vehicle
The suspension-type spare tire mounting mechanism with forward-tilting linear members addresses the risk of collision with vehicle components during a rear-end collision, enhancing safety by preventing contact with high-voltage components.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
The risk of a hanging spare tire colliding with vehicle components, such as high-voltage components or fuel tanks, during a rear-end collision is not adequately addressed in existing technologies.
A suspension-type spare tire mounting mechanism with a mounting linear member that breaks during a collision, supported by first and second linear members that tilt the tire forward, preventing it from colliding with front components.
Prevents the spare tire from colliding with vehicle components during a rear-end collision by tilting it forward, enhancing vehicle safety, particularly for electric vehicles with high-voltage components.
Smart Images

Figure 2026059313000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This technology relates to the technical field of a hanging spare tire mounting mechanism in a vehicle.
Background Art
[0002] A hanging spare tire mounting mechanism in which a spare tire is mounted in a suspended state from the vehicle body side is known. When the vehicle is an automobile having a luggage compartment at the rear, the hanging spare tire mounting mechanism is generally provided under the floor of the luggage compartment.
[0003] When the hanging spare tire mounting mechanism is provided under the luggage compartment at the rear of the vehicle, in the event of a rear-end collision of the vehicle, there is a risk that the spare tire will move forward and collide with other components. For example, in the case of an engine vehicle having an engine as a driving source for the wheels, since a fuel tank is arranged in front of the spare tire mounting mechanism, it is necessary to protect it in the event of a rear-end collision. Alternatively, when the vehicle is an electric vehicle without an engine, since high-voltage components such as a battery serving as the power source for the motor and a drive circuit of the motor are arranged in front of the spare tire mounting mechanism, it is similarly necessary to protect them in the event of a rear-end collision.
[0004] Regarding related prior art, the following Patent Document 1 can be cited. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for suppressing the risk of damage to vehicle components arranged above the spare tire when a load is input to the spare tire from the rear of the vehicle. Specifically, a vehicle rear structure is disclosed that includes a guide member that contacts the spare tire and moves the spare tire forward and downward when a load is input from the rear of the vehicle between the bottom of the vehicle body at the rear of the vehicle and a spare tire that is located below the bottom of the vehicle body and is suspended and fixed to the vehicle frame by a fixing member.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
[0006] This technology aims to prevent a spare tire from colliding with a vehicle component located in front of it during a rear-end collision, while the spare tire is installed. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The vehicle relating to this technology has a suspension-type spare tire mounting mechanism comprising: a mounting linear member configured to support the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the spare tire is mounted on the vehicle and to break in the event of a rear-end collision; a first linear member that supports the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls; and a second linear member positioned behind the first linear member and supporting the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls. The spare tire mounting mechanism is configured such that, as the mounting linear member breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire moves downward and forward, and the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first and second linear members, and the lengths of the first and second linear members are set so that the spare tire is in a forward-tilting position in this state. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] This technology makes it possible to prevent a spare tire from colliding with a vehicle component located in front of it during a rear-end collision, even when the spare tire is installed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic example of a vehicle configuration as an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the spare tire in the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the spare tire in the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a spare tire mounting mechanism as an embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the spare tire mounting mechanism in a state where the spare tire has been dropped vertically from its mounted position. [Figure 6] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the spare tire mounting mechanism in the event of a rear-end collision. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram of the arc in which the support point of the first linear member moves, and the arc in which the support point of the second linear member moves. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a linear member winding mechanism in a spare tire mounting mechanism as an embodiment. [Figure 9] This diagram shows the relationship between the diameter of the upper part of the mounting wire member and the diameters of the upper parts of the first and second wire members. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view showing the spare tire mounting mechanism with the spare tire installed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0010] The embodiments of this technology will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration example of vehicle 1 as an embodiment. In Figure 1, only the components related to this technology are extracted and shown from among the various components of vehicle 1 as an embodiment.
[0011] Vehicle 1, as an embodiment, is configured as an electric vehicle equipped with an MG (motor generator) as the drive source for the wheels. Specifically, Vehicle 1 in this example is configured as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) that does not have an engine as the drive source for the wheels. In this example, a four-wheeled vehicle is assumed as vehicle 1, but in the embodiment, vehicle 1 can be anything with at least three or more wheels.
[0012] In the vehicle 1 as an electric vehicle, a high-voltage battery is provided as the power source for the MG, and an inverter is provided for the MG. When the MG is in power running, the inverter outputs to the MG a drive voltage generated based on the input voltage from the high-voltage battery, and when in regeneration, the inverter charges the high-voltage battery using the regenerative power generated by the MG. Note that the rated output voltage of the high-voltage battery is set to a relatively high voltage, such as 200V, 400V, etc.
[0013] In the figure, the part composed of electronic components handling high voltage, such as the above-mentioned high-voltage battery and inverter, is shown as the high-voltage component part 2. In this example, the high-voltage component part 2 is arranged at a position below the seat part in the vehicle 1, specifically, at a position below the rear seat and outside the vehicle body.
[0014] In the vehicle 1 of this example, a luggage compartment is provided behind the rear seat, and the lower end of the luggage compartment is formed as the luggage compartment floor part 4.
[0015] Also, the vehicle 1 has a spare tire mounting mechanism 10 for mounting the spare tire 3. The spare tire mounting mechanism 10 is configured as a hanging-type spare tire mounting mechanism in which the spare tire 3 is mounted in a state of being suspended from the vehicle body side.
[0016] As shown in the figure, the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 in this example is formed below the luggage compartment floor part 4. Therefore, the spare tire 3 is mounted below the luggage compartment formed at the rear of the vehicle 1.
[0017] Here, in the vehicle 1 of this example as described above, the high-voltage component part 2 is located below the rear seat, while the spare tire 3 is mounted below the luggage compartment by the spare tire mounting mechanism 10. Therefore, the high-voltage component part 2 is located in front of the spare tire 3.
[0018] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the spare tire 3, and Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the spare tire 3. The spare tire 3 has a wheel portion 3a made of a metal such as aluminum or iron, and a tire portion 3b made of rubber or the like attached to the outer circumference of the wheel portion 3a. A center hole Hc is formed in the center of the wheel portion 3a, and multiple wheel fixing member insertion holes Hf are formed around the center hole Hc.
[0019] Here, the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf refers to a hole through which a wheel fixing member is inserted to fix the spare tire 3 to the vehicle 1 as a running wheel. For example, if the running wheel is fixed by a nut fastening method, in other words, if a hub bolt is formed in the hub portion of the vehicle 1, the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf becomes a hole for inserting the hub bolt. Alternatively, if the running wheel is fixed by a bolt fastening method, in other words, if a screw hole for screwing a wheel bolt is formed in the hub portion of the vehicle 1, the wheel fixing member insertion hole becomes a hole for inserting the wheel bolt.
[0020] In this example, the spare tire 3 has five through-holes Hf for the wheel fixing member, but this is merely an example, and it is conceivable that there could be three, four, or even six or more. Naturally, the number and pitch of the wheel fixing member through-holes Hf correspond to the number and pitch of the hub bolts and screw holes formed in the hub portion of the vehicle 1, respectively. The diameter of each wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf is the same and is smaller in diameter than the center hole Hc.
[0021] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration example of the spare tire mounting mechanism 10, showing a schematic cross-sectional view of the area near the cargo compartment at the rear of the vehicle 1. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view with the spare tire 3 attached to the vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as "attached state"). In Figure 4, as well as in the cross-sectional views of Figures 5 and 6, the forward (forward) and upward directions of vehicle 1 are indicated by arrows, respectively.
[0022] The spare tire mounting mechanism 10 includes a mounting linear member 11, a first linear member 13 for preventing detachment, and a second linear member 14 for preventing detachment. Herein, in this specification, "linear member" means a deformable linear member such as a cable, rope, chain, or belt.
[0023] The mounting linear member 11 is a linear member configured to support the spare tire 3 from the vehicle body side when the spare tire 3 is attached to the vehicle 1, and to break in the event of a rear-end collision with the vehicle 1. The mounting linear member 11 is supported at its base by the vehicle body, and a support member 12 is attached to its tip. The support member 12 is, for example, a plate-shaped member made of metal, and at least a portion of it has a length longer than the diameter of the center hole Hc of the spare tire 3 (hereinafter referred to as the "extended portion").
[0024] In the installed state of the spare tire 3, the tip of the mounting linear member 11 is inserted through the center hole Hc, and the extended portion of the support member 12 abuts against the periphery of the center hole Hc at both ends. As a result, the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the mounting linear member 11. Here, the support point on the vehicle body side for the mounting linear member 11 is denoted as support point Ph.
[0025] The first linear member 13 for preventing detachment supports the spare tire 3 from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member 11 breaks and the spare tire 3 falls off. Furthermore, the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment is positioned behind the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment, and supports the spare tire 3 from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member 11 breaks and the spare tire 3 falls off.
[0026] The first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 that prevent detachment are each supported at their base from the vehicle body side. The support points on the vehicle body side of these first linear member 13 and second linear member 14 that prevent detachment are denoted as support point Pa and support point Pb, respectively, as shown in the figure. The support point Pa of the first anti-detachment linear member 13 is located in front of the support point Ph of the mounting linear member 11, and the support point Pb of the second anti-detachment linear member 14 is located behind the support point Ph of the mounting linear member 11. As a result, the second anti-detachment linear member 14 is positioned behind the first anti-detachment linear member 13.
[0027] A support member 15 is attached to the tip of the first linear member 13 that prevents detachment, and a support member 16 is attached to the tip of the second linear member 14 that prevents detachment. These support members 15 and 16 are, for example, plate-shaped members made of metal, and at least a portion of them has a length longer than the diameter of the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf of the spare tire 3 (referred to as the "extended portion" as in the case of the support member 12 described above).
[0028] The first linear member 13 for preventing detachment is inserted into the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf located on the front side of the spare tire 3. When the spare tire 3 falls due to a rear-end collision, the extended portion of the support member 15 attached to the tip of the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment contacts the surrounding area of the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf at both ends. As a result, the fallen spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment. The second linear member 14 for preventing detachment is inserted into the rear-facing wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf of the spare tire 3. When the spare tire 3 falls due to a rear-end collision, the extended portion of the support member 16 attached to the tip of the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment comes into contact with the surrounding area of the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf at both ends. As a result, the fallen spare tire 3 is also supported from the vehicle body by the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment. The spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14, thereby preventing the spare tire 3 from falling off the vehicle body.
[0029] In this example, when the spare tire 3 is installed, the extended portions of the support members 15 and 16 are attracted to the surrounding area of the corresponding wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf so as not to fall due to their own weight. Specifically, the support members 15 and 16 in this example are made up of magnets and are attracted to the iron wheel portion 3a by magnetic force. Note that the method of attracting the support members 15 and 16 to the wheel portion 3a is not limited to the method using magnets; other methods can also be used, such as using hook-and-loop fasteners.
[0030] Here, in a state where the spare tire 3 that fell off due to a rear-end collision is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14, respectively, the support points on the spare tire 3 side of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 are denoted as support point Pc and support point Pd, respectively, as shown in the figure.
[0031] In the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the lengths of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment are set as follows. Specifically, when the mounting linear member 11 breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire 3 moves downward and forward, and the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment. In this state, the lengths of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment are set so that the spare tire 3 is in a forward-tilting position. Specifically, in this example, the length from support point Pb to support point Pd of the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment is longer than the length from support point Pa to support point Pc of the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment. In other words, in the state where the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment, the length from the support point on the vehicle body side of the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment to the support point on the spare tire 3 side is longer than the length from the support point on the vehicle body side of the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment to the support point on the spare tire 3 side. As mentioned above, if the mounting linear member 11 breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire 3 will fall off. Therefore, the lengths of the first anti-detachment linear member 13 and the second anti-detachment linear member 14 are set to be longer than the length of the mounting linear member 11 when the spare tire 3 is mounted. For this reason, when the spare tire 3 is mounted, there is slack in the first anti-detachment linear member 13 and the second anti-detachment linear member 14, as shown in the figure. The specific method for attaching spare tire 3 in this example will be explained later.
[0032] The principle by which the spare tire 3 tilts forward when the mounting linear member 11 breaks due to a rear-end collision and the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body by the first and second linear members 14 is explained below, based on the length and arrangement of the first and second linear members 13 and 14 that prevent detachment as described above.
[0033] Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 when the spare tire 3 is dropped vertically from its mounted position, and Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 when the spare tire 3 moves downward and forward due to a rear-end collision and the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 that prevent detachment. As shown in Figure 5, when the spare tire 3 is dropped vertically, the support points on the spare tire 3 side of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment are denoted as support points Pc' and Pd'. The lengths of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment are determined so as to satisfy the condition that the line segment Pc'-Pd' connecting these support points Pc' and support point Pd' is horizontal.
[0034] In the event of a rear-end collision, the spare tire 3 is subjected to acceleration from the rear to the front of the vehicle 1, as well as gravitational acceleration due to the fracture of the mounting linear member 11. In other words, it is subjected to acceleration both forward and downward.
[0035] According to the settings of the lengths and arrangement of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment described above, when the spare tire 3 supported from the vehicle body by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment is moved in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figure 7, the support point Pc by the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment moves along an arc A1 with a radius equal to the distance from support point Pa to support point Pc, centered at support point Pa, and the support point Pd by the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment moves along an arc A2 with a larger diameter than arc A1, centered at support point Pb and with a radius equal to the distance from support point Pb to support point Pd.
[0036] Here, the state during a rear-end collision in Figure 6 can be rephrased as a state in which an additional forward acceleration acts on the vertical drop state in Figure 5. Therefore, as can be seen by referring to Figure 7, during a rear-end collision in Figure 6, support points Pc and Pd move forward of support points Pc' and Pd', respectively. At this time, due to the difference in diameter between arc A1 and arc A2, support point Pc is positioned below support point Pd. In other words, during a rear-end collision, the spare tire 3 is in a forward-tilted position as shown in Figure 6.
[0037] As described above, according to the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 of the embodiment, when the mounting linear member 11 breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire 3 moves downward and forward, and the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first anti-detachment linear member 13 and the second anti-detachment linear member 14, and in this state, the spare tire 3 is in a forward-tilted position. This prevents the spare tire 3 from colliding with the high-voltage component section 2 during a rear-end collision of vehicle 1.
[0038] In the above example, the length of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment was shown as satisfying the condition that the line segment Pc'-Pd' is horizontal. However, this condition is not essential for the spare tire 3 to tilt forward when it is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment following a rear-end collision. In order for the spare tire 3 to tilt forward when it is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment following a rear-end collision, it is sufficient that the length from support point Pb to support point Pd of the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment when the spare tire 3 is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment is longer than the length from support point Pa to support point Pc of the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment.
[0039] Furthermore, the above example shows that when the spare tire 3 is mounted, looseness occurs in the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 that prevent detachment. In this case, when the spare tire 3 is mounted, a portion of the tip of each of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 may hang down below the disc surface of the wheel portion 3a. To prevent such sagging, one could consider a configuration in which the support members 15 and 16 can be fixed to the wheel portion 3a (for example, the area around the wheel fixing member insertion hole Hf through which a linear member is inserted) using magnets or hook-and-loop fasteners.
[0040] Next, with reference to the perspective view in Figure 8, an example of the winding mechanism for the linear member of the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 will be described. As shown in the figure, the spare tire mounting mechanism 10 has a winding shaft 17 that winds up all the linear members, including the mounting linear member 11, the first linear member 13 for preventing detachment, and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the hoisting shaft 17 is rotatably supported from the vehicle body. The axial direction of the hoisting shaft 17 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1. A gear section 17g is formed on the hoisting shaft 17, and the entire hoisting shaft 17 rotates when this gear section 17g is driven.
[0041] The spare tire mounting mechanism 10 in this example includes a drive gear 18 that drives the gear section 17g, and an access hole Hu for accessing the drive gear 18. The access hole Hu is formed as a hole that penetrates the cargo compartment floor section 4 in the vertical direction.
[0042] In this example, a worm gear is used for the drive gear 18, and the axial direction of the drive gear 18 is parallel to the vertical direction. The drive gear 18 has a tool mounting hole Hg formed on its upper surface, which is open and extends in the vertical direction.
[0043] In this example, the drive tool 20 for driving the drive gear 18 is a tool having an L-shaped handle portion 20a and a shaft portion 20b protruding from the handle portion 20a, as shown in the figure, and the tool mounting hole Hg in the drive gear 18 is formed as a hole into which the tip of this shaft portion 20b is fitted.
[0044] The hoisting shaft 17 has a mounting linear member winding section 17h which is the part that winds up the mounting linear member 11, a first linear member winding section 17a which is the part that winds up the first linear member 13 which prevents detachment, and a second linear member winding section 17b which is the part that winds up the second linear member 14 which prevents detachment. The winding portion 17h of the mounting linear member is the part of the winding shaft 17 to which the base portion of the mounting linear member 11 is fixed. In other words, the winding portion 17h of the mounting linear member serves as the support point on the vehicle body side of the mounting linear member 11, and corresponds to the aforementioned support point Ph. The first linear member winding portion 17a and the second linear member winding portion 17b are the portions to which the base of the first linear member 13 that prevents detachment is fixed on the winding shaft 17 and the base of the second linear member 14 that prevents detachment, respectively. In other words, the first linear member winding portion 17a serves as the support point on the vehicle body side of the first linear member 13 that prevents detachment, and corresponds to the support point Pa mentioned above, and the second linear member winding portion 17b serves as the support point on the vehicle body side of the second linear member 14 that prevents detachment, and corresponds to the support point Pb mentioned above.
[0045] In the tire mounting mechanism 10 of this embodiment, the diameter of the upper part 17h of the mounting linear member is larger than the diameters of the upper part 17a of the first linear member and the upper part 17b of the second linear member. Specifically, in this example, as shown in Figure 9, the diameter of the first linear member winding portion 17a and the diameter of the second linear member winding portion 17b are the same R1, while the diameter R2 of the mounting linear member winding portion 17h is made larger than R1.
[0046] In this state, before the spare tire 3 is installed, the spare tire 3 is grounded at a position below the spare tire mounting mechanism 10, as shown in the figure. At this time, the tip of the mounting linear member 11 is inserted into the center hole Hc, as shown in the figure, so that the aforementioned extended portion of the support member 12 can come into contact with the surrounding area of the center hole Hc, and the spare tire 3 can be supported from the vehicle body side by the mounting linear member 11. Furthermore, the tip of the first linear member 13 and the tip of the second linear member 14 are inserted into their respective fixing member insertion holes Hf, and the extended portions of the support members 15 and 16 are attracted to the surrounding area of the corresponding fixing member insertion holes Hf by the action of the magnets described above.
[0047] When installing the spare tire 3, the driver or other worker inserts the tip of the shaft portion 20b of the drive tool 20 into the tool mounting hole Hg of the drive gear 18 through the access hole Hu, and then rotates the handle portion 20a in the direction D1 shown in the figure. This operation rotates the drive gear 18, and the rotational power of the drive gear 18 is transmitted to the gear section 17g, causing the hoisting shaft 17 to rotate in direction D2 in the figure, and the mounting linear member 11, the first anti-detachment linear member 13, and the second anti-detachment linear member 14 to be wound up onto the hoisting shaft 17. As the mounting linear member 11 is wound up, the spare tire 3 is pulled upward from its ground position. For example, when the spare tire 3 is pulled up to a predetermined height position, such as a position where it contacts the lower surface of the spare tire mounting mechanism 10, the spare tire 3 is mounted. In this case, a worm gear is used as the drive gear 18, and the self-locking function of the worm gear prevents the spare tire 3 from falling off due to its own weight.
[0048] Furthermore, as described above, the diameter of the winding portion 17h of the mounting linear member is larger than the diameters of the winding portion 17a of the first linear member and the winding portion 17b of the second linear member. This makes it possible to create slack in the first anti-detachment linear member 13 and the second anti-detachment linear member 14 when the spare tire 3 is raised to the mounting position by rotating the winding shaft 17, as shown in Figure 10. In this way, when the spare tire 3 is raised to its mounting position, slack occurs in the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 that prevent detachment, making it possible to drop the spare tire 3 in the event of a rear-end collision, thereby moving the spare tire 3 downward and forward. Therefore, by a single operation of rotating the hoisting shaft 17, it is possible to prevent the spare tire 3 from colliding with the high-voltage component section 2 in the event of a rear-end collision.
[0049] Furthermore, this embodiment is not limited to the specific examples described above, and can take various modified configurations. For example, although the above describes an example of this technology being applied to a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), this technology can also be suitably applied to engine-powered vehicles where the drive source for the wheels is an engine. In the case of engine-powered vehicles, the fuel tank is located in front of the spare tire 3 when it is mounted, so its protection can be ensured.
[0050] Furthermore, although the above example shows that the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment are loosened when the spare tire 3 is installed, it is not essential to create looseness in the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 for preventing detachment. For example, by adopting a configuration that biases the base portions of the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 in the winding direction, it is conceivable that slack will not occur in the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 when the spare tire 3 is installed. Needless to say, in this case, the biasing force is set so that when the spare tire 3 falls due to a rear-end collision, the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14, which are in the winding state, are extended in the opposite direction to the winding direction. With the spare tire 3 installed, the first linear member 13 and the second linear member 14 that prevent detachment do not become loose, thereby preventing the generation of abnormal noises and damage to the linear members caused by interference between these linear members and other parts due to vibrations during driving.
[0051] Furthermore, while the above example illustrates a method in which a linear member is inserted through a hole formed in the wheel portion 3a, and the spare tire 3 is supported by a support member formed around the hole and at the tip of the linear member, in such a case where the spare tire 3 is supported using the area around the hole in the wheel portion 3a, the support member is not limited to being a separate component from the linear member, but may be formed as part of the linear member, such as a knot in the linear member.
[0052] Furthermore, the method of supporting the spare tire 3 using the area around the hole formed in the wheel portion 3a is merely one example. Other support methods could also be considered, such as a method of engaging a clip provided at the tip of a linear member with a protrusion formed in the wheel portion 3a, or a method of bolting the tip of a linear member to the protrusion.
[0053] Furthermore, although the above examples show a single first linear member 13 and a single second linear member 14 for preventing detachment, it is also possible to have multiple first linear member 13 and second linear member 14. For example, as a three-point support, one could have a single first linear member 13 to prevent detachment and two second linear members 14 to prevent detachment, one on the left and one on the right. Alternatively, as a four-point support, one could have two first linear members 13 and two second linear members 14 to prevent detachment, one on the left and one on the right.
[0054] As described above, the vehicle as an embodiment (1) has a suspension-type spare tire mounting mechanism comprising: a mounting linear member (11) configured to support the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the spare tire is mounted on the vehicle and to break in the event of a rear-end collision; a first linear member (first linear member 13 for preventing detachment) that supports the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls; and a second linear member (second linear member 14 for preventing detachment) positioned behind the first linear member and supporting the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls. The spare tire mounting mechanism (10) is configured such that when the mounting linear member breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire moves downward and forward, and the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first and second linear members, and in this state the spare tire is in a forward-tilting position. According to the spare tire mounting mechanism of the embodiment described above, when the mounting linear member breaks due to a rear-end collision, the spare tire moves downward and forward, and the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first and second linear members, and in this state, the spare tire is tilted forward. This prevents the spare tire from colliding with vehicle components located in front of it during a rear-end collision, even when the spare tire is installed. In particular, if the vehicle components mentioned above are high-voltage components or fuel tanks, preventing collisions with these components by the spare tire can improve vehicle safety.
[0055] Furthermore, in the vehicle embodiment, when the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member and the second linear member, the length from the support point on the vehicle body side (Pb) of the second linear member to the support point on the spare tire side (Pd) is longer than the length from the support point on the vehicle body side (Pa) of the first linear member to the support point on the spare tire side (Pc). This makes it possible to tilt the spare tire forward when it falls off in the event of a rear-end collision. Therefore, in the event of a rear-end collision, it is possible to prevent the spare tire from colliding with vehicle components located in front of the spare tire while it is installed.
[0056] Furthermore, in the vehicle as an embodiment, when the spare tire is mounted, the first and second linear members are inserted through the wheel fixing member insertion holes (Hf) formed in the wheel portion of the spare tire. This makes it possible to use the holes pre-formed in the wheel portion as insertion holes for wheel fixing members to secure the spare tire as a driving wheel, as insertion holes for linear members to support the falling spare tire with first and second linear members. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to manufacture a dedicated spare tire with holes for inserting the first and second linear members, separate from the holes for inserting the wheel fixing members, thus reducing costs.
[0057] Furthermore, in the vehicle as an embodiment, the spare tire mounting mechanism has a mounting linear member and a winding shaft (same 17) that winds up all the linear members, including the first and second linear members. This makes it possible to wind up all the linear components, including the mounting linear component and the first and second linear components, by rotating the winding shaft when installing the spare tire. Therefore, when installing a spare tire, the burden of winding up the mounting linear member, the first and second linear members can be reduced.
[0058] Furthermore, in the vehicle embodiment, the diameter (R2) of the winding portion of the mounting linear member on the hoisting shaft is larger than the diameter (R1) of the winding portions of the first and second linear members. This makes it possible to create slack in the first and second linear members when the spare tire is raised to the mounting position by rotating the hoisting shaft. If there is slack in the first and second linear members when the spare tire is raised to its mounting position, it becomes possible to drop the spare tire in the event of a rear-end collision, allowing the spare tire to move downward and forward. Therefore, with the above configuration, a single operation of rotating the hoisting shaft can prevent the spare tire from colliding with the vehicle's front components in the event of a rear-end collision. In other words, it is possible to simplify the spare tire installation process in order to prevent the spare tire from colliding with the vehicle's front components in the event of a rear-end collision. [Explanation of symbols]
[0059] 1 vehicle 2. High-voltage component section 3 Spare tire 4. Cargo area floor 10 Spare tire mounting mechanism 3a Wheel section 3b Tire section HC Center Hall Hf fixing hole 11. Mounting wire member 12 Support members 13 First line member to prevent falling off 14 Second linear member to prevent falling off 15,16 Support members Ph,Pa,Pb Support point Pc,Pd Support point during fall 17 Winding shaft 17h Upper part of the wire component for mounting 17a Upper part of the first linear member 17b Upper part of the second linear member 17g gear section 18 Drive gear Hu Access Hall Hg Tool mounting hole 20 Driving Tools 20a Handle section 20b Shaft section
Claims
1. As a suspended spare tire mounting mechanism, A mounting linear member is provided which supports the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the spare tire is mounted on the vehicle, and which is configured to break in the event of a rear-end collision with the vehicle. When the aforementioned mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls, a first linear member supports the spare tire from the vehicle body side, It has a second linear member positioned behind the first linear member, which supports the spare tire from the vehicle body side when the mounting linear member breaks and the spare tire falls off, The spare tire mounting mechanism is provided such that, as a result of the rear impact, the mounting linear member breaks, causing the spare tire to move downward and forward, and the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member and the second linear member, and the lengths of the first and second linear members are set so that the spare tire is in a forward-tilting position in this state. vehicle.
2. In a state where the spare tire is supported from the vehicle body side by the first linear member and the second linear member, the length from the support point of the second linear member on the vehicle body side to the support point of the spare tire side is longer than the length from the support point of the first linear member on the vehicle body side to the support point of the spare tire side. The vehicle according to claim 1.
3. In the state in which the spare tire is mounted, the first and second linear members are inserted through the wheel fixing member insertion holes formed in the wheel portion of the spare tire. The vehicle according to claim 1.
4. The aforementioned spare tire mounting mechanism is, The mounting linear member and the winding shaft that winds up the entire linear member of the first and second linear members are provided. The vehicle according to claim 1.
5. In the aforementioned hoisting shaft, the diameter of the hoisting portion of the mounting linear member is larger than the diameter of the hoisting portions of the first and second linear members. The vehicle according to claim 4.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Vehicle rear part structure
JP2018079889A