Pickup truck

Abstract

This reduces the deterioration of loading capacity in the cargo bed due to the installation of a drive battery. [Solution] A battery mounting section 41 for mounting a drive battery 40 that supplies power for driving is provided in the front FR part of the cargo bed 18 of a pickup truck, and the battery mounting section 41 is configured so that it is divided into areas 42, 44 in the vehicle width direction and an area 43 having an upper surface 43A that is located below the vehicle DW below the upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the areas 42, 44.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to pickup trucks. [Background technology]

[0002] Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles that can run on electricity are equipped with a large-capacity drive battery that supplies power to the motor. Patent Document 1 describes a pickup truck configured as an electric vehicle. This pickup truck is equipped with a drive battery in the front part of the loading platform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 016231 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the conventional pickup trucks described above, the drive battery occupies the front portion of the cargo bed, shortening the length of the cargo bed portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, making it difficult to load long cargo, and the installation of the drive battery reduces the cargo bed's load capacity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A pickup truck that solves the above problem is a pickup truck equipped with a drive battery that supplies power for driving, and a battery mounting section for mounting the drive battery is provided in the front part of the loading platform of the vehicle, and the battery mounting section is divided in the vehicle width direction into a first area and a second area having an upper surface that is located lower on the vehicle than the upper surface of the first area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The pickup truck has the effect of suppressing the deterioration of loading capacity in the loading compartment due to the installation of a drive battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of components of a pickup truck according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the drive train, frame, exhaust pipe, fuel tank, etc. of the pickup truck in FIG. 1 as seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bed and its surroundings of the pickup truck of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a transparent perspective view of the bed and its surroundings of the pickup truck of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a see-through perspective view of a loading platform of a pickup truck according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a see-through perspective view of a loading platform of a first variation of a pickup truck. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a see-through perspective view of a loading platform of a second variation of a pickup truck. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the drive battery of a third variation of the pickup truck, as viewed from the side of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of a pickup truck will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Of the arrows shown in each drawing, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the top of the vehicle, "DW" indicates the bottom of the vehicle, "LF" indicates the left side of the vehicle, and "RF" indicates the right side of the vehicle. The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment is configured as a PHEV.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the pickup truck 10 is configured as a PHEV. The pickup truck 10 has three sections: a cabin 11, an engine compartment 12 located at the front (FR) of the cabin 11, and a luggage compartment 13 located at the rear (RR) of the cabin 11. The cabin 11 includes a passenger compartment 14 for occupants. The passenger compartment 14 includes a front row of seats 15 and a rear row of seats 16 located at the rear (RR) of the front row of seats 15. The engine compartment 12 includes an engine bay 17 in which an engine 20 is longitudinally arranged. The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment is equipped with the engine 20 having a V-shaped cylinder arrangement. The luggage compartment 13 includes a cargo bed 18 that opens upward (UP) of the vehicle. Left and right wheel houses 18C that accommodate left and right rear wheels 29, respectively, are provided on the left and right sides of the cargo bed 18. In the drawing, the boundary between the cabin 11 and the engine compartment 12 is indicated by a dotted line L1. The boundary between the cabin section 11 and the luggage section 13 is indicated by a dotted line L2.

[0010] <Pickup truck drivetrain configuration> Next, the configuration of the drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to Figure 2. The drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 includes an engine 20, a transmission 21, a motor 22, and a transfer 23. The motor 22 generates rotational power for propelling the pickup truck 10 in response to power supply, and also generates electricity by receiving rotation from the engine 20 or the wheels. The drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 also includes front and rear wheel propeller shafts 24, 25. The propeller shafts 24, 25 are connected to the engine 20 via the transfer 23, the motor 22, and the transmission 21, respectively. The front wheel propeller shaft 24 is connected to left and right front wheels 27 via a differential 26. The rear wheel propeller shaft 25 is connected to left and right rear wheels 29 via a differential 28. The rear wheel propeller shaft 25 is configured to direct the rotational power of the engine 20 and the motor 22 to the rear wheels 29.

[0011] <Configuration of the underfloor structure of a pickup truck> Next, the configuration of the underfloor structure of the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to FIG. A frame 30 is provided under the floor of the passenger compartment 14 and the bed 18 of the pickup truck 10. The frame 30 of the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment is a ladder-type frame having left and right side members 31 and a plurality of cross members 32 connecting the side members 31. The left and right side members 31 are each arranged to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin 11 below the passenger compartment 14 on the DW side of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2 , the propeller shaft 25 for the rear wheels extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin 11 below the passenger compartment 14 on the DW side of the vehicle.

[0012] An exhaust pipe 33 that guides exhaust from the engine 20 to the rear RR of the vehicle is also disposed under the floor of the pickup truck 10. The exhaust pipe 33 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing through a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower DW than the passenger compartment 14. A muffler 34 is disposed midway along the exhaust pipe 33. The muffler 34 is disposed in a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower DW than the passenger compartment 14. Furthermore, a fuel tank 35 that stores fuel for the engine 20 is disposed under the floor of the pickup truck 10. A propeller shaft 25 for the rear wheels is disposed in a portion between the exhaust pipe 33 and the fuel tank 35 in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] <Drive battery placement> The pickup truck 10 is equipped with a drive battery 40 that supplies power to the motor 22. Next, the arrangement of the drive battery 40 in the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, a battery mounting section 41 for mounting a drive battery 40 is provided in a portion of the cargo bed 18 at the front (FR) of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the battery mounting section 41 is located in a portion of the cargo bed 18 at the front (FR) of the vehicle of the wheel house 18C. In this embodiment, the battery mounting section 41 is installed so as to contact wall surfaces 18B, 18D, and 18E of the cargo bed 18 at the front (FR), right (RF), and left (LF) of the vehicle, respectively. Note that wall surface 18F in the drawing is the wall surface at the rear (RR) of the cargo bed 18.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the battery mounting section 41 is divided into three regions 42 to 44 of different heights in the vehicle width direction. Of the three regions 42 to 44, the height of the region 43 located in the center of the vehicle width direction is lower than the other regions 42 and 44. In other words, the region 43 has an upper surface 43A that is located further downward in the vehicle DW than the upper surfaces 42A and 44A of the other regions 42 and 44. In the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment, the regions 42 and 44 correspond to the first region, and the region 43 corresponds to the second region having an upper surface 43A that is located further downward in the vehicle DW than the upper surfaces 42A and 44A of the first region. The battery mounting section 41 of the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment has two first regions spaced apart with the second region sandwiched between them. The center portion of the battery mounting section 41 in the vehicle width direction has a concave shape that is recessed downward in the vehicle DW.

[0016] 1, in this embodiment, the height H1 of the upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44 corresponding to the first region is the same as the height H2 of the wheel house 18C. Here, the height H1 represents the distance in the vehicle height direction from the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 to the upper surfaces 42A, 44A. Furthermore, the height H2 represents the distance in the vehicle height direction from the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 to the top of the wheel house 18C.

[0017] <Operation of the First Embodiment> In addition to the frame 30, the propeller shaft 25, exhaust pipe 33, fuel tank 35, etc. are installed under the floor of the pickup truck 10 configured as a PHEV. Therefore, it is difficult to secure sufficient space under the floor of the pickup truck 10 to mount the drive battery 40 that supplies power to the motor 22 for driving. In the present embodiment, a battery mounting section 41 for mounting the drive battery 40 is provided in the front FR portion of the cargo bed 18. Therefore, a large-capacity, large-sized drive battery 40 can be mounted even in the pickup truck 10 configured as a PHEV.

[0018] The battery mounting section 41 is divided in the vehicle width direction into two regions 42, 44 on both sides of the vehicle width direction and a region 43 located in the center of the vehicle width direction and having an upper surface 43A positioned below the vehicle DW with respect to the upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44. As a result, the center portion of the battery mounting section 41 in the vehicle width direction is recessed toward the vehicle DW. Note that the heights of the upper surfaces 42A-44A of the regions 42-44 of the battery mounting section 41 are lower than the cage of the cargo bed 18, so it is possible to load luggage on the battery mounting section 41. However, there is a step between the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 and the upper surfaces 42A-44A of the battery mounting section 41. If there is a large step on the cargo bed 18, it may be difficult to load luggage across the step.

[0019] Consider a configuration in which a battery mounting section equipped with a driving battery having the same capacity as the driving battery 40 of this embodiment is configured so that the entire upper surface is at a uniform height. In this case, the upper surface of the battery mounting section is located higher up the vehicle than the upper surface 43A of the central region 43 of the battery mounting section 41 in the vehicle width direction. In other words, if the entire upper surface is configured to be at a uniform height, a large step is likely to occur between the battery mounting section 41 and the floor panel 18A. On the other hand, as in the present disclosure, by configuring the battery mounting section 41 to be divided into regions 42-44 having upper surfaces 42A-44A of different heights in the vehicle width direction, a portion of the battery mounting section 41 with a small step from the central region 43 of the battery mounting section 41 in the vehicle width direction can be provided. In this embodiment, the central region 43 of the battery mounting section 41 in the vehicle width direction is the portion with the small step from the central region 43 of the bed 18 to the rear region RR. The pickup truck 10 configured in this manner has a portion of the bed 18 in the vehicle width direction that does not have a large step from the front end of the bed 18 (FR) to the rear end of the bed 18 (RR).

[0020] The upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44 on both sides of the battery mounting portion 41 in the vehicle width direction are located higher than the region 43 in the center of the vehicle width direction, making it difficult to load luggage there. However, the regions 42, 44 are located at the front (FR) of the vehicle of the left and right wheel houses 18C, respectively. Furthermore, the height H1 of the upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44 is the same as the height H2 of the wheel house 18C. Because the wheel house 18C bulges upward from the floor panel 18A, it is difficult to load luggage in the front (FR) portion of the wheel house 18C of the cargo bed 18. Therefore, the presence of the tall regions 42, 44 only slightly reduces the load capacity of the cargo bed 18.

[0021] <Effects of the first embodiment> The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment configured as above has the following advantages.

[0022] (1) The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment has a battery mounting section 41 for mounting the drive battery 40 in the front (FR) portion of the cargo bed 18. Therefore, even in a pickup truck 10 configured as a PHEV, it is easy to ensure space for mounting the large-capacity drive battery 40.

[0023] (2) The battery mounting section 41 is divided in the vehicle width direction into areas 42 and 44 and an area 43 having an upper surface 43A that is located below the vehicle DW from the upper surfaces 42A and 44A of the areas 42 and 44. Even long items can be loaded relatively easily onto the cargo bed 18. Therefore, the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment effectively prevents a deterioration in the loading capacity of the cargo bed 18 due to the installation of the drive battery 40.

[0024] (3) The battery mounting section 41 has two regions 42, 44, each having upper surfaces 42A, 44A located above the vehicle upper surface UP of the upper surface 43A of the region 43, which are spaced apart and sandwich the region 43. The shape of the battery mounting section 41 is such that the central portion in the vehicle width direction is recessed downward DW of the vehicle compared to the portions on both sides in the vehicle width direction. This makes it easy to load long items in the central portion of the loading platform 18 in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] (4) The battery mounting section 41 is located in the cargo bed 18 at a position further forward (FR) than the wheel housing 18C. The battery mounting section 41 is not located at the rear (RR) of the cargo bed 18, where loading and unloading of luggage is easier. Therefore, the deterioration of the loading capacity of the cargo bed 18 due to the installation of the drive battery 40 is less likely than if the battery mounting section 41 were located further rearward (RR) than described above.

[0026] (5) The regions 42, 44, each having an upper surface 42A, 44A positioned higher up than the upper surface 43A of the region 43, are provided in a portion of the battery mounting portion 41 located at the front FR of the wheel house 18C. The upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44 are positioned at a greater level with the floor panel 18A than the upper surface 43A of the region 43, making it difficult to load luggage there. The portion of the wheel house 18C of the cargo bed 18 at the front FR of the vehicle is naturally difficult to load luggage there. Even if the regions 42, 43 are located in the wheel house 18C, the deterioration of the loading capacity of the cargo bed 18 is limited. Therefore, the deterioration of the loading capacity of the cargo bed 18 is less severe than when the regions 42, 44 are located in other locations.

[0027] (6) The height H1 of the regions 42, 44 is the same as the height H2 of the wheelhouse 18C. If the height H1 of the regions 42, 44 and the height H2 of the wheelhouse 18C were different, a step would be created between them, making it difficult to load luggage on both sides of the cargo bed 18 in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the height H1 of the regions 42, 44 and the height H2 of the wheelhouse 18C are the same, making it relatively easy to load luggage on both sides of the cargo bed 18 in the vehicle width direction.

[0028] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the pickup truck will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. In this embodiment, components common to the above embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, a battery mounting section 141 is provided in the forward (FR) portion of the cargo bed 18. In this embodiment, the battery mounting section 141 is divided into two sections on either side of the vehicle width direction, and driving batteries 140A and 140B are mounted therein. The battery mounting section 141 is divided in the vehicle width direction into two regions 142 and 144 on either side of the vehicle width direction, where the driving batteries 140A and 140B are mounted, and a central region 143 in the vehicle width direction, where the driving batteries 140A and 140B are not mounted. Nothing is present in the region 143 on the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18. Therefore, the floor panel 18A forms the upper surface of the region 143. The upper surface of the region 143 is located below the vehicle DW relative to the upper surfaces 142A and 144A of the regions 142 and 144, where the driving batteries 140A and 140B are mounted. In this embodiment, regions 142 and 144 on both sides of the battery mounting section 141 in the vehicle width direction correspond to the first region, and region 143 in the center of the vehicle width direction corresponds to the second region. Of the first region and the second region, the battery mounting section 141 of this embodiment is configured so that driving batteries 140A and 140B are mounted only in the first region.

[0030] The pickup truck configured in this manner has a section in the center of the cargo bed 18 in the vehicle width direction that is free of steps from the end of the front (FR) side of the vehicle to the end of the rear (RR) side of the vehicle. The pickup truck of this embodiment achieves the same or equivalent effects as those described in (1) to (5) above.

[0031] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0032] <About the battery compartment> The height H1 of the upper surfaces 42A, 44A of the regions 42, 44 in the battery mounting portion 41 of the first embodiment may be made different from the height H2 of the wheel house 18C.

[0033] In the above-described embodiments, the battery mounting section 41, 141 is divided in the vehicle width direction so that the both side portions in the vehicle width direction are defined as first regions and the central portion in the vehicle width direction is defined as a second region having an upper surface located lower on the vehicle DW than the upper surface of the first region. The first and second regions may be divided in a different manner. For example, the battery mounting section 241 shown in FIG. 6 is provided in the vehicle front (FR) portion of the cargo bed 18 and is configured to mount a driving battery 240. The battery mounting section 241 is divided into a first region 242 on the vehicle right (RF) and a second region 243 on the vehicle left (LF) having an upper surface 243A located lower on the vehicle than the upper surface 242A of the first region 242. In this manner, the number and arrangement of the first and second regions can be changed as appropriate. For example, the first region may be located in a portion of the battery mounting section other than the both side portions in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the first region is located in a portion of the wheel house 18C that is not located forward of the vehicle.

[0034] In the above-described embodiments, the battery mounting section 41, 141, 241 was positioned so as to be contained within a range in the forward (FR) direction of the vehicle from the wheel housing 18C of the cargo bed 18. The battery mounting section may also be positioned so as to extend partially beyond the range toward the rear (RR) direction of the vehicle. For example, the battery mounting section 341 shown in FIG. 7 is provided in the forward (FR) direction of the cargo bed 18 and is configured to mount a driving battery 340. The battery mounting section 341 is divided into first regions 342, 344 on both sides of the vehicle width direction and a second region 343 in the center of the vehicle width direction. The second region 343 is configured to have an upper surface 343A that is located below the vehicle DW relative to upper surfaces 342A, 344A of the first regions 342, 344. In the battery mounting section 341, the first regions 342, 344 on both sides of the vehicle width direction are located in the forward (FR) direction of the vehicle from the wheel housing 18C. However, the second region 343 extends further toward the rear of the vehicle RR than the first regions 342, 344.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the battery mounting units 41, 141, 241, 341 are installed so as to be in contact with the three wall surfaces 18B, 18D, 18E of the cargo bed 18 located at the front FR, right RF, and left LF of the vehicle. The battery mounting units may also be installed so as to be spaced apart from some or all of these wall surfaces 18B, 18D, 18E.

[0036] As shown in Figure 8, a drive battery 40A may also be installed under the floor of a pickup truck. In the case of Figure 8, a battery mounting section 41 similar to that of the first embodiment is provided in the front (FR) portion of the cargo bed 18. A drive battery 40A separate from the drive battery 40 mounted in the battery mounting section 41 is mounted in the lower (DW) portion of the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18. In this way, the pickup truck may be configured to have an additional drive battery under the floor of the pickup truck that supplies power for traveling, separate from the drive battery mounted in the battery mounting section.

[0037] <Other> The engine 20 may have a cylinder arrangement other than a V-type. The engine 20 may also be arranged transversely in the engine compartment 17.

[0038] The arrangement of the propeller shaft 25, exhaust pipe 33, muffler 34, fuel tank 35, etc. under the floor of the pickup truck 10 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the pickup truck 10 may be configured so that the propeller shaft 25 is located between the exhaust pipe 33 and the fuel tank 35 in the vehicle width direction.

[0039] The configuration of the drive train of the pickup truck 10 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the drive train may be configured so that the front wheels 27 and the rear wheels 29 are driven by independent drive trains, or the drive train may be configured so that the pickup truck 10 is a front-wheel drive vehicle.

[0040] The pickup truck 10 may be configured as a battery-powered vehicle that does not have an engine 20 installed. (Additional notes) The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described.

[0041] [Appendix 1] A pickup truck equipped with a drive battery that supplies power for driving, wherein a battery mounting section for mounting the drive battery is provided in the front part of the loading platform of the vehicle, and the battery mounting section is divided in the vehicle width direction into a first area and a second area having an upper surface that is located lower on the vehicle than the upper surface of the first area.

[0042] [Appendix 2] The pickup truck according to Appendix 1, wherein the driving battery is mounted only in the first area out of the first area and the second area. [Appendix 3] The pickup truck according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the battery mounting section is provided with two of the first areas spaced apart with the second area sandwiched therebetween.

[0043] [Appendix 4] A pickup truck according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the bed is provided with a wheel house that houses the rear wheels, and the battery mounting section is provided in a portion of the bed that is further forward of the wheel house.

[0044] [Appendix 5] A pickup truck according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4, wherein the bed is provided with a wheel house that houses the rear wheels, and the first area is provided in a portion of the battery mounting section that is located in front of the wheel house.

[0045] [Appendix 6] The pickup truck according to Appendix 5, wherein the height of the first region is the same as the height of the wheelhouse. [Appendix 7] A pickup truck according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6, further comprising a drive battery installed under the floor of the pickup truck, separate from the drive battery, for supplying power for driving.

[0046] [Appendix 8] A pickup truck according to any of Appendices 1 to 7, comprising: a fuel tank, an engine, a motor, a transmission, a propeller shaft connected to the engine via the motor and the transmission and transmitting rotational power of the engine and the motor to rear wheels, an exhaust pipe directing exhaust from the engine to the rear of the vehicle, a cabin section provided with a passenger compartment, an engine compartment section located forward of the cabin section and having an engine compartment in which the engine is longitudinally disposed, a luggage section located rear of the cabin section and having the loading platform, and a frame having left and right side members extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment, wherein the propeller shaft and the exhaust pipe extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10. Pickup truck 18 Cargo bed 18A Floor panel 18C Wheelhouse 29 rear wheel 40,140A,140B,240,340 Drive battery 40A additional drive battery 41,141,241,341 Battery mounting area 42,44,142,144,242,342,344 (1st) area 42A, 44A, 142A, 144A, 242A, 342A, 344A (First area) Top 43,143,243,343 (Second) area 43A, 143A, 243A, 343A (Second Area) Top

Claims

1. A pickup truck equipped with a drive battery that supplies power for traveling, a battery mounting section for mounting the drive battery is provided in a front portion of the loading platform; The battery mounting portion is divided in the vehicle width direction into a first region and a second region having an upper surface located lower than an upper surface of the first region. Pickup truck.

2. The pickup truck according to claim 1 , wherein the driving battery is mounted only in the first area out of the first area and the second area.

3. The pickup truck according to claim 1 , wherein the battery mounting portion is provided with two of the first areas spaced apart from each other with the second area interposed therebetween.

4. The loading platform is provided with a wheelhouse that accommodates rear wheels, The battery mounting portion is provided in a portion of the loading platform forward of the wheel house. The pickup truck of claim 1 .

5. The loading platform is provided with a wheelhouse that accommodates rear wheels, The first area is provided in a portion of the battery mounting portion that is located in front of the wheel house. The pickup truck of claim 1 .

6. The pickup truck according to claim 5 , wherein the height of the first region is the same as the height of the wheelhouse.

7. 2. The pickup truck according to claim 1, further comprising a further drive battery, separate from the drive battery, that is installed under the floor of the pickup truck and that supplies power for running the vehicle.

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