rear end portion 62r and the wing-shaped portion 47 of the side spoiler 45 provided on the outer side of the side edge portion 40 in the vehicle width direction when the lift gate 4 is closed (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the duct body 73 and a duct forming portion 45m (described later) of the side spoiler 45 are provided at the same height, and as shown in the horizontal cross section of Figure 4, the rear surface of the flange portion 752 of the duct body 73 and the front surface 45f of the side spoiler 45 face each other via the lateral parting line 80a.

[0068] This side parting line 80a forms part of the parting line 80 that forms the boundary between the lift gate 4 in a closed state and the vehicle body in which the vehicle rear opening 2A is provided, and extends in the vertical direction so as to be positioned downward and rearward together with both left and right ends of the parting line 80b that extends in the vehicle width direction and is formed at the boundary between the roof portion 7 and the roof spoiler 44 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 , so as to be visible when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0069] In detail, the side parting line 80a is generally visible when viewed from the side of the vehicle or when viewed from the rear of the vehicle depending on the vehicle model, but in the vehicle of this embodiment, a so-called side parting line is formed that is visible when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0070] 4, the flange portion 752 of the duct body 73 is formed at an angle relative to the front-rear direction so as to be positioned more forward inward in the vehicle width direction and to extend substantially continuously and in substantially the same straight line as the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6. On the other hand, as shown in the horizontal cross section of FIG. 4, the front surface 45f of the side spoiler 45 is formed parallel to the rear end flange portion 62b of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6.

[0071] As a result, even if the vehicle of this embodiment has a lateral parting line 80a extending in the vertical direction at the boundary between the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 and the side spoiler 45, the internal structure of the rear part of the vehicle body is prevented from being seen from outside the vehicle body through the lateral parting line 80a, thereby improving the appearance of the vehicle when viewed from the side.

[0072] 1 and 2, a duct forming portion 45m is provided in a vertical intermediate region of the above-described vertically elongated side spoiler 45. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the side spoiler 45 includes a base portion 46 that forms the inner surface in the vehicle width direction over the entire vertical length including the duct forming portion 45m, and a wing-like portion 47 that is located outboard of the base portion 46 in the vehicle width direction and forms the outer surface in the vehicle width direction.

[0073] A rear duct 10R that provides longitudinal communication between the base 46 and the wing-like portion 47 is provided in the duct forming portion 45m of the side spoiler 45. More specifically, the rear duct 10R is formed in a vertically elongated shape that provides longitudinal communication between the side spoiler 45 and the side spoiler 45 by the outer surface of the base 46 in the vehicle width direction and the inner surface of the wing-like portion 47 in the vehicle width direction at the duct forming portion 45m.

[0074] 4, a rear duct inlet portion 11R is provided in the front portion 45f of the side spoiler 45, which takes in the traveling wind W10 discharged from the front duct outlet portion 12F of the duct body 73. A rear duct outlet portion 12R is provided in the rear portion 45r of the duct forming portion 45m of the side spoiler 45, which discharges the traveling wind W10 that has passed through the inside of the side spoiler 45 (i.e., the rear duct 10R). In the rear duct 10R, the rear duct inlet portion 11R and the rear duct outlet portion 12R communicate with each other.

[0075] The front duct 10F and the rear duct 10R have approximately the same width in the vehicle width direction (duct width) and the same width in the up-down direction, and the rear duct inlet 11R and the front duct outlet 12F face each other across the side parting line 80a, so that the front duct 10F and the rear duct 10R are approximately continuous with each other across the side parting line 80a.

[0076] That is, on the side portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body, the front duct 10F and the rear duct 10R cooperate with each other to form essentially a single duct 10 that extends almost continuously from the duct body 73 to the side spoiler 45 and that connects the front duct inlet portion 11F and the rear duct outlet portion 12R.

[0077] As shown in Figure 4, the base 46 of the side spoiler 45 has a horizontal cross section that curves inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear along the outer surface of the outer panel 42 of the left and right side edge portions 40 of the lift gate 4, and is fixed to the outer panel 42 via a grommet 27.

[0078] 4, the wing-like portion 47 of the side spoiler 45 protrudes rearward beyond the rear end of the base 46. Furthermore, the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 forming the outer surface of the side spoiler 45 smoothly continues rearward via a lateral parting line 80a with the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 that forms part of the outer surface of the side surface portion 3 of the rear of the vehicle body.

[0079] In this embodiment, the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is smoothly formed so that at least the rear portion of its outer surface 62s is positioned gradually more inward in the vehicle width direction as it moves rearward, and the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is smoothly formed over its entire length in the fore-and-aft direction so that it is positioned gradually more inward in the vehicle width direction as it moves rearward, and is smoothly continuous with the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6.

[0080] 4, a tangent line L47 of a rear end 47a of an outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 of the side spoiler 45 is formed to be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so as to be positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction as it moves rearward. The angle of the tangent line L47 of the rear end 47a of the outer surface 47s of such wing-like portion 47 with respect to the front-rear direction is defined as a rear tapering angle α47 (also referred to as a "rear end angle") of the outer surface of the side spoiler 45 in the horizontal cross section.

[0081] 4, a tangent line L62 to a rear end portion 62r of an outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is also formed to be inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction so as to be positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the rear in the horizontal cross section. The angle of the tangent line L62 of the rear end portion 62r of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 with respect to the front-to-rear direction is defined as a rear tapering angle α62 of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 in the horizontal cross section.

[0082] The outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is formed to have a rear tapering angle α47 that is larger than the rear tapering angle α62 of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 in a horizontal cross section. In this embodiment, the rear taper angle α62 in a horizontal cross section of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 is 19 degrees, while the rear taper angle α47 in a horizontal cross section of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is set to 25 degrees in the range of 25° or more and 29° or less.

[0083] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, particularly Figure 3, the rear vehicle body structure of the present embodiment described above includes a lift gate 4 (lid) that opens and closes the rear vehicle body opening 2A, a rear pillar 6 that forms part of the vehicle body side portion 3 with its rear end portion 62r adjacent to the left and right side edge portions of the lift gate 4 via side parting lines 80a (parting lines), a pillar duct portion 70 that introduces traveling wind W10 flowing along a quarter window 15 provided on the vehicle body side portion 3 in front of the rear pillar 6 and discharges it behind the rear pillar 6, and side spoilers 45 fixed to the outer surfaces of the left and right side edge portions 40 of the lift gate 4.

[0084] The rear pillar 6 is composed of an inner panel 61, an outer panel 62 whose main surface portion 62c is located outside the rear end portion 15b of the quarter window 15 in the vehicle width direction, and a gutter panel 63 which forms a rain gutter portion on the left and right side edges of the rear opening 2A of the vehicle body, and which is joined to form a closed cross-sectional portion 6a which extends along the side edge portion 40 of the lift gate 4.

[0085] The pillar duct portion 70 also includes a front opening 71 that is opened at the front edge of the outer panel 62 and faces the front of the vehicle, a rear opening 72 that is opened at the rear of the outer panel 62 or the gutter panel 63 and faces the rear of the vehicle, and a duct body 73 that connects these front and rear openings 71, 72 (front opening 71 and rear opening 72) and extends in the fore-and-aft direction through the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6.

[0086] Furthermore, the side spoiler 45 is provided with a wing-like portion 47 having an outer surface 47s that is smoothly continuous with the rear end portion 62r of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 via a parting line 80a, outside the vehicle width of the rear duct 10R, which serves as a flow path through which the exhaust air W10 of the pillar duct portion 70 (front duct 10F) passes.

[0087] According to the above configuration, the running wind W10r (hereinafter also referred to as the "afterflow W10r after passing through the duct") (see Figures 3 and 4) discharged from the duct 10 including the front duct 10F as a pillar duct provided on the rear pillar 6, in this example, the running wind W10r (hereinafter also referred to as the "afterflow W10r after passing through the duct") discharged from the rear duct outlet portion 12R, attracts the side flow W3r (hereinafter also referred to as the "afterflow W3r after passing through the side") (see the same figures) that passes through the wing-shaped portion 47 behind the rear pillar 6 and flows toward the rear of the vehicle inward in a planar view, thereby deflecting the afterflow W3r after passing through the side inward in a planar view.

[0088] Furthermore, by incorporating the front duct 10F so that it penetrates the rear pillar 6 from front to rear, the presence of the front duct 10F and its entrances and exits, the front duct inlet portion 11F and the front duct outlet portion 12F, can be made inconspicuous from the outer surface of the vehicle body. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the exterior design of the side surface portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body while reducing the air resistance when the vehicle is running.

[0089] 4, the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 and the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 of the side spoiler 45 are continuous in the front-to-rear direction across the lateral parting line 80a. Therefore, while the vehicle is traveling, the side flow W3 can flow substantially continuously at least from the front end of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6 to the rear end 47a of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 where the side flow W3 separates.

[0090] On the other hand, the duct wake W10r (see FIGS. 3 and 4) has a faster flow velocity than the side flow W3, and can exert an ejector effect (suction effect) that draws the side wake W3r, which has passed through the rear end 47a of the blade-like portion 47, inward in plan view. This ejector effect can promote the inward deflection of the side wake W3r in plan view. Therefore, the side wake W3r that separates from the rear end of the vehicle body side surface 3 while the vehicle is traveling can be significantly deflected inward in the vehicle width direction, thereby reducing air resistance.

[0091] 1, 2, 4, and 5, the pillar duct portion 70 of this embodiment has the duct body 73 built into the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6, so that, as shown in FIG. 2, the duct body 73 can be provided in a portion of the side surface portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body that corresponds to the duct body 73 without a portion of the duct body 73 appearing on the outer surface of the side surface portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body.

[0092] Specifically, for example, if a portion of the duct body 73 is formed using a resin pillar garnish or the like that forms part of the outer surface of the vehicle body, the outer surface of the pillar garnish will appear in the portion of the outer surface of the side surface 3 of the rear of the vehicle body that corresponds to the duct body 73, and parting lines will be formed at both the upper and lower ends of the pillar garnish that extend in the front-to-rear direction along the boundaries with the rear fender panels 13 located above and below the pillar garnish. If this parting line is not intended from a design perspective, the number of line elements on the side surface 3 of the rear of the vehicle body will increase, which could give the impression of being cluttered.

[0093] In contrast to this, in the side portion 3 of the rear of the vehicle body in this embodiment, as described above, the duct body 73 is built into the closed cross-sectional portion 6a of the rear pillar 6, and therefore the outer surface of the side portion 3 can be formed continuously along the vertical direction from the roof side rail 7a to the belt line by the rear pillar outer panel 62 that also serves as the rear fender panel 13, as described above, without passing through a parting line.

[0094] As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the parting lines on the side surface portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body are reduced as much as possible to eliminate a cluttered impression, and a simple and elegant design can be achieved that makes use of the streamlined shape of the rear fender panel 13, thereby ensuring the exterior design of the side surface portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body. In addition, there is no need for measures to stabilize the joints between the two parts, as is the case when a pillar garnish that divides the rear fender panel 13 into upper and lower halves is provided.

[0095] In addition, in order to obtain an ejector effect by the duct post-flow W10r, the rear body structure of this embodiment discharges the running wind W10 flowing through the front duct 10F and the rear duct 10R while ensuring a sufficient flow rate as the duct post-flow W10r discharged from the rear duct outlet portion 12R.

[0096] 3, a quarter window 15 is provided on the vehicle body side surface 3 in front of the rear pillar 6, and this quarter window 15 ensures a long wind guide section for introducing the traveling wind W10 into the front duct 10F. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front duct 10F provided inside the duct body 73 can take in the traveling wind along the quarter window 15 with a sufficient flow rate.

[0097] Furthermore, the front duct 10F is provided in the duct body 73 (vehicle body side), and the rear duct 10R is provided in the side spoiler 45 (lift gate 4 side), each separated by a side parting line 80a. However, the front duct 10F and the rear duct 10R are generally continuous in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the traveling wind W10 introduced into the front duct inlet 11F of the front duct 10F is discharged from the rear duct outlet 12R of the rear duct 10R to the rear of the vehicle as a duct post-flow W10r. This allows the duct post-flow W10r to be discharged from the rear duct 10R while ensuring a sufficient flow rate. Therefore, the ejector effect of the duct post-flow W10r can be reliably obtained.

[0098] As an aspect of this invention, as shown in Figure 4, the vehicle body rear structure of this embodiment is characterized in that the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is arranged to smoothly continue rearward from the rear end portion 62r of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6, which forms part of the vehicle body side portion 3, and is formed at a rear tapering angle α47 that is larger than the rear tapering angle α62 in the horizontal cross section of the outer surface 62s of the outer panel 62 of the rear pillar 6.

[0099] According to the above configuration, while the vehicle is traveling, the side wake W3r separated from the rear end 47a of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is directed toward the duct wake W10r discharged rearward from the rear duct 10R (toward the vehicle width inward), thereby further deflecting the side wake W3r inward in cooperation with the duct wake W10r, which produces an ejector effect. Therefore, air resistance while the vehicle is traveling can be reduced.

[0100] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a rear narrowing angle α47 of an outer surface 47s of a wing-like portion 47 is set in the range of 25° to 29°. According to the above configuration, by setting the rearward tapering angle α47 of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 to 25° or more, the side-passing wake W3r can be reliably directed toward the duct-passing wake W10r (toward the vehicle width inward) discharged rearward from the rear duct 10R, and the side-passing wake W3r can be significantly deflected toward the vehicle width inward in cooperation with the duct-passing wake W10r, which produces an ejector effect. On the other hand, by setting the rearward tapering angle α47 of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 to 29° or less, the wing-like portion 47 is prevented from protruding rearward and toward the vehicle width inward, thereby ensuring the appearance design of the rear of the vehicle body.

[0101] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the width w10F of the duct 10 (front duct 10F and rear duct 10R), particularly the front duct inlet portion 11F, in horizontal cross section is set to a range of 6 mm or more and 40 mm or less. According to the above configuration, by setting the rear narrowing angle α47 of the wing-like portion 47 within the above-mentioned range and setting the width w10F of the horizontal cross section of the duct 10 within the above-mentioned range, it is possible to take in the desired flow rate of running wind W10 into the duct 10 while suppressing the increase in size due to the rearward protrusion of the side spoiler 45 that constitutes the rear duct 10R.

[0102] In the correspondence between the configuration of this invention and the above-described embodiments, the lid body corresponds to the lift gate 4, the parting line corresponds to the side parting line 80a, and the flow path corresponds to the rear duct 10R, but this invention is not limited to only the configuration of the above-described embodiments, and many embodiments can be obtained.

[0103] For example, the present invention is not limited to the shape of the wing-like portion 47 in the above-described embodiment with respect to the rearward protrusion length, the rearward tapering angle in the horizontal cross section of the outer surface of the wing-like portion, etc., and may be changed to other forms within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0104] Figure 7(a) shows a side view of a modified vehicle rear structure having a wing-like portion 47' with a rear tapering angle α47' larger than the rear tapering angle α47 of the wing-like portion 47 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and Figure 7(b) is a horizontal cross-sectional view corresponding to the main part of Figure 4 of the same modified vehicle rear structure. While the rear tapering angle α47 of the wing-like portion 47 of the above-described embodiment is set to 25 degrees as described above, the rear tapering angle α47' of the wing-like portion 47' of the modified example indicates the angle of a tangent L47' to a rear end 47a' of an outer surface 47s' of the wing-like portion 47' with respect to the front-to-rear direction, and is set to 29 degrees, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b). In other words, the wing-like portion 47' of the modified example is formed to protrude rearward and inward inward in the vehicle width direction than the wing-like portion 47 of the above-described embodiment.

[0105] FIG. 8 is a graph showing the results of a simulation conducted to verify the inward deflection angle in a horizontal cross-sectional view of the side wake W3r that passes through the rear end of the side portion 3 at the rear of the vehicle body when the vehicle is traveling, for rear vehicle body structures according to Invention Examples 1 to 4, which are included in the present invention and which are described below, as well as Conventional Examples 1 to 4 and a Comparative Example.

[0106] Specifically, Fig. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 and the inward angle of the wake W3r after passing through the side surface, depending on whether or not the duct 10 (front duct 10F and rear duct 10R) is present, and, when the duct 10 is present, depending on two types of rear narrowing angles (25 degrees and 29 degrees). That is, the horizontal axis in Fig. 8 represents the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10, and the vertical axis in Fig. 8 represents the inward angle of the wake W3r after passing through the side surface.

[0107] 8 is the target area, which includes the results obtained when simulating the rear body structure of the present invention. The ideal inward deflection angle is 15 degrees.

[0108] Conventional Example 1, which was configured without the duct 10 and the wing-like portion 47, produced the results shown by plot Paa in Fig. 8. In contrast to Conventional Example 1, Conventional Examples 2 and 3, which were provided with the duct 10, produced the results shown by plots Pab and Pac in Fig. 8, corresponding to the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 being 17 mm and 34 mm, respectively. That is, as shown in Fig. 8, Conventional Examples 2 and 3, which correspond to plots Pab and Pac, respectively, both had improved inward deflection angles of the side passage wake W3r compared to Conventional Example 1, which corresponds to plot Paa in Fig. 8, but Conventional Examples 1 to 3 all had values ​​below 8 degrees, falling outside the range of the target region Rd.

[0109] Furthermore, in Conventional Example 4, which does not have a duct 10 but has the rear constriction angle of the airfoil portion 47 set to 25 degrees, the result is shown by plot Pba in Fig. 8. That is, as shown in Fig. 8, in Conventional Example 4 corresponding to plot Pba, the inward deflection angle of the side passage wake W3r is less than 8 degrees, falling outside the range of region Rd.

[0110] Inventive Examples 1 and 2, the duct 10 is included in the conventional example 4, which corresponds to plot Pba. Specifically, both of the inventive examples 1 and 2 are based on the vehicle rear body structure of the above-described embodiment, and the rear tapering angle α47 in the horizontal cross section of the outer surface 47s of the wing-like portion 47 is set to 25 degrees. In both of the inventive examples 1 and 2, the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 is set to 17 mm and 34 mm, respectively, resulting in the results shown by plots Pbb and Pbc in FIG. 8. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, in both of the inventive examples 1 and 2, which correspond to plots Pbb and Pbc, the inward deflection angle of the side passage wake W3r is improved to more than 8 degrees, compared to the conventional example 4, which corresponds to plot Pba.

[0111] Furthermore, in a comparative example in which the rear constriction angle of the airfoil portion 47 was set to 29 degrees without the duct 10, the result was as shown by plot Pca in Fig. 8. That is, as shown in Fig. 8, in the comparative example corresponding to plot Pca, the inward deflection angle of the side passage wake W3r exceeded 8 degrees.

[0112] However, in the case of the comparative example where there is no duct 10, it was found that in order to obtain the same results as in Examples 1 and 2 in which the rear tapering angle α47 of the wing-like portion 47 is set to 25 degrees, that is, to obtain the same inward deflection angle of the side passage wake W3r, it is necessary to set the rear tapering angle of the wing-like portion to a larger value of 29 degrees. In other words, when the wing-like portion is configured as in the comparative example, it is necessary to make it protrude further rearward and inward inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0113] Furthermore, Examples 3 and 4 are both invention examples in which the duct 10 is provided, as opposed to the above-described comparative example corresponding to the plot Pca. More specifically, Examples 3 and 4 are both based on the vehicle body rear structure of the modified example described above (see Figures 7(a) and (b)), and as shown in Figure 7(b), the rear tapering angle α47' in the horizontal cross section of the outer surface 47s' of the wing-like portion 47' is set to 29 degrees.

[0114] In both Examples 3 and 4 of the invention, the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 was 17 mm and 34 mm, respectively, resulting in the results shown by plots Pcb and Pcc in Fig. 8. That is, as shown in Fig. 8, in Examples 3 and 4 corresponding to plots Pcb and Pcc, respectively, the inward deflection angle of the wake W3r after side passage was improved compared to the comparative example, exceeding the ideal value of 15 degrees.

[0115] From the results shown in Figure 8, it was confirmed that the wing-like portions 47, 47', which have a larger rear tapering angle than conventional ones, and the duct wake W10r while the vehicle is moving work together to significantly deflect the side wake W3r toward the inside in the vehicle width direction while reducing the rearward protrusion length of the wing-like portions 47, 47'. In other words, it was confirmed that it is possible to achieve both a reduction in air resistance while the vehicle is moving and an appearance design for the rear of the vehicle body.

[0116] Furthermore, from the results of the plots Pbb, Pbc, Pcb, and Pcc in Figure 8, it was confirmed that the inward deflection angle of the side passage wake W3r is improved when the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 is 34 mm compared to when it is 17 mm. In this simulation, the vehicle was set to travel at a constant speed of 140 kph. Under this setting, when the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 was 17 mm, the wind speed at the front duct inlet 11F was 40 kph and the wind speed at the rear duct outlet 12R was 55 kph. In contrast, when the horizontal width w10F of the duct 10 was 34 mm, the wind speeds at the front duct inlet 11F and the rear duct outlet 12R were both 76 kph.

[0117] These results suggest that a wider horizontal width w10F of duct 10 increases the amount of air that can be taken into duct 10 from front duct inlet 11F, improving the flow velocity of the road-driven wind flowing inside duct 10 and, as a result, improving the flow velocity of the wake W10r after passing through the duct. In other words, this result is consistent with the observation that an improvement in the velocity of the wake W10r after passing through the duct improves the function of pulling the wake W3r after passing through the side of the vehicle inward in the vehicle width direction (ejector effect).

[0118] In the present invention, the base is not essential as long as the side spoiler is configured to have a wing-like portion. For example, the ejector effect of the running wind discharged to the rear of the vehicle from the front duct 10F as the pillar duct portion 70 may be utilized to deflect inward the side passing wake W3r that separates from the rear end 47a of the wing-like portion 47 of the side spoiler 45. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 2A…Rear opening of vehicle body 3...Side of the vehicle 4...Lift gate (lid) 6...Rear pillar 6a...Closed cross section of rear pillar 10R...Rear duct (flow path) 15...Quarter window 15b...Rear end of quarter window 40...Left and right side edge portions of the lift gate 45...Side spoiler 47,47'...Alar part 47s, 47s'...Outer surface of the wing 61...Rear pillar inner panel 62...Rear pillar outer panel 62b...Rear end flange of rear pillar outer panel (rear part of outer panel) 62c...Main surface of the outer panel of the rear pillar 63...Gutter panel 63a... Rear outer flange of gutter panel (rear part of gutter panel) 70...Pillar duct section 71...Front opening 72...Rear opening 73...Duct body 80a...Side parting line (parting line) α47, α47'... Rear draw angle in horizontal cross section of the outer surface of the wing α62...Rear draw angle in horizontal cross section of the outer surface of the rear pillar outer panel

Claims

1. a rear pillar whose rear end is adjacent to the left and right side edge portions of the cover via a parting line and forms part of the side portion of the vehicle body; a pillar duct portion that introduces traveling wind flowing along a quarter window provided on the side portion of the vehicle body located forward of the rear pillar and discharges it behind the rear pillar; and side spoilers fixed to outer surfaces of the left and right side edge portions of the cover, wherein the rear pillar comprises an inner panel, an outer panel whose main surface portion is located outward in the vehicle width direction than the rear end portion of the quarter window, and gutter panels that form rain gutters on the left and right side edge portions of the rear opening of the vehicle body. and a duct body extending in the front-rear direction through the closed cross-section of the rear pillar, the pillar duct portion including a front opening that is opened at the front edge of the outer panel and faces the front of the vehicle, a rear opening that is opened at the rear of the outer panel or the gutter panel and faces the rear of the vehicle, and a duct body that connects the front and rear openings and extends in the front-rear direction through the closed cross-section of the rear pillar, and the side spoiler includes a wing-like portion that is located on the vehicle width outer side of a flow path through which exhaust air from the pillar duct portion passes and has an outer surface that is smoothly continuous with the rear end of the outer surface of the outer panel via the parting line. Rear body structure.

2. The outer surface of the wing-like portion is provided so as to smoothly continue rearward from the rear end of the outer surface of the outer panel forming a part of the side portion of the vehicle body, and is formed at a rear tapering angle that is larger than the rear tapering angle of the outer surface of the outer panel in a horizontal cross section. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1.

3. The rear narrowing angle of the wing-like portion is set in the range of 25° or more and 29° or less. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 2.

Images