rear gate
By attaching a sheet metal cover with beads to support the dynamic damper between the outer and inner panels, the rear gate's vibration suppression is improved, addressing the low rigidity issue and facilitating easy installation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUBARU CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
Smart Images
Figure 2026112969000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a rear gate.
Background Art
[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles have a rear gate composed of an outer panel and an inner panel at the rear of the vehicle body. Further, a dynamic damper for suppressing vibration is attached to the inner panel of the rear gate (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Patent Document 3
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, when attaching the dynamic damper to the inner panel, the dynamic damper is often inserted into the rear gate through an opening of the inner panel and fixed near the opening of the inner panel. However, since the rigidity near the opening of the inner panel is low, attaching the dynamic damper near the opening of the inner panel is a factor that reduces the vibration suppression effect of the dynamic damper. For this reason, it is required to appropriately attach the dynamic damper to the rear gate and suppress the vibration of the rear gate.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] According to this disclosure, a rear gate comprises an outer panel and an inner panel attached to the outer panel. The rear gate has a sheet metal cover attached to an opening in the inner panel and having a bead. The rear gate has a mass damper attached to the bead of the sheet metal cover and positioned between the outer panel and the inner panel. [Effects of the Invention]
[0006] According to this disclosure, vibrations of the rear gate can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a vehicle equipped with a rear gate, which is one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the rear gate along the line II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of area III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the rear gate along the line IV-IV in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a sheet metal cover. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the process of attaching the latch actuator to the rear gate. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the process of attaching the sheet metal cover to the rear gate. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the process of attaching the trim to the rear gate. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the inner panel from the direction of arrow IX in Figure 6. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the inner panel from the direction of arrow X in Figure 7. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the inner panel from the direction of arrow XI in Figure 8. [Figure 12]Figure 12 shows an inner panel with a modified sheet metal cover. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical or substantially identical components and elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.
[0009] <Body structure> Figure 1 shows an example of a vehicle 11 equipped with a rear gate 10, which is one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 11 has a vehicle body 16 consisting of a front body 12, a rear body 13, and side bodies 14, 15, etc. A rear gate 10 is attached to the rear body 13, which constitutes the rear of the vehicle body 16, so as to be openable and closable via a hinge 17. The rear gate 10 is also called a back door or tailgate.
[0010] <Rear gate structure> Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the rear gate 10 along the line II-II in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing area III in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the rear gate 10 along the line IV-IV in Figure 3.
[0011] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the rear gate 10 comprises an outer panel 20, which is an exterior component; an inner panel 30 attached to the outer panel 20; and an interior trim 21 attached to the inner panel 30. A mounting plate 33 is joined to the bottom wall (lower part) 35 of the inner panel 30, and an opening 34 is formed in the front wall 36 of the inner panel 30. The mounting plate 33 and the opening 34 are located at the center CP in the vehicle width direction D1. The bottom wall 35 of the inner panel 30 is located vertically downward when the rear gate 10 is closed.
[0012] A latch actuator 41 that meshes with a striker 40 of a vehicle body 16 is attached to a mounting plate 33 joined to an inner panel 30. That is, a latch actuator 41 is attached to a bottom wall 35 of the inner panel 30 via the mounting plate 33. As shown in FIG. 3, the latch actuator 41 has a lock portion 43 provided with a latch 42 that meshes with the striker 40, and a motor portion 45 provided with an electric motor 44 that drives the latch 42. Note that the latch actuator 41 is operable between a locked state in which the latch 42 is meshed with the striker 40 and an unlocked state in which the engagement of the latch 42 with the striker 40 is disengaged. Also, the latch actuator 41 is also called a lock actuator.
[0013] A sheet metal cover 60 provided with a dynamic damper 50 (mass damper) is attached to an opening 34 of the inner panel 30. Thus, by attaching the sheet metal cover 60 to the inner panel 30, the dynamic damper 50 is disposed between the inner panel 30 and the outer panel 20. The dynamic damper 50 has a support shaft 51 attached to the sheet metal cover 60 and an inertia mass 53 held on the support shaft 51 via a rubber member 52. By attaching this dynamic damper 50 to the inner panel 30, the vibration of the rear gate 10 can be suppressed by the dynamic damper 50.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the sheet metal cover 60. As shown in FIG. 5, bead processing is performed on the sheet metal cover 60, and the sheet metal cover 60 has two beads extending linearly. That is, the sheet metal cover 60 has a bead 61 extending from a lower central portion 63 toward a side portion 64 and a bead (second bead) 62 extending from the lower central portion 63 toward an upper central portion 65. A support shaft 51 of the dynamic damper 50 is attached to the bead 61 of the sheet metal cover 60 using a fastening nut 54. Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, the bead 62 of the sheet metal cover 60 is located at the center CP in the vehicle width direction D1.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, by attaching a sheet metal cover 60 provided with a dynamic damper 50 to the opening 34, the vibration suppression performance of the dynamic damper 50 can be enhanced. That is, in order to enhance the vibration suppression performance of the dynamic damper 50, it is important to increase the rigidity of the base that supports the dynamic damper 50, namely, the sheet metal cover 60 and the inner panel 30. Therefore, in the technology of the present disclosure, the rigidity of the inner panel 30 that supports the dynamic damper 50 is increased by closing the opening 34 of the inner panel 30 with the sheet metal cover 60. Further, in the technology of the present disclosure, beads 61 are formed on the sheet metal cover 60, and the dynamic damper 50 is attached to the high-rigidity beads 61. Thereby, the support rigidity of the dynamic damper 50 can be increased, and the vibration suppression performance of the dynamic damper 50 can be enhanced.
[0016] Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the beads 61 of the sheet metal cover 60 project toward the outer panel 20. Thereby, as shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 4, a part of the fastening nut 54 can be accommodated in the beads 61 that support the dynamic damper 50. That is, since the protruding amount X1 of the support shaft 51 from the sheet metal cover 60 toward the trim 21 can be reduced, the trim 21 can be brought closer to the inner panel 30, and the luggage compartment 70 partitioned by the trim 21 can be enlarged. In the illustrated example, a part of the fastening nut 54 and the support shaft 51 are accommodated in the beads 61, but it is not limited thereto. For example, by forming the beads 61 of the sheet metal cover 60 deeper, all of the fastening nut 54 and the support shaft 51 facing the trim 21 may be accommodated in the beads.
[0017] <Component Mounting Procedure> This section describes the installation process of the latch actuator 41 and dynamic damper 50 by the worker. Figure 6 shows the installation process of the latch actuator 41 to the rear gate 10, Figure 7 shows the installation process of the sheet metal cover 60 to the rear gate 10, and Figure 8 shows the installation process of the trim 21 to the rear gate 10. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the inner panel 30 from the direction of arrow IX in Figure 6. Furthermore, Figure 10 shows the inner panel 30 from the direction of arrow X in Figure 7, and Figure 11 shows the inner panel 30 from the direction of arrow XI in Figure 8.
[0018] As shown in Figures 6 and 9, a mounting plate 33 is attached to the bottom wall 35 of the inner panel 30, and an opening 34 is formed in the front wall 36 of the inner panel 30. As indicated by arrow A1 in Figures 6 and 9, the worker places the latch actuator 41 into the rear gate 10 through the opening 34 of the inner panel 30 and inserts the locking portion 43 of the latch actuator 41 into the opening 37 of the mounting plate 33. Also, as indicated by arrow A2 in Figure 6, the worker inserts a fastening bolt 39 into the through hole 38 of the mounting plate 33 and tightens this fastening bolt 39 to the latch actuator 41. In this way, the latch actuator 41 is attached to the mounting plate 33 of the inner panel 30.
[0019] Here, as shown in Figures 3 and 10, a portion of the latch actuator 41 overlaps the opening 34 of the inner panel 30 in the longitudinal direction D2 of the vehicle body 16. In other words, since the opening 34 is provided near the latch actuator 41, when installing the latch actuator 41, the latch actuator 41 can be housed inside the rear gate 10 through the opening 34. Alternatively, the entire latch actuator 41 may overlap the opening 34 in the longitudinal direction D2 of the vehicle body 16.
[0020] Next, as shown by arrow B1 in Figure 7, the worker inserts fastening bolts 67 into the through holes 66 of the sheet metal cover 60 and tightens these fastening bolts 67 to weld nuts 68 joined near the opening 34. This attaches the sheet metal cover 60 equipped with the dynamic damper 50 to the opening 34 of the inner panel 30. After that, as shown by arrow C1 in Figure 8, the worker attaches the trim 21 to the inner panel 30 using clips or the like (not shown).
[0021] As explained using Figure 7, the dynamic damper 50 can be attached to the rear gate 10 by attaching the sheet metal cover 60 to the opening 34 of the inner panel 30. In other words, when attaching the dynamic damper 50 to the rear gate 10, the worker does not need to reach into the rear gate 10 through the opening 34, making the installation of the dynamic damper 50 extremely easy.
[0022] Furthermore, since there is no need to secure working space around the dynamic damper 50, the dynamic damper 50 can be positioned closer to the latch actuator 41, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 11, thereby increasing the design flexibility regarding the mounting position of the dynamic damper 50. As a result, the dynamic damper 50 can be mounted in a position that provides a high vibration suppression effect, and vibrations of the rear gate 10 can be effectively suppressed.
[0023] <Improved durability of mounting plate> As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 11, the structure is such that the sheet metal cover 60 covers the opening 34 of the inner panel 30. This allows the input load when closing the rear gate 10 to be transmitted to the sheet metal cover 60, thereby suppressing deformation of the opening 34 and the mounting plate 33. In other words, when the latch actuator 41 hits the striker 40 when the rear gate 10 is closed, a load is input from the striker 40 to the mounting plate 33 via the latch actuator 41, but the input load can be transmitted to the sheet metal cover 60 in a way that avoids the opening 34. This suppresses deformation of the opening 34 due to the input load and prevents the mounting plate 33 from peeling off, and maintains the joint strength of the mounting plate 33 which is joined by spot welding or the like.
[0024] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the sheet metal cover 60 has a bead 62 located at the center CP in the vehicle width direction D1. As a result, as indicated by arrow L1, the input load from the striker 40 to the latch actuator 41 can be efficiently transmitted via the high-strength bead 62 while avoiding the opening 34, thereby suppressing deformation of the opening 34 due to the input load. Moreover, the tip of the bead 61 of the sheet metal cover 60 is also directed towards the lower central part 63, i.e., the center CP. As a result, as indicated by arrow L2, the input load from the striker 40 to the latch actuator 41 can be efficiently transmitted via the high-strength bead 61 while avoiding the opening 34, thereby suppressing deformation of the opening 34 due to the input load.
[0025] <Variation> In the examples shown in Figures 5 and 11, two beads 61 and 62 are formed on the sheet metal cover 60, but this is not the only option; one bead may be formed on the sheet metal cover 60. Figure 12 shows an inner panel 30 equipped with a modified sheet metal cover 60. Note that Figure 12 shows the same parts as shown in Figure 11.
[0026] As shown in Figure 12, a sheet metal cover 80 is attached to the opening 34 of the inner panel 30. The sheet metal cover 80 has a single bead 83 extending from the lower central part 81 to the upper central part 82, that is, a bead 83 located at the center CP in the vehicle width direction D1. The support shaft 51 of the dynamic damper 50 is attached to this bead 83 using a fastening nut 54. In this way, even when a single bead 83 is formed on the sheet metal cover 60 and the dynamic damper 50 is attached to the bead 83, it can function in the same way as the sheet metal cover 60 described above, and the vibration suppression performance of the dynamic damper 50 can be improved.
[0027] <Other variations> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from its essence. In the illustrated example, two beads 61 and 62 are formed on the sheet metal cover 60, and one bead 83 is formed on the sheet metal cover 80, but the invention is not limited to this, and three or more beads may be formed on the sheet metal cover. In the illustrated example, linearly extending beads 61, 62, and 83 are formed on the sheet metal covers 60 and 80, but the invention is not limited to this, and curved beads may be formed on the sheet metal cover. In the illustrated example, the latch actuator 41 is attached to a mounting plate 33 joined to the inner panel 30, but the invention is not limited to this, and the latch actuator 41 may be attached directly to the inner panel 30.
[0028] In the illustrated example, a rubber member 52 is provided on the dynamic damper 50, but this is not limited to this, and a dynamic damper in which the inertia mass 53 is directly attached to the support shaft 51 may also be used. In the illustrated example, one dynamic damper 50 is attached to the sheet metal cover 60, 80, but this is not limited to this, and multiple dynamic dampers 50 may be attached to the sheet metal cover 60, 80. In the illustrated example, the dynamic damper 50 is fixed to the sheet metal cover 60, 80 at one point, but this is not limited to this, and the dynamic damper 50 may be fixed to the sheet metal cover 60, 80 at multiple points. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0029] 10... Rear gate, 13... Rear body (rear), 16... Body, 20... Outer panel, 30... Inner panel, 33... Mounting plate, 34... Opening, 35... Bottom wall (lower part), 40... Striker, 41... Latch actuator, 50... Dynamic damper (mass damper), 60... Sheet metal cover, 61... Bead, 62... Bead (second bead), 80... Sheet metal cover, 83... Bead, D1... Width direction, D2... Front-rear direction, CP... Center
Claims
1. A rear gate located at the rear of the vehicle body, Outer panel and An inner panel attached to the outer panel, A sheet metal cover, which is attached to the opening of the inner panel and has a bead, A mass damper is attached to the bead of the sheet metal cover and positioned between the outer panel and the inner panel, Having, Rear gate.
2. In the rear gate according to claim 1, The bead protrudes toward the outer panel. Rear gate.
3. In the rear gate according to claim 1, It is mounted on the lower part of the inner panel and has a latch actuator that engages with the striker of the vehicle body, With respect to the opening, at least a portion of the latch actuator overlaps the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction. Rear gate.
4. In the rear gate according to claim 1, It is mounted on the lower part of the inner panel and positioned in the center in the vehicle width direction, and has a latch actuator that engages with the striker of the vehicle body, The aforementioned sheet metal cover is provided with a second bead located in the center in the vehicle width direction. Rear gate.
5. In the rear gate according to claim 1, It is attached to a mounting plate joined to the lower part of the inner panel and has a latch actuator that engages with the striker of the vehicle body, Rear gate.