Vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp

Abstract

Even if an impact load is applied from the rear to a ramp that has collapsed inside the vehicle, the ramp will not move forward by more than a predetermined amount. [Solution] The vehicle body structure of the vehicle with a ramp includes a ramp hinge for switching the ramp 20 between an extended state and a reclined state in which it is rotated toward the front of the vehicle to form the floor surface of the passenger compartment, and a stopper 80 disposed in front of the ramp 20 in the reclined state to prevent the ramp 20 from moving toward the front of the vehicle by more than a predetermined amount when subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the body structure of a sloped vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wheelchair-mounted vehicle provided with a back door and a slope at the rear of the vehicle. At the rear of this vehicle, a tailgate is provided below the back door so as to be openable and closable. The slope is attached to the inner surface of the tailgate in the vehicle compartment via a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction, and in a state where the back door is open, it is deployed outside the vehicle from an opening provided at the rear of the vehicle and is configured to be bridged between the opening and the ground. The slope is used when a passenger sitting in a wheelchair gets on and off in a seated state.

[0003] Also, when a wheelchair is mounted on the vehicle, the slope is set to a standing posture, while when a wheelchair is not mounted on the vehicle, the slope is configured to be folded forward and used as the floor surface of the luggage compartment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When a wheelchair is not mounted on the vehicle, like the wheelchair-mounted vehicle of Patent Document 1, by configuring the slope to be in a lying state and making it available for use as the floor surface of the luggage compartment, the slope can be utilized not only when a wheelchair gets on and off, and effective use of the slope can be achieved.

[0006] However, if a wheelchair-accessible vehicle has foldable and retractable rear seats, the rear seats can be folded and stored when a wheelchair is loaded, while when a wheelchair is not loaded, they can be extended and used above the ramp. When an occupant is seated in the rear seat, the ramp will be positioned behind the occupant's legs in a reclined state. In this state, if an impact load is applied to the wheelchair-accessible vehicle from the rear, the ramp may be pushed forward and reach the space under the rear occupant's legs. Furthermore, a similar problem can occur in vehicles with ramps, even if they are not wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

[0007] This disclosure is made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to prevent the ramp from moving forward by more than a predetermined amount, even when an impact load is applied from the rear to a ramp that has collapsed inside the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of this disclosure may be based on a vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp. The vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp includes a ramp hinge for supporting the ramp so as to be rotatable with respect to the vehicle body around an axis extending in the vehicle width direction, and for switching between an extended state in which the ramp is rotated toward the rear of the vehicle and a reclined state in which the ramp is rotated toward the front of the vehicle to form the floor surface of the passenger compartment, and a stopper disposed in front of the ramp in the reclined state for preventing the ramp from moving by more than a predetermined amount toward the front of the vehicle when subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front of the vehicle.

[0009] With this configuration, by rotating the ramp towards the rear of the vehicle around the axis of the ramp hinge, it becomes possible to load luggage or allow wheelchair users to board and alight using the ramp. On the other hand, by rotating the ramp towards the front of the vehicle around the axis of the ramp hinge to form the floor of the passenger compartment, the ramp can be used for purposes other than loading luggage or allowing wheelchair users to board and alight. If an impact load is applied to the ramp in a collapsed state, for example, due to a rear-end collision, the stopper prevents the ramp from moving more than a predetermined amount towards the front of the vehicle.

[0010] The stopper may have an opposing plate portion that faces the front end of the ramp. The opposing plate portion of the stopper may also protrude upward from the upper surface of the floor panel. This ensures that the ramp, subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front of the vehicle, makes secure contact with the stopper, preventing the ramp from moving more than a predetermined amount toward the front of the vehicle. The opposing plate portion may also be inclined so that it is positioned higher as it moves toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0011] The stopper may have a first fixing plate portion fixed to a first plate portion extending in the front-rear direction of the floor panel, and a second fixing plate portion fixed to a second plate portion extending downward from the rear end of the first plate portion of the floor panel. This increases the fixing strength of the stopper to the floor panel.

[0012] The stopper may have an upper plate and a lower plate. In this case, the front vehicle portion of the upper plate can be designated as the first fixing plate, and the front vehicle portion of the lower plate can be designated as the second fixing plate. Furthermore, the rear vehicle portion of the upper plate and the rear vehicle portion of the lower plate can be joined together in a vertically overlapping state to increase strength, and the opposing plate portion can be formed with this increased strength portion. This increases the fixing strength of the stopper to the floor panel while also increasing the strength of the opposing plate portion.

[0013] A reinforcing member may be provided on the underside of the floor panel, extending in the vehicle width direction, to form a closed cross-section together with the first and second plate portions. This increases the strength of the portion of the vehicle body where the stopper is fixed, thereby further enhancing the effect of the stopper in preventing the vehicle from moving forward on the ramp.

[0014] The aforementioned slope may be configured to bend upward when subjected to a compressive load in the front-rear direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] As described above, it is possible to prevent the stopper from moving more than a predetermined amount of the slope that has received an impact load from the rear side to the front side of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a wheelchair-mounted vehicle having a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a rear portion of a wheelchair-mounted vehicle having a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a case where the slope is in a deployed state. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state in which a wheelchair is mounted. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view seen in the direction of the Y arrow in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the bulging portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a state in which a wheelchair is mounted. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the rear panel portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the stopper.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle body structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, the front side of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is indicated as "front", the rear side of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is indicated as "rear", the right side of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is indicated as "right", and the left side of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is indicated as "left". The vehicle width direction of the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is the left-right direction. In the description of this embodiment, the case where the sloped vehicle is the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 is described, but the object of the present invention is not limited to the wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 and can be applied to a sloped vehicle provided with a slope 20 and a rear seat at the rear. The slope 20 can be used not only when mounting the wheelchair 50 but also when mounting luggage or the like.

[0019] As an example of a sloped vehicle, FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 show the case where the wheelchair 50 is not mounted, and FIGS. 3 and 6 show the case where the wheelchair 50 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position. In FIGS. 2 to 6, a folded slope 20 is deployed outside the vehicle and bridged between the vehicle body 2 and the ground. FIG. 1 shows a state where the folded slope 20 is stored in the vehicle interior. In FIG. 1, the folded slope 20 is laid down forward, but the slope 20 can also be stored in a standing state as shown by the virtual line. By storing the slope 20 in a standing state, it becomes possible to mount the wheelchair 50.

[0020] The wheelchair-mounted vehicle 1 has a vehicle body 2 to which a front door (not shown) or the like is attached so as to be openable and closable. In a vehicle interior R formed inside the vehicle body 2, a front seat 3 and a rear seat 6 are arranged. The front seat 3 is arranged in the front part of the vehicle interior R rather than in the central part in the front-rear direction, and includes, for example, a driver's seat located on the right side and a passenger seat located on the left side. The rear seat 6 is positioned behind the front seat 3 and is composed of a so-called bench seat continuous in the left-right direction, seats independent on the right side and the left side, or the like. The space behind the rear seat 6 in the vehicle interior R is a luggage compartment R2. Note that the rear seat 6 may be omitted.

[0021] The floor panel 8, which constitutes the floor surface of the vehicle body 2, has a front panel section 8a, an intermediate panel section 8b, and a rear panel section 8c. The front panel section 8a constitutes the front part of the floor panel 8 and is the part to which the front seats 3 are attached. The intermediate panel section 8b extends rearward from the rear end of the front panel section 8a. The rear panel section 8c extends rearward from the rear end of the intermediate panel section 8b and is the part that forms the floor surface of the cargo area R2 behind the rear seats 6, for example. The intermediate panel section 8b and the rear panel section 8c are the parts to which the rear seats 6 are attached. The floor panel 8 may be made of a single sheet of material or may be made by combining multiple sheets of material.

[0022] The rear seat 6 is equipped with a conventional sliding mechanism, which allows its position to be adjusted in the front-to-back direction. The rear seat 6 is also equipped with a conventional folding mechanism and a flip-up mechanism. Figures 2 and 3 show the rear seat 6 folded by the folding mechanism and flipped up by the flip-up mechanism (storage state). By flipping up the rear seat 6 to the storage state, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, it becomes possible to load a wheelchair 50 from the intermediate panel section 8b to the rear panel section 8c, and the wheelchair 50 loaded in the predetermined loading position is placed on the intermediate panel section 8b and the rear panel section 8c. The space in the vehicle compartment R in which the wheelchair 50 can be loaded is called the wheelchair loading space R1. When the rear seat 6 is unfolded, the unfolded rear seat 6 is positioned from the intermediate panel section 8b to the rear panel section 8c, and in this state, the wheelchair 50 cannot be loaded. The wheelchair space R1 may also accommodate luggage and other items in addition to the wheelchair 50, or it may accommodate both the wheelchair 50 and luggage. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the area behind the unfolded rear seat 6 is designated as the luggage compartment R2, but the area behind the unfolded rear seat 6 may be designated as the wheelchair space R1 without providing a luggage compartment R2.

[0023] The roof portion 2a of the vehicle body 2 extends continuously at approximately the same height from above the front seats 3 to behind the rear seats 6, that is, to the rear of the vehicle body 2. This makes it possible to accommodate an occupant 51 seated in a wheelchair 50 in the wheelchair space R1. An example of a vehicle having such a vehicle body 2 is a minivan-type vehicle, which may be a light vehicle or a regular car.

[0024] An opening 2b is formed at the rear of the vehicle body 2. The opening 2b is an entrance for the occupant 51 to get in and out of the wheelchair 50 while seated. Therefore, it is a large opening 2b, and the lower edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the rear panel 8c. In other words, the rear panel 8c extends forward from the lower edge of the opening 2b.

[0025] Furthermore, the upper edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the roof portion 2a. This increases the vertical dimension of the opening 2b, allowing the occupant 51 to board and alight the wheelchair 50 while remaining seated. In addition, in this embodiment, the rear panel portion 8c slopes downward towards the rear, which further increases the vertical dimension of the opening 2b. Although not shown, the left edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the left side wall of the vehicle body 2, and the right edge of the opening 2b is formed by the rear edge of the right side wall of the vehicle body 2. The opening 2b can be used not only for boarding and alighting the wheelchair 50, but also for storing luggage in the passenger compartment R or for unloading luggage from the passenger compartment R.

[0026] As described above, the vertical dimension of the opening 2b is long, so the rear of the vehicle body 2 is provided not only with a back door 7 for opening and closing the opening 2b, but also with a tailgate 15. The upper edge of the back door 7 is supported so as to be rotatable around an upper shaft 7a that extends in the vehicle width direction relative to the upper edge of the opening 2b, i.e., the rear edge of the roof portion 2a. Examples of members having the upper shaft 7a include hinges, and the upper edge of the back door 7 is attached to the rear edge of the roof portion 2a via the hinges.

[0027] A window glass 7b is provided in the upper part of the back door 7. The rearward view of the vehicle is ensured through the window glass 7b. The lower edge of the back door 7 when closed is separated upward from the lower edge of the opening 2b, and the part of the opening 2b below the lower edge of the back door 7 is closed by the tailgate 15.

[0028] The tailgate 15 is composed of a member that is elongated in the left-right direction. The lower edge of the tailgate 15 is supported so as to be rotatable around a lower shaft 15a that extends in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower edge of the opening 2b, i.e., the rear edge of the rear panel portion 8c. An example of a member having a lower shaft 15a is a hinge, and the lower edge of the tailgate 15 is attached to the rear edge of the rear panel portion 8c via the hinge.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the tailgate 15 in the open position is positioned to protrude rearward from near the lower edge of the opening 2b and to tilt downward toward the rear. Although not shown, latch mechanisms are provided on both the left and right sides of the tailgate 15 in the closed position. When the tailgate 15 is closed, the latch mechanisms engage with strikers fixed to the vehicle body 2, holding the tailgate 15 closed. The latch mechanisms can be operated from the outside by an operating handle (not shown), and the tailgate 15 can be opened by operating the operating handle. The back door 7 is configured to be able to engage with and disengage from the upper part of the closed tailgate 15 by the latch mechanism and striker. The back door 7 can also be opened from the outside by operating an operating handle (not shown). Such configurations of the back door 7 and tailgate 15 are conventionally known.

[0030] The wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes a ramp 20 and a ramp hinge 20a. The ramp hinge 20a is a component for supporting the ramp 20 so that it can rotate around an axis extending in the vehicle width direction relative to the vehicle body 2. In this embodiment, the vehicle body 2 has a tailgate 15, and the ramp 20 is supported by the tailgate 15, which constitutes part of the vehicle body 2, via the ramp hinge 20a.

[0031] Specifically, the rear of the vehicle body 2 is provided with a ramp 20 attached to the interior surface of the tailgate 15 via a ramp hinge 20a, which forms a wheelchair loading / unloading passage S (shown in Figure 2) for the wheelchair 50. Figures 2 and 3 show the ramp 20 rotated to the rear and deployed outside the vehicle to form the loading / unloading passage S. In this deployed state, a loading / unloading passage S that slopes downward toward the rear is formed. In this deployed state, the wheelchair 50 can be loaded into and unloaded using the ramp 20. The wheelchair 50 can be loaded by moving it forward and unloaded by moving it backward.

[0032] The wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1 is either a rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicle. Therefore, the wheelchair-accessible vehicle 1 is equipped with a rear axle 41 for transmitting driving force to the left and right rear wheels 40 (only the right rear wheel is shown in each figure). The rear axle 41, although not shown, includes a left drive shaft connected to the left rear wheel 40, a right drive shaft connected to the right rear wheel 40, a differential gear 41a disposed between the left and right drive shafts, and a casing 41b that houses the left and right drive shafts and the differential gear 41a. Since the outer diameter of the differential gear 41a is larger than the outer diameter of the left and right drive shafts, the vertical dimension of the left-right intermediate portion (the portion housing the differential gear 41a) of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 is set to be longer than the vertical dimensions of the left and right portions of the casing 41b. Therefore, the middle section of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 is raised upward compared to the left and right sections.

[0033] On the other hand, the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 is designed to be as low as possible to accommodate a wheelchair 50, and therefore slopes downwards towards the rear. Lowering the rear panel portion 8c in this way may cause it to come into contact with, or interfere with, the portion of the rear axle 41 casing 41b that houses the differential gear 41a. A fuel tank (not shown) is located in front of the rear axle 41 below the rear panel portion 8c.

[0034] In this embodiment, a bulge 8d is formed in the middle of the rear panel portion 8c in the vehicle width direction, and below the bulge 8d of the floor panel 8 is the portion housing the differential gear 41a of the rear axle 41.

[0035] Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to front-wheel drive vehicles other than rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles. In the case of a front-wheel drive vehicle, since there is no rear axle 41, it is not necessary to form a bulge 8d on the floor panel 8.

[0036] The formation of the bulge portion 8d prevents the lateral-intermediate portion of the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 from interfering with the rear panel portion 8c, even when the suspension is in full stroke. In other words, the size of the bulge portion 8d and the bulge height of the bulge portion 8d from the reference plane are set so that even when the casing 41b of the rear axle 41 moves to the upper limit of its range of motion, the lateral-intermediate portion of the casing 41b does not come into contact with the rear panel portion 8c. The bulge portion 8d can also be called a bulge-shaped portion.

[0037] The portion of the rear panel section 8c of the floor panel 8 that is rearward from the bulge 8d is sloped downwards as it approaches the rear. The front end of the deployed ramp 20 is continuous with the portion of the rear panel section 8c that is rearward from the bulge 8d.

[0038] The bulge 8d is positioned between the front wheel 52 on the right side of the wheelchair 50 and the front wheel 52 on the left side of the wheelchair 50, and is located in an area where the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 do not roll when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. Furthermore, the rear of the wheelchair 50 is provided with rear wheels 54 on both the left and right sides. The bulge 8d is positioned between the right rear wheel 54 and the left rear wheel 54 of the wheelchair 50, and is located in an area where the left and right rear wheels 54 of the wheelchair 50 do not roll when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. Therefore, the bulge 8d does not come into contact with the left and right front wheels 52 or the left and right rear wheels 54 when getting on or off the wheelchair 50.

[0039] An anchor bar 53 is provided in the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-to-rear direction. The anchor bar 53 is a component that prevents the wheelchair 50, when mounted on the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1, from moving forward from its predetermined mounting position. Specifically, a hook mechanism 60 having a shape that opens to the rear is provided in the middle of the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 in the left-to-right direction. When the wheelchair 50 is mounted in the predetermined mounting position, the hook mechanism 60 engages with the anchor bar 53 from the front to hold the wheelchair 50. When lowering the wheelchair 50, the anchor bar 53 is disengaged from the hook mechanism 60 by moving the wheelchair 50 backward.

[0040] The wheelchair 50 fixing structure and anchor bar 53 may be provided as needed. For example, in the case of a vehicle that carries only luggage, the wheelchair 50 fixing structure and anchor bar 53 may be omitted. Furthermore, the structure of the wheelchair 50 fixing structure and anchor bar 53 is not limited to those shown in the illustration, and any structure is acceptable.

[0041] Since the anchor bar 53 protrudes downward from the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the left-right direction, there is a risk that it may interfere with the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c when getting on or off the wheelchair 50. In this embodiment, a first inclined surface 8e is formed in front of the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c of the floor panel 8, and in the area where the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll, to suppress interference between the anchor bar 53 and the bulge 8d. Since the front of the wheelchair 50 is provided with front wheels 52 on both the left and right sides, the area of ​​the rear panel 8c where the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll is the right side and left side of the bulge 8d of the rear panel 8c, and is the outer part in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 8 compared to the bulge 8d. This outer part in the vehicle width direction of the floor panel 8 compared to the bulge 8d is formed lower than the bulge 8d. The areas on which the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 roll are the right side and left side of the bulging portion 8d of the rear panel portion 8c, and a first inclined surface 8e is formed on both of these areas.

[0042] The first inclined surface 8e is a surface for raising the left and right front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 until the anchor bar 53, which is provided in the middle of the wheelchair 50 in the front-rear direction, is not in contact with the bulge 8d. The first inclined surface 8e is formed such that the position of the front end of the first inclined surface 8e is higher than the upper end of the bulge 8d. The rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 has a second inclined surface 8f that extends forward from the front end of the first inclined surface 8e while sloping downward. The rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 has a third inclined surface 8g that slopes upward from the front end of the second inclined surface 8f as it moves forward. By forming the third inclined surface 8g so that the front wheels 52 of the wheelchair 50 reach the third inclined surface 8g when the wheelchair 50 has moved forward to a predetermined mounting position, it is possible to prevent the wheelchair 50 from moving too far forward.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, the ramp 20 can be rotated forward around the axis of the ramp hinge 20a to form a folded state that forms the floor surface of the passenger compartment R. Thus, the ramp hinge 20a supports the ramp 20 so that it can rotate around an axis extending in the vehicle width direction relative to the tailgate 15, and switches between an extended state in which it is rotated to the rear and deployed outside the vehicle, and a folded state in which it is rotated to the front and stored inside the passenger compartment R.

[0044] When the ramp 20 is rotated forward to a folded-down position, the bulge 8d is positioned below the ramp 20. Also, when the ramp 20 is rotated forward to a folded-down position, the rear seat 6, which is in its deployed state, is positioned above at least the front portion of the ramp 20. The front end of the ramp 20 is located behind the front end of the rear seat 6. The space between the rear of the front seat 3 and the rear seat 6 is the legroom for the rear passenger seated in the rear seat 6. The rear passenger's legs may be placed in this legroom.

[0045] The front end of the slope 20 in its reclined state is located behind the legroom for the rear passengers. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the wheelchair-carrying vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a stopper 80 positioned in front of the reclined slope 20, which prevents the slope 30 from moving forward by more than a predetermined amount when subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front. That is, since the rear end of the reclined slope 20 is connected to the tailgate 15 via a slope hinge 20a, if the tailgate 15 receives an impact load from the rear to the front, such as when another vehicle collides with it from the rear (rear-end collision), the slope 20 will also receive an impact load in the same direction. The slope 20, having received an impact load from the rear to the front, will try to move forward, but since there is legroom for the rear passengers in front of the slope 20, the amount of movement of the slope 20 should be kept below a predetermined amount so that the front end of the slope 20 does not reach the legroom for the rear passengers. A stopper 80 is provided in front of the slope 20 for this purpose.

[0046] As shown in Figure 8, the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8 is concave overall to accommodate the slope 20 in its reclined state. The front of the rear panel portion 8c is provided with a first plate portion 8h extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a second plate portion 8i extending downward and left-right from the rear end of the first plate portion 8h. The second plate portion 8i is inclined so that it is located further back as it goes downward. The dashed line L1 in Figure 8 shows the rotation trajectory of the slope 20, and the slope 20 is positioned as shown by the solid line when it is in its reclined state. Therefore, the first plate portion 8h and the second plate portion 8i are located at a distance forward from the front end of the slope 20 when it is in its reclined state.

[0047] Below the rear panel portion 8c of the floor panel 8, a reinforcing member 85 is provided that extends in the vehicle width direction, forming a closed cross section together with the first plate portion 8h and the second plate portion 8i. The reinforcing member 85 is made of the same metal plate material as the floor panel 8, and has an upper joining plate portion 85a that is joined to the lower surface of the first plate portion 8h, a lower joining plate portion 85b that is joined to the lower surface of the portion of the rear panel portion 8c that is further rear than the second plate portion 8i, and an inclined plate portion 85c that extends from the upper joining plate portion 85a to the lower joining plate portion 85b. The reinforcing member 85 constitutes a cross member that extends in the vehicle width direction.

[0048] The stopper 80 has an upper plate 81 and a lower plate 82 made of a high-strength metal material. The front portion of the upper plate 81 is formed to extend along the upper surface of the first plate 8h of the rear panel 8c and is a first fixing plate 81a fixed to the upper surface of the first plate 8h of the rear panel 8c. The front portion of the lower plate 82 is formed to extend along the rear surface of the second plate 8i of the rear panel 8c and is a second fixing plate 82a fixed to the rear surface of the second plate 8i of the rear panel 8c. The method of fixing the first fixing plate 81a and the second fixing plate 82a is not particularly limited, but examples include spot welding and fastening methods using bolts.

[0049] The rear portion of the upper plate 81 is formed to protrude upward and is inclined so that it is positioned further back towards the top. The rear portion of the lower plate 82 is also formed to protrude upward and is inclined so that it is positioned further back towards the top. The rear portions of the upper plate 81 and the lower plate 82 are joined to each other in a state where they are overlapping in the vertical direction (thickness direction). The method of joining the rear portions of the upper plate 81 and the lower plate 82 is not particularly limited, but examples include spot welding or fastening and fixing methods using bolts.

[0050] The stopper 80 has an opposing plate portion 80A that faces the front end of the slope 20 in a collapsed state at a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction. The opposing plate portion 80A is composed of the rear portion of the upper plate material 81 and the rear portion of the lower plate material 82, and is thicker than the first fixing plate portion 81a and the second fixing plate portion 82a. The rear end of the opposing plate portion 80A is set forward from the front end of the slope 20 when it is rotating, so that the front end of the slope 20 does not come into contact with the rear end of the opposing plate portion 80A when it is rotating.

[0051] The opposing plate portion 80A is inclined so that it is positioned higher towards the rear as a whole. The upper end (rear end) of the opposing plate portion 80A protrudes above the upper surface of the first plate portion 8h and the front end of the slope 20. As a result, even if the slope 20 is displaced slightly upward when subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front, the front end of the slope 20 can be brought into contact with and engaged with the opposing plate portion 80A.

[0052] The slope 20 is configured to bend upward when subjected to a compressive load in the front-rear direction. That is, when the slope 20, subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front, hits the stopper 80, it is subjected to a compressive load in the front-rear direction. At this time, the slope 20 bends upward, shortening its front-rear length. By providing a weak point, such as a notch or a thin-walled section, in the middle of the slope 20 in the front-rear direction, the slope 20 will bend upward when subjected to a compressive load in the front-rear direction. Alternatively, the slope 20 may be provided with a deformation-inducing section or the like so that it bends upward when subjected to a compressive load in the front-rear direction.

[0053] The portion of the stopper 80 other than the opposing plate portion 80A can be covered by a floor mat (not shown). For example, by making a cut in the floor mat that extends in the vehicle width direction and allowing the opposing plate portion 80A to protrude from the cut, the first fixing plate portion 81a and the second fixing plate portion 82a can be covered by the floor mat.

[0054] A label (not shown) containing a warning can be attached to the upper surface of the opposing plate portion 80A of the stopper 80. This allows for a warning to be issued to prevent users from tripping over the opposing plate portion 80A.

[0055] The opposing plate portion 80A of the stopper 80 has holes 80B for attaching hooks or the like. The number of holes 80B is not particularly limited and may be one or two. For example, a cargo net hook (not shown) can be attached to the holes 80B.

[0056] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, since the ramp 20 is rotatably supported on the tailgate 15 by the ramp hinge 20a, the ramp 20 can be rotated to the rearward side around the axis of the ramp hinge 20a to form an access passage S, thereby enabling the wheelchair 50 to board and alight using the ramp 20.

[0057] On the other hand, when the wheelchair 50 is not loaded, the ramp 20 is rotated forward around the axis of the ramp hinge 20a to a tumbled state, and the ramp 20 forms the floor surface of the vehicle compartment R, so that the ramp 20 can be used even when the wheelchair 50 is not being loaded or unloaded. When an impact load from the rear to the front is applied to the ramp 20 in the tumbled state, for example, due to a rear-end collision, the ramp 20 moves forward, and the front end of the ramp 20 hits the opposing plate portion 80A of the stopper 80. The opposing plate portion 80A is sloped downward so that it is located lower as it goes towards the front, so the front end of the ramp 20 that hits the opposing plate portion 80A is guided downward by the lower surface of the opposing plate portion 80A. As a result, the ramp 20 is prevented from moving forward by more than a predetermined amount, so that the front end of the ramp 20 does not reach the legroom of the rear seat occupants.

[0058] The ramp 20 bends upward when subjected to a large impact load from the rear. This prevents the ramp 20 from being compressed between the stopper 80 and the tailgate 15.

[0059] Since the stopper 80 is fixed to the rear panel portion 8c, which has a closed cross-section formed by the reinforcing member 85, deformation and forward movement of the stopper 80 itself are suppressed even if the load from the ramp 20 is large. As a result, the effect of preventing the front end of the ramp 20 from reaching the legroom of the rear seat occupants is significantly enhanced. Note that it is not necessary for the ramp to have a closed cross-section structure. Alternatively, the stopper 80 may have a closed cross-section structure.

[0060] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative in all respects and should not be interpreted restrictively. Furthermore, any modifications or changes that fall within the equivalent scope of the claims are all within the scope of the present invention. For example, the rear seat 6, etc., can be omitted. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle with three rows of seats. [Industrial applicability]

[0061] As described above, the present invention can be used, for example, in wheelchair-accessible vehicles that have a space for carrying wheelchairs at the rear of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles 2 car bodies 2b opening 8 Floor Panels 8h 1st plate part 8i 2nd plate part 20 slopes 20a Slope Hinge 80 Stopper 80A Opposing plate section 81 Upper plate material 81a 1st fixing plate part 82 Lower plate material 82a Second fixing plate part 85 Reinforcement member

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp, The aforementioned ramp is supported so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the vehicle width direction relative to the vehicle body, and a ramp hinge is provided for switching between an extended state where the ramp is rotated toward the rear of the vehicle and a reclined state where it is rotated toward the front of the vehicle to form the floor surface of the passenger compartment. A vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp, comprising a stopper positioned in front of the ramp in the aforementioned collapsed state, which prevents the ramp from moving more than a predetermined amount toward the front of the vehicle when subjected to an impact load from the rear to the front of the vehicle.

2. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 1, The vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp, wherein the stopper has an opposing plate portion that faces the front end of the ramp.

3. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 2, The body structure of a vehicle with a ramp, wherein the opposing plate portion of the stopper protrudes upward from the upper surface of the floor panel.

4. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 3, The aforementioned opposing plate section is inclined so as to be positioned higher towards the rear of the vehicle, in a vehicle body structure with a ramp.

5. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 4, The vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp, wherein the stopper has a first fixing plate portion fixed to a first plate portion extending in the front-rear direction of the floor panel, and a second fixing plate portion fixed to a second plate portion extending downward from the rear end of the first plate portion of the floor panel.

6. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 5, The stopper has an upper plate and a lower plate, The vehicle front portion of the upper plate material is designated as the first fixing plate portion. The vehicle front portion of the lower plate material is designated as the second fixing plate portion. A vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp, wherein the rear portion of the upper plate material and the rear portion of the lower plate material are joined together in a vertically overlapping manner to form the opposing plate portion.

7. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 5, A vehicle body structure for a vehicle with a ramp, wherein a reinforcing member is provided on the lower side of the floor panel so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, forming a closed cross section together with the first plate portion and the second plate portion.

8. In the vehicle body structure of a vehicle with a ramp as described in claim 1, The vehicle body structure of a vehicle equipped with a ramp is configured such that the ramp bends upward when subjected to a compressive load in the longitudinal direction.

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