Undercover

Abstract

To provide an undercover capable of suppressing damage even on a sherbet-like snowy road.SOLUTION: In an undercover 10, a stopper 40 is attached to a cover body 20 covering the lower side of an engine unit. The stopper 40 is arranged in an intermediate part in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the cover body 20, and leg parts 42 formed in a pair are installed on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the cover body 20, and an intermediate part 44 between the leg parts 42 is projected toward an under surface of the engine unit. Therefore, in the undercover 10, even when the cover body 20 receives a high surface pressure due to contact with sherbet-like snow raised between ruts, the stopper 40 abuts on the engine unit, thereby suppressing deformation of the cover body 20. Thus, the undercover 10 can prevent the cover body 20 from being damaged even when the vehicle travels on a sherbet-like snowy road.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an undercover. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicles have an undercover installed on the underside. The undercover is installed, for example, below the underside of the engine in the vehicle to cover the underside of the engine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this way, the undercover protects the engine in the vehicle from impact input when the engine comes into contact with the road surface. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-056573 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, roads on which vehicles travel include snow-covered roads, where wheels form ruts as the vehicle travels. When a vehicle travels on a snow-covered road with ruts, it is common for the wheels to travel along the ruts while straddling the raised snow portions (ridge-like portions) between the ruts. For this reason, when a vehicle travels on a snow-covered road, the undercover is likely to come into contact with the snow surface between the ruts.

[0005] On the other hand, on snowy roads, accumulated snow melts and turns into slush, and the slush is kicked up by the wheels and piles up between the wheel ruts. Slush is made up of water and coarse-grained snow (granular snow). Slush is easy to flow because it contains water, and the water contained in slush also flows easily.

[0006] Therefore, when the undercover of a vehicle comes into contact with slush-like snow piled up between ruts while driving, the load from the slush-like snow increases the surface pressure of the undercover, which can cause deformation such as bending. When the undercover deforms, gaps form between the undercover and other components.

[0007] Furthermore, when the undercover of a moving vehicle is subjected to surface pressure from slush, the slush (granular snow) will be forced into the gaps between the undercover and other parts, raising concerns that the undercover may be damaged by the slush that has seeped into the gaps between the undercover and other parts.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an undercover that suppresses damage even when a vehicle is driven on a snowy road like slush. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the undercover of a first aspect of the present invention includes a cover body whose peripheral edge is attached to the vehicle body and positioned below the drive source to cover the underside of the drive source, and a restricting member that faces the drive source at a middle portion of the cover body in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and has both longitudinal ends in the vehicle width direction bent toward the cover body and attached to the cover body, and whose longitudinal middle portion faces the underside of the drive source to restrict the cover body from approaching the drive source.

[0010] In the undercover according to the first aspect of the present invention, a cover main body is attached to the vehicle body at its peripheral edge and positioned below the drive source to cover the underside of the drive source. A limiting member is positioned on the cover main body at a central portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, facing the drive source.

[0011] The restricting member is attached to the cover body with both longitudinal ends thereof bent toward the cover body, which is in the vehicle width direction, and the longitudinal middle portion thereof faces the underside of the drive source, thereby restricting the cover body from approaching the drive source.

[0012] This prevents the cover body from deforming toward the drive source even when the cover body comes into contact with the slush-like snow between the ruts and the surface pressure increases when the vehicle is traveling on a snowy road, thereby preventing gaps from occurring between the cover body and other parts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] In the undercover of this aspect of the present invention, even if the cover body comes into contact with slush-like snow between ruts and the surface pressure increases, the limiting member suppresses deformation of the cover body toward the drive source, thereby suppressing the formation of gaps between the cover body and other components. As a result, this invention has the effect of suppressing damage caused by slush-like snow being pushed into gaps that form between the cover body and other components, even when the vehicle is traveling on a slush-like snowy road. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a main part of a vehicle provided with an undercover according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed in the vehicle width direction. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the undercover according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a main part of the undercover. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a vehicle as viewed in the vehicle width direction, showing an example of an undercover that does not have a stopper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An undercover 10 according to this embodiment is installed on a vehicle (not shown). Fig. 1 shows an outline of the main parts of the vehicle on which the undercover 10 is installed in a side view viewed in the vehicle width direction. Fig. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the undercover 10 according to this embodiment in a perspective view viewed diagonally upward from the rear right side, and Fig. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the main parts of the undercover 10 in a plan view viewed from above. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the right side in the vehicle width direction is indicated by an arrow HR, and the upward direction is indicated by an arrow UP.

[0016] 1, the vehicle according to this embodiment is provided with an engine unit 12 including a drive source, and a drive source for traveling is disposed in the engine unit 12. The driving force of the drive source in the engine unit 12 is transmitted to left and right drive wheels (front wheels or rear wheels, or all wheels), and the drive wheels are rotated by the driving force to travel the vehicle.

[0017] An engine is used as a driving source for traveling in such engine unit 12. In addition to the engine, an electric motor (motor) may also be used as a driving source for traveling.

[0018] The undercover 10 according to this embodiment is disposed below (on the road surface side of) the engine unit 12 in the vehicle, and the undercover 10 covers the underside of the engine unit 12. Therefore, in the vehicle, the undercover 10 functions as an engine undercover, and protects the engine unit 12 from impact input (load) when the engine unit comes into contact with the road surface.

[0019] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the undercover 10 includes a plate-like cover body 20 formed into a generally rectangular shape overall. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cover body 20 has a shape that approximates the shape of home plate, for example, with the front portion of the cover body 20 being generally rectangular in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the rear portion of the cover body 20 having a gradually narrower width dimension toward the rear of the vehicle. Note that the cover body 20 is formed with a plurality of ribs (not shown) whose cross sections are convex upward or concave downward, thereby adopting a general configuration that improves surface rigidity.

[0020] The front portion of the cover body 20 faces the front cross member of the vehicle body, and both end portions in the vehicle width direction face front side members of the vehicle body (both not shown). The cover body 20 is attached to the vehicle front side portion on the front cross member and both side end portions in the vehicle width direction are attached to the front side members, so that the peripheral portion is attached to the vehicle body.

[0021] 2, a plurality of mounting portions 22 are arranged on the cover body 20, and each mounting portion 22 is a hole (mounting hole) formed penetrating the cover body 20 in the up-down direction (thickness direction of the cover body 20). A plurality of mounting portions 22 are arranged in the vehicle width direction at the front portion of the cover body 20, and a plurality of mounting portions 22 are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction at both side portions of the cover body 20 in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] The cover body 20 is fastened to the vehicle body using, for example, bolts and nuts, with the nuts being screwed onto the bolts inserted into the mounting portions 22. As a result, in the vehicle, the cover body 20 of the undercover 10 is attached to the vehicle body below the engine unit 12, covering the underside of the engine unit 12. Note that the cover body 20 is not limited to being attached using bolts and nuts, and screws or the like may also be used, and a known general configuration can be applied to attach the cover body 20 to the vehicle body.

[0023] The cover body 20 also uses side plates 24 as reinforcing members for connecting the cover body 20 to the vehicle body. The side plates 24 are disposed on both sides in the vehicle width direction at the rear of the vehicle, and each side plate 24 is a member (mounting member) that is attached to the cover body 20.

[0024] The side plate 24 is disposed on the peripheral edge of the cover body 20 on the vehicle rear side, at a portion where the cover body 20 is inclined with respect to both the vehicle width direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction. The side plate 24 is substantially strip-shaped, and its longitudinal direction is disposed along the peripheral edge of the cover body 20 that is inclined with respect to both the vehicle width direction and the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0025] The cover body 20 has mounting portions 26 formed at predetermined positions overlapping the side plates 24, and each mounting portion 26 is a hole that penetrates the cover body 20 in the up-down direction. The side plates 24 have mounting portions (holes that penetrate) (not shown) arranged at positions that correspond to the mounting portions 26 of the cover body 20. As a result, a portion of the side plates 24 overlaps the cover body 20, and the side plates 24 are fastened and fixed at each mounting portion 26 using bolts and nuts (or screws).

[0026] Meanwhile, a service hole 28 is formed as an opening in the center of the cover body 20 (the center in both the longitudinal and transverse directions of the vehicle), and a service hole cover 30 is disposed as a lid that closes the service hole 28. The service hole 28 is formed in the cover body 20, which covers the underside of the engine unit 12, so as to face a predetermined position on the underside of the engine unit 12.

[0027] In the cover body 20, a predetermined portion of the underside of the engine unit 12 can be opened through the service hole 28. In the vehicle, the predetermined portion of the underside of the engine unit 12 can be opened through the service hole 28, allowing maintenance of the engine unit 12, such as oil changes, to be performed.

[0028] Mounting portions 32 are arranged on the cover body 20 at positions that overlap the peripheral portion (inner peripheral portion) of the service hole 28 with the peripheral portion of the service hole cover 30. Each mounting portion 32 is a hole that penetrates the cover body 20, and multiple mounting portions 32 are formed along the peripheral portion of the service hole 28. In addition, mounting portions (holes not shown, that penetrate the service hole cover 30) are formed on the service hole cover 30 at positions that correspond to each of the mounting portions 32 on the cover body 20.

[0029] A service hole cover 30 is disposed on the cover body 20 so as to close the service hole 28, and the service hole cover 30 is fastened and fixed using bolts and nuts (screws are also acceptable) at each of the mounting portions 32. In addition, with the undercover 10, the fastening of the bolts and nuts at each of the mounting portions 32 of the cover body 20 can be released to remove the service hole cover 30, thereby releasing a predetermined portion of the underside of the engine unit 12.

[0030] 1 and 3, a stopper 40 serving as a restricting member is disposed on the cover body 20 of the undercover 10. The stopper 40 is in the shape of a strip made of the same material (for example, steel plate or resin) as the cover body 20, and is configured with a pair of leg portions 42 formed by bending both longitudinal ends in the same direction, and an intermediate portion 44 between the leg portions 42. As a result, the stopper 40 is formed in a substantially U-shape.

[0031] The stopper 40 is disposed in the middle of the cover body 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and its longitudinal direction is disposed along the vehicle width direction. The stopper 40 has each of the tip ends of the legs 42 (the end opposite to the middle portion 44) attached to the top surface of the cover body 20 (the surface on the engine unit 12 side).

[0032] As a result, in the stopper 40, the intermediate portion 44 protrudes from the upper surface of the cover body 20 by the length of the leg portion 42, and the intermediate portion 44 is brought close to the lower surface of the engine unit 12. In this case, in the stopper 40, the length of the leg portion 42 is set so that there is a predetermined distance between the upper surface of the intermediate portion 44 and the lower surface of the engine unit 12.

[0033] In a normal state where the cover body 20 is not deformed, the stopper 40 has an intermediate portion 44 spaced apart from the underside of the engine unit 12. Furthermore, the stopper 40 deforms (elastically deforms) such that the intermediate portion in the front-to-rear direction becomes convex upward due to the load (surface pressure) that the cover body 20 receives from the underside, causing the intermediate portion 44 to abut against the underside of the engine unit 12 and suppressing elastic deformation of the cover body 20. At this time, the stopper 40 is formed so that the intermediate portion 44 abuts against the underside of the engine unit 12 before a gap is created between the deformed cover body 20 and the side plate 24 attached to the cover body 20.

[0034] The undercover 10 configured in this manner is attached to the vehicle body at the front portion and both sides in the vehicle width direction of the cover main body 20, covering the underside of the engine unit 12. As a result, in the vehicle, the cover main body 20 protects the engine unit 12 from impact loads from below.

[0035] Additionally, a service hole 28 is formed in the cover body 20 and is closed by a service hole cover 30. When the service hole cover 30 is removed from the cover body 20, a predetermined portion of the underside of the engine unit 12 is exposed through the service hole 28. This makes it possible to perform required maintenance on the engine unit 12 in the vehicle through the service hole 28 in the cover body 20.

[0036] On the other hand, in the undercover 10, as the pressure (surface pressure) that the cover main body 20 receives from below increases (becomes higher), the cover main body 20 curves in a convex shape facing upward. In this undercover 10, a stopper 40 is provided on the cover main body 20. The stopper 40 has legs on both sides in the vehicle width direction attached to the cover main body 20, so that an intermediate portion 44 protrudes from the cover main body 20 toward the underside of the engine unit 12.

[0037] The stopper 40 is preferably positioned so that the intermediate portion 44 does not overlap the opening of the service hole 28, but the intermediate portion 44 may also be positioned so that it overlaps the service hole 28. Even if the intermediate portion 44 of the stopper 40 overlaps the service hole 28, the legs 42 separate the intermediate portion 44 from the cover body 20, making it possible to ensure work space for maintenance via the service hole 28.

[0038] In addition, in the undercover 10, when the cover body 20 is subjected to surface pressure and attempts to deform, the middle portion 44 of the stopper 40 abuts against the underside of the engine unit 12, thereby limiting the deformation of the cover body 20.

[0039] Incidentally, roads on which vehicles travel include snow-covered roads, where ruts are formed by vehicle movement and the snow piles up between the ruts (forming what are called ridges). For this reason, when traveling on snow-covered roads, drivers generally position their wheels in the ruts and drive (steer) their vehicle along the ruts while straddling the snow accumulated between the ruts.

[0040] At this time, in the undercover 10 installed on the vehicle, snow between the ruts comes into contact with the underside of the cover body 20, but the accumulated snow between the ruts suppresses deformation of the cover body 20. Furthermore, because the accumulated snow has soft crystals, even if a gap occurs between the cover body 20 and the side plate 24, it is difficult for the snow to get into this gap, and even if it does get in, it will be crushed by the pressure it receives from the cover body 20 and the side plate 24.

[0041] When snow melts on the road, it turns into sherbet-like snow, which contains ice particles that form granular snow and granular snow (coarse snow) in the water. For the sake of simplicity, the snow contained in the water in sherbet-like snow will be referred to as granular snow below.

[0042] On a slushy road, granular snow accumulates between the ruts, and moisture flows out into the ruts, leaving water in the ruts. Therefore, on a slushy road, when snow (granular snow) accumulated between the ruts comes into contact with the cover body 20, it is not compressed and increases the surface pressure generated on the cover body 20.

[0043] 4 is a schematic view of the vehicle width direction showing the general configuration of an undercover 10A in which the stopper 40 is not provided on the cover main body 20. The undercover 10A differs from the undercover 10 in that the stopper 40 is not attached.

[0044] As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4 , in the undercover 10A, the cover body 20 is deformed (elastically deformed) so as to become convex toward the engine unit 12 due to the load it receives from snow accumulated in the ruts on a snowy road with slushiness. In the undercover 10A, as this deformation becomes larger, a gap that opens toward the front of the vehicle is formed between the cover body 20 and the side plate 24. Furthermore, when the undercover 10A is driven with high surface pressure from the snow, granular snow and the like contained in the snow in contact with the cover body 20 is pushed into the gap between the cover body 20 and the side plate 24, etc. In other words, in a vehicle equipped with the undercover 10A, if a gap that opens toward the front of the vehicle is formed, the cover body 20 and the side plate 24, etc., which form this gap, will cause the vehicle to drive in a manner that scrapes (scoops) the slushy snow (granular snow).

[0045] As a result, in the undercover 10A, granular snow and the like that has been forced into the gap between the cover body 20 and the side plates 24, etc., widens the gap between the cover body 20 and the side plates 24, etc. This causes damage to the cover body 20, the side plates 24, etc. in the undercover 10A.

[0046] In contrast, in the undercover 10, a stopper 40 is attached to the cover body 20. Therefore, in the undercover 10, when the cover body 20 tries to deform so as to become convex toward the engine unit 12 due to the load it receives from snow accumulated between ruts on a snowy road that is like slush, the stopper 40 abuts against the underside of the engine unit 12, suppressing the deformation of the cover body 20.

[0047] As a result, the undercover 10 prevents gaps from occurring between the cover body 20 and the side plates 24, etc., and prevents an increase in the surface pressure received by the cover body 20 (especially the rear side of the vehicle) even when the vehicle is moving.

[0048] Therefore, in the undercover 10, granular snow and the like are not forced between the cover main body 20 and the side plate 24, etc., and damage caused by snow (granular snow) and the like being forced between the cover main body 20 and the side plate 24, etc. is suppressed.

[0049] In this way, in the undercover 10, by arranging the stopper 40 on the cover main body 20, damage to the cover main body 20, etc. can be prevented not only when driving on snow-covered roads, but also when driving on slush-like snow roads.

[0050] In the above-described embodiment, the undercover 10 in which the cover main body 20 covers the underside of the engine unit 12 has been described as an example. However, the undercover may have any configuration in which the cover main body covers a predetermined portion of the underside of the vehicle body and protects the portion covered by the cover main body from an impact load from the underside of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 Undercover 12 Engine unit (drive source) 20 Cover body 24 Side Plate 40 Stopper (restriction member) 42 Legs 44 Middle section

Claims

[Claim 1] a cover body having a peripheral edge attached to a vehicle body and disposed below the drive source to cover the underside of the drive source; a restricting member that faces the drive source at a vehicle longitudinal intermediate portion of the cover main body, has both longitudinal end portions in the vehicle width direction bent toward the cover main body and attached to the cover main body, and has a longitudinal intermediate portion that faces the underside of the drive source, so as to restrict the cover main body from approaching the drive source; Including Undercover.

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