Vehicle rear structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle rear part structure having a crash box capable of further efficiently absorbing a rear end collision load, constituted of a smaller number of parts, and further properly restraining infiltration of rainwater.SOLUTION: A side member 10 extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a lower back panel 20 joined to the rear end of the side member, a rear bumper reinforcement 60 arranged behind the side member and the lower back panel, and a crash box 50 mounted between the lower back panel and the rear bumper reinforcement are provided, and the crash box is integrally molded with box-shaped parts (51A, 52A) facing the rear end of the side member across the lower back panel and a flange part 51Z provided on at least the upper edge of the box-shaped parts and serving as a surface contacting the lower back panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A rear structure of a vehicle such as an automobile is designed to efficiently absorb a rear impact load caused by a rear-end collision with a vehicle or the like, thereby protecting occupants in the vehicle interior.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle rear structure in which a bumper beam (corresponding to a rear bumper reinforcement) is disposed behind the rear side frame (corresponding to a side member) of the vehicle, and a rear panel is provided between the rear side frame and the bumper beam. The rear panel has a peripheral frame structure with a closed cross section structure located above the bumper beam, and the bumper beam is fastened with bolts to the rear end of the rear side frame and the underside (inclined surface) of the peripheral frame structure, with the rear panel sandwiched between them, without using crash boxes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7299284 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the vehicle rear structure described in Patent Document 1, no crash boxes are provided between the rear ends of the rear side frames, which sandwich the rear panel, and the bumper beam, so there is a possibility that rear-end impact loads from a rear collision may not be efficiently absorbed. Incidentally, if crash boxes are provided, rear-end impact loads can be efficiently absorbed, but there is a possibility that rainwater or the like may seep into the box-shaped crash boxes, causing them to rust. Furthermore, it is preferable that the crash boxes be constructed with as few parts as possible to reduce the number of installation steps and the weight.

[0006] The present invention was devised in light of these points, and its objective is to provide a vehicle rear structure having crash boxes that not only increase the rigidity of the vehicle and improve handling stability, but also can more efficiently absorb rear-end collision loads, and are made up of fewer parts to more appropriately prevent the intrusion of rainwater, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a first invention is a vehicle rear structure including a side member extending in the fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle, a lower back panel joined to the rear end of the side member, a rear bumper reinforcement to which a rear bumper is attached and which is positioned rearward of the side member and the lower back panel, and a crash box attached between the lower back panel and the rear bumper reinforcement. The crash box is integrally molded with a box-shaped portion facing the rear end of the side member across the lower back panel, and a flange portion provided on at least an upper edge of the box-shaped portion and forming a surface that contacts the lower back panel. The flange portion provided on the upper edge is provided continuously and at least a portion of it is joined to the lower back panel.

[0008] Next, a second invention is a vehicle rear structure according to the first invention, in which the lower back panel has a lower back skeleton having a closed cross-section and extending in the vehicle width direction above the crash boxes. The box-shaped portion extends across the lower back panel from a position facing the rear end of the side member to a position contacting the lower back skeleton. The flange portions provided on the upper edge and an edge portion near the upper edge of the box-shaped portion are continuous and at least a portion thereof faces the lower back skeleton of the lower back panel and is joined to the lower back skeleton.

[0009] Next, a third invention is a vehicle rear structure related to the first invention, wherein the crash box is a vehicle rear structure in which at least a portion of the flange portion is joined to the lower back panel by welding.

[0010] Next, a fourth invention is the vehicle rear structure according to the first invention, wherein the box-shaped portion has an inner box-shaped portion provided on the inside and an outer box-shaped portion covering the inner box-shaped portion, and the crash box has an inner box formed by integrally molding the inner box-shaped portion and the flange portion provided on a lower edge of the inner box-shaped portion, and an outer box formed by integrally molding the outer box-shaped portion and the flange portion provided so as to be continuous with the upper edge, an edge portion near the upper edge that is an edge portion near the upper edge, and a side edge of the outer box-shaped portion.

[0011] Next, the fifth invention is a vehicle rear structure related to the first invention, wherein the flange portion is also provided on the lower edge of the box-shaped portion, and the flange portion provided on the lower edge has a drainage groove extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the inside and outside of the box-shaped portion.

[0012] Next, the sixth invention is a vehicle rear structure relating to any one of the first to fifth inventions, in which a sealant or structural adhesive is applied to fill the gap at least between the flange portion of the upper edge and the lower back panel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a crash box having a box-shaped portion is disposed at a position facing the rear end of the side member across the lower back panel, thereby more efficiently absorbing rear-end collision loads. Furthermore, because the box-shaped portion and the flange portion are integrally molded, the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the box-shaped portion and the flange portion are configured separately. Furthermore, because the box-shaped portion has a flange portion that is continuous with the upper edge and that contacts the lower back panel with a surface thereof, and at least a portion of the flange portion is joined to the lower back panel, it is possible to appropriately prevent rainwater and the like from entering the box-shaped portion from the upper edge thereof.

[0014] According to the second aspect of the present invention, flanges provided on the upper edge and the edge near the upper edge of the box-shaped portion face the lower back frame, and at least a portion of the flanges is joined to the lower back frame. Therefore, the crash box transmits a rear-end collision load not only to the side members but also to the lower back frame, thereby appropriately distributing the rear-end collision load and more appropriately protecting occupants in the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, because at least a portion of the flanges is joined to the lower back frame, it is possible to appropriately prevent rainwater and the like from entering the box-shaped portion through the upper edge and the edge near the upper edge.

[0015] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flange portion of the crash box and the lower back panel are joined by welding, and the joining can be performed using a welding robot, so that the installation work of the crash box can be performed efficiently.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the crash box can be constructed from two parts, the inner box and the outer box, so that the crash box can be realized with a smaller number of parts.

[0017] According to the fifth invention, a drainage groove that connects the inside and outside of the box-shaped portion is formed in the flange portion provided on the lower edge of the box-shaped portion, so that even if rainwater or the like penetrates into the box-shaped portion, it can be properly drained, thereby preventing rust from forming inside the box-shaped portion.

[0018] According to the sixth invention, the gap between at least the upper edge flange portion and the lower back panel is filled with a sealant or structural adhesive, thereby more appropriately preventing rainwater and the like from entering the box-shaped portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a vehicle rear structure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle rear structure shown in FIG. 1, disassembled into its constituent elements. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view (side view) of the vehicle rear structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along an imaginary plane passing through a crash box and a side member. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an outer box constituting a crash box, as viewed from the convex side of the outer box-shaped portion. FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an inner box that constitutes a crash box, as viewed from the convex side of the inner box-shaped portion. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an outer box constituting a crash box, as viewed from the concave side of the outer box-shaped portion. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance of an inner box that constitutes a crash box, as viewed from the concave side of the inner box-shaped portion. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of joining locations of a crash box joined to a lower back panel, locations where a sealer is applied, and locations where a structural adhesive is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] <Overview of vehicle rear structure 1 (Fig. 1 to 3)> The vehicle rear structure 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that when up, down, front, rear, left, and right are written in the drawings, they refer to the up, down, front, rear, left, and right directions of a vehicle having the vehicle rear structure 1.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle rear structure 1 includes a side member 10, a lower back panel 20, a lower back frame 30, an interior brace 40, a crash box 50, a rear bumper reinforcement 60, and the like.

[0022] The side members 10 are a pair of left and right side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and are main frame members of the vehicle chassis.

[0023] The lower back panel 20 is a plate-like member that extends in the vehicle width direction and above the side members 10 and is joined to the rear ends of the pair of left and right side members 10 by welding or the like.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lower-back frame 30 is formed by joining, by welding or the like, a closed-section component 31 extending in the vehicle width direction to the back side (inside the vehicle compartment) of a panel frame surface 21 of the lower-back panel 20, which extends in the vehicle width direction above the side members 10. The lower-back frame 30 has a closed-section structure formed by the panel frame surface 21 and the closed-section component 31 and extends in the vehicle width direction. In order to further improve the rigidity of the lower-back frame 30, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the closed-section component 31 to which a frame reinforcing member 32 is joined by welding, bolts, or the like is joined to the panel frame surface 21 (the frame reinforcing member 32 is joined inside the lower-back frame 30). The frame reinforcing member 32 is preferably provided in the lower-back frame 30 at a position close to the crash box 50. Note that the frame reinforcing member 32 may be omitted.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, the interior brace 40 is a member that is joined by welding, bolts, or the like to the front surface of the lower back frame 30 and the upper surface of the side member 10. The interior brace 40 transmits the rear collision load applied to the lower back frame 30 to the side member 10 via the rear bumper reinforcement 60 and the crash box 50. Note that the interior brace 40 may be omitted.

[0026] The rear bumper reinforcement 60 is a member that extends in the vehicle width direction and to which a rear bumper (not shown) is attached, and is disposed behind the pair of left and right side members 10 and the lower back panel 20. The rear bumper reinforcement 60 is fastened to the crash box 50 by fastening members such as bolts (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0027] 2 and 3, the crash box 50 is a member that is attached between the side member 10 and the lower back panel 20 and the rear bumper reinforcement 60, and has box-shaped portions (outer box-shaped portion 51A, inner box-shaped portion 52A) that face the rear end of the side member 10 with the lower back panel 20 in between. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the crash box 50 has flange portions 51Z, 52Z that form surfaces that come into contact with the lower back panel 20, and at least a portion of the flange portions 51Z, 52Z is ​​joined to the lower back panel 20 by welding or the like.

[0028] With the vehicle rear structure 1 described above, the rear collision load is transmitted via the transmission path of rear bumper reinforcement 60 -> crash box 50 -> side member 10, and the transmission path of rear bumper reinforcement 60 -> crash box 50 -> lower back frame 30 -> interior brace 40 -> side member 10. The impact of the rear collision load is then absorbed by deformation of the crash box 50 and the like.

[0029] <Structure of the crash box (Fig. 4 to 8)> As shown in Fig. 2, the crash box 50 has an inner box 52 (see Figs. 5 and 7) in which an inner box-shaped portion 52A and a flange portion 52Z provided on the inside are integrally molded, and an outer box 51 (see Figs. 4 and 6) in which an outer box-shaped portion 51A covering the inner box-shaped portion 52A and a flange portion 51Z are integrally molded. The outer box-shaped portion 51A of the outer box 51 is placed over the inner box-shaped portion 52A of the inner box 52 and joined by welding or the like to form the crash box 50 (see Fig. 2). In the example shown in Fig. 8, the inner box 52 and the outer box 51 are joined by spot welding at welding position S10.

[0030] 4 and 6, outer box 51 has outer box-shaped portion 51A (see FIG. 2) that covers the outside of inner box-shaped portion 52A (see FIG. 2), and flange portions 51Z provided around the periphery (top and left and right) of outer box-shaped portion 51A. Flange portion 51Z has upper edge flange portion 51B provided on upper edge 51J, which is the upper edge of outer box-shaped portion 51A, upper edge-nearby flange portions 51C and 51D provided on upper edge-nearby edges 51K and 51L, which are edges of outer box-shaped portion 51A near upper edge 51J, and side edge flange portions 51E and 51F provided on side edges 51M and 51N, which are left and right edges of outer box-shaped portion 51A. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, side edge flange portion 51E, upper edge vicinity flange portion 51C, upper edge flange portion 51B, upper edge vicinity flange portion 51D, and side edge flange portion 51F are formed so as to be continuous without any gaps, and are integrally molded with outer box-shaped portion 51A.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the inner box 52 has an inner box-shaped portion 52A (see FIG. 2) whose outside is covered by an outer box-shaped portion 51A (see FIG. 2), and a flange portion 52Z provided around (below) the inner box-shaped portion 52A. The flange portion 52Z has a lower edge flange portion 52B provided on a lower edge 52G, which is the lower edge portion of the inner box-shaped portion 52A. The lower edge flange portion 52B is formed so as to be continuous without any breaks and is molded integrally with the inner box-shaped portion 52A. In addition, a drainage groove 52Y is formed in the lower edge flange portion 52B, extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the inside and outside of the inner box-shaped portion 52A.

[0032] The inner box 52 is provided with a hole 52V for fastening the rear bumper reinforcement 60 (see FIG. 2) with a bolt or the like, and a nut 52W joined by welding or the like to the back side of the hole 52V. The inner box 52 also is provided with a pin 52P for positioning the rear bumper reinforcement 60 (see FIG. 2) and support flanges 52C and 52D that contact the back sides of the side edge flanges 51E and 51F of the outer box 51.

[0033] The outer box 51 is provided with holes 51V at positions corresponding to the holes 52V of the inner box 52, and with holes 51P at positions corresponding to the pins 52P of the inner box 52.

[0034] 2, the box-shaped portion (outer box-shaped portion 51A) extends upward from a position facing the rear end of the side member 10 across the lower back panel 20 to a position contacting the lower back skeleton 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, upper edge flange portion 51B and upper edge neighboring flange portions 51C and 51D provided on upper edge 51J and upper edge neighboring edge portions 51K and 51L of the box-shaped portion (outer box-shaped portion 51A) face the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20.

[0035] <Example of the joint between the crash box and the lower back panel (Figure 8)> 8, at least a portion of the upper edge flange portion 51B and the upper edge-neighboring flange portions 51C, 51D are joined by welding or the like to the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20. In the example of Fig. 8, the upper edge flange portion 51B is spot-welded to the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20 at welding point S1, and the upper edge-neighboring flange portions 51C, 51D are spot-welded to the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20 at welding point S2.

[0036] 8, side edge flange portions 51E and 51F are spot-welded to lower back panel 20 at welding point S3. At welding point S4, side edge flange portion 51E and support flange portion 52C are overlapped and spot-welded to lower back panel 20, and side edge flange portion 51F and support flange portion 52D are overlapped and spot-welded to lower back panel 20. At welding point S5, lower edge flange portion 52B is spot-welded to lower back panel 20.

[0037] As described above, at least a portion of the flange portion, which is the surface that contacts the lower back panel 20, is joined to the lower back panel 20 (and the lower back framework 30 of the lower back panel 20) by welding.

[0038] Furthermore, the sealant may be applied so as to be continuous with the sealant application location V10 indicated by the thick solid line in Fig. 8. When applying the sealant, it is preferable to apply it so as to fill at least the gap between the upper edge flange portion 51B and the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 8, it is more preferable to fill the gaps between the side edge flange portion 51E, the upper edge-nearby flange portion 51C, the upper edge flange portion 51B, the upper edge-nearby flange portion 51D, and the side edge flange portion 51F and the lower back panel 20 (and the lower back skeleton 30 of the lower back panel 20) with the sealant. When the sealer is applied, it is possible to more appropriately prevent rainwater and the like from entering the outer box-shaped portion 51A and the inner box-shaped portion 52A of the crash box 50.

[0039] Alternatively, the structural adhesive may be applied so as to be continuous with the structural adhesive application location V20 indicated by the thick dotted line in FIG. 8 , and then the crash box 50 may be joined to the lower back panel 20 by spot welding or the like (using a so-called weld bond method). When applying the structural adhesive, it is preferable to apply it so as to fill at least the gap between the upper edge flange portion 51B and the lower back frame 30 of the lower back panel 20. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 , it is more preferable to fill the gaps between the side edge flange portion 51E, the upper edge-nearby flange portion 51C, the upper edge flange portion 51B, the upper edge-nearby flange portion 51D, and the side edge flange portion 51F and the lower back panel 20 (and the lower back frame 30 of the lower back panel 20) with the structural adhesive. Applying the structural adhesive can more appropriately prevent rainwater and the like from penetrating the outer box-shaped portion 51A and the inner box-shaped portion 52A of the crash box 50 and can further improve the joining strength of the crash box 50 to the lower back panel 20.

[0040] <Effects of vehicle rear structure 1, etc.> As described above, the vehicle rear structure 1 described in this embodiment has the crash boxes 50 provided between the side members 10 and the lower back panel 20 and the rear bumper reinforcement 60, and therefore can efficiently absorb rear-end collision loads. Furthermore, by integrally molding the box-shaped portions and flange portions of the crash boxes 50, the number of parts can be reduced. Furthermore, since the flange portions are suitable for spot welding by a welding robot, the welding work of welding the crash boxes 50 to the lower back panel 20 can be efficiently performed by the welding robot. Furthermore, the rigidity of the vehicle can be increased, and handling stability can be improved.

[0041] Furthermore, a flange portion that forms a surface that contacts the lower back panel 20 is provided continuously around the periphery of the box-shaped portion of the crash box 50, thereby preventing rainwater and other contaminants from entering the crash box 50. Furthermore, applying a sealant or structural adhesive can further prevent rainwater and other contaminants from entering the crash box 50. Furthermore, the provision of drainage grooves 52Y that connect the inside and outside of the box-shaped portion of the crash box 50 allows for proper drainage, preventing accumulation of rainwater and other contaminants, even if they do enter the crash box 50.

[0042] <Other> The vehicle rear structure 1 of the present invention is not limited to the configuration, structure, appearance, shape, etc. described in this embodiment, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the interior brace 40 and the framework reinforcement member 32 may be omitted.

[0043] In the description of this embodiment, an example has been given in which the crash box 50 is joined to the lower back panel 20 by welding, but this is not limited to welding, and the joining may be done using fastening members such as bolts, or may be done with a structural adhesive.

[0044] In the description of the present embodiment, an example has been described in which at least a portion of the upper edge flange portion 51B and upper edge-nearby flange portions 51C, 51D of the crash box 50 are joined to the lower back frame 30. However, the upper edge flange portion 51B and upper edge-nearby flange portions 51C, 51D of the crash box 50 may not extend to the lower back frame 30, but may be joined to the lower back panel 20 below the lower back frame 30.

[0045] In the description of this embodiment, an example has been given in which the crash box 50 is constructed from two components, the outer box 51 and the inner box 52, but the crash box may also be constructed from a single component in which the box-shaped portion and the flange portion are integrally molded.

[0046] In the description of this embodiment, an example has been described in which the flange portion provided on the lower edge of the box-shaped portion has drainage grooves 52Y that connect the inside and outside of the box-shaped portion, but drainage grooves 52Y may be omitted. Also, in the description of this embodiment, an example has been described in which a sealant or structural adhesive is applied to the flange portion, but application of the sealant or structural adhesive may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1. Vehicle rear structure 10 Side members 20 Lower back panel 21 Panel frame surface 30 Lower back frame 31 Closed section components 32 Frame reinforcement members 40 Indoor Brace 50 Crash Box 51 outer box 51A Outer box-shaped part (box-shaped part) 51B Upper edge flange 51C, 51D Flange near the upper edge 51E, 51F Side edge flange 51J, 52J upper edge 51K, 51L, 52K, 52L Upper edge adjacent edge 51M, 51N, 52M, 52N side edge 51P, 51V, 52V hole 51Z flange 52 Inner Box 52A Inner box-shaped part (box-shaped part) 52B Lower edge flange 52C, 52D Support flange 52G lower edge 52P pin 52W Nut 52Y Drainage groove 52Z flange 60 Rear bumper force S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S10 welding points V10 sealer application area V20 Structural adhesive application area

Claims

1. A vehicle rear structure having a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a lower back panel joined to a rear end of the side member, a rear bumper reinforcement to which a rear bumper is attached and which is disposed rearward of the side member and the lower back panel, and a crash box attached between the lower back panel and the rear bumper reinforcement, The crash box is a box-shaped portion facing the rear end portion of the side member across the lower back panel; a flange portion provided on at least an upper edge of the box-shaped portion and serving as a surface that contacts the lower back panel; is molded as a single piece, The flange portion provided on the upper edge is provided continuously and at least a portion thereof is joined to the lower back panel. Vehicle rear structure.

2. 2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, a lower back frame having a closed cross-sectional structure and extending in a vehicle width direction is provided above the crash box in the lower back panel; the box-shaped portion extends from a position facing the rear end of the side member across the lower back panel to a position in contact with the lower back framework, The flange portion provided on the upper edge and the upper edge-near edge portion, which is an edge portion near the upper edge, of the box-shaped portion is provided continuously and faces the lower back skeleton of the lower back panel, and at least a portion of the flange portion is joined to the lower back skeleton. Vehicle rear structure.

3. 2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, At least a portion of the flange portion of the crash box is joined to the lower back panel by welding. Vehicle rear structure.

4. 2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, The box-shaped portion has an inner box-shaped portion provided on the inside and an outer box-shaped portion covering the inner box-shaped portion, The crash box is an inner box in which the inner box-shaped portion and the flange portion provided on the lower edge of the inner box-shaped portion are integrally molded; an outer box in which the outer box-shaped portion and the flange portion provided so as to be continuous with the upper edge, an upper edge-nearby edge portion which is an edge portion near the upper edge of the outer box-shaped portion, and a side edge are integrally molded; It has Vehicle rear structure.

5. 2. The vehicle rear structure according to claim 1, The flange portion is also provided on a lower edge of the box-shaped portion, The flange portion provided on the lower edge is formed with a drain groove extending in the vertical direction so as to communicate the inside and outside of the box-shaped portion. Vehicle rear structure.

6. The vehicle rear structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A sealer or a structural adhesive is applied to fill a gap between at least the flange portion at the upper edge and the lower back panel. Vehicle rear structure.

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