Rear structure of the vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a rear body structure that can suppress torsional deformation caused by upward load input from the rear damper during driving. [Solution] In the rear structure of the vehicle body 1, the wheel house inner 10 has a wheel house bulge 10a that extends upward from the rear of the housing gusset 11 and is provided to have higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the wheel house inner 10. The side panel 13 has a side panel bulge 13a that connects the upper end of the wheel house bulge 10a to the rear header corner portion 12 and is provided to have higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the side panel 13. The wheel house bulge 10a and the side panel bulge 13a constitute a load transmission path L2 that transmits the upward load input to the mounting portion P1 from the rear of the housing gusset 11 to the rear header corner portion 12.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear vehicle body structure, and particularly to a peripheral structure of a rear suspension housing at a rear vehicle body portion. [Background Art]

[0002] The rear portion of a vehicle body is required to have high rigidity against torsional deformation in order to ensure high handling stability and suppress vibration. Particularly, in battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and the like, the vehicle weight increases due to mounting of large-capacity batteries, motors and other electrical components for traveling, so it is important to suppress torsional deformation caused by the input of upward load from the rear suspension (rear damper) during traveling. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for improving the rigidity of a rear vehicle body portion.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a main body portion constituting a rear side inner panel is provided with a skeleton portion. The skeleton portion is disposed at an upper end portion of the rear side inner panel, along the lower edge of the window portion, and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body from the quarter pillar toward the rear pillar. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, by providing the skeleton portion on the rear side inner panel, the rigidity of the rear side inner panel is ensured to suppress the generation of vibration and noise. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-150802 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] While the vehicle body structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 above is thought to improve the rigidity of the rear of the vehicle body to some extent, it is considered necessary to further improve the rigidity of the rear of the vehicle body against torsional deformation in order to accommodate heavier vehicles such as electric vehicles.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provides a rear structure for a vehicle body that can suppress torsional deformation caused by upward load input from the rear damper during driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A rear structure of a vehicle body according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a wheelhouse inner, a rear suspension housing, a housing gusset, and a side panel. The wheelhouse inner is provided on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheel. The rear suspension is mounted on the rear suspension housing. The housing gusset is provided so as to cover the mounting portion of the rear suspension in the rear suspension housing. The side panel is provided so as to connect the upper end of the wheelhouse inner with a portion of the roof side rail and a portion of the rear pillar.

[0008] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to this embodiment, a rear header corner portion is provided at the joint between the roof side rail and the rear pillar, to which a rear header, which is arranged to extend along the upper edge of the rear opening, is joined. Furthermore, the wheel house inner has a wheel house high-rigidity portion that extends upward from the rear of the housing gusset and is provided to have higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the wheel house inner. In addition, the side panel has a side panel high-rigidity portion that connects the upper end of the wheel house high-rigidity portion and the rear header corner portion and is provided to have higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the side panel. The wheel house high-rigidity portion and the side panel high-rigidity portion constitute a load transmission path that transmits the upward load input to the mounting portion from the rear of the housing gusset to the rear header corner portion.

[0009] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the high-rigidity section of the wheel house inner and the high-rigidity section of the side panel constitute a load transmission path. That is, the upward load input to the mounting part of the rear suspension housing when the vehicle is running passes through the rear of the housing gusset and is transmitted from the high-rigidity section of the wheel house and the high-rigidity section of the side panel to the rear header corner section. Since the rear header corner section of the vehicle body is formed to be relatively rigid, by releasing the above-mentioned upward load to the rear header corner section through the load transmission path, the rigidity against torsional deformation of the vehicle body can be improved.

[0010] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the wheel house high-rigidity portion may be a wheel house bulge portion provided to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, a high-rigidity section of the wheel house is formed by a wheel house bulge portion, which is created by bulging a part of the wheel house inner inward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, compared to the case in which a separate member is joined to the wheel house inner to form a high-rigidity section of the wheel house, the increase in manufacturing cost and mass of the vehicle body can be suppressed.

[0012] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the side panel high-rigidity portion may be a side panel bulge portion that bulges inward in the vehicle width direction or outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the side panel high-rigidity section is formed by a side panel bulge portion, which is created by bulging a part of the side panel inward or outward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, compared to the case in which a separate member is joined to the side panel to form the side panel high-rigidity section, the increase in manufacturing cost and mass of the vehicle body can be suppressed.

[0014] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, a rear frame and a rear brace may be further provided. The rear frame is joined to the wheel house inner on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear floor panel and is provided to extend in the front-rear direction. The rear brace is provided to extend in the vertical direction so as to connect the rear frame and the housing gusset.

[0015] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to this embodiment, the rear brace may constitute a second load transmission path that transmits the upward load input to the mounting portion from the rear of the housing gusset to the rear frame.

[0016] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the rear brace constitutes a second load transmission path. Therefore, the upward load applied to the mounting portion of the rear suspension housing during vehicle operation is transmitted not only through the rear of the housing gusset and the load transmission path to the rear header corner, but also through the second load transmission path to the rear frame. Thus, the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment is even more suitable for improving the rigidity of the vehicle body against torsional deformation.

[0017] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the rear frame may have two connection points that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction where the trailing arm is connected. In this case, the connection point between the rear brace and the rear frame may be located between the two connection points.

[0018] In the rear structure of the vehicle body according to the above embodiment, the connection point between the rear brace and the rear frame is positioned between two connection points, thereby suppressing the occurrence of deflection and vibration in the rear frame to which the load is transmitted through the second load transmission path. In other words, if the connection point between the rear brace and the rear frame is located behind the rear connection point and not between the connection points, there is a concern that deflection and vibration will occur in the rear frame to which the load is transmitted, but by positioning it between the connection points, the occurrence of deflection and vibration is suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The rear structure of the vehicle body according to each of the above embodiments can suppress torsional deformation caused by upward load input from the rear damper during driving. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0020] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the rear of a vehicle body according to an embodiment of the present invention, as seen from inside the vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a side view of the side panel as seen from the outside of the vehicle. [Figure 3]It is a diagram for explaining a load transmission path formed at a rear portion of a vehicle body. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited in any way to the following embodiments except for its essential configuration.

[0022] In the drawings used in the following description, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle body, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle body, "LH" indicates the left side of the vehicle body, "RH" indicates the right side of the vehicle body, "UP" indicates the upper side of the vehicle body, and "LO" indicates the lower side of the vehicle body.

[0023] 1. Structure of rear portion 1a in vehicle body 1 As an example, vehicle body 1 according to the present embodiment is a vehicle body of a battery electric vehicle (BEV). The structure of rear portion 1a in vehicle body 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a right side portion within rear portion 1a of vehicle body 1 from the vehicle interior side, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing side panel 13 from the vehicle exterior side.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle body 1 includes, in rear portion 1a, wheel house inner 10, rear suspension housing 19, housing gusset 11, and side panel 13. Wheel house inner 10 is a member provided so as to bulge toward the vehicle interior side among members constituting a wheel house that accommodates a rear wheel. In other words, wheel house inner 10 is a member provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheel. As shown in FIG. 2, wheel house outer 18 is provided on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear wheel. The wheel house is constituted by wheel house inner 10 and wheel house outer 18.

[0025] The rear suspension housing 19 is a component to which the rear suspension connected to the rear wheel is attached, and has a mounting portion to which the rear suspension is attached. In the vehicle body 1 according to this embodiment, the wheel house inner 10 is provided so as to extend above the mounting portion of the rear suspension housing 19.

[0026] The housing gusset 11 is a reinforcing member provided to cover the mounting portion of the rear suspension housing 19. A portion of the housing gusset 11 (the rear portion) overlaps with a portion of the wheelhouse inner 10, and the overlapping portion is joined to the wheelhouse inner 10.

[0027] The side panel 13 is a component provided to connect the upper end of the wheelhouse inner 10 with a portion of the roof side rail 20 and the rear pillar 21. A quarter window section 22 is provided in the area enclosed by the roof side rail 20 and the side panel 13.

[0028] A rear header (not shown in the illustration) is attached to the joint between the roof side rail 20 and the rear pillar 21. Therefore, the portion where the roof side rail 20, rear pillar 21, and rear header are joined is called the rear header corner portion 12. The rear header connects the rear header corner portions 12 on both sides in the vehicle width direction and is arranged to extend along the upper edge of the rear opening to which the rear hatch is attached.

[0029] The vehicle body 1 further comprises a rear floor panel 23, a rear frame 14, a rear brace 15, a rear cross member (#4 cross member) 16, and a front brace 17 at its rear 1a. The rear floor panel 23 is a member provided at the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1 to define the lower part of the passenger compartment, and its front end is connected to the front floor panel (not shown).

[0030] The rear frame 14 is joined to the wheelhouse inner 10 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear floor panel 23 and is provided to extend in the longitudinal direction. The rear frame 14 has a kick-up portion 14a at the front, which is provided so that its height decreases as it goes forward. The rear frame 14 is joined to the side sill (not shown) at the front end of the kick-up portion 14a.

[0031] The rear brace 15 is provided to extend vertically so as to connect the rear frame 14 and the housing gusset 11. Specifically, the rear brace 15 is a long member having a hat cross-section, with its lower end joined to the rear frame 14 and its upper end joined to the rear lower part 11a of the housing gusset 11. In other words, the rear brace 15 extends vertically to connect the rear part of the housing gusset 11 to the rear frame 14. The rear brace 15, housing gusset 11, and rear frame 14 are rigidly connected by bolts or the like.

[0032] The rear cross member 16 is provided to extend in the vehicle width direction so as to connect the left and right rear frames 14. The rear cross member 16 is joined to the rear frame 14 at its end 16a in the vehicle width direction and to the rear floor panel 23 at its lower end. The rear cross member 16 is a skeletal member having a hat-shaped cross section.

[0033] The front brace 17 is provided to extend vertically so as to connect the rear frame 14 and rear cross member 16 with the wheel house inner 10. The upper end 17a of the front brace 17 is also joined to the front lower part 11c of the housing gusset 11. The upper end 17a of the front brace 17 and the front lower part 11c of the housing gusset 11 overlap each other and are joined at the overlapping portion.

[0034] Although Figures 1 and 2 only show the structure on the right side in the vehicle width direction of the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1, the vehicle body 1 has the same structure on the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0035] 2. Load transfer path In this embodiment, the vehicle body 1 has a load transmission path configured at the rear 1a that transmits the upward load input from the rear damper to the rear suspension mounting portion in the rear suspension housing 19 during vehicle operation to the rear header corner portion 12 and rear frame 14, which have relatively high rigidity. The specific structure used to configure the load transmission path will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the wheelhouse inner 10 has a wheelhouse bulge 10a that bulges inward in the vehicle width direction and extends vertically above the portion where the rear of the housing gusset 11 is joined. The wheelhouse bulge 10a is a high-rigidity part of the wheelhouse that is more rigid than the surrounding area of ​​the wheelhouse bulge 10a in the wheelhouse inner 10. The wheelhouse bulge 10a is provided to connect the rear of the housing gusset 11 and the side panel 13.

[0037] As shown by the arrow A in Figure 2, the side panel 13 has a side panel bulge portion 13a that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the side panel bulge portion 13a is provided to extend along the lower edge of the quarter window portion 22 and to connect the upper end of the wheelhouse bulge portion (wheelhouse high-rigidity portion) 10a and the rear header corner portion 12. The side panel bulge portion 13a is a side panel high-rigidity portion that is more rigid than the surrounding area of ​​the side panel 13.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the wheelhouse bulge (high-rigidity wheelhouse section) 10a and the side panel bulge (high-rigidity side panel section) 13a constitute a load transmission path (load transmission path) L2 for the load input from the rear damper to the rear suspension mounting section P1 in the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is in motion. In other words, the wheelhouse bulge 10a and the side panel bulge 13a constitute a load transmission path (load transmission path) L2 that transmits the load input to the mounting section P1 when the vehicle is in motion, through the path L1 of the housing gusset 11 to the rear of the housing gusset 11, to the relatively high-rigidity rear header corner section 12.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the vehicle body 1 is provided with a rear brace 15 at the rear 1a, which is joined to the rear lower part 11a of the housing gusset 11 and the rear frame 14. The rear brace 15 constitutes a load transmission path (load transmission path) L3 for the load that is input from the rear damper to the mounting part P1 of the rear suspension in the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is running. That is, the rear brace 15 constitutes a path (second load transmission path) L3 that transmits the load transmitted to the rear lower part 11a of the housing gusset 11 through the path L1 of the housing gusset 11 to the relatively rigid rear frame 14.

[0040] Although detailed illustrations are omitted here, the rear frame 14 has two points P2 and P3 to which the trailing arms are connected. The two connection points P2 and P3 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The front connection point P2 of the two connection points P2 and P3 is located on the kick-up section 14a. In contrast, point P3 is located behind the part of the rear frame 14 to which the rear brace 15 is joined. In other words, the second load transmission path L3, which is formed by the rear brace 15, is connected to the rear frame 14 at a position between the two connection points P2 and P3.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the vehicle body 1 is provided with a front brace 17 at the rear 1a, the lower end of which is joined to the rear cross member 16 and the rear frame 14. As described above, a portion of the upper end 17a of the front brace 17 is joined to the front lower part 11c of the housing gusset 11.

[0042] The housing gusset 11 has a longitudinal extension portion 11b that bulges inward in the vehicle width direction and extends vertically in the portion behind the portion to which the front brace 17 is joined. The longitudinal extension portion 11b of the housing gusset 11 is provided such that a portion of it overlaps with the joint portion between the front brace 17 and the housing gusset 11 when viewed from the front.

[0043] Furthermore, the longitudinal extension portion 11b of the housing gusset 11 is provided such that its upper end overlaps with the rear suspension mounting upper when viewed from the front.

[0044] In the rear section 1a of the vehicle body 1, the front brace 17, the longitudinal extension portion 11b of the housing gusset 11, and the rear suspension mounting upper form a load transmission path (front load transmission path) for the load input from the rear damper to the mounting portion P1 of the rear suspension in the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is running. In other words, in the vehicle body 1, a front load transmission path, which is a load transmission path, is also formed in front of the mounting portion P1 of the rear suspension in the rear suspension housing 19.

[0045] 3. Effects In this embodiment, the structure of the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1 is such that the wheel house bulge portion (high-rigidity wheel house portion) 10a of the wheel house inner 10 and the side panel bulge portion (high-rigidity side panel portion) 13a of the side panel 13 constitute a load transmission path L2. That is, the upward load input to the mounting portion P1 of the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is running passes through the rear of the housing gusset 11 and is transmitted from the wheel house bulge portion 10a and the side panel bulge portion 13a to the rear header corner portion 12. In the vehicle body 1, the rear header corner portion 12 is formed to be relatively rigid, so by releasing the upward load input to the mounting portion P1 when running to the rear header corner portion 12 through the load transmission path L2, the rigidity of the vehicle body 1 against torsional deformation can be improved.

[0046] Furthermore, in the structure of the rear portion 1a of the vehicle body 1 according to this embodiment, a portion of the wheel house inner 10 is configured with a wheel house bulge portion 10a, which is formed by bulging a part of the wheel house inner 10 inward in the vehicle width direction, making it more rigid than the surrounding area of ​​the wheel house inner 10, and a portion of the side panel 13 is configured with a side panel bulge portion 13a, which is formed by bulging a part of the side panel 13 outward in the vehicle width direction, making it more rigid than the surrounding area of ​​the side panel 13. Therefore, compared to cases where a separate member is joined to the wheel house inner 10 to form a high-rigidity part of the wheel house, or where a separate member is joined to the side panel 13 to form a high-rigidity part of the side panel, the increase in manufacturing cost and mass of the vehicle body 1 can be suppressed.

[0047] Furthermore, in the structure of the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1 according to this embodiment, the rear brace 15 constitutes the second load transmission path L3. Therefore, the upward load input to the mounting portion P1 of the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is running is transmitted not only from the rear of the housing gusset 11 through the load transmission path L2 to the rear header corner portion 12, but also to the rear frame 14 through the second load transmission path L2. Thus, the structure of the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1 has high rigidity against torsional deformation of the vehicle body 1.

[0048] Furthermore, in the structure of the rear 1a of the vehicle body 1 according to this embodiment, the connection point between the rear brace 15 and the rear frame 14 is located between two connection points P2 and P3, so that deflection and vibration occur in the rear frame 14 to which the load is transmitted through the second load transmission path L3. In other words, if the connection point between the rear brace 15 and the rear frame 14 is located behind the rear connection point P3 and not between connection points P2 and P3, there is a concern that deflection and vibration will occur in the rear frame 14 to which the load is transmitted, but by arranging it between connection points P2 and P3, the occurrence of deflection and vibration is suppressed.

[0049] As described above, the structure of the rear 1a in the vehicle body 1 according to this embodiment can suppress torsional deformation caused by the input of an upward load from the rear damper during driving.

[0050] [Differentiation] In the above embodiment, a wheel house bulge 10a is provided as a high-rigidity part of the wheel house inner 10, and a side panel bulge 13a is provided as a high-rigidity part of the side panel 13. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a high-rigidity part of the wheel house may be formed by joining a separate member (for example, a member having a hat-shaped cross section) to the wheel house. Alternatively, a high-rigidity part of the side panel may be formed by joining a separate member (for example, a member having a hat-shaped cross section) to the side panel. However, by providing bulges in each part to create a high-rigidity part, it is possible to suppress increases in manufacturing costs and mass compared to joining separate members.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a load transmission path L2 and a second load transmission path L3 are provided as transmission paths for the upward load input to the mounting portion P1 of the rear suspension housing 19 when the vehicle is in motion. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration can be adopted in which only a load transmission path from the housing gusset to the rear header corner portion is provided as the load transmission path.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the connection point between the rear brace 15 and the rear frame 14 is positioned between two connection points P2 and P3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connection point between the rear brace and the rear frame may be located further back than the rear connection point.

[0053] Furthermore, although the above embodiment uses a battery electric vehicle (BEV) body 1 as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be applied to the body of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or a vehicle that runs solely on engine power. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1. Vehicle body 1a Rear 10 Wheelhouse Inner 10a Wheelhouse bulge (high-rigidity section of the wheelhouse) 11 Housing gussets 12 Rear header corner section 13 Side Panels 13a Side panel bulge (side panel high-rigidity section) 15 Rear brace

Claims

1. A wheelhouse inner located on the inside of the rear wheel in the vehicle width direction, The rear suspension housing to which the rear suspension is attached, A housing gusset is provided to cover the mounting portion of the rear suspension in the rear suspension housing, A side panel is provided to connect the upper end of the wheelhouse inner with a portion of the roof side rail and the rear pillar, Equipped with, At the joint between the roof side rail and the rear pillar, a rear header corner is provided, to which a rear header, which is arranged to extend along the upper edge of the rear opening, is joined. The wheel house inner extends upward from the rear of the housing gusset and has a wheel house high-rigidity portion that has higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the wheel house inner. The side panel has a side panel high-rigidity section that connects the upper end of the wheelhouse high-rigidity section and the rear header corner section, and is provided to have higher rigidity than the surrounding area of ​​the side panel. The wheelhouse high-rigidity section and the side panel high-rigidity section constitute a load transmission path that transmits the upward load applied to the mounting section from the rear of the housing gusset to the rear header corner section. The rear structure of the vehicle body.

2. The aforementioned high-rigidity section of the wheel house is a wheel house bulge that is provided to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction. The rear structure of the vehicle body according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned high-rigidity portion of the side panel is a bulging portion of the side panel that is provided to bulge inward or outward in the vehicle width direction. The rear structure of the vehicle body according to claim 1.

4. A rear frame is provided that is joined to the wheel house inner on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the rear floor panel and extends in the front-rear direction, A rear brace is provided so as to extend vertically to connect the rear frame and the housing gusset, Furthermore, The rear brace constitutes a second load transmission path that transmits the upward load applied to the mounting portion from the rear of the housing gusset to the rear frame. The rear structure of a vehicle body according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The rear frame has two connection points to which the trailing arms are connected, which are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The connection point between the rear brace and the rear frame is located between the two connection points. The rear structure of the vehicle body according to claim 4.

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